Words in the News

This Week's Word In The News 

ROOSTER TAIL

DEFINITION:
A high-arching spray (as of water, dust, or snow) thrown up behind a fast-moving motorboat, motor vehicle, or skier.

FOUND IN THE NEWS:
A second red flag was waved during the fifth race of the day when Rollin Transport got into a rooster tail on the turn of the first lap, resulting in the boat going onto its side before flipping.
The Key West Citizen, 11/10/2025

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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. Sacrifice

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

To rejoice greatly; be jubilant or triumphant

A person authorized to act as representative for another; a deputy.

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


2. Mosaic

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

Marked by hearty conviviality and good cheer.

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

An unstable, poisonous allotrope of oxygen.


3. Laconic

Using or marked by the use of few words; terse or concise.

Having a backbone or spinal column.

A characteristic rate or rhythm of activity; a pace

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


4. Toxin

A characteristic rate or rhythm of activity; a pace

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

A Y-shaped protein on the surface of B cells that is secreted into the blood or lymph in response to an antigenic stimulus

A poisonous substance, especially a protein, that is produced by living cells or organisms.


5. Fallacy

To move in waves or with a smooth, wavelike motion.

To condescend to give or grant

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

Incorrectness of reasoning or belief


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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.