Daily Content Archive
(as of Wednesday, May 5, 2021)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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vaporous
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Defining Grammatical TenseGrammatical tense refers to the conjugation of a verb to reflect its place in time—that is, when the action occurred. Verbs in their basic form inherently describe the present time, and they can be conjugated into a unique form that describes the past. What can we then use to create different aspects of the past and present tenses? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 HuntingToday, the killing of game animals is principally done for sport, but for early humans, it was a necessity. The development of agriculture gave humans a reliable alternative food source and reduced the need for hunting. Still, humans continued to hunt extensively, both for necessity and recreation, and many animal populations suffered, some to the point of extinction. More recently, hunters have established ethical codes to govern the practice of hunting. What is Internet hunting? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 First American in Space (1961)In 1961, 23 days after Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human to orbit Earth, astronaut Alan Shepard became the first American to be launched into space. Shepard's suborbital flight—part of the US space program Project Mercury—reached a height of 115 miles (185 km). He performed several maneuvers of his capsule, Freedom 7, but returned after only a 15-minute flight. Although Gagarin was the first human in space, Shepard was the first to return in what way? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Eugénia María de Montijo de Guzmán (1826)The daughter of a Spanish noble, Eugénia married Napoleon III in 1853 and became the empress of France. She took an active role in the politics of the Second Empire, acting as regent when her husband was at war. She also encouraged French opposition to a Prussian candidate for the Spanish throne in the controversy that precipitated the Franco-Prussian War. Deposed after Napoleon's defeat and capture, she fled and settled in England. Why was her marriage to Napoleon controversial? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 Nowadays we are all of us so hard up, that the only pleasant things to pay are compliments. They're the only things we can pay.Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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a kernel of truth— A singular element of truth or wisdom within a greater story, narrative, speech, or claim, especially when most or all other elements are fictitious or of questionable veracity. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Thailand Coronation Day (2024)On May 5, 1950, King Bhumibol Adulyadej was crowned Rama IX of Thailand, the ninth king of the Chakri dynasty. Ever since, the day has been celebrated as Coronation Day in Thailand. On May 4th, the Chief of Brahmin priests reads out the official proclamation of Coronation Day. On May 5, the Buddhist monks are given a feast and the king wears his full regalia. At noon, the Royal Thai Army and Navy each give a 21-gun salute. Later in the day, the king awards medals and decorations to those citizens who have done outstanding services for the state. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: rabbitsbuck teeth - Large front teeth protruding over the others; the phrase may come from buck, the adult male of some animals, such as rabbits—which have this type of front teeth. More... hightail it - Refers to animals, such as mustangs and rabbits, that raise their tails high when fleeing danger. More... trattles - The rounded droppings of animals like rabbits and sheep. More... angora - As in cat, goat, and rabbit, it comes from the Turkish capital Angora (till 1930), now Ankara. More... | |