Which color is used for all man-made or cultural features, political subdivisions, place names, guidelines and lettering on the map?

• A. Blue
• B. Green
• C. Black
• D. Red

Answer: (C)

Color coding on maps relies on black to represent human-made or cultural features and to render labels clearly. This choice keeps political boundaries, place names, and general lettering highly legible against the map’s background, especially when the base colors emphasize natural features. Water is shown in blue and vegetation in green, so using black for the man-made elements avoids confusion and ensures consistent readability across different map areas. While red and blue have their own common uses (such as highlighting major roads or water features, depending on the map), black uniquely covers the broad category of man-made features and text, making the map easier to read at a glance.