What is the highest contour line in the mapped area?

This question tests the ability to read contour lines on a topographic map. Contour lines are lines drawn on a map connecting points of equal elevation above sea level. Each contour line is labelled with its height value, and the vertical spacing between successive contour lines is called the contour interval.

To find the highest contour line on the map, you must examine all the contour lines across the entire mapped area and identify the one with the greatest elevation value. On the Abada District map, contour lines are marked at regular intervals. Reading the values printed along the contour lines, the elevations shown include values such as 100, 200, 300, and 400 metres. The highest contour line visible on this map reaches 400 metres, located in the area of higher ground in the upper-central portion of the map where the terrain rises.

The other options can be eliminated by careful reading of the map. No contour line labelled 500 metres or 600 metres appears anywhere within the mapped area, so those values exceed the actual highest elevation shown. A value of 300 metres, while present on the map as a contour line, is not the highest one since the 400-metre contour line sits above it in the same elevated zone.

The correct answer is 400 metres.

Exam tip: When identifying the highest or lowest contour line on a map, systematically scan the entire map rather than focusing on just one area. Pay close attention to the numerical labels printed directly on the contour lines, especially in areas where the lines are closely spaced, which indicates steep terrain and often marks the highest ground.