Lesson Y7-U01-L09

Height, Gradient and Cross-Sections Quiz: KS3 Geography, Unit 1

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson Y7-U01-L09, Height, Gradient and Cross-Sections: 20 multiple choice questions for the KS3 Geography (National Curriculum), Unit 1: Year 7: The UK and Map Skills, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. What does a black dot with a number beside it represent on an OS map?

    • Trig point
    • Contour line
    • Spot height
    • Grid reference

  2. What does a blue triangle symbol with a number show on an Ordnance Survey map?

    • River source
    • Trig point
    • Spot height
    • Contour line

  3. A brown line labelled 150 on an OS map represents which map feature?

    • Grid line
    • Contour line
    • Spot height
    • Trig point

  4. What type of geographical drawing shows a side-on slice of the landscape along a specific line?

    • Contour plan
    • Aerial view
    • Sketch map
    • Cross-section

  5. On a cross-section graph, which value goes UP the side?

    • Distance from A to B
    • Rainfall in millimetres
    • Time of day
    • Height in metres

  6. Which calculation gives the correct formula for working out gradient?

    • Run over rise
    • Rise times run
    • Rise over run
    • Run minus rise

  7. A slope rises 60 m over a flat run of 300 m. What is the gradient as '1 in n'?

    • 1 in 6
    • 1 in 60
    • 1 in 5
    • 1 in 3

  8. A slope rises 40 m over a flat run of 800 m. What is the gradient as '1 in n'?

    • 1 in 20
    • 1 in 40
    • 1 in 2
    • 1 in 8

  9. A slope rises 50 m over a flat run of 500 m. What is the gradient as '1 in n'?

    • 1 in 5
    • 1 in 100
    • 1 in 50
    • 1 in 10

  10. Which of these gradients represents the steepest slope?

    • 1 in 50
    • 1 in 12
    • 1 in 4
    • 1 in 20

  11. When drawing a cross-section from A to B, in what order should contour heights be plotted?

    • Lowest to highest
    • In crossing order
    • Highest to lowest
    • Random order

  12. What colour are contour lines printed in on standard Ordnance Survey maps?

    • Green
    • Black
    • Blue
    • Brown

  13. A footpath rises 60 m over a flat run of 180 m. What is its gradient as '1 in n'?

    • 1 in 6
    • 1 in 30
    • 1 in 12
    • 1 in 3

  14. Which gradient is steeper: a 1 in 4 slope or a 1 in 20 slope?

    • 1 in 20
    • 1 in 4
    • Cannot be told
    • They are equal

  15. What landform is represented by a sequence of heights rising to 150 m then falling?

    • A flat plain
    • A steep cliff
    • A hill
    • A deep valley

  16. Land rises from 80 m to 160 m over a run of 200 m. What is the gradient as '1 in n'?

    • 1 in 2.5
    • 1 in 80
    • 1 in 25
    • 1 in 4

  17. Hill A is 200 m high over 2 km. Hill B is 200 m high over 400 m. Which is steeper?

    • Hill A is wider
    • Both are equal
    • Hill B
    • Hill A

  18. Slope X rises 40 m over 200 m. Slope Y rises 40 m over 800 m. Which slope is steeper, and what is its gradient?

    • Y, at 1 in 20
    • Y, at 1 in 5
    • X, at 1 in 20
    • X, at 1 in 5

  19. Which map feature shows height along a continuous line rather than at a single point?

    • Contour line
    • Spot height
    • Triangulation pillar
    • Grid line

  20. How is the gradient or steepness of a slope calculated in geography?

    • Run divided by rise
    • Rise multiplied by run
    • Rise divided by run
    • Contours minus distance

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