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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.
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

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. Ellipse

A state of uncertainty or perplexity.

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

The act of resting or the state of being at rest.

Being without or almost without hope


2. Parasite

One thing conceived as representing another; a symbol.

A characteristic rate or rhythm of activity; a pace

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

Sharing the same opinions or views; being in complete harmony or accord.


3. Participle

A movement or procedure involving skill and dexterity.

Similarity in some respects between things that are otherwise dissimilar.

The main character in a drama or other literary work.

A form of a verb that in some languages, such as English, can function independently as an adjective.


4. Jovial

Marked by hearty conviviality and good cheer.

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

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.

Grossly offensive to decency or morality.


5. Hieroglyphic

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.

Grossly offensive to decency or morality.

Loud, noisy, and lacking in restraint or discipline

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.


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