NIE Home  Lessons: K-4  5-8  9-12   Geo Quiz   Cartoons for the Classroom   Front Page Talking Points    Last Week in the News   Week in History  News Video  Science Audio 
Generate your own quiz 

Select a grade level

 Elementary
 Middle School
 High School

Select a quiz type

 By words    By Definitions

How many questions?

 5  10  15  20 Questions



 

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 

ACQUAINTANCE

DEFINITION:
A person one knows slightly, but who is not a close friend.

FOUND IN THE NEWS:
When photographer Peter Turnley was just 20 years old, an acquaintance from the California Office of Economic Opportunity reached out to him with a question.
The Los Angeles Times, 12/01/2025

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. Ellipse

A movement or procedure involving skill and dexterity.

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

To stress or emphasize; intensify

To abstain from or act together in abstaining from using, buying, or dealing with as an expression of protest or disfavor or as a means of coercion


2. Inference

A state of uncertainty or perplexity.

Grossly offensive to decency or morality.

The act of reasoning from factual knowledge or evidence.

Similarity in some respects between things that are otherwise dissimilar.


3. Deduction

A conventional, formulaic, and oversimplified conception, opinion, or image.

The drawing of a conclusion by reasoning; the act of deducing.

An alteration or change, as in nature, form, or quality.

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


4. Recede

To move back or away from a limit, point, or mark

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

Inspiring awe, admiration, or wonder

Any of various nonplacental mammals, including kangaroos, opossums, bandicoots, and wombats, found principally in Australia and the Americas.


5. Nebula

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

A very large and destructive wave, generally caused by a tremendous disturbance in the ocean, such as an undersea earthquake or volcanic eruption.

To rejoice greatly; be jubilant or triumphant

One that speaks for, represents, or advocates


Get more Quizzes 

 Elementary School    Middle School   High School  

 By Word     By Definition    5  10  15  20 Questions