Certified Residential Appraiser Practice Exam

The Rectangular Survey method is based on what type of imaginary lines?

1. Latitude and Longitude

2. North and East lines

3. Base Lines and Principal Meridians

4. Section and Quartile Lines

The correct answer is: Base Lines and Principal Meridians

The Rectangular Survey method, also known as the Public Land Survey System (PLSS), is fundamentally based on the concepts of Base Lines and Principal Meridians. This system was established to create a standardized method of land description and division across the United States, facilitating the sale and ownership of land. Principal Meridians are north-south lines that serve as the starting point for the survey in a specific area, while Base Lines are east-west lines that intersect with these meridians. Together, they create a grid-like structure upon which land is further divided into townships and sections. This organization not only aids in identifying specific parcels of land but also streamlines legal land descriptions and simplifies property transactions. The other options refer to concepts that do not form the backbone of the Rectangular Survey method. Latitude and longitude represent a geographic coordinate system used for global positioning, while North and East lines and Section and Quartile Lines denote divisions or directions that might be related to land surveys but are not the foundational elements of the Rectangular Survey system itself.