Which port typically has the fastest data transfer rate?

The choice of USB 3.0 as the answer is correct because USB 3.0 is designed to provide significantly faster data transfer rates compared to the other options listed. USB 3.0 can achieve speeds up to 5 Gbps (gigabits per second), which is substantially higher than the maximum speed of USB 2.0, which tops out around 480 Mbps (megabits per second).

FireWire, while also capable of high data transfer rates (with FireWire 800 operating at 800 Mbps), does not quite match the peak performance of USB 3.0. HDMI is primarily designed for transmitting audio and video signals, and while it can transfer data, its primary function does not cater specifically to data transfer rates like the others. Thus, USB 3.0 stands out as the option with the fastest data transfer capability for general use.