The nervous system controls and coordinates body activities through the processes of _______________ and ____________.

The correct answer focuses on the fundamental processes through which the nervous system operates. The nervous system primarily functions by detecting changes or stimuli in the environment and then coordinating appropriate responses. This is known as the stimulus-response mechanism.

When a stimulus occurs—such as touching a hot surface—the sensory receptors in the nervous system detect this change and send signals to the brain. The brain then processes this information and generates a response, which could involve moving the hand away from the heat source. This sequence of events—recognizing a stimulus and executing a response—is the core of how the nervous system controls and coordinates bodily activities.

In contrast, the other options do not encapsulate the direct mechanisms that govern the nervous system. For example, observation and analysis, thought and action, or sense and interpretation involve elements of cognitive or sensory processes but do not accurately represent the swift, automatic nature of the stimulus-response cycle that characterizes the nervous system's role in coordinating body functions.