( ( A ( topographic map ) ) ( ( ( expresses ( ( ( the shape ) ( -LRB- ( elevation -RRB- ) ) ) ( of ( ( the surface ) ( of ( the land ) ) ) ) ) ) ( by ( ( the use ) ( of ( contour lines ) ) ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (DT A) (JJ topographic) (NN map)) (VP (VBZ expresses) (NP (NP (NP (DT the) (NN shape)) (PRN (-LRB- -LRB-) (NP (NNP elevation)) (-RRB- -RRB-))) (PP (IN of) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN surface)) (PP (IN of) (NP (DT the) (NN land)))))) (PP (IN by) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN use)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NN contour) (NNS lines)))))) (. .)))
A topographic map expresses the shape (elevation) of the surface of the land by the use of contour lines.
(ROOT (S (NP (NNP Contour) (NNS lines)) (VP (VBP show) (NP (NP (DT the) (JJ three-dimensional) (NN shape)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NN land))))) (. .)))