Discrete motor skills are characterized by which of the following?

• A. They are continuous and recurring.
• B. They have a distinct beginning and end.
• C. They require no practice.
• D. They involve coordination only of the eyes.

Answer: (B)

Discrete motor skills are defined by a clear beginning and end, making the movement a finite, single action. This brevity means a throw, a single jump, or flipping a switch can be viewed as one whole, easily practiced segment where timing and form are focused on the start and finish. This contrasts with continuous skills, like running or swimming, which have no obvious start or end and can keep going for a long duration. It’s also not true that these require no practice; even brief actions benefit from practice to improve consistency and accuracy. And while eye coordination can play a role in many skills, discrete actions rely on coordinated limb or body movements as a whole, not just the eyes.