Question

choose the term with a similar meaning to the underlined word. some innovations in the technology industry started off as novelties that people scoffed and laughed at.

approved - to give official acceptance of

scoffed - to tease or laugh at in a scornful manner

endorsed - to approve someone or something

Explanation:

The sentence context is about new technologies that people scoffed (laughed at/scorned) and laughed at. The option "snickered - to tease or laugh at in a scornful manner" matches the meaning of being laughed at/scorned. The other options: "approved" is about acceptance (opposite of scoffed), and "endorsed" is about supporting (also opposite). So "snickered" fits the context of people mocking the new technologies initially.

Answer:

snickered - to tease or laugh at in a scornful manner