Continuing the same passage, choose the correct word to fill the blank. Sentence focus: severe problems, ________ from anxiety disorders to depression, psychoses and conditions arising from alcohol and substance use.

Introduction / Context:
This cloze question focuses on a common phrase used to describe a spectrum of conditions. The sentence describes how severe problems cover various mental health issues, from anxiety disorders to depression, psychoses, and conditions linked to alcohol and substance use. You must select the verb that best introduces this range of examples in formal English.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Sentence fragment: severe problems, ________ from anxiety disorders to depression, psychoses and conditions arising from alcohol and substance use.
• Options: ranging, coming, distancing, longing.
• The meaning is to show that the problems extend across a spectrum from one type to another.

Concept / Approach:
The standard English expression for describing a spectrum is ranging from ... to .... It neatly introduces the idea that the problems extend over a set of types. The other verbs do not form any natural phrase in this context. Coming from, distancing from, or longing from are not used in this structure. Therefore, ranging is the only acceptable choice.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Understand that the sentence is listing different mental health problems and wants to show a range between them. Step 2: Recall the common expression ranging from A to B to describe such lists. Step 3: Substitute option a, ranging, into the sentence: severe problems, ranging from anxiety disorders to depression, psychoses and conditions arising from alcohol and substance use. Step 4: Test option b, coming: severe problems, coming from anxiety disorders to depression is not a standard phrase. Step 5: Test option c, distancing: severe problems, distancing from anxiety disorders to depression does not make sense here. Step 6: Test option d, longing, which does not logically connect with problems and types of disorders. Step 7: Conclude that ranging is the only verb that makes the sentence grammatical and meaningful.

Verification / Alternative check:
Check similar patterns: The shop sells items ranging from books to electronics; His hobbies range from music to mountain climbing. In each case, ranging from introduces a spectrum. Applying the same pattern to mental health problems fits perfectly: problems ranging from anxiety disorders to depression and other conditions. This confirms that ranging is the correct choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Coming would suggest origin or arrival but is not used with from ... to to describe a range. Distancing implies moving away from something and lacks meaning in this context. Longing denotes desire or yearning, which is unrelated to the description of a list of disorders. None of these forms a recognised collocation with from ... to when listing examples.

Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates may quickly choose coming because it often appears with from, but they ignore the full pattern from ... to, which strongly signals ranging. In cloze passages, it is crucial to read the entire phrase, not just the word immediately after the blank. Recognising fixed expressions like ranging from ... to ... will help you answer many such questions correctly.

Final Answer:
The correct word for the blank is ranging, giving: severe problems, ranging from anxiety disorders to depression, psychoses and conditions arising from alcohol and substance use.