Part 1: Map Vocabulary and Reading

Bellora is a fictional region. A new town is needed for 2,000 people. Use the map and your social studies knowledge to answer the questions.

Skills: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.7 and CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.5.G.A.2

Border: ________________________________________________

Scale: __________________________________________________

Physical feature: _________________________________________

Human-made feature: ______________________________________

Part 2: Site-Selection Challenge

Recommend the best location for Bellora’s new town. Consider access to water, transportation, buildable land, hazards, and environmental protection.

Site A: Water __________ Transportation __________ Buildable land __________ Hazard risk __________ Environmental impact __________

Reasoning: ____________________________________________________________

Site B: Water __________ Transportation __________ Buildable land __________ Hazard risk __________ Environmental impact __________

Reasoning: ____________________________________________________________

Site C: Water __________ Transportation __________ Buildable land __________ Hazard risk __________ Environmental impact __________

Reasoning: ____________________________________________________________

Answer Key — Separate Final Page

1. Border: a line separating places or regions. Scale: a relationship between map distance and real distance. Physical feature: a natural part of Earth, such as a river, lake, mountain, forest, plain, or marsh. Human-made feature: something built by people, such as a road or town.

2. Pinecrest Mountains are north of Greenfield Plains. Greenfield Plains or the central plains are south of Lake Orin.

3. Greenfield Plains are east of River Luma near the center. The marsh or River Luma is west of Marsh Point.

4. The dashed line is the national border. The solid line is the provincial or state border.

5. Answers may vary. A reasonable estimate is about 25–30 miles, using the scale of 1 inch = 10 miles.

6. Any three: River Luma, Lake Orin, Pinecrest Mountains, Willow Forest, Greenfield Plains, or Marsh Point.

7. Reasonable comparisons: Site A has good road and river access but may have flood risk. Site B has broad, buildable plains and road access but is farther from the river and close to the national border. Site C has river and road access but is near Marsh Point, where wet ground may make building difficult and could increase environmental impact.

8–9. Answers may vary. A strong response may recommend Site B because it has open, buildable land and access to the major road while avoiding the marsh. Site A or Site C may also be acceptable if the evidence and trade-off are clearly explained.

Distance estimates may vary slightly depending on how students measure the map.