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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. Dialogue

A prohibition by a government on certain or all trade with a foreign nation

Having no specific pattern, purpose, or objective.

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

Conversation between characters in a drama or narrative


2. Bandolier

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

A preparation of a weakened or killed pathogen.

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

An ammunition belt, worn over the shoulder, having loops or pockets for cartridges.


3. Marsupial

A disorderly commotion or disturbance.

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.

Any of various nonplacental mammals, including kangaroos, opossums, bandicoots, and wombats, found principally in Australia and the Americas.


4. Sect

To cringe in fear

An embankment built to prevent flooding

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

The practice of professing beliefs, feelings, or virtues that one does not hold or possess; falseness.


5. Delegate

To swing indecisively from one course of action or opinion to another.

A person authorized to act as representative for another; a deputy.

The systematic procedure by which a complex or scientific task is accomplished.

Inspiring awe, admiration, or wonder


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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.