Map Explorers Worksheet
Grade 5 • Informational Text ESL / Dual-Language Support
Reading Maps and Globes
Adapted from Encyclopedia Britannica / Newsela • Academic Reading Practice
Name / Nombre:
Date / Fecha:
Academic Cognates (Cognados):
Dimension ↔ Dimensión • Sphere ↔ Esfera • Elevation ↔ Elevación • Thematic ↔ Temático
¶ 1 Maps are essential tools in everyday life that provide a clear representation of our place in the world. A map displays a large geographic area through symbols and illustrations, whether depicting the Earth's surface, ocean floor, or celestial night sky.
¶ 2 Typically, a map is rendered in two dimensions on a flat surface. Because flattening a round object causes geometric distortion, flat maps cannot be completely exact. Since the Earth is a curved sphere, globes resolve this issue. A globe models a planet in three dimensions, usually mounted on an axle so it can rotate smoothly and portray true continental shapes and proportions.
¶ 3 To interpret a map accurately, readers examine its key (or legend) and symbols. Symbols are graphic marks that stand for real-world features: solid black lines frequently represent highways, circles or stars indicate major cities, and distinct color shading distinguishes forests from arid deserts. A compass rose displays the four cardinal directions—North, South, East, and West.
¶ 4 Global maps utilize a coordinate grid composed of imaginary lines measured in degrees. Lines of latitude run horizontally (parallel to the Equator), while lines of longitude (meridians) run vertically from the North Pole to the South Pole, measured from the Prime Meridian in Greenwich, England. Furthermore, cartographers calibrate the map scale to balance broad geographic coverage with fine local detail.
¶ 5 Geographers use distinct types of maps for specific analytical purposes:
• Political maps: emphasize governmental boundaries (fronteras) separating nations, territories, and states.
• Physical maps: illustrate natural topography and landforms. Curvy contour lines delineate elevations, indicating how many feet or meters land rises above sea level.
• Thematic maps: visualize specific data or statistical distributions, such as regional language patterns, population density, or climate zones.
Central Idea Summary Note • Resumen de Ideas Centrales
Synthesize paragraphs 1–5 into a cohesive summary:
Although flat maps and globes both model Earth,
because geographers use different tools such as
Grade 5 Informational Text • Reading Maps and Globes Page 1 of 2
Part 2 Text Evidence & POE Analysis
Passage Comprehension Practice
POE Rule: Eliminate 2 wrong choices before selecting.
1
The concept of a “symbol” is fundamental to cartography. Which sentence from Paragraph 3 BEST defines what a symbol is?
“Symbols are graphic marks that stand for real-world features.”
“A compass rose displays the four cardinal directions.”
“Typically, a map is rendered in two dimensions on a flat surface.”
2
Reread Paragraph 5. Which phrase provides the most direct context clue to understand the meaning of “elevations”?
“Emphasize governmental boundaries separating nations”
“Indicating how many feet or meters land rises above sea level”
“Visualize specific data or statistical distributions”
3
How does a thematic map differ fundamentally from a political map or a physical map?
It focuses on measurable data patterns rather than physical landforms or political borders.
It is spherical and mounted on an axle rather than printed on a flat surface.
It avoids using any keys, legends, or graphic symbols.
4
Based on Paragraph 2, why are 3D globes more geometrically accurate than 2D flat maps?
Globes preserve true spherical proportions without the geometric distortion caused by flattening.
Globes do not require a map scale or compass rose to show distance.
Globes only display rivers and mountain elevations.
Standard: RI.5.1, RI.5.4 (Evidence & Academic Vocabulary) Score: / 4
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