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Supplementary Topic - Map Reading Skills

A. Preface

Under the new HKCEE syllabus, candidates are required to have a wide scope of

knowledge in map interpretation and map reading. Questions set in the public

examination will focus especially on three main categories, they are:

i) Descriptions: landscape, change in land uses (usually with the aid of the legend)

ii) Measurement: floor area, distance or quoting grid reference, vertical exaggeration

iii) Compare and contrast: characteristics of two landscapes, special features, etc.

1. Descriptions (CE 04 Q.2, 05 Q.1a, 06 Q.1a, 07) (not for MC)

Photograph 1a

(a) Refer to Photograph 1a. Describe the problems of living in this area.

Figure 2

(b) Describe the land-use changes as shown.

Notes

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2. Measurements: The following are frequently asked in multiple choice questions:

a) Population density (人口密度)

=

Example: General information of Tsuen Wan in 2001:

Area: 24.5 km2

Population: 746,000

b) Land area (土地面積)

Regular Structure = (length on map x scale) x (width on map x scale)

Irregular Structure = [No. of complete squares + ½ (No. of incomplete squares)] x A*

Try these out: 2005 Q.5, 2006 Q.5, 2007 Q.5

c) Grid reference (格網坐標) - A grid is a set of numbered vertical and horizontal lines which cross each other.

- To tell the position of a place, we put the easting first and then northing.

d) Distance of two buildings (異物距離) = vertical distance between two points x adjusted scale

e) Stream order

Drainage basin is made up by a number of small and large streams. Together these

streams form a river hierarchy. A way to show the river hierarchy is by stream ordering:

- All the smallest tributaries in a drainage basin are first order streams.

- Where two first order streams meet, the resultant channel is a second order stream.

- A stream of high order is formed only when two streams of same order meet.

Population

Total area

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Example:

f) Bearing

- make use of the protractor

- answers are only given in (S__°W, S__°E, N__°W or N__°E)

Try these out: 2005 Q.4, 2007 Q.2

g) Gradient (坡度) - usually with 4 graphs given

- 魔鬼絕招: Try these out: 2005 Q.9, 1992 Q.60, 1995 Q.60

h) Vertical exaggeration

=

= _____________ times

Try these out: Section A 2007 Q. 1 (b) (ii), 1995 Q. 52

Scale of the map is 1:200 00

Vertical exaggeration =

Order Number of Streams of

Each Order (River)

1 14 4

2 6 1

3 2 0

4 1 0

River A is fourth order stream.

River B is a second order stream.

Vertical scale

Horizontal scale

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3. Discussion and Evaluation (for MC questions only)

a) Locational advantage

Candidates should pay attention to the following characteristics:

- relief (steep or gentle)

- land available for development (vacant or cultivated)

- nearby natural environment

- Public amenities: medical/public/social/welfare facilities OR services available

- favour cross-border movement of people and goods

- Proximity to other new towns: job opportunities

- population density

- Centrality: near urban area/ close to CBD/cultural centres

b) Accessibility: It refers to the ease of going to a particular place by means of any

transport.

- connected by main roads/highways/ Light Railways/ West Rail/

c) Types of land uses (土地利用) - identify the seven major land uses including:

Try these out: 2006 Q.4, 2007 Q.7

4. Map enlargement/reductions and scales

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魔鬼絕招: 粗略估計 - 香港HM20C 即1:20 000 地形圖上每一方格邊長都是1 公里。所以，可以利用『畢氏定理』來粗略估計地圖上事物的實際距離：

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5. Conventional Signs