Final answer:
The sentence 'A lot of British people ______ tea and ______' should be filled with option 1) drink, eat to correctly use the simple present tense to describe habitual actions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer to the sentence "A lot of British people ______ tea and ______" is option 1) drink, eat. This is because the sentence requires the use of the simple present tense to describe habitual actions or general truths. British people traditionally consume a significant amount of tea, which has been an important part of their culture and history, with the practice dating back to the 1700s when Indian tea became a staple in British society. As for eating, while it's not as culturally specific, the word 'eat' fills the second blank appropriately.