Meaning: 'Social' refers to anything related to society or its organization, emphasizing the interactions and relationships among individuals.

Wrong options:

• intellectual: 'Intellectual' pertains to mental activities and knowledge, which does not capture the essence of community interaction as effectively as 'social'.
• economic: 'Economic' relates to the production and consumption of goods and services, which is not the primary focus of the sentence about life characteristics.
• cultural: 'Cultural' refers to the ideas, customs, and social behavior of a particular people or society, but it does not directly address the characteristic of life being discussed.
• political: 'Political' relates to government or public affairs, which is not relevant to the general characteristic of life being highlighted.

Correct answer: fundamental

Explanation: The word 'fundamental' indicates that activity is essential and foundational to life, fitting well within the context of the sentence that emphasizes the importance of activity.

Meaning: 'Fundamental' means basic or essential, indicating that activity is a core aspect of life.

Wrong options:

• desirable: 'Desirable' suggests something that is wanted or wished for, but does not convey the necessity implied in the context.
• final: 'Final' indicates something that is last or conclusive, which does not relate to the ongoing nature of activity in life.
• necessary: 'Necessary' implies that something is required, but 'fundamental' conveys a stronger sense of being essential to the nature of life.
• secondary: 'Secondary' suggests something of lesser importance, which contradicts the idea that activity is a primary characteristic of life.

Correct answer: drilling

Explanation: The verb 'drilling' fits contextually as it describes the specific action miners are engaged in, aligning with the activities mentioned in the passage.

Meaning: 'Drilling' refers to the act of making a hole in the ground, which is a common task for miners.

Wrong options:

• cutting: 'Cutting' is a broader term that could apply to various activities but does not specifically describe the action of miners in this context.
• filling: 'Filling' implies putting something into a space, which does not accurately represent what miners do in underground chambers.
• working: 'Working' is too vague and does not specify the type of activity miners are engaged in, lacking the precision needed here.
• lurking: 'Lurking' suggests hiding or remaining concealed, which is not relevant to the active role of miners.

Correct answer: pour

Explanation: The verb 'pour' effectively conveys the idea of a large number of people moving in and out fluidly, fitting the context of bustling activity in stores and offices.

Meaning: 'Pour' means to flow or move in a steady stream, which describes how people are entering and exiting places.

Wrong options:

• come: 'Come' is too general and does not capture the sense of a large, continuous movement as effectively as 'pour'.
• go: 'Go' also lacks the specific imagery of a large group moving fluidly, making it less suitable for this context.
• mob: 'Mob' implies a chaotic or unruly group, which does not fit the more organized movement suggested in the passage.
• crowd: 'Crowd' suggests a large group but does not convey the action of moving in and out as vividly as 'pour'.

Correct answer: seeking

Explanation: The verb 'seeking' fits grammatically and contextually, indicating that individuals are actively looking for personal profit and satisfaction, aligning with the overall theme of activity.

Meaning: 'Seeking' means to look for or try to obtain something, which in this case refers to personal gain.

Wrong options:

• asking: 'Asking' implies requesting information or help, which does not encompass the broader idea of pursuing personal profit.
• talking: 'Talking' refers to verbal communication, which does not directly relate to the pursuit of personal profit and satisfaction.
• breaking: 'Breaking' suggests causing something to separate or stop functioning, which is unrelated to the context of seeking profit.
• counting: 'Counting' refers to determining the number of items, which does not align with the idea of pursuing personal goals.