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. Mutation

► The food-conducting tissue of vascular plants, consisting of sieve tubes, fibers, parenchyma, and sclereids.

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

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

► Inspiring awe, admiration, or wonder

2. Lichen

► To have a great ambition or ultimate goal

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

► Of, relating to, or occurring in the night

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

3. Tsunami

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

► Strikingly unconventional and far-fetched in style or appearance; odd

► One that takes in everything available, as with the mind.

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

4. Decorum

► One thing conceived as representing another; a symbol.

► Appropriateness of behavior or conduct

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

► To pound, crush, or grind to a powder or dust.

5. Outrageous

► To grow well or luxuriantly; thrive

► Grossly offensive to decency or morality.

► An embankment built to prevent flooding

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.

DISABILITY

Words in the News Quiz
5 Middle School Words

DISABILITY
DEFINITION: A physical, mental, cognitive, or developmental condition that makes it more difficult for a person to do certain tasks or participate in daily activities.	FOUND IN THE NEWS: The agreement last week between Disability-rights groups and Secretary of State Shirley Weber follows an Oct. 2 ruling by U.S. Magistrate Judge Sallie Kim of San Francisco that the current system violates the Americans with Disabilities Act and other laws. ►San Francisco Chronicle, 11/02/2026

DISABILITY

Words in the News Quiz5 Middle School Words

Words in the News Quiz
5 Middle School Words