NIE | theforum | Words in the News

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. Symbiosis

► A schedule of prices or fees.

► 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.

► A relationship of mutual benefit or dependence.

2. Nebula

► To pound, crush, or grind to a powder or dust.

► Any of various relatively small sailing or motor-driven vessels used for pleasure cruises or racing.

► The act of reasoning from factual knowledge or evidence.

► A diffuse mass of interstellar dust or gas or both, visible as luminous patches or areas of darkness

3. Vertebrate

► The quality or state of being tranquil; serenity.

► Having a backbone or spinal column.

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

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

4. Antibody

► To honor the memory of with a ceremony

► A grotesque ornamental figure or projection.

► A Y-shaped protein on the surface of B cells that is secreted into the blood or lymph in response to an antigenic stimulus

► A person with masterly skill or technique in the arts.

5. Kilometer

► Enforced isolation or restriction of free movement imposed to prevent the spread of contagious disease.

► A metric unit of length equal to 1,000 meters (0.62 mile).

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

► A proportional part or share.

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.

PETITIONER

Words in the News Quiz
5 Middle School Words

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

PETITIONER

Words in the News Quiz5 Middle School Words

Words in the News Quiz
5 Middle School Words