Relief on a map is indicated by lines that grow thicker with steeper slopes; these are called

• A. Hachures
• B. Contours
• C. Isolines
• D. Shading

Answer: (A)

Relief on a map is shown through markings whose appearance changes with how steep the terrain is. Hachures use short strokes to indicate relief; on flatter ground the strokes are light and spaced apart, but as the slope becomes steeper, the strokes appear thicker and denser, creating a stronger visual cue of rough terrain. That making of thicker or more prominent lines as slope increases fits exactly what’s described, so this method is the best match for indicating steeper terrain with line weight.

Contours show lines of equal elevation and emphasize shape and spacing to indicate slope, not line thickness. Isolines is a general term for lines of equal value but doesn’t specify this line-appearance cue. Shading relies on tonal changes to suggest relief rather than using lines that thicken with slope.