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. Xylem

The supporting and water-conducting tissue of vascular plants, consisting primarily of tracheids and vessels; woody tissue.

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

Incorrectness of reasoning or belief

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


2. Tumult

Incorrectness of reasoning or belief

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

In a deplorable state of distress or misfortune; miserable.

A disorderly commotion or disturbance.


3. Kilometer

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

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

To cringe in fear

A form of a verb that in some languages, such as English, can function independently as an adjective.


4. Vertebrate

Having a backbone or spinal column.

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

To swing indecisively from one course of action or opinion to another.

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


5. Rainforest

Being without or almost without hope

A dense evergreen forest occupying a tropical region with an annual rainfall of at least 100 inches.

To take in by elaborate methods of deceit

Conversation between characters in a drama or narrative


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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.