Words in the News

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

Generate your own quiz
Select a grade level
 Elementary
 Middle School
 High School
Select a quiz type
 By words
 By Definitions
Select how many questions
5   10   15   20  

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. Recede

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

Enforced isolation or restriction of free movement imposed to prevent the spread of contagious disease.

The supporting and water-conducting tissue of vascular plants, consisting primarily of tracheids and vessels; woody tissue.

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


2. Introspection

Self-examination.

A rebirth or revival.

To honor the memory of with a ceremony

Having a buoyant or self-confident air; brisk.


3. Spectrum

The distribution of energy emitted by a radiant source, arranged in order of wavelengths.

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

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

One that takes in everything available, as with the mind.


4. Technique

One that takes in everything available, as with the mind.

A cult or religious movement, a group sharing particular (often unorthodox) political and/or religious beliefs.

The systematic procedure by which a complex or scientific task is accomplished.

Marked by hearty conviviality and good cheer.


5. Aspire

Of, relating to, or occurring in the night

To have a great ambition or ultimate goal

One who rejects a religion, cause, allegiance, or group for another; a deserter.

A characteristic rate or rhythm of activity; a pace


Get more Quizzes 

 Elementary School    Middle School   High School  

 By Word     By Definition    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.