Which statement is true about small scale maps?

Small scale maps are characterized by their ability to represent larger geographic areas while providing less detailed information. This is due to the ratio of map distance to actual distance on the ground; a small scale means that a small distance on the map corresponds to a much larger distance in reality. For instance, a map scale of 1:1,000,000 would be considered small scale, as it covers vast regions such as entire countries or continents, often sacrificing finer details for broader spatial context.

In contrast, large scale maps focus on smaller areas with much more detail, such as streets and individual buildings, which is why they wouldn’t be applicable for broad geographic representations. This context clarifies why the other options do not accurately describe small scale maps. They are not used for city planning, which typically requires detailed, larger scale maps, and while they may sometimes be printed on larger sheets of paper, the paper size itself is not a defining characteristic of small scale maps.