Which of the following describes a characteristic of a scale model?

A scale model is specifically designed to be a smaller or larger representation of an object while maintaining proportionality in its features. This means that the dimensions, shapes, and relationships among various parts of the model correspond to those of the original object, ensuring that the model accurately reflects the original's characteristics, albeit at a different size.

For example, if an architect creates a scale model of a building, every aspect of that model, such as height, width, and depth, would maintain the same ratio as the actual building to allow for an accurate visualization. This proportionality is crucial in fields like architecture, engineering, and design because it allows viewers to understand the dimensions and layout of the original object without needing to see it in its full size.

In contrast, the other options suggest characteristics that do not accurately define a scale model. A scale model typically represents the entire object, not just a part of it. It should always be either smaller or larger than the original, but not in a way that distorts the proportions of its features. Therefore, maintaining proportionality is what distinguishes a scale model from other types of representations.