Which of the following values represents a typical healthy resting blood pressure level for an adult?

Introduction / Context:
This health and general science question tests your awareness of what is generally considered a healthy resting blood pressure for adults. Understanding normal blood pressure values is important for interpreting health reports, preventing hypertension, and recognising when to seek medical advice.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Blood pressure readings are given as systolic over diastolic in millimetres of mercury, written as mmHg.
• The question is about a typical healthy resting value for an adult, not about values during intense exercise or illness.
• Standard health guidelines describe approximate ranges for normal, elevated, and high blood pressure.

Concept / Approach:
Blood pressure measures the force of blood against artery walls. The systolic value is the pressure when the heart contracts, and the diastolic value is the pressure when the heart relaxes between beats. Common guidelines consider a resting blood pressure around 120/80 mmHg as a classic example of a normal value for a healthy adult. Higher readings such as 140/90 mmHg may indicate hypertension, especially if they persist over time. Lower readings like 90/60 mmHg may be normal for some individuals but can be associated with hypotension and symptoms in others. A combination like 120/140 mmHg is physiologically unrealistic because diastolic pressure should not exceed systolic pressure in a resting adult.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, you can refer to informational materials from recognised health organisations. They often show a diagram of a blood pressure gauge with 120/80 mmHg labelled as a traditional normal value, even though updated guidelines may refine the ranges. These sources also emphasise that one reading is not enough to diagnose a problem, but for exam purposes, 120/80 mmHg is widely used as the example of a healthy reading in adults at rest.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

140/90 mmHg is incorrect as a healthy resting value because it is generally considered high when measured consistently and is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

90/60 mmHg is incorrect as the best typical healthy value because, although it can be normal for some, it is at the lower edge of usual ranges and can be associated with low blood pressure symptoms in others.

120/140 mmHg is clearly wrong because diastolic pressure values should be lower than systolic values, so this pattern does not match normal human physiology.

Common Pitfalls:
One pitfall is to focus only on whether a number looks familiar rather than understanding the relationship between systolic and diastolic values. Some learners mistakenly assume that 140/90 mmHg is still normal because it appears in older charts or because many people have readings in that range. Others ignore the order of the numbers and choose a value where diastolic pressure is higher than systolic pressure, which is not realistic for healthy adults. Remember that normal ranges can vary slightly between guidelines, but 120/80 mmHg is the widely taught example of a healthy resting blood pressure in general science education.

Final Answer:
The typical healthy resting blood pressure level for an adult given in the options is 120/80 mmHg.