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. Outrageous
► Having or demonstrating enthusiasm
► A state of uncertainty or perplexity.
► Grossly offensive to decency or morality.
2. Gargoyle
► The distance that light travels in a vacuum in one year.
► A grotesque ornamental figure or projection.
► Loud, noisy, and lacking in restraint or discipline
► A characteristic rate or rhythm of activity; a pace
3. Xylem
► A characteristic rate or rhythm of activity; a pace
► Strikingly unconventional and far-fetched in style or appearance; odd
4. Accentuate
► A metric unit of length equal to 1,000 meters (0.62 mile).
► The act of reasoning from factual knowledge or evidence.
► A prohibition by a government on certain or all trade with a foreign nation
► To stress or emphasize; intensify
5. Plateau
► An elevated, comparatively level expanse of land; a tableland.
► A teacher and guide in spiritual and philosophical matters.
► The distribution of energy emitted by a radiant source, arranged in order of wavelengths.
► Being without or almost without hope
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.