Who Can Make It To The End Of This 1st Grade Geography Quiz?

In this great world of ours, it’s important for us to know our geography. Since ancient times, people have created maps that either show the area around them or foreign lands that have been explored and/or conquered. But it was the Ancient Greeks who turned this necessity for navigation and understanding of our physical surroundings into not only an art but also a science, starting with the ideas proposed by the philosopher Anaximander. This was further developed by other Greek philosophers who proposed the idea that the Earth was round, which later got proven by early European explorers such as Magellan that sailed beyond the boundaries of the known world discovering new lands and continents in the process.

Though it wasn’t until the Victorian era that geography became an academic study in Western school systems. Today, geographical studies are done primarily through technology such as satellite imaging weather balloons and so forth. Now the disciplines geography has to teach doesn’t just apply to the Earth, but also other celestial objects as maps of the Moon and even Mars have been created. So if this simple 1st grade geography quiz is too much, maybe it's time to relearn a few things…

Question 1

What does the star on this map represent?

A map is an important tool, whether in digital or physical form. It allows a person to get a sense of the area around them as well as other places that are far away. This is especially helpful when one is traveling from one place to another, otherwise, they would be lost. Therefore, it is necessary to be able to read a map and be able to understand what the different symbols mean such as this star above Paris, France.

Question 2

Which direction is north?

Apart from learning how to read a map, it’s also good to know the four cardinal directions. Originally named after the winds, the official names for them came from barbaric tribes that traveled across Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire. Of these, the northern direction is one of the most significant. For instance, the needle of a compass always points north due to the magnetic energy coming from the poles at the northern and southernmost ends of the world.

Question 3

Is Alaska a country or a state?

The difference between a state and a country is not only a matter of size but also importance. For instance, a country takes up a large area of land that contains a wide variety of people who embrace a similar culture. By contrast, a state is a smaller fragment of a country which abides by the country's laws and doesn't act independently of them. Also, while countries tend to stick to one area states can exist outside the country's borders.

Question 4

How many continents exist in the Americas?

Though over a hundred countries exist in the entire world, they are generally contained within continents. Being around since the Earth was formed, these enormous land masses divided by large bodies of water have moved through a process called Plate Tectonics. Because the Earth’s crust is generally thin compared to the other layers around the core, ruptures and earthquakes cause parts of it to move around. So what once was a single landmass called Pangaea became several continents over millions of years.

Question 5

Are mountains natural or man-made?

Compared to the tallest skyscrapers in the world, a single mountain is always taller than they are. Whether they stand alone or form a line, mountains are a testament to the violent activity that occurred during the Earth’s formation into what it is now. In most cases, they were once active volcanos that spewed magma from beneath the Earth in the form of lava in response to the shifting of a plate/continent. Then as time passed, they became inactive and started withering down.

Question 6

Is a town bigger than a city?

When the first humans appeared, they often traveled in small groups of families hunting and gathering whatever food they could find. Because they never stayed in one place for too long, there were no permanent houses until they learned how to grow their own crops and tame wild animals. Once this was done, humans started to gather into communities which consisted of multiple families and varied in physical size. While the smallest ones were called villages, they eventually developed into towns and cities.

Question 7

Why is sunlight a renewable source of energy?

Because the Earth has to constantly support various forms of life, including plants animals and humans, certain forms of energy are required to replenish and nourish them. These are referred to as resources, with some being renewable while others are not. The key difference between them is that renewable energies can be replenished easily as the supply for it never runs out, but non-renewable energies can be limited to a certain amount of use before it can be never used again.

Question 8

Where do minerals come from?

As beautiful as they are, minerals are an example of a non-renewable source. Their supply is limited, so the more we dig up then the fewer will be left because they can’t be replenished. The primary reason for this is that they were made using natural processes that take place over thousands of years to accomplish before they become usable let alone valuable. Minerals are also not organic as they’re crystallized versions of one particular chemical or several depending on the mineral’s composition.

Question 9

What makes a climate tropical?

Depending on its location, different continents have different climates. Unlike weather, which is constantly changing in terms of its conditions and its effects on the environment, a climate is more permanent and tends to change gradually. For instance, the climate of Pangea was generally hot which was great for dinosaurs as they never ran out of food to eat due to the high humidity (which is the amount of vapor that's present) that allowed plants to absorb more water and grow rapidly as a result.

Question 10

How is a sunny forecast represented?

Since humans developed a higher awareness in general, they’ve always sought to predict things that might ultimately benefit them. One such method is forecasting, which refers to both predicting the ever-changing weather conditions and financial situations. While the methods for measuring them are not always perfect, we can get a good estimate of what to expect in the near future based on present information. In terms of weather, there are certain symbols which distinguish one type of weather condition from another.

Question 11

Which symbol indicates an airport on a map?

Among the various modes of transportation out there, airplanes are certainly the most efficient when it comes to traveling across vast distances including oceans. Though the notion of human flight is old, from the tragic myth of Icarus to Leonardo Da Vinci’s encrypted notebooks, it didn’t become a reality until the turn of the century when the Wright Brothers got their plane off the ground after several failed attempts. Now there are airplanes everywhere as well as places for them to land at called airports.

Question 12

Direction-wise, where is Antarctica located?

Regarded as the coldest place on Earth apart from the North Pole, Antarctica consists mainly of rocks and ice as far as the eye can see. Though contrary to the belief that something so barren couldn’t possibly support life, it has a surprisingly diverse ecosystem both underwater and on land. The main residents, though, are penguins who may not be able to fly but they can swim pretty well and can brave the harsh winds that sweep across Antartica’s frozen lands.

Question 13

How many countries are shown here in blue?

Though the art of mapmaking has a long history that goes back as far as Ancient Greece and Rome, it was during the Renaissance in Europe when maps became more intricately detailed and standardized as a result. Thus began the distinction between Western countries and Eastern countries. Though the definitions have changed and become more murky in recent history, it basically comes down to a fine line between countries whose overall philosophies histories and cultures differ greatly from one another.

Question 14

In which hemisphere does the European continent lie?

Besides the cardinal directions, there are also four hemispheres that exist. Essentially, they are divided by two invisible lines which stretch across the globe in different directions. The Equator, for instance, horizontally divides the Northern and Southern Hemispheres while the Prime Meridian is vertical dividing the Western and Eastern Hemispheres in turn. Because of the vast areas these hemispheres cover, they contain several continents within them as well as different climates whose temperatures change depending on how far from the Equator they are.

Question 15

Is an ocean smaller than a lake?

When the Earth was formed, the entire surface was initially barrenly, filled with craters and pools of lava pouring from the core causing the landscape to constantly shift and change. Eventually, the planet formed its own atmosphere which trapped the smoke caused by the various volcanoes that were scattered about making them condense and produce rain. Then for what seemed like eons, the rains never seemed to stop, causing the Earth to be entirely covered in water until the crust shifted creating land masses which rose up.

Question 16

What is a primary feature in cities?

With the rise of certain empires, such as Mesopotamia and Rome, larger centers of communities were made in the form of cities. Though they didn’t quite resemble modern cities, as they primarily consisted of high walls and big buildings such as temples and palaces, they still fit the definition of what makes a city. But it wasn’t until the Middle Ages and the Victorian Era after that when cities became rapidly larger and started building upward as a result to house and accommodate more people.

Question 17

Do we ever run out of air on Earth?

Made from invisible substances called molecules, air is a necessary component for life on Earth next to sunlight. But while the sun’s rays can be harmful to humans if they’re exposed to it for too long, air is harmless as it exists all around us. Such was the case during Earth’s beginnings when the atmosphere was formed and trapped the volcanic smoke which turned into clouds and produced rain following the creation of the oxygen molecule that we breathe apart from nitrogen.

Question 18

Which of these straps is not made of metal?

Like minerals, metals are found beneath the earth. Typically shiny in texture, they’re used for a variety of things we use in our daily lives. For instance, the wires in our power lines are wrapped in coils made from copper, a bronze-colored metal which conducts electricity really well, underneath a rubber covering. Then other metals such as steel are also used in multiple ways from bolts to buildings and even the straps of watches such as the ones displayed here.

Question 19

How is a dry climate different from other climates?

Typically located a little further north or south of the Equator, areas with dry climates exist. While tropical climates are hot and humid due to the arrangement of certain wind patterns, which tend to blow hot air into southern areas of the world while the cooler airs generally move northward, dry climates can be hot and cold depending on the season. So there are fewer plants as a result and not as many animals that can survive the drastic temperature changes in a dry climate including infrequent rainfall.

Question 20

What do clouds represent in the weather forecast?

Unlike smoke, which is made when something is burned and becomes air-like, clouds are made naturally. The process begins when liquid water dries up in sunlight and rises into the air through evaporation. Then as the water gets higher, the cooler air in the atmosphere causes it to become liquid once more transforming it into a cloud via condensation. As the cloud fills up with more liquid water, though, it produces rain which falls toward the ground and the cycle starts over again.

Question 21

Where is the Compass Rose located?

Before Smartphones were invented and Google Maps created online maps for us to use, early explorers and travelers used a device called a Compass Rose on their hand-drawn maps to determine which direction to go. Similar to a cross, it has four points to represent the primary directions of North South East and West while four additional points are sometimes placed behind it to represent some of the other directions that can be traveled like Northwest Southeast Southwest and Northeast.

Question 22

Which direction does the sun rise up from?

When the sun rises above the seemingly flat horizon in the distance from wherever we’re standing, it’s called a sunrise. Having existed for as long as the Earth has been around, this continuous cycle is the result of the Earth’s movement in relation to the sun which it orbits around. Since it rotates at a certain speed everyday, the sun appears to move in the sky climbing overhead before reaching the top and then sinking below the horizon in an event called a Sunset.

Question 23

What do these countries have in common?

Between the multitude of countries in Europe and the vastness of Russia, three sizable countries stand roughly between them. These countries are Norway (middle-left), Sweden (center), and Finland (middle-right). While they are technically part of Europe, their temperatures are considerably colder than most European countries and as a result, there is less sunlight because the further north you go, the longer the Sun’s path is so during the summer in regions located around the Arctic Circle it never seems to set.

Question 24

Is Russia a part of the Asian continent?

Of the various continents that exist in the world, the Asian continent is the largest. While it may not have nearly as many countries as Europe does, it makes up for it in the size of each country whether they’re horizontally large or vertically long. They also encompass a wide range of environments, from the tundras further north to the deserts in its middle to the tropical rainforests further south. This continent not only produced the earliest recorded civilizations but also a vast array of unique cultures.

Question 25

How is a forest different from a swamp?

In different regions all over the world, there exist a wide variety of plants of different shapes and sizes. Then while certain types of plants can only be found in a select few places, others can be found pretty much anywhere. Among these, trees are the most important because they produce the oxygen that’s necessary for us to live. So when a whole bunch of trees are gathered in one place, they are generally called forests though swamps have a similar set-up.

Question 26

Are barns generally bigger than houses?

When it comes to personal living spaces, houses are the most important. Not only is it where people live, but also pets that aren’t particularly large such as dogs and cats. But a house can only store so many items and creatures before it gets too full. To compensate for this, barns and storage-houses exist. But while storage-houses generally hold inanimate objects such as furniture and the like, barns typically store animals inside which can be anywhere from horses to pigs to chickens.

Question 27

Where does freshwater come from?

Despite most of the world being covered in water, from the deep oceans to the swift-moving streams, only a small fraction of it is drinkable. Referred to as freshwater, it is necessary to refresh our bodies and give us energy when we’re feeling tired. While it may seem like a renewable source of energy since there’s water everywhere, freshwater is slowly dwindling in terms of supply because of pollution in the environment which is increasingly damaging the resources that produce it.

Question 28

How is coal obtained?

Despite being non-renewable, coal is an important energy source in our modern world. Discovered roughly at the turn of the century, it was used to power different vehicles of massive transportation such as trains and boats. It also falls under a category of non-renewable resources called Fossil Fuels, which include oil and natural gas. While these are all essential for powering vehicles and big machines alike, they can have a harmful effect on the environment if they’re not monitored carefully.

Question 29

What is another name for a climate that is mild?

Compared to dry climates which typically don’t get a lot of rainwater, mild ones are more wetter by comparison. However, they’re not as wet as a tropical climate nor as hot in terms of temperature. They usually tend to be somewhere in the middle of these two extremes with a decent amount of rainfall from passing storms, which can originate from the ocean or be spontaneously created through a heavy gathering of clouds in general, though mild climates can get pretty warm during the summertime.

Question 30

Which type of weather does this symbol represent?

When it comes to forecasting the weather, certain images are used to represent the different conditions. While some are obvious like the Sun, some are not. Take this one, for instance, which shows what appears to be a cloud with some swirly lines below it. At a glance, it would appear that the cloud means the weather is going to be cloudy since that would be the obvious choice but the swirls seem to indicate a different weather condition altogether.

Question 31

Does this line represent a road?

Before the car was invented, man-made paths called roads existed during the days of Ancient Rome and even Mesopotamia before that. Essentially, they were created so people within a certain area could travel between places more easily. This applied to not just cities, but also whole states and countries as well. They were also used for military purposes as large armies could travel better on roads as opposed to wide stretches of wilderness. Today, roads are primarily used by cars and similar vehicles.

Question 32

Does the sun set in the west or the east?

At the end of a day, a sunset will occur. This is when the sun disappears below the distant horizon instead of rising above it as the Earth rotates causing the place we’re standing to face away from it. These daily events are not only significant as they represent the transition from night to day and produce beautiful colors in the process as the sun’s rays filter through the thickest layers of the atmosphere which tend to be on the curves of the planet.

Question 33

Is Australia one of the countries highlighted in yellow?

While the countries above the Equator are typically labeled as the Northern Countries, the ones below are called the Southern Countries. The main reason for this has to do with the direction these countries are positioned since ones like the United States and Russia are located north from the Equator, while others like South Africa and New Zealand (highlighted in yellow) are south from the Equator. Another distinction between these regions is their season and weather patterns which are opposite of one another.

Question 34

What is the blue continent called?

Though the Asian continent may be the largest, the one colored green is the second-largest in the world. Considered to be the place where the first humans emerged, it has a wide range of landscapes. In the northernmost part, for instance, it has swaths of desert that stretched for miles, yet it was also the site of the Egyptian Empire. Then along the middle of the continent lie rainforests and wide plains called savannas before becoming dry near the bottom.

Question 35

Are canyons always dry?

In dry climates like the Southwest in North America and the Sahara in Africa, the primary landscape that dominates these areas are called canyons. Unlike the mountains which rose vertically from the ground before the winds wore them down through a process called erosion, canyons are horizontal layers of rocks that were carved out by melting glaciers that existed before the area got hotter temperature-wise which eventually became rivers. As a result, they formed a mixture of wide and narrow openings.

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