Words in the News

This Week's Word In The News 

ROOSTER TAIL

DEFINITION:
A high-arching spray (as of water, dust, or snow) thrown up behind a fast-moving motorboat, motor vehicle, or skier.

FOUND IN THE NEWS:
A second red flag was waved during the fifth race of the day when Rollin Transport got into a rooster tail on the turn of the first lap, resulting in the boat going onto its side before flipping.
The Key West Citizen, 11/10/2025

Generate your own quiz
Select a grade level
 Elementary
 Middle School
 High School
Select a quiz type
 By words
 By Definitions
Select how many questions
5   10   15   20  

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. Wretched

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

In a deplorable state of distress or misfortune; miserable.

A picture or decorative design made by setting small colored pieces, as of stone or tile, into a surface.

The systematic procedure by which a complex or scientific task is accomplished.


2. Quarantine

Enforced isolation or restriction of free movement imposed to prevent the spread of contagious disease.

Marked by hearty conviviality and good cheer.

One that speaks for, represents, or advocates

A treeless area between the icecap and the tree line of Arctic regions, having a permanently frozen subsoil and supporting low-growing vegetation


3. Random

Having no specific pattern, purpose, or objective.

To stress or emphasize; intensify

A Y-shaped protein on the surface of B cells that is secreted into the blood or lymph in response to an antigenic stimulus

Similarity in some respects between things that are otherwise dissimilar.


4. Tumult

A fungus, usually of the class Ascomycetes, that grows symbiotically with algae,

A disorderly commotion or disturbance.

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

To proclaim publicly


5. Unanimous

To have a great ambition or ultimate goal

The distance that light travels in a vacuum in one year.

Sharing the same opinions or views; being in complete harmony or accord.

Incorrectness of reasoning or belief


Get more Quizzes 

 Elementary School    Middle School   High School  

 By Word     By Definition    5  10  15  20 Questions

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.