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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.
This Week's Word In The News 

PETITIONER

DEFINITION:
A person who pleads with a governmental institution for a legal remedy or a redress of grievances, through the use of a petition.

FOUND IN THE NEWS:
While presenting the citizens’ petition for debate at the April 11 Spring Town Meeting, petitioners argued that ICE operations in Plymouth have “created fear” and “disrupted lives” among the immigrant community, leading to what they call a distrust of local police.
The Boston Herald, 04/20/2026

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. Laconic

An unstable, poisonous allotrope of oxygen.

One thing conceived as representing another; a symbol.

Self-examination.

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


2. Unanimous

Not subject to an obligation imposed on others; exempt.

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

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

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


3. Formidable

Exceeding the limits of propriety or good manners; improperly forward or bold

An ammunition belt, worn over the shoulder, having loops or pockets for cartridges.

Inspiring awe, admiration, or wonder

Consuming or eager to consume great amounts of food; ravenous.


4. Rainforest

To grow well or luxuriantly; thrive

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

The method or result of concealing personnel or equipment from an enemy by making them appear to be part of the natural surroundings

A dense evergreen forest occupying a tropical region with an annual rainfall of at least 100 inches.


5. Nocturnal

One who habitually takes advantage of the generosity of others without making any useful return.

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

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

Of, relating to, or occurring in the night


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