Words in the News

This Week's Word In The News 

PROPOSITION

DEFINITION:
Something offered for consideration or acceptance.

FOUND IN THE NEWS:
proposition 10 was considered a landmark policy.
The Los Angeles Times, 12/15/2025

Generate your own quiz
Select a grade level
 Elementary
 Middle School
 High School
Select a quiz type
 By words
 By Definitions
Select how many questions
5   10   15   20  

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. Vacillate

The practice of professing beliefs, feelings, or virtues that one does not hold or possess; falseness.

To proclaim publicly

To swing indecisively from one course of action or opinion to another.

To cringe in fear


2. Lichen

A member of an irregular, usually indigenous military or paramilitary unit operating in small bands in occupied territory to harass and undermine the enemy

An intricate structure of interconnecting passages through which it is difficult to find one’s way; a maze.

To take in by elaborate methods of deceit

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


3. Repose

The quality or state of being tranquil; serenity.

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

Inspiring awe, admiration, or wonder

Being without or almost without hope


4. Tempo

Being without or almost without hope

An unstable, poisonous allotrope of oxygen.

To rejoice greatly; be jubilant or triumphant

A characteristic rate or rhythm of activity; a pace


5. Voracious

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

One that speaks for, represents, or advocates

A schedule of prices or fees.

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


Get more Quizzes 

 Elementary School    Middle School   High School  

 By Word     By Definition    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.