Words in the News

This Week's Word In The News 

SITUATED

DEFINITION:
Having a site, situation, or location.

FOUND IN THE NEWS:
If the Netflix deal goes through, it could have implications for New Mexico, with one of Netflix’s major facilities situated in Albuquerque’s Mesa del Sol community, local industry experts say.
The Albuquerque Journal, 01/12/2026

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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. Toxin

Similarity in some respects between things that are otherwise dissimilar.

One who rejects a religion, cause, allegiance, or group for another; a deserter.

A characteristic rate or rhythm of activity; a pace

A poisonous substance, especially a protein, that is produced by living cells or organisms.


2. Tranquility

A dense evergreen forest occupying a tropical region with an annual rainfall of at least 100 inches.

The quality or state of being tranquil; serenity.

A diffuse mass of interstellar dust or gas or both, visible as luminous patches or areas of darkness

To move in waves or with a smooth, wavelike motion.


3. Despondent

A prohibition by a government on certain or all trade with a foreign nation

Being without or almost without hope

Marked by hearty conviviality and good cheer.

To move back or away from a limit, point, or mark


4. Salmonella

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

A conventional, formulaic, and oversimplified conception, opinion, or image.

A very large and destructive wave, generally caused by a tremendous disturbance in the ocean, such as an undersea earthquake or volcanic eruption.

The method or result of concealing personnel or equipment from an enemy by making them appear to be part of the natural surroundings


5. Ellipse

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

Either of two times of the year when the sun is at its greatest distance from the celestial equator.

One thing conceived as representing another; a symbol.

A metric unit of length equal to 1,000 meters (0.62 mile).


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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.