Final answer:
A road map is virtually always drawn to scale, where a scale factor is used to represent actual distances. By using the scale on a road map, one can accurately determine the distance between two points in real life.
Step-by-step explanation:
The item that is virtually always drawn to scale is B. A road map. A scale drawing is a representation in which small units of measure are used to represent larger actual units of measure, making it possible to accurately calculate distances in real life based on the map. Maps include a scale, typically with a ratio of map units to real-world units, enabling users to measure the distance between two points. For example, if Calvin drew a map with a scale factor of 1/800, this would mean that 1 unit on the map is equivalent to 800 units in reality.
Therefore, the distance between two places on the map can be used to determine the actual distance in meters or kilometers between the two locations. The use of a scale on a road map ensures that the depicted distances and areas are proportional to their real-world counterparts, which is essential for navigation and planning purposes.