Metabolic-Rate Table — Question 15
Study Description and Data Table
A team of biologists measured the metabolic rate (in arbitrary units) of three closely related freshwater fish species at five different water temperatures, ranging from 30°C to 50°C. Each measurement was repeated three times and the mean is reported in Table 1.
Background: Metabolic rate generally rises with temperature in cold-blooded animals because biochemical reactions proceed more quickly at higher temperatures. The three species in this experiment inhabit overlapping but distinct natural temperature ranges; Species A is found in the coldest waters, Species C in the warmest.
Table 1. Metabolic rate at varying temperature:
| Temp (°C) | Species A | Species B | Species C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 2.5 | 3 | 3.5 |
| 35 | 2.9 | 3.4 | 3.9 |
| 40 | 3.3 | 3.8 | 4.3 |
| 45 | 3.7 | 4.2 | 4.7 |
| 50 | 4.1 | 4.6 | 5.1 |
Question
Answer choices
- remained constant across temperatures
- increased as temperature increased
- fluctuated with no clear trend
- decreased as temperature increased
B Correct answer: B) increased as temperature increased
All three columns of Table 1 show values increasing as the temperature row increases — a positive trend across the entire table.
On Science questions, the data table or graph is the answer key. Outside biology or chemistry knowledge is rarely needed; everything you need is in front of you.
When a question asks about a single species or a single condition, isolate just that row or column before answering. Looking at the whole table at once is the most common error.
The underlying rule
Trend questions ask for the overall direction (increase, decrease, no change). One outlier does not change a clear directional trend.
Why each wrong answer is wrong
- A) remained constant across temperatures: This option misreads the table — typically by grabbing the wrong row, the wrong column, or the wrong arithmetic operation.
- C) fluctuated with no clear trend: This option misreads the table — typically by grabbing the wrong row, the wrong column, or the wrong arithmetic operation.
- D) decreased as temperature increased: This option misreads the table — typically by grabbing the wrong row, the wrong column, or the wrong arithmetic operation.
Study tip
Treat ACT Science as graph-and-table reading, not biology trivia. The skills are essentially the same as reading a stock chart or a sports box score under time pressure.
More Easy Conflicting Viewpoints
- Metabolic-Rate Table — Question 1Read Table 1 and answer.
- Metabolic-Rate Table — Question 2Read Table 1 and answer.
- Metabolic-Rate Table — Question 3Read Table 1 and answer.
- Metabolic-Rate Table — Question 4Read Table 1 and answer.
- Metabolic-Rate Table — Question 5Read Table 1 and answer.