Daily Content Archive
(as of Friday, August 9, 2019)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Uncountable NounsNouns that cannot be divided or counted as individual elements or separate parts are called uncountable nouns (also known as mass nouns or non-count nouns). Why is it incorrect to use third-person plural pronouns with uncountable nouns? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 Bisha'aAlso known as "ordeal by fire," Bisha'a is a ritual practiced by some Bedouin tribes for the purpose of lie detection. In cases where no evidence of an alleged transgression exists, the accused is asked to lick a hot metal object, such as a spoon or ladle. His tongue is subsequently inspected by the official who presides over the ceremony. If his tongue is burnt, he is deemed to have been lying. What physiological response might make liars more susceptible to burns during this ritual? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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.jpg) Nathan Ames Patents His "Revolving Stairs," Now Known as the Escalator (1859)Although no working model of his design was ever built, Ames is credited with patenting the first escalator. His idea for the "revolving stairs" was largely speculative. It was not until the 1890s that the first working escalator—called the "inclined elevator"—was produced, based on another's designs. It was installed among the amusements at New York's Coney Island but did not remain a novelty for long. How did shoppers react when Harrods in London debuted its first escalator in 1898? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Amedeo Avogadro (1776)In 1811, Avogadro, an Italian physicist, advanced the hypothesis that equal volumes of gases under identical conditions of pressure and temperature contain the same number of molecules. Now one of the fundamental concepts of the atomic theory of matter, his theory has become known as Avogadro's law. Since then, physicists have determined the number of molecules in the gram-molecular weight and found that it is the same for all gases. This number, called Avogadro's number, is how large? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 Every man desires to live long, but no man would be old.Jonathan Swift (1667-1745) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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Hallmark moment— A particularly poignant, memorable, or emotionally touching moment or event, i.e., one that would be suitable as a greeting card. A reference to the Hallmark brand of greeting cards. Sometimes used ironically or satirically. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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.svg.png) Singapore National Day (2023)Singapore National Day is a public holiday in Singapore to commemorate its independence. Singapore was the administrative seat for the Straits Settlements, a British crown colony, from 1867 until it was occupied by Japan in World War II. It was restored to Britain in 1945, became a part of Malaysia in 1963, and became independent in 1965. The holiday is celebrated with a spectacular parade, cultural dances, and fireworks. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: lawsautonomy - From Greek autos, "self," and nomos, "law," i.e. a person or unit that makes its own laws. More... blue sky laws - Laws protecting the public from securities fraud. More... code, codex - Code, from Latin codex, meaning "block of wood split into tablets, document written on wood tablets," was first a set of laws. More... constitute, constitution - Constitute can mean "make laws" and a constitution is a "how-to" document for a government or organization. More... | |