The author argues that art plays an essential role in society, contributing to cultural and emotional development.

The author views literature as central to understanding human experiences and societal issues.

'Dichotomy' refers to a division or contrast between two things that are represented as being opposed or entirely different.

'Resilience' refers to the ability to recover from difficulties, which is crucial for achieving success as discussed in the passage.

'Tenuous' indicates something that is weak or fragile, suggesting instability.

'Tenuous' indicates something that is weak or fragile, which aligns with the author's description of the situation in the passage.

The phrase 'We must act swiftly to mitigate the effects' reflects urgency, aligning with the author's tone about climate change.

'Ameliorate' means to make something better or improve it, which is the intended meaning in the context of the passage.

A 'catalyst' is something that accelerates or initiates a process, indicating it initiates change.

A 'catalyst' is something that accelerates or facilitates a process, often in a positive way.

'Catalyst' in this context refers to something that accelerates or facilitates change, making 'a facilitator of change' the correct interpretation.

The phrase means to confront a difficult situation directly and decisively.

'To take the plunge' means to commit to a course of action, especially one that involves risk.

'Ameliorate' means to make something better or improve it.

'Catalyst' refers to something that accelerates or brings about change, thus 'initiates change' is the correct interpretation.

'Cognitive dissonance' refers to the mental discomfort experienced when holding two conflicting beliefs, thus describing a mental conflict.

'Paradigm shift' indicates a fundamental change in approach or underlying assumptions, thus referring to a complete transformation.

A 'paradox' refers to a statement that contradicts itself but may reveal a deeper truth, making 'a contradiction that reveals a truth' the correct interpretation.

'Quintessential' means representing the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class, indicating the most typical.

A 'catalyst' is something that accelerates or initiates a change, making 'initiates change' the correct interpretation.

'Dichotomy' refers to a division or contrast between two things that are represented as being opposed or entirely different.

'Esoteric' refers to knowledge that is intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people, thus 'difficult to understand' is correct.

'Ubiquitous' means present or existing everywhere, indicating that technology is widely available.

'Ubiquitous' means being present everywhere at the same time, which fits the context of technology being widespread.

'Pivotal' means of crucial importance, indicating that the findings are central to the discussion.

'Myriad' refers to a countless or extremely great number, indicating that there are many options.

'Myriad' refers to a countless or extremely great number, emphasizing the abundance of something.

'Quintessential' means representing the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class, thus emphasizing the most typical example.

A 'double-edged sword' implies that something has both positive and negative consequences, which aligns with the discussion in the passage.

The phrase 'a double-edged sword' indicates that the author acknowledges both the benefits and drawbacks of the topic.