Which statement about protractor orientation is correct?

Which statement about protractor orientation is correct?

• A. The base line is perpendicular to north-south grid lines; 0° is toward the bottom.
• B. The base line runs diagonally across the map.
• C. 0° or 360° mark is toward the top, and 90° is to the right.
• D. The base line is parallel to east-west grid lines; 90° is to the left.

Answer: (C)

Understanding how bearings are read on a map is key. When the map is oriented with north at the top, bearings are measured clockwise from north. So the 0° (and 360°) mark points to the top, and 90° points to the right (east). This setup makes it easy to read directions: 180° is the bottom (south) and 270° is the left (west). The statement that 0°/360° is at the top and 90° is to the right matches this standard bearing orientation. The other descriptions would place the reference directions inconsistently with how bearings are normally read on maps.

Understanding how bearings are read on a map is key. When the map is oriented with north at the top, bearings are measured clockwise from north. So the 0° (and 360°) mark points to the top, and 90° points to the right (east). This setup makes it easy to read directions: 180° is the bottom (south) and 270° is the left (west). The statement that 0°/360° is at the top and 90° is to the right matches this standard bearing orientation. The other descriptions would place the reference directions inconsistently with how bearings are normally read on maps.