The sudden spasmodic closure of the larynx.

• A. Angina
• B. Laryngospasm
• C. Anemia
• D. Anoxia

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is laryngospasm—a sudden, involuntary tightening of the muscles around the larynx that causes the vocal cords to come together and block the airway. This specific spasmodic closure of the larynx is what the term describes, and it can lead to rapid breathing difficulty or a high-pitched sound as air struggles to pass through the narrowed opening. It’s different from other conditions listed: angina is chest pain from reduced blood flow to the heart, anemia is low red blood cell or hemoglobin levels, and anoxia is a severe lack of oxygen reaching the tissues. The word used for this laryngeal closure is laryngospasm.