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Basic Navigation with Map and Compass – Typical Ultilearn Questions

1. The difference between true north and grid north arises because:

a) Lines of latitude and longitude do not match grid lines exactly

b) Lines of latitude are not parallel

c) Grid lines get closer together near the poles of the Earth

d) Lines of latitude and longitude match grid lines exactly

2. Which of these symbols represents true north?

a) Z

b) X

c) Y

d) W

3. Which north changes its position slightly over the years?

a) Geographic north

b) True north

c) Magnetic north

d) Grid north

4. What is the approximate difference between true north and grid north?

a) More than 10 degrees

b) 8 to 10 degrees

c) 6 to 8 degrees

d) 0 to 5 degrees

5. Which physical property of the Earth do we use, when navigating using a compass?

a) It rotates clockwise

b) The surface is covered with lines of latitude and longitude

c) Its gravitational field

d) Its magnetic field

6. Which north do you use when navigating with an Ordnance Survey map?

a) True

b) Magnetic

c) Grid

d) Actual

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7. Which of the following statements about the direction of magnetic north from locations in the UK, is

true?

a) It is the same as true north

b) It is the same as both true and grid north

c) It differs from both true and grid north

d) It is the same as grid north

8. Which of the following is not a method for determining north without a compass:

a) Using the shadow from a stick

b) Using a watch with the sun

c) Finding the pole star from The Plough

d) Finding wind direction

9. While on expedition in South Wales a cadet places a stick in the ground and watches the shadow move

from position 1 to position 2. Which arrow points north?

a) X

b) Z

c) W

d) Y

10. When using a watch to find north/south what should be pointed towards the sun?

a) The hour hand

b) The minute hand

c) The second hand

d) The 12 of the watch face

11 (a) Orientating a map using a watch shows which direction?

a) North

b) South

c) East

d) West

12. How can you tell where North is on a starry night?

a) Look for the brightest planet

b) Look for the brightest star

c) Find the Pole Star

d) Check the whereabouts of the moon at a specific time

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12a Which star constellation can be used to find True North?

a) Bear

b) Plough

c) Seven Sisters

d) Orion

13. The angular difference between magnetic north and grid north on a map is known as?

a) Grid magnetic angle

b) Compass deviation angle

c) Magnetic deviation angle

d) Grid deviation angle

13a. The angular difference between magnetic north and true north is called:

a) Magnetic Orientation

b) Magnetic Resection

c) Magnetic Deviation

d) Magnetic Variation

14. When using a compass to take a bearing on a distant object, you would first?

a) Turn the capsule so that the orienting arrow points at the object

b) Align the red compass needle to point at the object

c) Turn the capsule to subtract the GMA

d) Point the direction of travel arrow at the object

15. When using a map what is the first thing you do?

a) Range the map

b) Sight the map

c) Set the map

d) Organise the map

16. What is the best way to measure distances on a map?

a) Use a ruler

b) Use the edge of a Silva compass

c) Use straight edge of paper and mark it with a pencil

d) Use dividers

17. What is the compass we use for navigating when walking?

a) Prismatic compass

b) Standard RAF compass

c) Silva compass

d) DIC

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18. Identify the following feature found on an OS Map.

a) Contour Line

b) Railway Track

c) Footpath

d) B Road

19. When using a magnetic compass, why is it particularly important to hold it horizontal when taking a

reading?

a) To eliminate compass errors

b) To improve damping

c) To ensure that the needle floats freely

d) To minimise the effect of local magnetic attraction (eg from wire fences, electric cables, etc)

20. On a Silva walking compass what colour is the magnetic needle:

a) Red and black

b) White and blue

c) Blue and red

d) Red and white

21. What is the purpose of liquid in the capsule of a compass?

a) Prevents the needle from moving

b) Allows the needle to settle down quickly

c) Increases the needle's sensitivity

d) Allows the needle to be seen more clearly

22. What measure is used in the compass scale?

a) Inches

b) Millimetres

c) Centimetres

d) Feet

23. There are several lines within the rotating Compass housing. What are these called?

a) North Lines

b) Direction of Travel Lines

c) Orientating Lines

d) Easting Lines

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24. What is the name of the fixed line found on the base of the compass outside of the rotating part?

a) The Maginot Line

b) The Direction of Travel Line

c) The Compass Line

d) The Bearing Line

24a What saying helps us to remember how to change magnetic bearings to grid bearings?

a) MAG to GRID - ADD

b) Always a plus

c) MAG to GRID - get RID

d) MAG to GRID – Multiply

25. The grid bearing between 2 features on a map was measured to be 040 degrees (Grid). If the grid

magnetic angle is 6 degrees west of grid north, what is the magnetic bearing?

a) 046 degrees

b) 040 degrees

c) 034 degrees

d) 043 degrees

26. The direction of a track drawn between two places on a map is measured against the grid-lines and

found to be 102 degrees (Grid). If magnetic north is 5 degrees west of grid north, what is the magnetic

bearing of the track?

a) 097 degrees (M)

b) 102 degrees (M)

c) 107 degrees (M)

d) 095 degrees (M)

27. You are at a point where variation is 1 degree W, and Grid Magnetic Angle is 6 degrees W. If the

magnetic bearing of a trig point is 150 degrees what is its Grid bearing?

a) 144 degrees

b) 156 degrees

c) 143 degrees

d) 157 degrees

28. The bearing of an object taken with a compass is found to be 280 degrees (M) and the map shows

that Magnetic north is 10 degrees west of Grid north. What is the grid bearing?

a) 280 degrees (Grid)

b) 260 degrees (Grid)

c) 290 degrees (Grid)

d) 270 degrees (Grid

29. What is resection?

a) Use reciprocal bearings

b) Take three bearings to separate features and the middle of the triangle is your position

c) Draw a cross section of the surrounding contours

d) Back track

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30 To take a bearing between 2 features on a map you would first place the compass on the map so that

its longest edge runs through both features and its direction of travel arrow points in your intended

direction of travel. You would then?

a) Turn the map and compass together until the needle falls into the orienteering arrow

b) Turn the capsule on the compass to deduct the grid magnetic angle

c) Turn the capsule on the compass so that its orienting lines are parallel to the north-south grid line

d) Turn the capsule on the compass until the needle falls into the orienting arrow

31. A grid bearing from a M726 series OS map on which the magnetic variation is westerly can be

converted to a magnetic bearing by:

a) Adding the angular difference between magnetic north and grid north

b) Adding the angular difference between grid north and true north

c) Subtracting the angular difference between grid north and true north

d) Subtracting the angular difference between magnetic north and grid north

32. What is the Naismith's Rule?

a) 5 kph overall

b) 5 kph plus an hour for any climbing

c) 4 kph as measured on the map, plus half an hour for every 300m climbed

d) 3 kph overall

32a. How do you calculate walking time using Naismith's Rule?

a) 4 kph overall

b) 4 kph plus 1 minute for every 10 m climbed

c) 4 kph as measured on the map, plus half an hour for every 500m climbed

d) 3 kph overall

33. How much time should be added to a journey for every 200 metres of steep descent, using Naismith's

rule?

a) 5 minutes

b) 20 minutes

c) 15 minutes

d) 10 minutes

34. How can you estimate distance covered from your last check point?

a) Consult your GPS

b) Use your mobile phone

c) Measure the time taken and calculate at 4km per hour

d) Use a pedometer

35. What is "handrailing"?

a) Walking on a compass bearing

b) Never straying from well-defined paths

c) Walking with you map set

d) Following a linear feature to your destination

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36. Contouring means:

a) Walking around a hill

b) Gaining as much height as possible

c) Losing as much height as possible

d) Walking over a hill

36a. What can a 'Roamer' be used for?

a) To set or orientate a map

b) To find an accurate six figure grid reference

c) To measure distance on a map

d) To find a back bearing

37. What is an "attack point"?

a) The summit of any hill

b) An easily identifiable feature that is close to your objective

c) Any trig point

d) Any prominent feature close to your objective

38. Measuring distances accurately whilst out walking helps you particularly to?

a) Choose the shortest route

b) Calculate magnetic variation

c) Calculate the gradient

d) Reduce the area of uncertainty in your position

39. Measuring distances accurately whilst hillwalking is important because it:

a) Calculates your speed of travel

b) Pinpoints your position accurately

c) Assists you in keeping on schedule

d) Chooses the shortest route

40. Pacing can be an accurate method of measuring distance if carried out over:

a) Short distances

b) Long distances

c) To a count of 5,000

d) Medium distances

41. A cadet is able to walk 1km over reasonably flat ground in 20 mins. How long would it take him to

cover a distance of 4.5km over similar terrain?

a) 60 mins

b) 90 mins

c) 40 mins

d) 120 mins

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43. A cadet decides to follow a stream down from the hill-side because she knows that the stream runs

close to her campsite. The cadet is using a navigational techniques known as:

a) Handrailing

b) Using attack points

c) Contouring

d) Aiming Off

44. The diagram shows:

a) Occluded front

b) Cold front

c) Warm front

d) Anti-cyclone

44a The diagram shows?

a) Depression

b) Occluded front

c) Warm front

d) Cold front

44b What is a weather system called when a cold front catches up with a warm front?

a) Depression

b) Cyclone

c) Anticyclone

d) Occluded front

42. When moving from point A to the bridge on the picture shown, which technique is being used?

a) Contouring

b) Boxing round

c) Aiming Off

d) Handrailing

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45. Depressions move under the influence of:

a) Warm fronts

b) Upper winds

c) Cold fronts

d) Lower winds

46. Upper winds are generally responsible for?

a) The strength of the surface wind

b) Movement of a depression

c) Poor weather

d) Fine weather

47. Lines on a weather chart joining points of equal pressure are called:

a) Occluded fronts

b) Warm fronts

c) Isobars

d) Cold fronts

48. High level cloud names could begin with the prefix

a) Alto

b) Strato

c) Cirro

d) Nimbo

49. Name this MEDIUM level cloud formation.

a) Stratus

b) Nimbostratus

c) Altocumulus

d) Cirrus

50 When alto is used as a prefix in a name of a type of cloud, that cloud may be found at:

a) High level

b) Any level

c) Low level

d) Medium level

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51. Name this HIGH level cloud formation.

a) Cirrus

b) Cirrostratus

c) Altostratus

d) Cirrocumulus

52. Name this HIGH level cloud formation.

a) Stratus

b) Nimbostratus

c) Altocumulus

d) Cirrus

53. Name this LOW level cloud formation.

a) Stratus

b) Nimbostratus

c) Cumulus

d) Cirrus

54. Which of these would be found only at high level?

a) Stratocumulus

b) Altostratus

c) Altocumulus

d) Cirrostratus

55 Cloud names may have a prefix which indicates the height of the cloud base. Which of these indicates

a cloud with a base at medium level?

a) Nimbo

b) Alto

c) Strato

d) Cirro

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56. Stratus is what type of cloud?

a) Featureless layer

b) Hair-like

c) Lumpy of heaped

d) Thread-like

57. Which of these types of air mass brings cold dry weather with little or no cloud to the British Isles in

winter?

a) Polar continental via the short sea-track

b) Polar continental via the long sea route

c) Returning polar maritime

d) Polar maritime

58. Which air mass originates around the equator and brings warm, cloudy weather to the UK in both

summer and winter?

a) Tropical maritime

b) Tropical continental

c) Arctic maritime

d) Polar maritime

59. Which air mass starts off very cold with dry air but arrives in the UK warm and wet?

a) Tropical continental

b) Arctic maritime

c) Polar maritime

d) Returning polar maritime

59. Which air mass is called Tropical Continental?

a) Z

b) W

c) Y

d) X

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60. Which air mass is called Tropical Maritime?

a) X

b) W

c) Y

d) Z

61. Which air mass is called Returning Polar Maritime?

a) X

b) Z

c) Y

d) W

62. Which air mass is called Arctic Maritime?

a) W

b) Y

c) X

d) Z

63. In the diagram the dotted lines represent the upper wind and the solid lines the lower wind. If you

stood at Y with your back to the lower wind and the upper wind is moving from left to right:

a) There will be no change in the weather for a while

b) You'll feel a warm wind in your face

c) The weather is likely to improve

d) The weather is likely to deteriorate