Final answer:
The role of preparing the body for the fight-or-flight response is served by the sympathetic nervous system. The correct answer is option 1).
Step-by-step explanation:
Preparing the body for the fight-or-flight response is the role of the sympathetic nervous system. When an individual encounters a perceived threat, the sympathetic nervous system orchestrates a series of involuntary reactions that prepare the body either to stay and confront the threat (fight) or to escape to safety (flight).
This system rapidly increases the heart rate, elevates blood glucose levels, and inhibits digestion, among other physiological changes, thus provisioning the muscles with more energy and oxygen to respond efficiently to danger. It's interesting to note that the term "sympathetic" can be associated with experiencing emotions together.
In contrast, the parasympathetic nervous system operates primarily during restful periods, restoring the body to a state of calm once the threat has passed. The fight-or-flight response has evolved as a survival mechanism and is an essential part of how animals, including humans, adapt to stressors in their environment.