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. Nebula
► A disorderly commotion or disturbance.
► Exceeding the limits of propriety or good manners; improperly forward or bold
► To move in waves or with a smooth, wavelike motion.
2. Vacillate
► To swing indecisively from one course of action or opinion to another.
► To take in by elaborate methods of deceit
3. Protagonist
► The main character in a drama or other literary work.
► A poisonous substance, especially a protein, that is produced by living cells or organisms.
4. Decorum
► Appropriateness of behavior or conduct
► To pound, crush, or grind to a powder or dust.
► One who habitually takes advantage of the generosity of others without making any useful return.
5. Plateau
► One who habitually takes advantage of the generosity of others without making any useful return.
► The act of reasoning from factual knowledge or evidence.
► An elevated, comparatively level expanse of land; a tableland.
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.