Bay Area Newsgroup Newspapers in Education.  The Mercury News, East Bay Times, Marin Independant Journal, Santa Cruz Sentinel.  Classroom Hero image. Bay Area Newsgroup Newspapers in Education.  The Mercury News, East Bay Times, Marin Independant Journal, Santa Cruz Sentinel.  Classroom Hero image.
Home About NIE Sponsor NIE Contact Us
Geography Last Week Front Page Cartoons News Video Words Use the News History Special Report Pulse NASA

Words in the News

This Week's Word In The News 

ARID

DEFINITION:
Being without moisture; extremely dry; parched.

FOUND IN THE NEWS:
The unpredictability of illegal fireworks make them dangerous in the arid desert climate, said Riddle, who is also bureau commander of Metro’s Northeast Area Command.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal, 06/30/2025

Generate your own quiz
Select a grade level
 Elementary
 Middle School
 High School
Select a quiz type
 By words
 By Definitions
Select how many questions
5   10   15   20  

Words in the News Quiz
5 Elementary 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. source

To make clear; to free from obscurities; to brighten or illuminate.

Paying attention; noticing, watching, listening, or attending closely.

The person, place or thing from which something (information, goods, etc.) comes or is acquired.

Existing or occurring at the moment.


2. construct

Doubt, apprehension, a feeling of dread

What something does or is used for.

To build or form something by assembling parts.

More or most likely to be exposed to the chance of being attacked or harmed, either physically or emotionally.


3. reflection

The act of inhabiting; state of inhabiting or dwelling, or of being inhabited; occupancy.

A long flat-topped fixture in a store or bank across which business is conducted with customers.

The throwing back by a body or surface of light, heat, or sound without absorbing it

Explain the meaning of (information, words, or actions)


4. influence

The power to affect, control or manipulate something or someone; the ability to change the development of fluctuating things such as conduct, thoughts or decisions.

The extent to which something matters; importance

Important with regards to (a subject or matter); relevant

Having traits or characteristics in common; alike, comparable.


5. diminish

To make smaller.

A piece of written, printed, or electronic matter that provides information or evidence or that serves as an official record.

To overpower; to subdue; to put down.

The state of being serene; calmness; peacefulness.


Get more Quizzes 

 Elementary School    Middle School   High School  

 By Word     By Definition    5  10  15  20 Questions

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.