Words in the News

This Week's Word In The News 

PARLIAMENTARIAN

DEFINITION:
A consultant who advises the presiding officer and other officers, committees, and members on matters of parliamentary procedure.

FOUND IN THE NEWS:
Mia Cooper, a parliamentarian for the district, brought her daughter to district meetings and state-level education forums as the girl grew up.
►The Los Angeles Times, 03/09/2026

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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. Plateau

► An elevated, comparatively level expanse of land; a tableland.

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

► To have a great ambition or ultimate goal

► Either of two times of the year when the sun is at its greatest distance from the celestial equator.

2. Vacillate

► To have a great ambition or ultimate goal

► Either of two times of the year when the sun is at its greatest distance from the celestial equator.

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

► To swing indecisively from one course of action or opinion to another.

3. Fallacy

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

► Incorrectness of reasoning or belief

► Selecting or employing individual elements from a variety of sources, systems, or styles

► The pattern produced on a photosensitive medium that has been exposed by holography and then photographically developed.

4. Sect

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

► Not subject to an obligation imposed on others; exempt.

► A relationship of mutual benefit or dependence.

► An embankment built to prevent flooding

5. Pulverize

► To rejoice greatly; be jubilant or triumphant

► To pound, crush, or grind to a powder or dust.

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

► An intricate structure of interconnecting passages through which it is difficult to find one’s way; a maze.

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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.