Which statement correctly describes outward and return runs in leveling?

• A. The outward run is from known to unknown points.
• B. The outward run is from known to unknown points, and the return run is the check leveling in the opposite direction.
• C. Both runs are measured in the same direction.
• D. The outward run measures only height; the return run measures only distance.

Answer: (B)

In leveling, you perform two passes along the line: an outward run and a return run. The outward run starts at a known point and moves toward unknown points, taking staff readings to establish their elevations relative to the known point. The return run is done in the opposite direction back toward the starting point to check the measurements and close the loop. This opposite-direction return helps reveal and cancel random errors (like misreads or instrument bias) by allowing a comparison between forward and backward readings; the difference indicates a closure error that should be within tolerance.

So the statement that outward run goes from known to unknown points, and the return run serves as the check leveling in the opposite direction, best captures how these two passes work together. The other options misstate the directions, or imply that one run measures only height and the other only distance, which isn’t how leveling readings are used in practice.