On a topographic map, a hill is indicated by which contour pattern?

• A. Concentric contour lines indicating high elevation
• B. Dashed lines
• C. Hatched shading only
• D. A blue shaded area

Answer: (A)

Contour lines on a topographic map show elevation, and hills appear as concentric closed loops with higher elevation toward the center. The innermost loop marks the summit, so this pattern—nested, increasing elevations toward the middle—best represents a hill. Dashed lines aren’t the standard way to show elevation and often represent approximate or non-contour features; hatched shading isn’t used to denote a hill, and blue shading indicates water features, not land elevation.