Daily Content Archive
(as of Friday, January 20, 2023)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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prodigal
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Present Perfect TenseThe present perfect tense is formed by using a form of the auxiliary verb "have" along with the past participle of the "main" verb. If something is described using the present perfect, at what point in time did it happen? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 The ThylacineThe last captive thylacine—or Tasmanian wolf—died in Tasmania's Hobart Zoo in 1936. Though the species is believed to have become extinct in the 20th century, sightings have persisted. The large carnivorous marsupial looks like a wolf or dog, but it evolved independently of those animals. About the size of a collie, the thylacine has a long tail, short ears, and a brownish coat with black stripes. Its extinction was caused largely by overhunting. Why were thylacines hunted so aggressively? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Edward VIII Becomes King (1936)Edward VIII became king of Great Britain and Ireland upon the death of his father, George V, in 1936. He enjoyed immense popularity until the announcement of his intention to marry Wallis Warfield Simpson, an American in the midst of divorcing her second husband. The government opposed the marriage, and the two sides clashed until Edward executed a deed of abdication, ending a 325-day reign as the first English monarch to relinquish his throne voluntarily. Who succeeded him? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 George Burns (1896)Often remembered as a cigar-puffing nightclub entertainer who continued performing into his late 90s, Burns began his career by forming a comedy team in 1925 with Gracie Allen, whom he married a year later. They performed on radio and television, usually with Allen playing a scatterbrained wife and Burns in the role of an infinitely patient husband. Burns continued to perform after his wife's retirement, winning an Academy Award and becoming well-known for his recurring film role as what figure? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 Rash indeed is he who reckons on the morrow, or haply on days beyond it; for tomorrow is not, until today is past.Sophocles (496 BC-406 BC) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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out of steam— Completely exhausted, fatigued, or without energy or motivation. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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_1978%2c_minr_2293.jpg) Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde National Heroes' Day (2024)Citizens of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde have great reverence for Amílcar Cabral (1921–1973), a nationalist leader who was assassinated before he could see his native Guinea-Bissau and nearby Cape Verde achieve independence from Portugal. The two countries settled on January 20 as their National Heroes' Day because it falls on the anniversary of Cabral's murder. A public holiday, National Heroes' Day commemorates the legacies of Cabral and other freedom fighters. Leftist associations have observed the day by holding symposiums on the writings and political theories of Cabral. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: inquiryquery, inquiry, enquiry - A query is a single question; an inquiry (or enquiry) may be a single question or extensive investigation (i.e. a series of questions). More... inquirendo, percontation - An inquirendo or percontation is an investigation or inquiry. More... prosecute - First meant "to follow up or pursue an inquiry or studies" or "to pursue to the end." More... zetetic - As an adjective, it means "inquiring, investigating" and "proceeding by inquiry or investigation," or, as a noun, "inquirer." More... | |