Which system arouses the body during extreme emotion or when threatened?

• A. Sympathetic Nervous System
• B. Parasympathetic Nervous System
• C. Central Nervous System
• D. Peripheral Nervous System

Answer: (A)

The main idea is the body's rapid arousal response controlled by the sympathetic nervous system. When danger or strong emotion is detected, this system triggers the fight-or-flight response: heart rate and breathing increase, pupils dilate, blood flow shifts toward muscles, and energy is mobilized. This prepares you to act quickly. It’s part of the autonomic nervous system, which regulates involuntary body functions, while the parasympathetic branch calms and conserves energy after the threat. The central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) processes information, and the peripheral nervous system includes nerves outside the CNS. So, the system that arouses the body during extreme emotion or threat is the sympathetic nervous system.