On a topographic map with a scale of 1:50,000, a distance of 4 cm measured between two towns represents an actual ground distance of

At a scale of 1:50,000, 1 cm on the map represents 50,000 cm (500 m or 0.5 km) on the ground. Therefore, 4 cm represents 4 × 0.5 km = 2 km. Distractors arise from confusing the scale ratio or failing to convert centimetres to kilometres correctly.