Which characteristic is defined as strength maintained over a prolonged period?

• A. Muscle power
• B. Muscle endurance
• C. Muscle strength
• D. Cardiovascular endurance

Answer: (B)

The concept being tested is endurance of the muscles—the ability to sustain performance or resist fatigue over time. Muscle endurance refers to how long a muscle or muscle group can continue to perform contractions, or how many repetitions it can complete before fatigue.

The described characteristic—strength maintained over a prolonged period—fits muscle endurance because it focuses on sustaining effort rather than producing a maximal single effort. This is different from muscle strength, which is the maximum force a muscle can generate in one effort; muscle power, which combines force and speed for explosive actions; and cardiovascular endurance, which relates to the body's ability to supply oxygen to muscles during extended activity, not the muscle’s fatigue resistance per se.