Question

Why can a person not swallow food and talk at the same time? a. To swallow, the epiglottis must close off the trachea. b. The brain cannot control two activities at once. c. To speak, air must come through the larynx to form sounds. d. A swallowing reflex is only initiated when the mouth is closed. e. Both a and c are correct.

Short answer

The correct short answer is: e. Both a and c are correct.

Step-by-step solution

Understand Swallowing and Speaking Process

The swallowing process involves the act of pushing food from the mouth, through the pharynx, and into the esophagus, which leads to the stomach. During swallowing, the epiglottis, a small flap of cartilage, closes off the trachea (windpipe) to prevent food or liquid from entering the lungs. Speaking, on the other hand, involves the production of sound by the vibration of the vocal cords, which are located within the larynx. Air from the lungs passes through the larynx, causing the vocal cords to vibrate and produce sound.

Analyze Each Option

a. To swallow, the epiglottis must close off the trachea: This statement is true; the epiglottis must close off the trachea to prevent food from entering the lungs while swallowing. b. The brain cannot control two activities at once: This statement is false; the brain can control multiple activities simultaneously. c. To speak, air must come through the larynx to form sounds: This statement is true; air must pass through the larynx and vibrate the vocal cords to produce sound. d. A swallowing reflex is only initiated when the mouth is closed: This statement is false; swallowing can still occur even with an open mouth, although it may be more challenging. e. Both a and c are correct: Given that statements a and c are true, this option is also true.

Choose the Correct Answer

Based on our analysis, option e is the correct answer. A person cannot swallow and talk at the same time because the processes involved in swallowing (closing off the trachea by the epiglottis) and speaking (air passing through the larynx) cannot occur simultaneously.