Which of the following lists contains only major terrain features?

Which of the following lists contains only major terrain features?

• A. Hill, Saddle, Valley, Ridge
• B. Draw, Spur, Cliff, Cut
• C. Hill, Draw, Ridge, Cut
• D. Valley, Depression, Cut, Cliff

Answer: (A)

Major terrain features are the four large landforms used in terrain analysis: hill, ridge, valley, and saddle. These define broad, continuous elevations and shapes that influence lines of sight, movement, and concealment across terrain, making them the primary categories for planning and navigation. This list is the best because it includes exactly those four defining features. The other options mix in minor terrain features like draws, spurs, cliffs, cuts, and depressions—smaller, localized elements that don’t represent the major categories used for high-level terrain understanding. On a topographic map, hills appear as closed contours indicating rising elevation, ridges show a long, narrow crest of high ground with parallel contour lines, valleys are low areas often containing a stream with contour lines that bend toward the higher ground, and saddles are low points between two ridges giving a pass-like shape. These four together form the framework for analyzing terrain at a broad scale, which is why they are the correct focus.

Major terrain features are the four large landforms used in terrain analysis: hill, ridge, valley, and saddle. These define broad, continuous elevations and shapes that influence lines of sight, movement, and concealment across terrain, making them the primary categories for planning and navigation.

This list is the best because it includes exactly those four defining features. The other options mix in minor terrain features like draws, spurs, cliffs, cuts, and depressions—smaller, localized elements that don’t represent the major categories used for high-level terrain understanding.

On a topographic map, hills appear as closed contours indicating rising elevation, ridges show a long, narrow crest of high ground with parallel contour lines, valleys are low areas often containing a stream with contour lines that bend toward the higher ground, and saddles are low points between two ridges giving a pass-like shape. These four together form the framework for analyzing terrain at a broad scale, which is why they are the correct focus.