What is the first thing you draw on the terrain sketch?

• A. The horizon
• B. The skyline
• C. The contour line
• D. The ground line

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is to establish a perspective frame for the terrain sketch by drawing the skyline first. The skyline marks the distant boundary where terrain silhouettes against the sky, giving you a clear reference for scale and elevation. By placing this boundary upfront, you can judge how features will appear in the field of view and plot hills, ridges, and objects in proper relation to that distant profile. With the skyline in place, you then add other elements like contour lines and ground features, confident that their vertical placement and distances line up with the observer’s perspective.