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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 

DENIALISM

DEFINITION:
Bianco’s investigation, which includes all the ballots cast in Riverside County in November, raises questions about how he would handle the election denialism movement if he is elected governor.

FOUND IN THE NEWS:
The practice of denying the existence, truth, or validity of something despite proof or strong evidence that it is real, true, or valid.
The Los Angeles Times, 03/23/2026

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. Silhouette

Appropriateness of behavior or conduct

A metric unit of length equal to 1,000 meters (0.62 mile).

Relating to a system of writing, such as that of ancient Egypt, in which pictorial symbols are used to represent meaning or sounds or a combination of meaning and sound.

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


2. Bizarre

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

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

A diffuse mass of interstellar dust or gas or both, visible as luminous patches or areas of darkness

Incorrectness of reasoning or belief


3. Wretched

In a deplorable state of distress or misfortune; miserable.

Loud, noisy, and lacking in restraint or discipline

Of, relating to, or occurring in the night

Either of two times of the year when the sun is at its greatest distance from the celestial equator.


4. Participle

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

A form of a verb that in some languages, such as English, can function independently as an adjective.

Inspiring awe, admiration, or wonder

The arrangement of events in time


5. Lichen

A rebirth or revival.

The distance that light travels in a vacuum in one year.

A fungus, usually of the class Ascomycetes, that grows symbiotically with algae,

Selecting or employing individual elements from a variety of sources, systems, or styles


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