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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. Vaccine

Having or demonstrating enthusiasm

A preparation of a weakened or killed pathogen.

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

A grotesque ornamental figure or projection.


2. Deign

A grotesque ornamental figure or projection.

A person with masterly skill or technique in the arts.

The drawing of a conclusion by reasoning; the act of deducing.

To condescend to give or grant


3. Sacrifice

A relationship of mutual benefit or dependence.

The food-conducting tissue of vascular plants, consisting of sieve tubes, fibers, parenchyma, and sclereids.

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

An unstable, poisonous allotrope of oxygen.


4. Ellipse

Inspiring awe, admiration, or wonder

The locus of points for which the sum of the distances from each point to two fixed points is equal

To take in by elaborate methods of deceit

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


5. Parasite

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

To stress or emphasize; intensify

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

A proportional part or share.


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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.