Q.Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow. A physical education teacher administers the Harvard Step Test to two Class 12 students on the same afternoon, using a metronome set to 120 beats per minute. Arun, a boy, uses the correct bench and steps for the full 5 minutes; his pulse count from 1 to 1.5 minutes after exercise is 78 beats. Kavya, a girl, stops after 4 minutes 15 seconds because of fatigue; her pulse count from 1 to 1.5 minutes after exercise is 96 beats.

The Harvard Step Test gauges cardiovascular endurance, and its Physical Fitness Index (PFI) compares how long a person stepped against the recovery pulse count. Both Class 12 students stepped to a metronome set to 120 beats per minute (30 steps per minute), and each sub-part below uses only that student's own recorded data.

1. Bench height: Arun, a boy, uses the 20-inch (50.8 cm) bench; Kavya, a girl, uses the 16-inch (40.6 cm) bench.
2. Arun stepped the full 5 minutes = 300 seconds with a pulse count of 78: PFI = (Duration in seconds x 100) / (5.5 x Pulse count) = (300 x 100) / (5.5 x 78) = 30,000 / 429 = 69.93, rounded to 70. Using the bands (up to 49 = Poor, 50-80 = Average, 81 and above = Good), 70 is Average.
3. Kavya stopped at 4 min 15 s = 255 seconds with a pulse count of 96: PFI = (255 x 100) / (5.5 x 96) = 25,500 / 528 = 48.30, rounded to 48, which is Poor. …

The Harvard Step Test measures cardiovascular endurance: a subject steps up and down on a bench at a fixed rate for up to 5 minutes, and the Physical Fitness Index (PFI) compares the duration of work done against the recovery pulse count. A higher index means faster recovery and better fitness. Because the test is standardised by bench height, stepping rate, and the exact pulse-count window, any deviation — the wrong bench, stopping early, or altering the duration used in the formula — breaks the comparison.

(i) Bench height each should have used

The prescribed bench heights are sex-specific: 20 inches (50.8 cm) for men/boys and 16 inches (40.6 cm) for women/girls. So Arun, a boy, should use the 20-inch bench (the passage confirms he did), and Kavya, a girl, should use the 16-inch bench.

(ii) Arun's Physical Fitness Index

Given: duration = full 5 minutes = 300 seconds; pulse count (1 to 1.5 min after exercise) = 78 (the raw 30-second count, not doubled).

PFI = (Duration in seconds x 100) / (5.5 x Pulse count)

PFI = (300 x 100) / (5.5 x 78) = 30,000 / 429 = 69.93

Rounded, Arun's PFI is 70. Using the prescribed bands (up to 49 = Poor, 50-80 = Average, 81 and above = Good), a score of 70 falls in 50-80, so Arun's fitness category is Average.

(iii) Kavya's Physical Fitness Index

Given: duration = 4 minutes 15 seconds = (4 x 60) + 15 = 255 seconds (her actual stepping time, since she stopped early); pulse count = 96.

PFI = (255 x 100) / (5.5 x 96) = 25,500 / 528 = 48.30

Rounded, Kavya's PFI is 48. A score of 48 falls in the up to 49 band, so Kavya's fitness category is Poor.

(iv) Why crediting Kavya with the full 300 seconds is wrong …