Logical ordering – animals from smallest to largest (general body size) Arrange the following animals in increasing order of typical size: Elephant 2. Cat 3. Mosquito 4. Tiger 5. Whale
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A1, 3, 5, 4, 2
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B2, 5, 1, 4, 3
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C3, 2, 4, 1, 5
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D5, 3, 1, 2, 4
Answer
Correct Answer: 3, 2, 4, 1, 5
Explanation
Introduction / Context:Ordering by size requires broad real-world knowledge of animal biology. We use typical adult sizes, not exceptional individuals.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- Mosquito is a tiny insect; Cat is a small mammal.
- Tiger is a large feline; Elephant is a large terrestrial mammal.
- Whale (e.g., blue whale) is the largest animal on Earth.
Concept / Approach:Move from the smallest organism to the largest by comparing typical body length/mass ranges for adults of each species group.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Start with Mosquito (3) as the smallest.Next is Cat (2), a small domestic mammal.Tiger (4) exceeds cats by orders of magnitude.Elephant (1) is larger than big cats, among the largest land animals.Whale (5) is the largest overall, topping the list.Verification / Alternative check:Compare average adult masses: milligrams (mosquito) < kilograms (cat) < hundreds of kilograms (tiger) < several tons (elephant) < tens to hundreds of tons (whale).
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- Any order placing elephant before tiger and after whale incorrectly treats sizes.
- Sequences with mosquito not first or whale not last contradict obvious size extremes.
Common Pitfalls:Confusing individual extremes (e.g., small tigers vs. large cats) rather than typical adult sizes.
Final Answer:3, 2, 4, 1, 5