Question

Thoreau writes, "When our lives cease to be inward and private, conversation degenerates" to become
a. seeking an advantage over others.
b. a fantasy about a fiction.
c. mindless and sterile.
d. mere gossip

Answer 1

"When our lives cease to be inward and private, conversation degenerates to become mere gossip". The correct answer is D.

Answer 2

I believe the answer is: D. mere Gossip

From this quote, Thoreau wants to mention that we could never truly know the private life of other people ( like how they think, or why precisely cause a certain even in their life) , which is why if we talk about other people private life, it is closer than a gossip rather than factual information.