Get In the Zone Study Guide

According to the article, what is the primary reason gamers become frustrated with a game?

• The graphics are outdated

• The storyline is too complex

• The game fails to maintain the balance between challenge and skill level

• The controller is difficult to use

What is the central idea of the article?

• Video games are a waste of time

• The best video games are designed to maintain a state of flow

• Frustration is unavoidable in video games

• Gamers enjoy playing the same level repeatedly

Why does the author compare the brain to a backpack?

• To show that video games can be physically exhausting

• To explain how much information the brain can process at one time

• To suggest that gamers need to take breaks

• To prove that video games improve memory

What does the phrase "flow is fun" suggest?

• Players enjoy games when they are effortless

• Players find games fun only if they are easy

• Players enjoy a game most when they are challenged at the right level

• Players dislike games that are too difficult

How does the author structure the article to develop the central idea?

• By listing all the video games that create flow

• By explaining the science behind flow and how game designers use it

• By describing the history of video games

• By comparing flow to other forms of entertainment

What is the author's point of view about video game design?

• Video games are mindless distractions

• Video games use psychology to enhance the player experience

• Video games should be banned for their addictive nature

• Only certain types of people enjoy video games

Which statement best supports the author’s claim that good video games keep players engaged?

• Frustration is something every gamer knows all too well.

• Flow happens only when there’s a perfect balance between the challenge of the game and the skill level of the player.

• The best game designers keep us in the zone by steering our attention, like movie directors.

• The zombies win.

What evidence does the author provide to support the idea that rewards keep players engaged?

• A discussion on how dopamine is released when achieving goals

• A comparison between video game rewards and real-world rewards

• A story about a player defeating a dragon

• A list of rewards given in different video games

Why does the author use a second-person perspective ("you") in the text?

• To make the reader feel personally involved in the discussion

• To explain the author's personal experiences

• To make the article more formal

• To argue against playing video games

How could a chart or diagram enhance the reader’s understanding of flow?

• By listing the top video games that create flow

• By showing how difficulty and skill level must balance for optimal flow

• By explaining the historical development of video games

• By showing the different emotions players feel while gaming