Words in the News

This Week's Word In The News 

PROPOSITION

DEFINITION:
Something offered for consideration or acceptance.

FOUND IN THE NEWS:
proposition 10 was considered a landmark policy.
The Los Angeles Times, 12/15/2025

Generate your own quiz
Select a grade level
 Elementary
 Middle School
 High School
Select a quiz type
 By words
 By Definitions
Select how many questions
5   10   15   20  

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. Virtuoso

A member of an irregular, usually indigenous military or paramilitary unit operating in small bands in occupied territory to harass and undermine the enemy

In a deplorable state of distress or misfortune; miserable.

The repetition of the same sounds or of the same kinds of sounds at the beginning of words or in stressed syllables

A person with masterly skill or technique in the arts.


2. Bizarre

Any of various relatively small sailing or motor-driven vessels used for pleasure cruises or racing.

A drawing consisting of the outline of something, especially a human profile, filled in with a solid color.

A very large and destructive wave, generally caused by a tremendous disturbance in the ocean, such as an undersea earthquake or volcanic eruption.

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


3. Quarantine

Harmful, malevolent, injurious. Harmfully cancerous.

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

A rebirth or revival.

Enforced isolation or restriction of free movement imposed to prevent the spread of contagious disease.


4. Quota

Sharing the same opinions or views; being in complete harmony or accord.

A proportional part or share.

One that speaks for, represents, or advocates

To swing indecisively from one course of action or opinion to another.


5. Xylem

The act of resting or the state of being at rest.

Any of several rod-shaped bacteria, of the genus Salmonella, that cause food poisoning and other diseases.

The supporting and water-conducting tissue of vascular plants, consisting primarily of tracheids and vessels; woody tissue.

A picture or decorative design made by setting small colored pieces, as of stone or tile, into a surface.


Get more Quizzes 

 Elementary School    Middle School   High School  

 By Word     By Definition    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.