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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. Symbiosis

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

► A characteristic rate or rhythm of activity; a pace

► A relationship of mutual benefit or dependence.

► Consuming or eager to consume great amounts of food; ravenous.

2. Maneuver

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

► A movement or procedure involving skill and dexterity.

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

► A teacher and guide in spiritual and philosophical matters.

3. Typhoon

► 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.

► Using or marked by the use of few words; terse or concise.

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

► A picture or decorative design made by setting small colored pieces, as of stone or tile, into a surface.

4. Solstice

► The science and art of using all the forces of a nation to execute approved plans as effectively as possible during peace or war.

► Any of various relatively small sailing or motor-driven vessels used for pleasure cruises or racing.

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

► The act of reasoning from factual knowledge or evidence.

5. Sect

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

► To stress or emphasize; intensify

► A cult or religious movement, a group sharing particular (often unorthodox) political and/or religious beliefs.

► One that speaks for, represents, or advocates

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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.