Which term refers to the death rate?

• A. Mortality
• B. Biotic
• C. Cell
• D. Fungi

Answer: (A)

Mortality describes the death rate in a population. It’s the measure of how many individuals die during a specific time period, often expressed as deaths per 1,000 individuals per year. This differs from biotic, which refers to living components of an environment; a cell, the basic unit of life; and fungi, a kingdom of organisms. Because the question asks for the term that refers to the death rate, mortality is the precise term used in biology and public health to quantify deaths relative to population size and time.