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

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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. Hypocrisy

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

► A proportional part or share.

► The practice of professing beliefs, feelings, or virtues that one does not hold or possess; falseness.

► One thing conceived as representing another; a symbol.

2. Tundra

► The repetition of the same sounds or of the same kinds of sounds at the beginning of words or in stressed syllables

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

► A teacher and guide in spiritual and philosophical matters.

► A treeless area between the icecap and the tree line of Arctic regions, having a permanently frozen subsoil and supporting low-growing vegetation

3. Zoology

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

► Grossly offensive to decency or morality.

► The supporting and water-conducting tissue of vascular plants, consisting primarily of tracheids and vessels; woody tissue.

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

4. Heritage

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

► Either of two times of the year when the sun is at its greatest distance from the celestial equator.

► Conversation between characters in a drama or narrative

► Marked by hearty conviviality and good cheer.

5. Strategy

► To swing indecisively from one course of action or opinion to another.

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

► Not subject to an obligation imposed on others; exempt.

► The distance that light travels in a vacuum in one year.

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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.