Words in the News Quiz
5 High 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. Winnow
► Something done or paid to compensate or make amends.
► To separate or get rid of (an undesirable part); eliminate.
► Having a bad disposition; surly.
2. Interpolate
► Having a bad disposition; surly.
► To insert or introduce between other elements or parts.
3. Circumlocution
► The use of unnecessarily wordy and indirect language.
► An advocate of the extension of political voting rights, especially to women.
► A doctrine holding that all values are baseless and that nothing can be known or communicated.
4. Obsequious
► Full of or exhibiting servile compliance; fawning.
► A marked change in appearance, character, condition, or function.
► To weaken or destroy the strength or vitality of.
5. Detritus
► To weaken or destroy the strength or vitality of.
► To modify, as by shortening or simplifying or by skewing the content in a certain manner.
► A product of disintegration, destruction, or wearing away; debris.
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.