Military Map Reading 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: On a military map, what does a solid blue line typically represent?
- A paved road
- A perennial stream or river (Correct answer)
- A military boundary
- A power line
Correct answer: A perennial stream or river
Solid blue lines on military maps represent perennial (year-round) streams or rivers.
Question 2: What is the purpose of a 'fiducial mark' on a military map?
- To indicate true north
- To mark enemy positions
- To assist in precise map alignment and orientation (Correct answer)
- To show elevation changes
Correct answer: To assist in precise map alignment and orientation
Fiducial marks are reference points used to precisely align and orient a map during use.
Question 3: When navigating with a map and compass, what is 'magnetic declination'?
- The difference between true north and magnetic north (Correct answer)
- The angle of terrain slope
- The distance between two grid lines
- The compass bearing to a destination
Correct answer: The difference between true north and magnetic north
Magnetic declination is the angular difference between true geographic north and magnetic north at a given location.
Question 4: A military grid reference uses which coordinate system?
- Latitude and longitude only
- Military Grid Reference System (MGRS) (Correct answer)
- Universal Mercator Scale
- Azimuth and elevation
Correct answer: Military Grid Reference System (MGRS)
The Military Grid Reference System (MGRS) is the standard coordinate system used by NATO militaries for map references.
Question 5: What does a 'saddle' look like on a topographic map?
- Two concentric circles close together
- A series of parallel contour lines
- An hourglass shape between two hilltops (Correct answer)
- A single closed contour line
Correct answer: An hourglass shape between two hilltops
A saddle appears as an hourglass-shaped pattern between two high points on a topographic map.
Question 6: On a 1:50,000 scale map, a distance of 4 cm on the map equals what actual ground distance?
- 200 meters
- 500 meters
- 2,000 meters (Correct answer)
- 5,000 meters
Correct answer: 2,000 meters
At 1:50,000 scale, 4 cm on the map equals 4 × 50,000 = 200,000 cm = 2,000 meters on the ground.
Question 7: What terrain feature is depicted when contour lines form a 'V' shape pointing uphill?
- A ridge
- A valley or draw (Correct answer)
- A cliff
- A depression
Correct answer: A valley or draw
V-shaped contour lines pointing toward higher elevation indicate a valley, draw, or drainage feature.
Military Map Reading 2
On a military map, what does a solid blue line typically represent?