Passage II
When a 13-lined ground squirrel (a mammal) hibernates, it does not eat, and it alternates between periods of torpor (characterized by a reduced rate of metabolism, low body temperature, and little movement) and active bouts (characterized by a normal rate of metabolism, normal body temperature, and normal movement). Figure 1 shows the body temperature of a 13-lined ground squirrel during 12 consecutive months, including several months of hibernation. Figure 2 shows the average total blood cholesterol of a group of 13-lined ground squirrels at various times during the same 12 months.
Figures adapted from Jessica P. Otis et al., "Cholesterol and Lipoprotein Dynamics in a Hibernating Mammal."@2011 by Otis et al.
9. Which of the following statements about hibernation and total blood cholesterol is best supported by Figure 2? On average, the 13-lined ground squirrels total blood cholesterol was:
Your Answer is
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
From Figure 2, it can be seen that the values of July and May during the non-hibernation period are less than 300, and the values of December during the hibernation period are greater than 300, so choose A