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.
Words in the News Quiz
5 High 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. Vacuous
► Not limited to or associated with a particular religious denomination.
► Lacking serious purpose or occupation; idle.
► The predominant influence, as of a state, region, or group, over another or others.
2. Tautology
► The art or study of correct spelling according to established usage.
► Needless repetition of the same sense in different words; redundancy.
3. Bowdlerize
► A marked change in appearance, character, condition, or function.
► Mournful, dismal, or gloomy, especially to an exaggerated or ludicrous degree.
► To modify, as by shortening or simplifying or by skewing the content in a certain manner.
4. Plasma
► To seize another’s place, authority, or possession wrongfully.
► A system of names used in an art or science:
► Falling off or shed at a specific season or stage of growth:
5. Expurgate
► Characterized by affected, exaggerated, or insincere earnestness.
► Deception by trickery or sophistry.
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