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

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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. Spectrum

► Appropriateness of behavior or conduct

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

► Being without or almost without hope

► The food-conducting tissue of vascular plants, consisting of sieve tubes, fibers, parenchyma, and sclereids.

2. Toxin

► A poisonous substance, especially a protein, that is produced by living cells or organisms.

► To honor the memory of with a ceremony

► Of or relating to the range of invisible radiation wavelengths from about 4 nanometers, on the border of the x-ray region, to about 380 nanometers, just beyond the violet in the visible spectrum.

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

3. Metaphor

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

► The branch of biology that deals with animals and animal life, including the study of the structure, physiology, development, and classification of animals.

► One thing conceived as representing another; a symbol.

► A relationship of mutual benefit or dependence.

4. Renaissance

► To take in by elaborate methods of deceit

► A rebirth or revival.

► A dense evergreen forest occupying a tropical region with an annual rainfall of at least 100 inches.

► Loud, noisy, and lacking in restraint or discipline

5. Quota

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

► The science and art of using all the forces of a nation to execute approved plans as effectively as possible during peace or war.

► A proportional part or share.

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

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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.