On most standard topographical maps, what does the colour black usually represent?

Introduction / Context:
This question is about conventional symbols and colour usage on topographical maps. Map reading is an essential skill in geography, and different colours are typically assigned to different types of features. Knowing what the colour black usually represents helps you quickly identify features when interpreting a map. The question asks you to select the correct category of features that black is normally used for on such maps.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The focus is on standard topographical maps used in school and survey references.
• The colour in question is black.
• The options include contours, water bodies, woodland, and man made features like roads and buildings.
• We assume standard cartographic conventions where colours have relatively fixed meanings.

Concept / Approach:
In many conventional topographic maps, the colour scheme is roughly as follows: blue is used for water bodies, brown for contours and elevation lines, green for vegetation such as forests, and black for man made or cultural features such as roads, railways, buildings, and administrative boundaries. While there can be minor variations between different map series, these broad rules are widely taught in geography courses. Therefore, black corresponds mainly to human constructed features on the map.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the standard colour code: blue for water, brown for contours, green for vegetation, and black for cultural features. Step 2: Match this with the options. Contours and elevation lines are usually drawn in brown, not black. Step 3: Water bodies such as rivers and lakes are typically shown in blue, not black. Step 4: Woodland or forest areas are usually shown in green. Step 5: Man made features such as roads, railways, buildings, and boundary lines are shown using black symbols, making option D correct.

Verification / Alternative check:
If you have ever looked at a Survey of India topographic sheet or similar maps, you might remember that roads and buildings are drawn with dark lines and symbols, which are usually black. Contour lines, in contrast, stand out in brown tones, and rivers are clearly visible in blue. This visual memory supports the standard colour code and confirms that black is used mainly for constructed features and boundaries.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A, contours and elevation lines, is incorrect because these are conventionally shown in brown. Option B, water bodies, is wrong because streams, rivers, lakes, and seas are nearly always shown in blue. Option C, woodland areas, is inaccurate because forests and other vegetation are indicated in green. These options conflict with the familiar colour conventions taught in map reading exercises.

Common Pitfalls:
A common pitfall is assuming that colours on one special map series represent a universal rule. There are some exceptions, but in standard school level topographic maps, the colour scheme described above is consistent. Another mistake is to focus on personal intuition, such as thinking green must indicate borders because it is dark, rather than relying on formal cartographic rules. Regular practice with actual maps is the best way to fix these meanings in your memory.

Final Answer:
On most standard topographical maps, black is used to represent man made features such as roads, buildings, and boundaries.