Which of the following measures of central tendency would be appropriate to describe the average pulse rates group of surgical patients?

Mean is the answer. Because if you want to get for the AVERAGE no. of pulse or an AVERAGE of any data, the most appropriate way is to get the summation of the data then divided it into the number of sample. Therefore you will get the average.

In some case, like if you want to get the age of people who is mostly has a problem in their circulation of blood including the high-blooded and low-blooded it is best to use MODE since you were looking for the most age of occurrence.

It is best to analyse your data first, know what you needed you solve or what you needed to answer.

God bless.