Topographical maps have contour lines that connect areas of equal elevation.

• A. Isotherms
• B. Contour lines
• C. Meridians
• D. Latitude lines

Answer: (B)

Contour lines on a topographic map connect points that share the same elevation above sea level. They reveal the shape of the terrain—the height of hills, the depth of valleys, and how steep or gentle the landscape is by how close or far apart the lines are. When contour lines are crowded together, you’re looking at a steep slope; when they’re spaced apart, the slope is gentler. The lines don’t cross and usually form closed loops around peaks or depressions, helping you read whether you’re climbing a hill or entering a basin.

Other kinds of lines on maps describe different things: isotherms connect points of equal temperature; meridians are lines of longitude used to measure east-west position; and latitude lines run parallel to the equator to show north-south position. None of these indicate elevation in the way contour lines do.