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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. Rainforest

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

An elevated, comparatively level expanse of land; a tableland.

A disorderly commotion or disturbance.

Of, relating to, or occurring in the night


2. Salmonella

Of, relating to, or occurring in the night

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

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

Having a backbone or spinal column.


3. Immune

Either of two times of the year when the sun is at its greatest distance from the celestial equator.

Selecting or employing individual elements from a variety of sources, systems, or styles

Not subject to an obligation imposed on others; exempt.

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


4. Zoology

The branch of biology that deals with animals and animal life, including the study of the structure, physiology, development, and classification of animals.

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

Conversation between characters in a drama or narrative

A teacher and guide in spiritual and philosophical matters.


5. Sect

A teacher and guide in spiritual and philosophical matters.

A Y-shaped protein on the surface of B cells that is secreted into the blood or lymph in response to an antigenic stimulus

A cult or religious movement, a group sharing particular (often unorthodox) political and/or religious beliefs.

A closed plane figure bounded by three or more line segments.


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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.