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. Cower
► One who habitually takes advantage of the generosity of others without making any useful return.
► Something that is passed down from preceding generations; a tradition.
► To stress or emphasize; intensify
2. Renaissance
► Having no specific pattern, purpose, or objective.
► Conversation between characters in a drama or narrative
3. Eclectic
► One that is inconvenient, annoying, or vexatious; a bother.
► Not subject to an obligation imposed on others; exempt.
► Of, relating to, or occurring in the night
► Selecting or employing individual elements from a variety of sources, systems, or styles
4. Quandary
► The drawing of a conclusion by reasoning; the act of deducing.
► A characteristic rate or rhythm of activity; a pace
► A state of uncertainty or perplexity.
5. Laconic
► A teacher and guide in spiritual and philosophical matters.
► One that takes in everything available, as with the mind.
► Using or marked by the use of few words; terse or concise.
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.