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. Jovial
► Marked by hearty conviviality and good cheer.
► An embankment built to prevent flooding
2. Vacillate
► An embankment built to prevent flooding
► The drawing of a conclusion by reasoning; the act of deducing.
► To swing indecisively from one course of action or opinion to another.
3. Polygon
► To move in waves or with a smooth, wavelike motion.
► A closed plane figure bounded by three or more line segments.
► One that speaks for, represents, or advocates
► Conversation between characters in a drama or narrative
4. Renegade
► One who rejects a religion, cause, allegiance, or group for another; a deserter.
► In a deplorable state of distress or misfortune; miserable.
5. Quandary
► The act of reasoning from factual knowledge or evidence.
► To pound, crush, or grind to a powder or dust.
► A state of uncertainty or perplexity.
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.