NIE Home  Lessons: K-4  5-8  9-12   Geo Quiz   Cartoons for the Classroom   Front Page Talking Points    Last Week in the News   Week in History  News Video  Science Audio 
Generate your own quiz 

Select a grade level

 Elementary
 Middle School
 High School

Select a quiz type

 By words    By Definitions

How many questions?

 5  10  15  20 Questions



 

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.
This Week's Word In The News 

WILDFIRE

DEFINITION:
An unplanned and uncontrolled fire in an area of combustible vegetation.

FOUND IN THE NEWS:
It was not yet clear how the wildfires started, but a long drought, low humidity and strong winds were fueling them.
The Key West Citizen, 04/27/2026

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. Salmonella

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

The distance that light travels in a vacuum in one year.

Any of several rod-shaped bacteria, of the genus Salmonella, that cause food poisoning and other diseases.

A proportional part or share.


2. Outrageous

Of or relating to the range of invisible radiation wavelengths from about 4 nanometers, on the border of the x-ray region, to about 380 nanometers, just beyond the violet in the visible spectrum.

A rebirth or revival.

Grossly offensive to decency or morality.

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


3. Xylem

The supporting and water-conducting tissue of vascular plants, consisting primarily of tracheids and vessels; woody tissue.

The quality or state of being tranquil; serenity.

Consuming or eager to consume great amounts of food; ravenous.

A conventional, formulaic, and oversimplified conception, opinion, or image.


4. Spectrum

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

A schedule of prices or fees.

To have a great ambition or ultimate goal

Conversation between characters in a drama or narrative


5. Impertinent

Conversation between characters in a drama or narrative

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

One that takes in everything available, as with the mind.


Get more Quizzes 

 Elementary School    Middle School   High School  

 By Word     By Definition    5  10  15  20 Questions