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Words in the News

This Week's Word In The News 

BACKLOT

DEFINITION:
An area behind or adjoining a movie studio containing permanent exterior buildings for outdoor scenes in filmmaking or television productions.

FOUND IN THE NEWS:
Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman, who serves the 4th District, makes her way across an empty, unnamed backlot, presenting her case to be the city’s next mayor.
►The Los Angeles Times, 05/18/2026

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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. Hologram

► Any of various relatively small sailing or motor-driven vessels used for pleasure cruises or racing.

► Something that is passed down from preceding generations; a tradition.

► The pattern produced on a photosensitive medium that has been exposed by holography and then photographically developed.

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

2. Malignant

► Harmful, malevolent, injurious. Harmfully cancerous.

► Similarity in some respects between things that are otherwise dissimilar.

► Conversation between characters in a drama or narrative

► A treeless area between the icecap and the tree line of Arctic regions, having a permanently frozen subsoil and supporting low-growing vegetation

3. Parasite

► A treeless area between the icecap and the tree line of Arctic regions, having a permanently frozen subsoil and supporting low-growing vegetation

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

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

► A schedule of prices or fees.

4. Nocturnal

► To rejoice greatly; be jubilant or triumphant

► In a deplorable state of distress or misfortune; miserable.

► Incorrectness of reasoning or belief

► Of, relating to, or occurring in the night

5. Guru

► To move in waves or with a smooth, wavelike motion.

► A characteristic rate or rhythm of activity; a pace

► Having a buoyant or self-confident air; brisk.

► A teacher and guide in spiritual and philosophical matters.

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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.

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