TIE | The Los Angeles Times in Education

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. Embargo

► Exceeding the limits of propriety or good manners; improperly forward or bold

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

► One who habitually takes advantage of the generosity of others without making any useful return.

► An alteration or change, as in nature, form, or quality.

2. Jaunty

► 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.

► An embankment built to prevent flooding

► Having a buoyant or self-confident air; brisk.

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

3. Typhoon

► A weather phenomenon in the Eastern Pacific that is precisely equivalent to a hurricane.

► A teacher and guide in spiritual and philosophical matters.

► A person authorized to act as representative for another; a deputy.

► Of, relating to, or occurring in the night

4. Enthusiastic

► A person authorized to act as representative for another; a deputy.

► Of, relating to, or occurring in the night

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

► Having or demonstrating enthusiasm

5. Unanimous

► To have a great ambition or ultimate goal

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

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

► A schedule of prices or fees.

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.

ROOSTER TAIL

Words in the News Quiz
5 Middle School Words

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

ROOSTER TAIL

Words in the News Quiz5 Middle School Words

Words in the News Quiz
5 Middle School Words