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. Vertebrate
► Having a backbone or spinal column.
► A teacher and guide in spiritual and philosophical matters.
► An unstable, poisonous allotrope of oxygen.
2. Tempo
► An unstable, poisonous allotrope of oxygen.
► A metric unit of length equal to 1,000 meters (0.62 mile).
► A characteristic rate or rhythm of activity; a pace
3. Cower
► The distribution of energy emitted by a radiant source, arranged in order of wavelengths.
► The drawing of a conclusion by reasoning; the act of deducing.
4. Exult
► To rejoice greatly; be jubilant or triumphant
► An embankment built to prevent flooding
► Marked by hearty conviviality and good cheer.
► The right or privilege of voting; franchise.
5. Inference
► Strikingly unconventional and far-fetched in style or appearance; odd
► The act of reasoning from factual knowledge or evidence.
► To swing indecisively from one course of action or opinion to another.
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.