Which map element explains symbols on a map?

• A. To explain symbols on a map
• B. To indicate population totals
• C. To show the scale of distances
• D. To identify political leaders

Answer: (A)

The map element that explains symbols is the legend, also called the key. The legend is a dedicated box or panel that lists every symbol, color, or line used on the map and tells you what it represents. This lets you decode what you’re looking at—like recognizing that a blue square stands for a hospital or that a dashed line marks a boundary. That decoding function is exactly what explains the symbols on a map, so it’s the best match. The other features describe different purposes: a scale bar shows distances, population totals are conveyed through data displays or shading, and labels or insets show leaders rather than decoding symbols.