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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 

PLOY

DEFINITION:
A cunning plan or action designed to turn a situation to one's own advantage.

FOUND IN THE NEWS:
“First of all, I think it’s important to recognize that the majority of the American people find this behavior deeply troubling,” said the 44th president, conceding that it does serve as an effective distraction and ploy for attention.
The Boston Herald, 02/16/2026

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. Laconic

Harmful, malevolent, injurious. Harmfully cancerous.

Using or marked by the use of few words; terse or concise.

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

A diffuse mass of interstellar dust or gas or both, visible as luminous patches or areas of darkness


2. Aspire

A diffuse mass of interstellar dust or gas or both, visible as luminous patches or areas of darkness

To stress or emphasize; intensify

A proportional part or share.

To have a great ambition or ultimate goal


3. Jovial

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

Marked by hearty conviviality and good cheer.

The arrangement of events in time

One who rejects a religion, cause, allegiance, or group for another; a deserter.


4. Hieroglyphic

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.

The drawing of a conclusion by reasoning; the act of deducing.

Being without or almost without hope

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


5. Jaunty

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

To move back or away from a limit, point, or mark

Having a buoyant or self-confident air; brisk.

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


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