Answer: The term structure of interest rates and the time to maturity are always directly related.
Explanation:
The term structure of interest rates shows the relationship between interest rates and the different maturity periods of bonds. Normally, these move in the same direction i.e., the higher the maturity period, the higher the interest rate.
This however is not a given. It might be expected for instance that interest rates might drop in future. In such a situation, the interest might reduce with a longer maturity period which would depict an inverse relationship instead of a direct one.