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Words in the News

This Week's Word In The News 

SUREFIRE

DEFINITION:
Certain or likely, especially to succeed.

FOUND IN THE NEWS:
Kirby taught himself how to count cards, a surefire way to get barred from gambling at a casino, “raking in money on trips to Atlantic City and Las Vegas,” the article stated.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal, 05/04/2026

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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. Polygon

In a deplorable state of distress or misfortune; miserable.

A grotesque ornamental figure or projection.

A closed plane figure bounded by three or more line segments.

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


2. Exponent

Grossly offensive to decency or morality.

Forfeiture of something highly valued for the sake of one considered to have a greater value or claim.

One that speaks for, represents, or advocates

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


3. Fallacy

An alteration or change, as in nature, form, or quality.

A dense evergreen forest occupying a tropical region with an annual rainfall of at least 100 inches.

Having a buoyant or self-confident air; brisk.

Incorrectness of reasoning or belief


4. Despondent

Being without or almost without hope

Having a backbone or spinal column.

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

A movement or procedure involving skill and dexterity.


5. Impertinent

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

A movement or procedure involving skill and dexterity.

An unstable, poisonous allotrope of oxygen.

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.