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Words in the News

This Week's Word In The News 

SUREFIRE

DEFINITION:
Certain or likely, especially to succeed.

FOUND IN THE NEWS:
Kirby taught himself how to count cards, a surefire way to get barred from gambling at a casino, “raking in money on trips to Atlantic City and Las Vegas,” the article stated.
►The Las Vegas Review-Journal, 05/04/2026

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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. Alliteration

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

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

► The arrangement of events in time

► A closed plane figure bounded by three or more line segments.

2. Undulate

► A closed plane figure bounded by three or more line segments.

► A proportional part or share.

► Relating to a system of writing, such as that of ancient Egypt, in which pictorial symbols are used to represent meaning or sounds or a combination of meaning and sound.

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

3. Solstice

► A person with masterly skill or technique in the arts.

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

► A member of an irregular, usually indigenous military or paramilitary unit operating in small bands in occupied territory to harass and undermine the enemy

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

4. Tempo

► A characteristic rate or rhythm of activity; a pace

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

► 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.

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

5. Impertinent

► 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.

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

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

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

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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.