How can drinking be a way to feel the pain instead of to ease it?

Though alcohol numbs emotional pain, it never fully takes it away. The more we pour it on our problems, the more we need, and the worse they get. Instead of numbing the pain, alcohol takes us to the point of pure mental agony. Spending days and nights wasted, not remembering what happened, or where you've been.

Explanation:

a. "to practice" is the best phrase to complete the sentence.

explanation:

during the summer, she likes to practice her soccer skills so that she is ready to play in the fall.

(note that : all the other options "the practicing of", "practice for" and "to do a practice on" are inappropriate as they make the sentence grammatically incorrect.)