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Words in the News

This Week's Word In The News 

PETITIONER

DEFINITION:
A person who pleads with a governmental institution for a legal remedy or a redress of grievances, through the use of a petition.

FOUND IN THE NEWS:
While presenting the citizens’ petition for debate at the April 11 Spring Town Meeting, petitioners argued that ICE operations in Plymouth have “created fear” and “disrupted lives” among the immigrant community, leading to what they call a distrust of local police.
The Boston Herald, 04/20/2026

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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. Delegate

A drawing consisting of the outline of something, especially a human profile, filled in with a solid color.

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

Consuming or eager to consume great amounts of food; ravenous.

A person authorized to act as representative for another; a deputy.


2. Zoology

Being without or almost without hope

Having a buoyant or self-confident air; brisk.

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

One that takes in everything available, as with the mind.


3. Random

Having no specific pattern, purpose, or objective.

A very large and destructive wave, generally caused by a tremendous disturbance in the ocean, such as an undersea earthquake or volcanic eruption.

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

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


4. Protagonist

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

Of or relating to the range of invisible radiation wavelengths from about 4 nanometers, on the border of the x-ray region, to about 380 nanometers, just beyond the violet in the visible spectrum.

The main character in a drama or other literary work.

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


5. Immune

Relating to a system of writing, such as that of ancient Egypt, in which pictorial symbols are used to represent meaning or sounds or a combination of meaning and sound.

Not subject to an obligation imposed on others; exempt.

The method or result of concealing personnel or equipment from an enemy by making them appear to be part of the natural surroundings

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


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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.