It refers to the relationship which the distance between any two points on the map bears to the corresponding distance on the ground.

• A. Legend
• B. Map scales
• C. Projection
• D. Scale bar

Answer: (B)

Map scale is the ratio that links distances on a map to distances on the ground. It tells you how far apart two points on the map are compared with their real-world separation, whether as a fraction, ratio, or graphic scale. This is exactly what the statement is describing: the relationship between map distance and ground distance. The legend explains symbols, not distance relationships. Projection concerns how a curved surface is represented on a flat map and can distort measurements, while a scale bar is simply a ruler on the map that lets you measure distances using the map’s scale. So the concept described is map scales.