Question

Why can a person not swallow food and talk at the same time?
A. The brain cannot control two activities at the same time.
B. In order to speak, air must come through the pharynx to form sounds.
C. In order to swallow, the epiglottis must close off the larynx (trachea).
D. Both B and C are correct.

Answer 1

Hint: When we eat and swallow, in order to prevent food from going inside the air pipe, there is a protective flap or covering called the epiglottis.

Complete answer:
- Since we do speak and eat through the common opening called mouth, let us look into both of them separately.
- Speaking mainly involves vibration. Pharynx is the common passage for both air and food, and after that is where the separation takes place.
- There is a windpipe or trachea which has an opening called epiglottis which prevents food from entering the windpipe.
- While eating, the same process occurs till the pharynx, and after that food goes into oesophagus or food pipe. And the rest of the process continues in the digestive system.
So now let us analyze each of the options given:

Option A: The brain can control several activities at a time.

Option B: In order to speak, air must come through the pharynx to make sounds.

Option C: In order to swallow, the epiglottis must close off the trachea, to prevent the food blocking the respiratory pathway.

Since both B and C are right, thus the correct option is D) Both B and C.

Note: Larynx or the sound box is a part of this where the vocal cords used for making sounds are present. Air passes through them and the rest of the vibration takes place at the vocal cords.