Final answer:
Cylindrical map projections, such as the Mercator projection, indeed have a rectangular grid with parallels and meridians intersecting at right angles, which is true.
Step-by-step explanation:
Indeed, the assertion that cylindrical map projections, exemplified by the Mercator projection, feature a rectangular grid where parallels and meridians intersect at right angles is accurate. The Mercator projection, specifically, unfolds the Earth's surface onto a cylinder, elongating all lines of latitude to match the length of the equator. Consequently, this results in the creation of a grid where lines of latitude and longitude form a perpendicular lattice.
While the Mercator projection serves as a valuable tool for navigation due to its conformal nature—preserving angles and facilitating accurate direction—it comes with inherent drawbacks. Notably, as one ventures farther from the equator, distortions become increasingly conspicuous. The stretching effect on latitude lines leads to significant size discrepancies in continents and distortions in distances. This aspect is particularly pronounced towards the polar regions, where the Mercator projection amplifies the scale of landmasses, imparting an inaccurate representation of their true size.
In summary, the true and perpendicular grid characteristic of cylindrical map projections like the Mercator serves practical navigation purposes, but the consequential distortions in size and distance compromise its fidelity as an accurate representation of the Earth's geography, especially as one moves away from the equator.