Final answer:
A standard rectangular survey system section contains 640 acres, fitting within a township of 36 sections, and can be further subdivided into smaller parcels.
Step-by-step explanation:
A standard rectangular survey system section contains 640 acres. This system, introduced by the Land Ordinance of 1785, organizes land into townships and sections for easy division and sale. A township is a square that is six miles on each side and contains a total of 36 sections. Each section within the township is a square mile, equating to 640 acres. These sections can be further subdivided into quarter-sections of 160 acres and even smaller parcels of 40 acres, often used for homesteading and farming.
The facts regarding the subdivision of townships into plots, including the size of a section and the further division of land into quarter-sections and smaller lots, all come from the historical development of the United States land survey system. Thus, when inquiring about the size of a section within this survey system, the answer is B) 640 acres.