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. Marsupial
► One that speaks for, represents, or advocates
► A weather phenomenon in the Eastern Pacific that is precisely equivalent to a hurricane.
2. Guru
► An embankment built to prevent flooding
► Marked by hearty conviviality and good cheer.
► A teacher and guide in spiritual and philosophical matters.
► A person with masterly skill or technique in the arts.
3. Zoology
► A prohibition by a government on certain or all trade with a foreign nation
► An alteration or change, as in nature, form, or quality.
4. Phloem
► To rejoice greatly; be jubilant or triumphant
► The drawing of a conclusion by reasoning; the act of deducing.
► To pound, crush, or grind to a powder or dust.
5. Voracious
► Inspiring awe, admiration, or wonder
► Grossly offensive to decency or morality.
► Consuming or eager to consume great amounts of food; ravenous.
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.