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. Vacillate
► In a deplorable state of distress or misfortune; miserable.
► To swing indecisively from one course of action or opinion to another.
► To rejoice greatly; be jubilant or triumphant
2. Metaphor
► A relationship of mutual benefit or dependence.
► To move in waves or with a smooth, wavelike motion.
► One thing conceived as representing another; a symbol.
3. Ozone
► An alteration or change, as in nature, form, or quality.
► An unstable, poisonous allotrope of oxygen.
4. Formidable
► Inspiring awe, admiration, or wonder
► The drawing of a conclusion by reasoning; the act of deducing.
► One who habitually takes advantage of the generosity of others without making any useful return.
5. Jaunty
► Having no specific pattern, purpose, or objective.
► Having a buoyant or self-confident air; brisk.
► Of, relating to, or occurring in the night
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.