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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. Strategy

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

An unstable, poisonous allotrope of oxygen.

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

One who rejects a religion, cause, allegiance, or group for another; a deserter.


2. Nocturnal

One who rejects a religion, cause, allegiance, or group for another; a deserter.

Self-examination.

Of, relating to, or occurring in the night

To stress or emphasize; intensify


3. Formidable

A preparation of a weakened or killed pathogen.

The distribution of energy emitted by a radiant source, arranged in order of wavelengths.

To honor the memory of with a ceremony

Inspiring awe, admiration, or wonder


4. Embargo

A state of uncertainty or perplexity.

An elevated, comparatively level expanse of land; a tableland.

The act of reasoning from factual knowledge or evidence.

A prohibition by a government on certain or all trade with a foreign nation


5. Phloem

The food-conducting tissue of vascular plants, consisting of sieve tubes, fibers, parenchyma, and sclereids.

Conversation between characters in a drama or narrative

One who habitually takes advantage of the generosity of others without making any useful return.

A movement or procedure involving skill and dexterity.


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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.