TOEFL Vocabulary List 3

Explanation
The word "dissipate" means to scatter or disperse. In the given context, the oil is leaking into the Gulf of Mexico at a high rate, causing a large layer of oil to form on top of the water. The word "dissipate" suggests that the officials believe this layer of oil will gradually scatter or disperse over time, likely due to natural processes such as evaporation, wind, and wave action.

Explanation
The correct answer is homogeneous. The art museum director states that the art show is not homogeneous, meaning that it does not consist of similar or uniform elements. She further explains that the paintings in the show vary in terms of their visual excitement, decorative nature, and social criticism. Therefore, the art show is diverse and does not have a uniform or consistent theme or style.

Explanation
The fireman pulled a man out of the half-frozen lake. "The water is very cold--it wouldn't take long for hypothermia to set in him. He's lucky to be alive," said the fireman.

The correct answer is "hypothermia." Hypothermia refers to a medical condition caused by exposure to extremely cold temperatures, leading to a dangerously low body temperature. In this context, the fireman is explaining that the man rescued from the lake is at risk of developing hypothermia due to the cold water.

Explanation
The word "polychromatic" means having a variety of colors. In the given sentence, the speaker is contrasting their own dreams with those of some other people who only dream in black and white. By saying "Everything I see is polychromatic," the speaker is emphasizing that their dreams are vivid and full of color, unlike the dreams of those who only see in black and white.

Explanation
The correct answer is ephemeral. Flowers have a short lifespan, blooming for only a brief period before withering away. This transitory nature of flowers symbolizes the impermanence of life, which is a core teaching in Buddhism. It serves as a reminder to appreciate and cherish the present moment, as everything is constantly changing and fleeting.

Explanation
The correct answer is ambiguous. The word "ambiguous" suggests that the ending of the video is unclear or open to interpretation. It implies that there may be multiple possible outcomes or meanings, leaving the viewer uncertain or confused about what actually happens.

Explanation
After the meeting, there was dissension and dissatisfaction among the instructors and staff. This means that there was disagreement and conflict among them, leading to a sense of unhappiness and upset.

Explanation
The word "polyglot" means someone who speaks multiple languages. In the given context, it suggests that Chicago is a city where people can communicate and interact in various languages such as Polish, Italian, and Spanish. This implies that the city is linguistically diverse and accommodating to different language speakers.

Explanation
The correct answer is epitaph. An epitaph is a brief statement or inscription on a tombstone that commemorates the deceased person. In this context, the crying woman is reading the words written on her husband's gravestone, which is the epitaph. The epitaph, "Earth has no sorrow that heaven can not heal," suggests that even though the woman is grieving and feeling immense sorrow, there is comfort and healing that can be found in heaven.

Explanation
The given answer is "epithets". In this context, an epithet refers to a descriptive term or phrase used to characterize a person or thing. The list of famous individuals provided in the question includes descriptive titles or epithets that are commonly associated with them, such as "the Great", "the Terrible", "the Baptist", "the Lionhearted", and "His Holiness". Therefore, the correct answer is "epithets".