Meaning: 'Embraces' means to accept or support something willingly and enthusiastically.

Wrong options:

• defined: Defined is a past participle that does not fit the present tense structure required here and does not convey the idea of acceptance.
• refrained: Refrained is a past tense verb meaning to hold back, which contradicts the context of the game actively engaging with the digital world.
• contributes: Contributes is a present tense verb but does not convey the idea of acceptance or adaptation, making it contextually inappropriate.
• amassed: Amassed is a past tense verb that refers to gathering or accumulating, which does not fit the subject of the game in this context.

Correct answer: amassed

Explanation: The term 'amassed' is a past participle that fits grammatically as it describes what the players have done in relation to their social media followings. Contextually, it indicates that these players have gathered a significant number of followers through their online activities, which aligns with the overall theme of growth in chess.

Meaning: 'Amassed' means to gather or accumulate a large amount of something, in this case, social media followers.

Wrong options:

• defined: Defined is a past participle that does not fit the context of gathering followers and does not convey the action of accumulation.
• refrained: Refrained is a past tense verb meaning to hold back, which does not apply to the context of gaining followers.
• embraces: Embraces is a present tense verb that does not fit the past context of what players have already done regarding their followings.
• contributes: Contributes is a present tense verb that does not convey the idea of accumulation and is not appropriate in this context.
• embedded: Embedded is a past participle that describes something being fixed firmly in a surrounding mass, which does not relate to the action of gathering followers.

Correct answer: embedded

Explanation: The word 'embedded' is a past participle that fits grammatically as it describes the state of chess in the public's consciousness. Contextually, it indicates that chess has become an integral part of society's awareness, which aligns with the overall theme of its growth and popularity.

Meaning: 'Embedded' means firmly and deeply ingrained or fixed within something, in this case, the public's consciousness.

Wrong options:

• defined: Defined is a past participle that does not convey the idea of being ingrained or fixed in consciousness, making it contextually inappropriate.
• refrained: Refrained is a past tense verb that does not relate to the state of being in the public's consciousness.
• embraces: Embraces is a present tense verb that does not fit the context of describing the state of chess in the public's mind.
• contributes: Contributes is a present tense verb that does not convey the idea of being firmly established in consciousness and is not suitable here.
• amassed: Amassed is a past participle that refers to gathering, which does not fit the context of being ingrained in the public's awareness.