Final answer:
The statement that best describes the uses of geography is that it helps people interpret the past, understand the present, and prepare for the future, encapsulating the essence of both physical and human geography.
Step-by-step explanation:
The best statement that describes the uses of geography, which is one of the six essential elements of geography, is: 'It helps people interpret the past, understand the present, and prepare for the future'. Geography as a discipline is vast and integrates studies from both physical and human geography. It helps individuals understand how physical landscapes and human actions have shaped the world throughout history and the roles they will continue to play in the future.
Geography can help in understanding how humans have adapted to environments (WG.2B), but it’s an overarching tool that also informs us about physical processes, spatial organization (WG.6A), and the interpretation of societal development and projections for future conditions (WG.1A). Therefore, by understanding the multiple facets of geography, one can appreciate how the study of earth's surfaces and human-environment interactions guide us in making informed decisions for the future.