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. Chronology

A dense evergreen forest occupying a tropical region with an annual rainfall of at least 100 inches.

The arrangement of events in time

One that takes in everything available, as with the mind.

A movement or procedure involving skill and dexterity.


2. Light-Year

A movement or procedure involving skill and dexterity.

To proclaim publicly

A rebirth or revival.

The distance that light travels in a vacuum in one year.


3. Sacrifice

Any of several rod-shaped bacteria, of the genus Salmonella, that cause food poisoning and other diseases.

Forfeiture of something highly valued for the sake of one considered to have a greater value or claim.

Having or demonstrating enthusiasm

Strikingly unconventional and far-fetched in style or appearance; odd


4. Parasite

Having a buoyant or self-confident air; brisk.

A poisonous substance, especially a protein, that is produced by living cells or organisms.

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

Appropriateness of behavior or conduct


5. Wretched

The repetition of the same sounds or of the same kinds of sounds at the beginning of words or in stressed syllables

In a deplorable state of distress or misfortune; miserable.

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

A conventional, formulaic, and oversimplified conception, opinion, or image.


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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.