Which system is used to describe land by dividing portions of the U.S. into a grid pattern using numbered lines?

The government survey method is the correct answer because it is a specific system established by the U.S. federal government for surveying and mapping land. This method divides land into a grid pattern using a series of numbered lines, which include principal meridians (north-south lines) and base lines (east-west lines) that create townships and sections. Each section is further divided into lots for more detailed land identification.

This systematic approach allows for precise identification and description of land parcels across the country, particularly in areas that are not already divided into lots or subdivisions. It is especially significant in rural and undeveloped areas where traditional lot-and-block methods may not be practical.

In contrast, the other options refer to different methods of land description or design, but they do not specifically utilize a grid-like division method. Lot, block, and subdivision is a local method used primarily in urban settings, while legal description is a general term for ways land can be described. Maps and plats serve as visual representations of land divisions but do not describe the grid system inherent to the government survey method.