Words in the News

This Week's Word In The News 

ARID

DEFINITION:
Being without moisture; extremely dry; parched.

FOUND IN THE NEWS:
The unpredictability of illegal fireworks make them dangerous in the arid desert climate, said Riddle, who is also bureau commander of Metro’s Northeast Area Command.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal, 06/30/2025

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Words in the News Quiz
5 Middle School 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. Ellipse

The locus of points for which the sum of the distances from each point to two fixed points is equal

Incorrectness of reasoning or belief

Relating to a system of writing, such as that of ancient Egypt, in which pictorial symbols are used to represent meaning or sounds or a combination of meaning and sound.

To rejoice greatly; be jubilant or triumphant


2. Sacrifice

Relating to a system of writing, such as that of ancient Egypt, in which pictorial symbols are used to represent meaning or sounds or a combination of meaning and sound.

To rejoice greatly; be jubilant or triumphant

A person with masterly skill or technique in the arts.

Forfeiture of something highly valued for the sake of one considered to have a greater value or claim.


3. Exponent

Strikingly unconventional and far-fetched in style or appearance; odd

One that speaks for, represents, or advocates

The systematic procedure by which a complex or scientific task is accomplished.

The food-conducting tissue of vascular plants, consisting of sieve tubes, fibers, parenchyma, and sclereids.


4. Eclectic

Self-examination.

Appropriateness of behavior or conduct

Selecting or employing individual elements from a variety of sources, systems, or styles

One that is inconvenient, annoying, or vexatious; a bother.


5. Sect

An elevated, comparatively level expanse of land; a tableland.

A cult or religious movement, a group sharing particular (often unorthodox) political and/or religious beliefs.

The quality or state of being tranquil; serenity.

A conventional, formulaic, and oversimplified conception, opinion, or image.


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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.