© Oxford University Press 2016 1
Oxford Big Ideas Humanities 7 Victorian Curriculum Teacher obook assess ISBN 9780190307363
Permission has been granted for this page to be photocopied within the purchasing institution only.
Student book questions
2A Rich task: Perth’s water supply
Pages 5253
Skill drill: Using a map legend
In order to show the features on maps clearly, various symbols and colours are used. To help us unlock the
information on the map these symbols are explained in a legend (or key). There are three main types of
map symbols:
point symbols show features in one particular place (such as a railway station or desalination plant)
line symbols show features that connect places on the map (such as roads and rivers)
area symbols use colours or patterns to represent large areas (such as lakes and cities).
Apply the skill
1 Study Source 2.
a What symbol has been used for desalination plants on this map?
b Give an example of an area symbol used.
c How many groundwater treatment plants supply water to Perth?
d What do you notice about the location of the dams?
© Oxford University Press 2016 2
Oxford Big Ideas Humanities 7 Victorian Curriculum Teacher obook assess ISBN 9780190307363
Permission has been granted for this page to be photocopied within the purchasing institution only.
Extend your understanding
1 Look carefully at Source 3.
a Compare the annual flow of water into Perth’s dams before and after 1975. What difference can
you see?
b List the four years with the smallest annual inflows of water. What do you notice from this pattern?
c Why do you think the annual inflow of water changes so greatly between years?
2 What two other sources of water does Perth use to access water other than dams fed by rain?
3 Do you think it is possible to drought-proof a city? Give some reasons for your answer.
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Oxford Big Ideas Humanities 7 Victorian Curriculum Teacher obook assess ISBN 9780190307363
Permission has been granted for this page to be photocopied within the purchasing institution only.
4 What do you think will happen to the water in an aquifer if water continues to be pumped out of it for
use in a city such as Perth?
5 Why does Perth need more water now than it did 100 years ago?
6 What are some of the strategies being tried to address water problems in other parts of Australia?