Meaning: 'Not enough' means insufficient or inadequate, indicating that there is a lack of time or money, which contributes to feelings of stress.

Wrong options:

• too much: 'Too much' implies an excess, which contradicts the context of feeling stressed due to a lack of resources.
• less: 'Less' is a comparative term that does not fit well in this context, as it does not convey the same meaning of insufficiency as 'not enough.'
• rare: 'Rare' suggests infrequency, which is irrelevant to the context of stress related to time or money.

Correct answer: borders

Explanation: The word 'borders' is appropriate as it signifies limits or boundaries, which aligns with the context of the sentence discussing the widespread nature of stress. It fits grammatically and contextually, indicating that stress knows few limitations.

Meaning: 'Borders' refers to the boundaries or limits of something, suggesting that stress is not confined by geographical or social boundaries.

Wrong options:

• people: 'People' would imply that stress is limited to certain individuals, which contradicts the idea that it is a common emotion experienced broadly.
• groups: 'Groups' suggests a collective, which does not accurately reflect the individual nature of stress as described in the passage.
• limit: 'Limit' is singular and does not match the plural context of the sentence, making it grammatically inconsistent.

Correct answer: polling

Explanation: The term 'polling' is the correct choice as it refers to the process of surveying public opinion, which fits the context of the sentence discussing reported experiences of stress. It is grammatically correct and contextually relevant to the data collection mentioned.

Meaning: 'Polling' means conducting surveys to gather opinions or data from a group of people, in this case regarding their experiences with stress.

Wrong options:

• election: 'Election' refers to a formal decision-making process, which does not relate to the context of gathering opinions about stress.
• selection: 'Selection' implies choosing from a group, which does not fit the context of surveying experiences.
• choice: 'Choice' refers to the act of selecting, which is not relevant to the context of data collection about stress.

Correct answer: intense

Explanation: The word 'intense' is suitable as it describes a high degree of anxious feelings, fitting well within the context of the sentence about heightened emotions during the holidays. It is grammatically correct and contextually appropriate.

Meaning: 'Intense' means having a strong or extreme degree, indicating that feelings of anxiety are heightened during the holiday season.

Wrong options:

• random: 'Random' suggests a lack of order or predictability, which does not accurately describe the nature of anxious feelings during the holidays.
• sporadic: 'Sporadic' implies irregular occurrences, which does not convey the consistent intensity of feelings described in the passage.
• sparse: 'Sparse' means thinly dispersed or scattered, which contradicts the idea of heightened feelings during a specific time.

Correct answer: sometimes

Explanation: The word 'sometimes' fits grammatically and contextually as it indicates occasional feelings of life being beyond control, aligning with the overall sentiment of the sentence. It accurately reflects the frequency of such feelings among the surveyed individuals.

Meaning: 'Sometimes' means occasionally or at certain times, indicating that people do not feel overwhelmed all the time but do experience it periodically.

Wrong options:

• always: 'Always' suggests a constant state, which does not match the context of occasional feelings of being out of control.
• seldom: 'Seldom' implies infrequency, which contradicts the context of the survey indicating that many people do feel overwhelmed.
• often: 'Often' suggests a higher frequency than 'sometimes,' which does not accurately reflect the data presented in the survey.