To scoff is to make a loud, contemptuous sound. When the professor scoffed at the student's idea, she was very judgmental and dismissive.
To venture is to take a risk. When you venture into a new business or field, you are putting your trust in the unknown.
Gridlock is a situation in which there is a lot of traffic on the road, and it's impossible to move forward or backward. This can happen because there is a traffic jam, or because the roads are too narrow for the traffic to pass.
To lobby is to try to persuade someone to change their mind about something. You might lobby the government to change the laws, or you might lobby a company to change their policies.
When you see an archway, you are probably looking at a structure that is used to connect two parts of a building. Arches are often used in architecture to make the structure look taller.
A rainstorm is a type of storm that is caused by rain. Rainstorms can be mild or severe, but they all have one thing in common: they cause a lot of water to fall from the sky.
An embankment is a bank or slope of earth that is used to protect a river or other body of water from flooding. They are often made from earth, rocks, or concrete.
To burrow is to go underground. Some animals, like worms, burrow into the ground to find food.
Subway is an abbreviation for "Subway system." A subway system is a network of underground train stations that runs throughout a city or town.