Bring pressure to bear means to apply influence or force to make someone act. The correct answer is this meaning because the expression is used figuratively, not only by its literal words.

Examples:

• Citizens tried to bring pressure to bear on the authorities.
• In an HSC essay, Bring pressure to bear can express this meaning: to apply influence or force to make someone act.
• When this expression appears in a passage, connect Bring pressure to bear with the idea of to apply influence or force to make someone act.