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. Mitosis
► Characterized by affected, exaggerated, or insincere earnestness.
► Eating and drinking in moderation.
► The process in cell division by which the nucleus divides.
2. Fatuous
► A set of assumptions, concepts, values, and practices that constitutes a way of viewing reality
► A system of names used in an art or science:
► Vacuously, smugly, and unconsciously foolish.
3. Tempestuous
► Having a bad disposition; surly.
► To make an accusation against.
4. Vehement
► A place or situation regarded as drawing into its center all that surrounds it.
► Characterized by forcefulness of expression or intensity of emotion or conviction; fervid.
► Warlike in manner or temperament; pugnacious.
► Government by a few, especially by a small faction of persons or families.
5. Supercilious
► Feeling or showing haughty disdain.
► The use of unnecessarily wordy and indirect language.
©2026 Boston Herald in Education and Online Publications Inc. and NIEonline.com
