NFST Map Reading and Navigation 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: If you are traveling east and turn 90 degrees to your left, what direction are you now facing?
- West
- South
- North (Correct answer)
- Southeast
Correct answer: North
Turning 90 degrees to the left while facing east means you rotate counterclockwise and are now facing north.
Question 2: What is a 'legend' on a map?
- The map's title
- A key explaining the symbols used (Correct answer)
- The scale bar
- The grid coordinate system
Correct answer: A key explaining the symbols used
A legend, or map key, is a section that explains what each symbol, color, or pattern on the map represents.
Question 3: Which U.S. government agency produces the official 7.5-minute topographic maps of the United States?
- National Park Service
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) (Correct answer)
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Correct answer: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is the federal agency responsible for producing the standard topographic quadrangle maps of the United States.
Question 4: On a map, what does a dashed contour line represent?
- A very steep cliff face
- An approximate or supplementary contour (Correct answer)
- An area below sea level
- A man-made excavation
Correct answer: An approximate or supplementary contour
Dashed contour lines, called supplementary or auxiliary contours, are used in areas where standard contour intervals are too large to show important terrain details.
Question 5: What does the term 'latitude' refer to in geographic navigation?
- Distance east or west of the prime meridian
- Distance north or south of the equator (Correct answer)
- Elevation above sea level
- Distance from the nearest coastline
Correct answer: Distance north or south of the equator
Latitude measures angular distance north or south of the equator, ranging from 0° at the equator to 90° at the poles.
Question 6: A trail marked on a map with a dotted or dashed line typically indicates what type of path?
- A paved bicycle path
- An unmaintained or primitive trail (Correct answer)
- A restricted military road
- A seasonal road open only in summer
Correct answer: An unmaintained or primitive trail
Dotted or dashed lines on topographic maps usually represent unmaintained, primitive, or informal trails rather than developed paths.
Question 7: When using grid coordinates to identify a location, in what order are coordinates typically read?
- Northing first, then Easting
- Easting first, then Northing (Correct answer)
- Elevation first, then grid zone
- Zone first, then Northing
Correct answer: Easting first, then Northing
Grid coordinates are always read 'right then up' — Easting (x-axis) first, then Northing (y-axis), following the standard military and cartographic convention.
NFST Map Reading and Navigation 3
If you are traveling east and turn 90 degrees to your left, what direction are you now facing?