Which statement correctly describes a transect path?

• A. From the rural-urban fringe to the CBD
• B. From the center to outer suburbs only
• C. Along a single river bank only
• D. Circular around a study area

Answer: (A)

A transect path is a straight line used in fieldwork to collect data along a cross-section of the landscape, showing how land use and urban characteristics change from one area to another. It typically runs from the rural-urban fringe toward the central business district so you can observe the full gradient from outskirts to city center. This captures variation in density, land use, and building types along a single line. The other options don’t provide this cross-sectional view: moving only from center to outer suburbs misses the full rural-to-urban transition; following a single river bank focuses on one linear feature rather than across zones; and a circular route around the study area doesn’t sample changes along a linear cross-section.