Lesson Y9-U05-L07

GIS and Digital Mapping Quiz: KS3 Geography, Unit 17

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson Y9-U05-L07, GIS and Digital Mapping: 20 multiple choice questions for the KS3 Geography (National Curriculum), Unit 17: Year 9: Thinking Like a Geographer: Fieldwork and Geographical Enquiry, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. What does the abbreviation GIS stand for?

    • Global Internet Survey
    • Graphical Information Source
    • Geographical Information System
    • Geological Image Software

  2. In a GIS, what is a map layer?

    • A scale bar
    • A contour line
    • A separate dataset
    • A grid reference

  3. What does it mean to overlay two layers in a GIS?

    • Deleting one layer
    • Changing the scale
    • Merging data tables
    • Placing them together

  4. What does the distribution of a geographical feature describe?

    • Height and weight
    • Age and gender
    • Spread and location
    • Cost and value

  5. Which profession makes extensive use of GIS software?

    • Professional chef
    • Graphic designer
    • Town planner
    • Commercial pilot

  6. Which two GIS layers are essential for investigating flood threats to homes?

    • Flood risk and housing
    • Bus stops and factories
    • Soil type and wildlife
    • Traffic and shops

  7. How would you describe shops lined up along a main road with none on side streets?

    • Centrally concentrated
    • Randomly scattered
    • Evenly distributed
    • Clustered linearly

  8. What pattern does overlaying parks on a temperature map reveal?

    • Cooler near parks
    • No temperature link
    • Drier near parks
    • Warmer near parks

  9. Why is overlaying two datasets in GIS useful?

    • Deletes old data
    • Increases file size
    • Changes map scale
    • Shows relationships

  10. What sits beneath all other map layers to ensure locations line up?

    • Overlay layer
    • Grid reference
    • Base map
    • Contour line

  11. Why is it useful to switch off unused map layers?

    • Saves battery life
    • Keeps screen clear
    • Increases data scale
    • Adds new features

  12. Which word describes a repeated arrangement of features in space, such as features clustered together?

    • Anomaly
    • Spatial pattern
    • Qualitative data
    • Mean value

  13. What is the best conclusion when fast-food outlets cluster near schools?

    • Proves strict zoning
    • Guarantees free lunches
    • Possible pupil targeting
    • Random coincidence only

  14. What two elements should a map distribution description include?

    • Date and author
    • Colour and scale
    • Symbol and key
    • Location and spread

  15. Why should GIS conclusions rely on map evidence rather than opinion?

    • Speeds up printing
    • Ensures trustworthiness
    • Saves computer power
    • Removes all colours

  16. Why is a map showing only school locations classified as a single layer?

    • Compares two themes
    • Uses a base map
    • Contains no symbols
    • Shows one dataset

  17. Which two layers should you overlay to check if bus stops match local population?

    • Rivers and bridges
    • Soil and bedrock
    • Relief and rainfall
    • Bus stops and population

  18. Why must every GIS data layer sit over a base map?

    • Adds grid lines
    • Aligns real locations
    • Changes the title
    • Hides errors

  19. What does overlaying two data layers on a GIS map show instead of direct causation?

    • Correlation
    • Anomalies
    • Interpolation
    • Causation

  20. Which layers would you overlay to investigate air pollution near major roads?

    • Roads and relief
    • Pollution and roads
    • Pollution and parks
    • Pollution and geology

All KS3 Geography quizzes