Which of the following best describes a map legend?

• A. It marks the scale of the map.
• B. It shows the direction of north.
• C. It explains symbols and colors used on the map.
• D. It lists population data.

Answer: (C)

A map legend serves as the key that explains the symbols and colors used on the map. It tells you what your map markings represent—like different kinds of roads, land use, or terrain shading—so you can read the map accurately and understand what you’re looking at. This makes it the best description because the legend’s purpose is specifically to decode the visual language of the map.

The scale shows how distances on the map correspond to real-world distances, which is a different feature. The direction indicator, or north arrow, tells you which way is north. Population data is typically presented separately as statistics or in a chart, not as the part that explains the map’s symbols and colors.