The 2024 U.S. presidential election showed that people in the country are very divided. Because of this, Merriam-Webster chose “polarization” as the word of the year. Polarization means people are moving to extreme sides instead of agreeing on things. Many voters thought the other side’s candidate was a big threat.

The word “polarization” is not just about politics; it also talks about other parts of life like pop culture and technology. Merriam-Webster picks words based on how much people are talking about them. The dictionary wants to help people understand words clearly, especially when there is a lot of confusing information around. This shows how important it is to know what words mean.

Besides “polarization,” other popular words for 2024 are “demure,” “fortnight,” and “cognitive.” These words became popular because of things happening in the world. This shows how language changes as society changes. People are thinking more about how they talk and understand each other in a world where people often disagree.

Original news source: ‘Polarization’ is Merriam-Webster’s 2024 word of the year (AP News)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– CHARADES
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Each group will take turns acting out one of the words from the article (e.g., “polarization,” “demure,” “fortnight”). The other groups will guess the word. This will help students understand vocabulary through movement and context.

– HEADLINE CREATION
Instructions: Ask students to work in pairs to create a catchy headline about the article’s main topic, “polarization” in the 2024 U.S. presidential election. After they finish, each pair will share their headline with the class. This encourages creativity and summarizing skills.

– OPINION POLL
Instructions: Conduct a quick opinion poll in class. Ask students if they think “polarization” is a problem in society today. Each student will raise their hand for “yes,” “no,” or “maybe.” After the poll, students can discuss in pairs why they chose their answer, fostering speaking and listening skills.

– SYNONYM CHALLENGE
Instructions: Write the word “polarization” on the board. Students will work in pairs to come up with as many synonyms or related words as they can in two minutes. Afterward, each pair will share their words with the class, expanding their vocabulary and understanding of the term.

– MIND MAP
Instructions: On a large piece of paper or whiteboard, write “Polarization” in the center. Students will work in small groups to brainstorm ideas, examples, and related concepts about polarization. Each group will add their ideas to the mind map, promoting collaborative thinking and vocabulary development.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What does the word “polarization” mean in this article?
2. Why did Merriam-Webster choose “polarization” as the word of the year?
3. What are some other popular words mentioned for 2024?
4. How does “polarization” affect people’s opinions about candidates in an election?
5. Why is it important to understand what words mean, according to the article?
6. How does the article say language changes over time?
7. In what areas of life does “polarization” apply, besides politics?
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🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

The 2024 (1)______ presidential (2)______ showed that people in the country are very divided. Because of this, Merriam-Webster (3)______ “polarization” as the word of the year. Polarization means people are moving to extreme sides instead of agreeing on things. Many voters thought the other side’s candidate was a big threat.

The (4)______ “polarization” is not just about politics; it also talks about other parts of life like pop (5)______ and technology. Merriam-Webster picks words based on how (6)______ people are talking about them. The dictionary (7)______ to help people understand (8)______ clearly, especially when there is a lot of confusing information around. This (9)______ how important it is to know what words mean.

Besides “polarization,” other popular words for 2024 are “demure,” “fortnight,” and “cognitive.” These words became (10)______ because of things happening in the (11)______. This shows how (12)______ changes as society changes. People are thinking more about how they talk and understand each other in a world where people often disagree.
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💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is a word that you think is important to know?
2. How would you feel if people never agreed on anything?
3. Do you like learning new words? Why or why not?
4. What is a time when you felt divided from your friends or family?
5. Do you think it is good to have different opinions? Why?
6. How would you feel if someone called your favorite movie “demure”?
7. What is a topic you think people argue about a lot?
8. Do you think it is easy to understand new words? Why or why not?
9. How do you feel when you hear people disagreeing loudly?
10. What is a word you learned recently?
11. Do you think technology helps people understand each other better? Why?
12. How would you feel if everyone only agreed all the time?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. polarization
2. extreme
3. candidate
4. threat
5. politics
6. pop culture
7. technology
8. dictionary
9. confusing
10. demure
11. fortnight
12. cognitive

Meanings:
(A) A person who wants to be chosen for a job or position
(B) Activities related to government and making rules
(C) Using science to make new things or solve problems
(D) Related to thinking and understanding things
(E) Quiet and shy in a nice way
(F) Modern entertainment like movies, music, and celebrities
(G) When people or things move to opposite sides and don’t agree
(H) A book that explains what words mean
(I) A period of two weeks
(J) Hard to understand or not clear
(K) Something that could cause harm or danger
(L) Very far from normal or usual
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What word did Merriam-Webster choose as the word of the year for 2024?
(a) Celebration
(b) Polarization
(c) Communication
(d) Education

2. What does “polarization” mean?
(a) Agreeing on everything
(b) Talking quietly
(c) Learning new things
(d) Moving to extreme sides

3. Besides politics, what other areas does “polarization” talk about?
(a) Sports and games
(b) Pop culture and technology
(c) Food and cooking
(d) Travel and adventure

4. Why does Merriam-Webster pick certain words?
(a) Because they are funny
(b) Because they are hard to spell
(c) Because people are talking about them a lot
(d) Because they are old

5. What is one of the other popular words for 2024 mentioned in the article?
(a) Happy
(b) Fast
(c) Bright
(d) Demure

6. What does the article say about language?
(a) It stays the same forever
(b) It is not important
(c) It changes as society changes
(d) It is only for adults

7. What does the article suggest is important for people?
(a) To know what words mean
(b) To read more books
(c) To watch more TV
(d) To play more games

8. How do people feel about the other side’s candidate in the election?
(a) They see them as a big threat
(b) They think they are funny
(c) They want to be friends
(d) They do not care at all

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The 2024 U.S. presidential election showed that people in America mostly agreed with each other.
2. Merriam-Webster chose the word “polarization” as the word of the year.
3. “Polarization” means people are becoming more united and finding common ground.
4. Many voters thought the other side’s candidate was a big threat.
5. The word “polarization” is only about politics and does not relate to pop culture or technology.
6. Merriam-Webster picks words based on how much people are talking about them.
7. Other popular words for 2024 include “demure,” “fortnight,” and “cognitive.”
8. Language does not change much over time, and people use words in the same way for many years.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
Check your writing now with the best free AI for English writing!

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.
Check your answers with our free English writing assistant!

1. What does the word “polarization” mean?
2. Why did Merriam-Webster choose “polarization” as the word of the year?
3. Besides politics, where else can “polarization” be seen?
4. What are some other popular words for 2024 mentioned in the article?
5. Why is it important for people to understand what words mean?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What does the word “polarization” mean in this article?
Polarization means that people are moving to extreme sides and not agreeing with each other.

2. Why did Merriam-Webster choose “polarization” as the word of the year?
Merriam-Webster chose “polarization” because many people are talking about it, especially during the divided 2024 U.S. presidential election.

3. What are some other popular words mentioned for 2024?
Some other popular words for 2024 are “demure,” “fortnight,” and “cognitive.”

4. How does “polarization” affect people’s opinions about candidates in an election?
Polarization makes many voters think that the other side’s candidate is a big threat.

5. Why is it important to understand what words mean, according to the article?
It is important to understand words because it helps people make sense of confusing information around them.

6. How does the article say language changes over time?
The article says language changes as society changes, with new words becoming popular because of current events.

7. In what areas of life does “polarization” apply, besides politics?
Polarization also applies to areas like pop culture and technology.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) U.S.
(2) election
(3) chose
(4) word
(5) culture
(6) much
(7) wants
(8) words
(9) shows
(10) popular
(11) world
(12) language
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. polarization
Answer: (G) When people or things move to opposite sides and don’t agree

2. extreme
Answer: (L) Very far from normal or usual

3. candidate
Answer: (A) A person who wants to be chosen for a job or position

4. threat
Answer: (K) Something that could cause harm or danger

5. politics
Answer: (B) Activities related to government and making rules

6. pop culture
Answer: (F) Modern entertainment like movies, music, and celebrities

7. technology
Answer: (C) Using science to make new things or solve problems

8. dictionary
Answer: (H) A book that explains what words mean

9. confusing
Answer: (J) Hard to understand or not clear

10. demure
Answer: (E) Quiet and shy in a nice way

11. fortnight
Answer: (I) A period of two weeks

12. cognitive
Answer: (D) Related to thinking and understanding things
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What word did Merriam-Webster choose as the word of the year for 2024?
Answer: (b) Polarization

2. What does “polarization” mean?
Answer: (d) Moving to extreme sides

3. Besides politics, what other areas does “polarization” talk about?
Answer: (b) Pop culture and technology

4. Why does Merriam-Webster pick certain words?
Answer: (c) Because people are talking about them a lot

5. What is one of the other popular words for 2024 mentioned in the article?
Answer: (d) Demure

6. What does the article say about language?
Answer: (c) It changes as society changes

7. What does the article suggest is important for people?
Answer: (a) To know what words mean

8. How do people feel about the other side’s candidate in the election?
Answer: (a) They see them as a big threat
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The 2024 U.S. presidential election showed that people in America mostly agreed with each other. (Answer: False)
2. Merriam-Webster chose the word “polarization” as the word of the year. (Answer: True)
3. “Polarization” means people are becoming more united and finding common ground. (Answer: False)
4. Many voters thought the other side’s candidate was a big threat. (Answer: True)
5. The word “polarization” is only about politics and does not relate to pop culture or technology. (Answer: False)
6. Merriam-Webster picks words based on how much people are talking about them. (Answer: True)
7. Other popular words for 2024 include “demure,” “fortnight,” and “cognitive.” (Answer: True)
8. Language does not change much over time, and people use words in the same way for many years. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧