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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.
This Week's Word In The News 

IMPROBABLE

DEFINITION:
Unlikely to take place under the circumstances or in the usual course of events.

FOUND IN THE NEWS:
That’s where Democratic candidates are trying to accomplish the improbable by flipping a pair of Trump-friendly congressional seats and carving into Republicans’ narrow 218 to 213 majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The Key West Citizen-Herald, 03/31/2025

Words in the News Quiz
5 Elementary 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. concoction

Connection or association; the condition of being related.

Speech or language that is incomprehensible or unintelligible; gibberish.

Disappointingly inadequate; gloomy and bleak.

A mixture of various ingredients or elements.


2. scurry

Representation of a concept through symbols or underlying meanings of objects or qualities.

To run away with quick light steps, to scamper.

Watchful, especially for danger or disorder; alert; wary

Timid, fearful, overly cautious


3. element

Something that impedes, stands in the way of, or holds up progress

One of the simplest or essential parts or principles of which anything consists, or upon which the constitution or fundamental powers of anything are based.

Offensive or repulsive; arousing disgust or aversion

More than half (50%) of some group


4. uncanny

Anything that assures a certain outcome.

The brink of a dangerous situation.

Strange or mysterious, esp. in an unsettling way

Specifically, giving indication of a coming ill; being an evil omen


5. influence

To finish successfully

To talk rapidly, indistinctly, or unintelligibly; to utter gibberish or nonsense.

The power to affect, control or manipulate something or someone; the ability to change the development of fluctuating things such as conduct, thoughts or decisions.

To waver or be unsteady.


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