NIE | yoursun | Words in the News

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

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

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. Sect

► A cult or religious movement, a group sharing particular (often unorthodox) political and/or religious beliefs.

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

► Appropriateness of behavior or conduct

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

2. Lichen

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

► A fungus, usually of the class Ascomycetes, that grows symbiotically with algae,

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

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

3. Heritage

► Relating to a system of writing, such as that of ancient Egypt, in which pictorial symbols are used to represent meaning or sounds or a combination of meaning and sound.