Choose the answer that best matches the word and the tails. Use context clues to determine the meaning of the word if necessary. The magnitude of this distress is hard to imagine.

a) size or extent

b) direction or force
c) level or intensity

The word in question is "distress". The sentence suggests that the distress is of a significant magnitude, and it is difficult to comprehend or visualize it. Therefore, the best match for the word "distress" in this context is "intensity".

In order to choose the answer that best matches the word and the given context, we need to understand the meaning of the word "magnitude." To do that, we can consider the context clues provided in the sentence - "The magnitude of this distress is hard to imagine."

From the context, we can deduce that "magnitude" refers to the intensity or severity of the distress being discussed. It suggests that the distress is significant or substantial.

Based on this understanding of the word, we can look at the answer choices and select the one that aligns with the given context.