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Words in the News

This Week's Word In The News 

ADVERSE

DEFINITION:
Having a negative or harmful effect on something.

FOUND IN THE NEWS:
There was no evidence of “any adverse or harmful chemical or other exposures,” he wrote.
The Boston Herald, 06/15/2026

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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. Silhouette

A very large and destructive wave, generally caused by a tremendous disturbance in the ocean, such as an undersea earthquake or volcanic eruption.

A drawing consisting of the outline of something, especially a human profile, filled in with a solid color.

An ammunition belt, worn over the shoulder, having loops or pockets for cartridges.

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


2. Zoology

Having a buoyant or self-confident air; brisk.

The branch of biology that deals with animals and animal life, including the study of the structure, physiology, development, and classification of animals.

A poisonous substance, especially a protein, that is produced by living cells or organisms.

Conversation between characters in a drama or narrative


3. Impertinent

The practice of professing beliefs, feelings, or virtues that one does not hold or possess; falseness.

Exceeding the limits of propriety or good manners; improperly forward or bold

A grotesque ornamental figure or projection.

Appropriateness of behavior or conduct


4. Delegate

The quality or state of being tranquil; serenity.

In a deplorable state of distress or misfortune; miserable.

A person authorized to act as representative for another; a deputy.

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


5. Phloem

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

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

The systematic procedure by which a complex or scientific task is accomplished.

Either of two times of the year when the sun is at its greatest distance from the celestial equator.


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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.