Hiccups At Some Point in Your Life, You Have Probably Had

question 89

Multiple Choice

Hiccups
At some point in your life, you have probably had the hiccups. Hiccups are caused by spasms in the diaphragm, a muscle located at the bottom of your chest. As we inhale, the diaphragm contracts, pulling air into the lungs. As we exhale, the diaphragm relaxes, pushing air back out through the mouth and nose. When we hiccup, the diaphragm jerks downward suddenly, pulling a quick burst of air into our lungs. As the air rushes into your body, it hits the voice box. This causes your vocal cords to snap shut, creating the sound we recognize as a hiccup.
Hiccups can be triggered by many different things-eating too much, drinking too fast, sudden change of temperature, stress, fatigue, nervousness, and even excessive laughter can all cause the hiccups. While there are many home remedies for hiccups, there is no evidence to suggest that any of them are actually effective. In fact, most cases of the hiccups go away on their own.
Although hiccups are usually harmless, they can be a sign of something more serious. Long-term hiccups might be a result of damage to the nerves that serve the diaphragm muscle. Persistent hiccups might also be caused by certain central nervous system disorders, traumatic brain injuries, drug abuse, or kidney disease.
Question: What is the author's purpose in writing this passage?

• A)To assure readers that hiccups are nothing to worry about.
• B)To entertain readers with a personal story about the hiccups.
• C)To encourage readers to try home remedies when they have the hiccups.
• D)To inform readers about the hiccups and their many causes.

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Definitions:

Bases

In marketing, identified segments of the broader market grouped by shared characteristics or needs to target products or strategies effectively.

Perceptual Map

A visual tool used in marketing to display how target customers perceive a brand or product in comparison to competitors.

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The strategic process of establishing a product or brand's identity and value proposition in the minds of consumers, relative to competitors.