4. Robin Nagle: "What I discovered in New York City trash"

http://www.ted.com/talks/robin_nagle_what_i_discovered_in_new_york_city_trash.html

1) QUOTIDIAN (adj)
1. ordinary: Television has become part of our quotidian existence.
2. recurring daily, used especially of attacks of malaria: quotidian fever.

2) SUSTAINABLE (adj)
1. able to continue over a period of time: That sort of extreme diet is not sustainable over a long period of time.
2. causing little or no damage to the environment and therefore able to continue  for a long time:
A large international meeting was held with the aim of promoting sustainable development in all countries.

3) PREVALENT (adj)
1. existing very commonly or happening often
2. widespread or current
These diseases are more prevalent among young children.
Trees are dying in areas where acid rain is most prevalent.

4) A SCORN (n)
1. a very strong feeling of no respect for someone or something that you think is stupid or has no value
2. an object of derision
She has nothing but scorn for the new generation of politicians.
Why do you always pour scorn on (=criticize severely and unfairly) my suggestions?

5) INHERENT (adj)
1. existing as a natural or basic part of something
2. existing as an essential constituent or characteristic
There are dangers inherent in almost every sport.
I have an inherent distrust of lawyers.

3. Arthur Benjamin: "The magic of Fibonacci numbers"

http://www.ted.com/talks/arthur_benjamin_the_magic_of_fibonacci_numbers.html

1) A STANDPOINT (n)
1. a set of beliefs and ideas from which opinions and decisions are formes
2. a point of view
From my standpoint , 3.00 p.m. would be a suitable time.
I have to put aside my emotions and consider it from a professional standpoint.

2) CONSECUTIVE (adj)
1. describes events, numbers, etc. that follow one after another without an interruption:
This is the fifth consecutive weekend that I've spent working, and I'm a bit fed up with it.
2. successive: consecutive numbers such as 5, 6, 7, 8.

3) TO SQUARE (v)
1. SQUARE OFF (phrasal verb): to prepare to fight , compete or argue with someone:
The two giants in the fast-food industry are squaring off this month with the most aggressive advertising campaigns.
2. to agree or conform: A story that does not square to with the facts.

4) A RATIO (n)
1. the relationship between two groups or amounts, which expresses how much bigger one is than the other:
The ratio of men to women at the conference was ten to one.
The school is trying to improve its pupil-teacher ratio (=the number of teachers compared with the number of students).

5) TO FIGURE (v)
1. to conclude, believe: I never figured that this would happen.
2. FIGURE OUT (phrasal verb) - to finally understand sth or sb, or find the solution to a problem after a lot of thought: I find him really odd - I can't figure him out at all. 

2. Kid President : "I think we all need a pep talk."

http://www.ted.com/talks/kid_president_i_think_we_all_need_a_pep_talk.html

1) A PEP TALK (n)
1. a short speech intended to encourage people to work harder or try to win a game or competition
2. an enthusiastic talk designed to increase confidence, production, cooperation, etc.
The boss gave the staff a pep talk this morning in an attempt to boost sales.
The Kid President gave the people a pep talk in order to prevent them from being boring.

2) A CEREAL (n)
1. a plant that is grown to produce grain: The farmers have an enormous amount of cereal crops this year.
2. a food that is made from grain  and eaten with milk , especially in the morning:
My children eat cereal breakfast almost every day.

3) TO DIVERGE (v)
1. to follow a different direction:
They walked along the road together until they reached the village and then their paths diverged.
2. to be or become different:
Although the two organizations have worked together for many years, their objectives have diverged recently.

4) SOULFUL (adj)
1. expressing deep feelings, often sadness: The dog looked at me with its big, soulful, brown eyes.
2. soulful eyes - when talking to a person and the eye contact seems too intense:
A stranger told me that I had soulful eyes.

5) (TO/A) PEP (v/n)
1. to cause somebody to be full of energy: The good news pepped him up.
2. an informal word for energy: Yesterday Jason was full of pep.