Which pair correctly contrasts Acute and Chronic definitions?

• A. Acute means long-term; Chronic means sharp
• B. Acute means sharp or severe; Chronic means long-term, recurring
• C. Acute means temporary; Chronic means immediate
• D. Acute and Chronic both mean the same

Answer: (B)

Acute refers to something that has a sudden, sharp or severe onset and is typically of short duration. Chronic describes something that lasts a long time, is persistent, or recurs repeatedly. The correct pairing matches both ideas: acute means sharp or severe in onset, and chronic means long-term and often recurring. For example, an acute injury happens suddenly and is addressed promptly, while a chronic condition persists over months or years and may flare up repeatedly. The other options mix up onset and duration or imply sameness, which isn’t accurate.