Which of the following criteria of classification of rural settlement is based on geometrical shapes?

Forms

The correct answer is Option (4) → Forms

Patterns of rural settlements reflect the way the houses are sited in relation to each other. The site of the village, the surrounding topography and terrain influence the shape and size of a village. Rural settlements may be classified on the basis of a number of criteria:

(i) On the basis of setting: The main types are plain villages, plateau villages, coastal villages, forest villages and desert villages.

(ii) On the basis of functions: There may be farming villages, fishermen’s villages, lumberjack villages, pastoral villages etc.

(iii) On the basis of forms or shapes of the settlements: These may be a number of geometrical forms and shapes such as Linear, rectangular, circular star like, T-shaped village, double village, cross-shaped village etc.