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

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 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. Kilometer

► The locus of points for which the sum of the distances from each point to two fixed points is equal

► A metric unit of length equal to 1,000 meters (0.62 mile).

► The drawing of a conclusion by reasoning; the act of deducing.

► A teacher and guide in spiritual and philosophical matters.

2. Salmonella

► An intricate structure of interconnecting passages through which it is difficult to find one’s way; a maze.

► A relationship of mutual benefit or dependence.

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

► To condescend to give or grant

3. Antibody

► A Y-shaped protein on the surface of B cells that is secreted into the blood or lymph in response to an antigenic stimulus

► A diffuse mass of interstellar dust or gas or both, visible as luminous patches or areas of darkness

► The branch of biology that deals with animals and animal life, including the study of the structure, physiology, development, and classification of animals.

► To move in waves or with a smooth, wavelike motion.

4. Tranquility

► To move in waves or with a smooth, wavelike motion.

► Using or marked by the use of few words; terse or concise.

► The quality or state of being tranquil; serenity.

► A dense evergreen forest occupying a tropical region with an annual rainfall of at least 100 inches.

5. Metaphor

► Any of various nonplacental mammals, including kangaroos, opossums, bandicoots, and wombats, found principally in Australia and the Americas.

► One thing conceived as representing another; a symbol.

► An ammunition belt, worn over the shoulder, having loops or pockets for cartridges.

► Enforced isolation or restriction of free movement imposed to prevent the spread of contagious disease.

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.