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. Inference
► Inspiring awe, admiration, or wonder
► The act of reasoning from factual knowledge or evidence.
► The quality or state of being tranquil; serenity.
2. Vacillate
► To swing indecisively from one course of action or opinion to another.
► One who rejects a religion, cause, allegiance, or group for another; a deserter.
► Appropriateness of behavior or conduct
3. Despondent
► Being without or almost without hope
► The drawing of a conclusion by reasoning; the act of deducing.
► Of, relating to, or occurring in the night
4. Embargo
► A prohibition by a government on certain or all trade with a foreign nation
► One who habitually takes advantage of the generosity of others without making any useful return.
► A characteristic rate or rhythm of activity; a pace
5. Flourish
► To grow well or luxuriantly; thrive
► To rejoice greatly; be jubilant or triumphant
► The act of resting or the state of being at rest.
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.