The following text is adapted from Aldous Huxley's 1932 novel Brave New World. The Controller is explaining to the students why their society relies heavily on advanced technology. "The old ways were simply not sufficient. They no longer answer the needs of our ever-growing population and the complexities of modern life. Advanced technology is essential to maintaining order and efficiency in our society." As used in the text, what does the word “answer” most nearly mean?