Generate your own quiz 

Select a grade level

 Elementary
 Middle School
 High School

Select a quiz type

 By words    By Definitions

How many questions?

 5  10  15  20 Questions



 

Common Core State Standard
LS.CCS.4/5/6 Grades 3-12: Students are asked to determine the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words through multiple choice vocabulary quizzes. Quizzes are designed to help students demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships and nuances in words, acquire and use accurately grade-appropriate general academic and domain-specific words, and gather vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression. Students are then asked to find the words within the newspaper and copy the sentence for context to its overall meaning or function in a sentence.
This Week's Word In The News 

BACKLOT

DEFINITION:
An area behind or adjoining a movie studio containing permanent exterior buildings for outdoor scenes in filmmaking or television productions.

FOUND IN THE NEWS:
Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman, who serves the 4th District, makes her way across an empty, unnamed backlot, presenting her case to be the city’s next mayor.
►The Los Angeles Times, 05/18/2026

Words in the News Quiz
5 Elementary Words

Click on the correct answer in the quiz below.
Then see if you can find the word in your newspaper -- the print edition, the website or the digital edition and copy the sentence for context. NOTE: High School words are much harder to find!

1. document

► A piece of written, printed, or electronic matter that provides information or evidence or that serves as an official record.

► Unspoiled; still with its original purity; uncorrupted or unsullied

► A barrier constructed across a road, especially as a military defense.

► To run away with quick light steps, to scamper.

2. conspicuous

► Anticipating something with anxiety or fear.

► Obvious or easy to notice.

► To make smaller.

► The power to affect, control or manipulate something or someone; the ability to change the development of fluctuating things such as conduct, thoughts or decisions.

3. precipice

► The brink of a dangerous situation.

► An inadequate amount of something; a shortage

► Having an unvarying tone or pitch

► The quality (positive or negative) that renders something desirable or valuable

4. cunning

► Approaching; drawing near; about to happen

► Sly; crafty; clever in surreptitious behaviour.

► The act of exasperating or the state of being exasperated; irritation; keen or bitter anger.

► To move in a quick fashion.

5. versatile

► The person, place or thing from which something (information, goods, etc.) comes or is acquired.

► Capable of doing many things competently

► A state of confused and noisy disturbance

► The quantity of motion of a moving body; the impetus gained by a moving object

Get more Quizzes 

 Elementary School    Middle School   High School  

 By Word     By Definition    5  10  15  20 Questions

Additional resources

Colorado NIE Weekly lessons

Colorado NIE Youth Content

Lessons & Classroom Activities

Resources by grade level