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.
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. Vertebrate
► Grossly offensive to decency or morality.
► Having a backbone or spinal column.
► Of, relating to, or occurring in the night
2. Tsunami
► The quality or state of being tranquil; serenity.
► A metric unit of length equal to 1,000 meters (0.62 mile).
► The distance that light travels in a vacuum in one year.
3. Jaunty
► An embankment built to prevent flooding
► A schedule of prices or fees.
► Having a buoyant or self-confident air; brisk.
4. Rainforest
► Being without or almost without hope
5. Decorum
► Sharing the same opinions or views; being in complete harmony or accord.
► One who habitually takes advantage of the generosity of others without making any useful return.
► Appropriateness of behavior or conduct