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Words in the News

This Week's Word In The News 

ACQUAINTANCE

DEFINITION:
A person one knows slightly, but who is not a close friend.

FOUND IN THE NEWS:
When photographer Peter Turnley was just 20 years old, an acquaintance from the California Office of Economic Opportunity reached out to him with a question.
►The Los Angeles Times, 12/01/2025

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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. Technique

► A grotesque ornamental figure or projection.

► The branch of biology that deals with animals and animal life, including the study of the structure, physiology, development, and classification of animals.

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

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

2. Antibody

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

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

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

► A schedule of prices or fees.

3. Plateau

► One thing conceived as representing another; a symbol.

► An elevated, comparatively level expanse of land; a tableland.

► An intricate structure of interconnecting passages through which it is difficult to find one’s way; a maze.

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

4. Symbiosis

► Appropriateness of behavior or conduct

► A relationship of mutual benefit or dependence.

► To condescend to give or grant

► Similarity in some respects between things that are otherwise dissimilar.

5. Renegade

► Similarity in some respects between things that are otherwise dissimilar.

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

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

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

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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.