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Multiple Choice
Which of the following animals would you expect to consume food at the highest rate (kilograms of food per kilogram of body weight per day)?
A
Dog
B
Human
C
Elephants
D
Sheep
E
Shrew
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the concept of metabolic rate: Smaller animals generally have higher metabolic rates compared to larger animals. This means they need to consume more food relative to their body weight to maintain their energy levels.
Consider the size and metabolic needs of each animal: Shrews are very small mammals with extremely high metabolic rates, requiring them to eat frequently and in large amounts relative to their body size.
Compare the metabolic rates: Larger animals like elephants have lower metabolic rates per unit of body weight compared to smaller animals like shrews.
Analyze the food consumption relative to body weight: Shrews need to consume a significant amount of food relative to their body weight each day to sustain their high energy demands.
Conclude that among the given options, the shrew, being the smallest and having the highest metabolic rate, would consume food at the highest rate per kilogram of body weight per day.