Question

adapted from walden, the video game: playing deliberately
by alexander stern

our world is fast. it is high - speed internet, rapid transit, and instant
savings. when we want refuge from its adding speed, we tend to turn to
things like hiking, meditation, and books. the suggestion that we might find
a measure of solace in the very machines responsible for our battered minds
will seem implausible to some. but this is, in part, the goal of walden, a
game. the new video game is based on henry david thoreaus experiment
in deliberate living.
the idea for the game struck its lead designer, tracy j. fullerton, while
rereading walden in situ at walden pond. she saw thoreaus concerns
about the speed of mid - nineteenth - century industrialization, and its impact
on experience, mirrored in some of our own misgivings about our breakneck
world. fullerton, director of the university of southern californias game
innovation lab, conceived of the game as an \antidote to turbulent times\
and hopes it can help players become \conscious of the pace at which were
living our lives, especially in regards to new technologies and the drive to
constantly be upgrading our lives.\
the games virtual recreation of thoreaus walden includes a
meticulously designed landscape, a pond based on thoreaus own
measurements, and a richly textured soundtrack, which uses sounds
recorded on - site and never repeats. the designers consulted period maps,
historians, and thoreau scholars, in addition to applying a close reading of
thoreaus text to the project. engaging with the artifacts, plants, and animals
of walden will prompt passages on their significance by thoreau.
a few minutes into playing the game, one is struck by an absence. there
are no hoops to jump through, no races to win, no enemies to subdue—just
a world in which to be. this is something of a challenge in itself, but one of a
different kind.
thats not to say there is nothing to do. there are a number of paths you
can take: you can work on your house, go fishing, or visit the thoreau home
in concord. but none of these tasks are mandatory, and the game

5
select the correct answer.
read the sentence from the passage.
the suggestion that we might find a measure of solace in the very machines responsible for our battered minds will seem implausible to some.
what is the best meaning of the word solace as it is used in the passage?
a. sympathy
b. inspiration
c. relief
d. encouragement

Explanation:

To determine the meaning of "solace" in the passage, we analyze the context. The passage talks about seeking refuge from the fast - paced world in machines. "Relief" fits this context as it implies a sense of comfort or respite from something (the battered minds here). "Sympathy" is about feeling for others, "inspiration" is about being motivated, and "encouragement" is about giving support, none of which match the context of finding refuge or comfort.

Answer:

C. relief