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

question 28

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 meaning of the word spasms in paragraph 1?

Definitions:

GDP

Gross Domestic Product, the total value of all goods and services produced within a country over a specified period.

Bureau of Labor Statistics

A division of the U.S. Department of Labor that collects, analyzes, and disseminates essential statistical data on labor economics.

Unemployment Insurance

A government program that provides financial assistance to individuals who are unemployed through no fault of their own.

Spells of Unemployment

Periods during which an individual is out of work and actively seeking employment.