Words in the News

This Week's Word In The News 

INSPECTOR

DEFINITION:
An official employed to ensure that official regulations are obeyed, especially in public services.

FOUND IN THE NEWS:
U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents are federal employees, and misconduct allegations are typically investigated by the agency’s Office of Professional Responsibility or by the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of inspector General.
The Key West Citizen, 03/16/2026

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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. Eclectic

One thing conceived as representing another; a symbol.

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

Being without or almost without hope

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


2. Ultraviolet

Any of several rod-shaped bacteria, of the genus Salmonella, that cause food poisoning and other diseases.

Of or relating to the range of invisible radiation wavelengths from about 4 nanometers, on the border of the x-ray region, to about 380 nanometers, just beyond the violet in the visible spectrum.

Having no specific pattern, purpose, or objective.

The repetition of the same sounds or of the same kinds of sounds at the beginning of words or in stressed syllables


3. Ellipse

Self-examination.

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

The locus of points for which the sum of the distances from each point to two fixed points is equal

Having a buoyant or self-confident air; brisk.


4. Dialogue

To grow well or luxuriantly; thrive

Conversation between characters in a drama or narrative

Loud, noisy, and lacking in restraint or discipline

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


5. Tundra

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

A proportional part or share.

A movement or procedure involving skill and dexterity.

Inspiring awe, admiration, or wonder


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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.