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. Protagonist
► A state of uncertainty or perplexity.
► Having a buoyant or self-confident air; brisk.
► One that takes in everything available, as with the mind.
► The main character in a drama or other literary work.
2. Eclectic
► To take in by elaborate methods of deceit
► One that speaks for, represents, or advocates
► Selecting or employing individual elements from a variety of sources, systems, or styles
3. Decorum
► The right or privilege of voting; franchise.
► To stress or emphasize; intensify
► Appropriateness of behavior or conduct
4. Marsupial
► A conventional, formulaic, and oversimplified conception, opinion, or image.
► Something that is passed down from preceding generations; a tradition.
5. Hieroglyphic
► A poisonous substance, especially a protein, that is produced by living cells or organisms.
► Using or marked by the use of few words; terse or concise.
► Having or demonstrating enthusiasm
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.