Words in the News

This Week's Word In The News 

ACQUAINTANCE

DEFINITION:
A person one knows slightly, but who is not a close friend.

FOUND IN THE NEWS:
When photographer Peter Turnley was just 20 years old, an acquaintance from the California Office of Economic Opportunity reached out to him with a question.
►The Los Angeles Times, 12/01/2025

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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. Impertinent

► Conversation between characters in a drama or narrative

► The pattern produced on a photosensitive medium that has been exposed by holography and then photographically developed.

► The food-conducting tissue of vascular plants, consisting of sieve tubes, fibers, parenchyma, and sclereids.

► Exceeding the limits of propriety or good manners; improperly forward or bold

2. Participle

► A proportional part or share.

► Any of several rod-shaped bacteria, of the genus Salmonella, that cause food poisoning and other diseases.

► A state of uncertainty or perplexity.

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

3. Sacrifice

► Forfeiture of something highly valued for the sake of one considered to have a greater value or claim.

► Strikingly unconventional and far-fetched in style or appearance; odd

► The act of reasoning from factual knowledge or evidence.

► One who rejects a religion, cause, allegiance, or group for another; a deserter.

4. Flourish

► The act of reasoning from factual knowledge or evidence.

► One who rejects a religion, cause, allegiance, or group for another; a deserter.

► A teacher and guide in spiritual and philosophical matters.

► To grow well or luxuriantly; thrive

5. Jovial

► The science and art of using all the forces of a nation to execute approved plans as effectively as possible during peace or war.

► Marked by hearty conviviality and good cheer.

► Something that is passed down from preceding generations; a tradition.

► Inspiring awe, admiration, or wonder

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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.