Court Reporter Practice Exam

What does it mean to 'disperse'?

1. To concentrate

2. To adhere

3. To scatter

4. To unify

The correct answer is: To scatter

The term 'disperse' means to scatter or distribute things over a wide area. When something is dispersed, it is spread out rather than concentrated in one place. In various contexts, such as in a scientific, social, or legal setting, dispersing often refers to the action of breaking up a group or spread out particles over a space. This is markedly different from the other choices, which imply bringing things together or forming a whole, rather than separating or breaking things apart. For instance, to concentrate means to bring together focused elements, adhere implies sticking together, and unify suggests creating a single entity from multiple parts, all of which contradict the action implied by the word 'disperse'. Thus, the correct interpretation of the term aligns perfectly with the meaning of scattering.