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. Vacillate
► To swing indecisively from one course of action or opinion to another.
► Inspiring awe, admiration, or wonder
► The act of reasoning from factual knowledge or evidence.
► A teacher and guide in spiritual and philosophical matters.
2. Nebula
► The drawing of a conclusion by reasoning; the act of deducing.
► A disorderly commotion or disturbance.
3. Salmonella
► A disorderly commotion or disturbance.
4. Mutation
► To pound, crush, or grind to a powder or dust.
► Strikingly unconventional and far-fetched in style or appearance; odd
► An alteration or change, as in nature, form, or quality.
► An ammunition belt, worn over the shoulder, having loops or pockets for cartridges.
5. Symbiosis
► A relationship of mutual benefit or dependence.
► A person authorized to act as representative for another; a deputy.
► A schedule of prices or fees.
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.