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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 High 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. Incontrovertible

A system of names used in an art or science:

The basic unit of currency among participating European Union countries.

A doctrine holding that all values are baseless and that nothing can be known or communicated.

Impossible to dispute; unquestionable


2. Yeoman

A diligent, dependable worker.

To impress (something) upon the mind of another by frequent instruction or repetition; instill.

To picture falsely; misrepresent.

The clear, yellowish fluid portion of blood, lymph, or intramuscular fluid in which cells are suspended.


3. Totalitarian

The clear, yellowish fluid portion of blood, lymph, or intramuscular fluid in which cells are suspended.

Having unlimited or universal power, authority, or force; all-powerful.

A form of government in which the political authority exercises absolute and centralized control over all aspects of life,

To separate or get rid of (an undesirable part); eliminate.


4. Subjugate

Characterized by forcefulness of expression or intensity of emotion or conviction; fervid.

Noninterference in the affairs of others.

A factor that determines a range of variations; a boundary

To bring under control; conquer.


5. Nadir

The lowest point

A circular strand of DNA in bacteria that contains the hereditary information necessary for cell life.

Lacking social polish; tactless.

The use of words to express something different from and often opposite to their literal meaning.


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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.