Sentence:  Steve Bruce's side have swung from highs to lows in what has been at best a wildly inconsistent start to the season. They experienced a <WSD>microcosm</WSD> of this within the opening 45 minutes at the Stadium of Light. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  A smaller system which is seen as representative (of) a larger one. (from 17th c.)