Final answer:
The sympathetic nervous system manages stress responses ('fight or flight'), while the parasympathetic nervous system is associated with calming the body, promoting digestion, and restoring balance ('rest and digest').
Step-by-step explanation:
The sympathetic nervous system is activated during stressful situations eliciting a "fight or flight" response, whereas the parasympathetic nervous system promotes a "rest and digest" state, calming the body after the stress and restoring homeostasis. Contrary to option 'b', it is the sympathetic, not the parasympathetic, that manages the body's stress response.
When trying to distinguish between these two divisions of the autonomic nervous system, remember that both have opposite effects on the organs. If you think of being stressed out by a sudden encounter with a snake, you can link the beginning letter 's' in 'snake' and 'sympathetic' nervous system. Conversely, when you're relaxing at a picnic, remember that both 'parasympathetic' and 'picnic' start with 'p', indicating the parasympathetic nervous system's role in peaceful situations.