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Words in the News

This Week's Word In The News 

BOON

DEFINITION:
A thing that is helpful or beneficial.

FOUND IN THE NEWS:
A Miami World’s Fair would potentially result in a big tourism boon for the state and region, including the Florida Keys.
The Key West Citizen, 01/26/2026

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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. Marsupial

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

To have a great ambition or ultimate goal

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

Having a buoyant or self-confident air; brisk.


2. Vertebrate

Having a buoyant or self-confident air; brisk.

An elevated, comparatively level expanse of land; a tableland.

Having a backbone or spinal column.

One who habitually takes advantage of the generosity of others without making any useful return.


3. Guerrilla

A characteristic rate or rhythm of activity; a pace

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

A member of an irregular, usually indigenous military or paramilitary unit operating in small bands in occupied territory to harass and undermine the enemy

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


4. Laconic

A picture or decorative design made by setting small colored pieces, as of stone or tile, into a surface.

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

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

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


5. Vacillate

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

A grotesque ornamental figure or projection.

Self-examination.

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


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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.