Daily Content Archive
(as of Friday, December 22, 2023)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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microbe
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Reported Speech (Indirect Speech)When we tell other people what someone else told us, it is called indirect speech or reported speech. We use reporting verbs to introduce the information that was spoken previously. What are the most common reporting verbs? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 The Affair of the Tichborne ClaimantWhen a young Sir Roger Tichborne, the Tichborne family heir, was lost at sea, his mother began a desperate search for the son she believed was still alive. In 1865, about a decade after her son disappeared, Lady Tichborne received a letter regarding Arthur Orton, an Australian butcher fitting Sir Roger's description. She soon accepted Orton as her eldest son. After her death, Orton testified in an inheritance trial, but lost. He was then arrested and convicted of perjury. What was his sentence? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Man Shoots Four Would-Be Robbers on NYC Subway (1984)Dubbed the "Subway Vigilante" by the tabloids, Bernard Hugo Goetz became a symbol of New Yorkers' frustrations with rampant crime when he shot four men intending to rob him on a city subway train, paralyzing one of them. The publicity following the incident and his ensuing trial for attempted murder, assault, reckless endangerment, and firearms offenses divided the public. While some believed Goetz rightly acted in self-defense, others felt he had overreacted. What was the result of the trial? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Claudia Alta "Lady Bird" Taylor Johnson (1912)Taylor married future US President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1934. In 1943, she bought a debt-ridden radio station and built it into a multimillion-dollar broadcasting company, later helping to finance her husband's first election campaign. As first lady, she played an active role in politics while supporting the "war on poverty," environmental causes, early education, and national beautification projects. She later wrote A White House Diary. How did she get the nickname "Lady Bird"? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 The wise through excess of wisdom is made a fool.Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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hold on to your hat— Get ready for what's coming or about to happen! More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Toji (2023)The earliest mention of Winter Solstice celebrations in Japan dates back at least to 725 CE and comes from records left by Emperor Shomu. It is an especially happy time for farmers, because it marks the time of year when the days begin to grow longer and the sun nearer. Many of the customs associated with Toji are still observed in rural areas—they include enjoying citrus baths, eating foods made from pumpkins (which is believed to bring good luck), and offering gifts to one's ancestors. Servants and workers are often given a day off, and many shrines sponsor bonfires. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: headachecephalgia, encephalalgia - Cephalgia and encephalalgia are medical terms for a headache. More... megrim - Another word for a headache, especially a migraine. More... shivaree - A mock serenade, it originally meant "headache" in its Latin form. More... neurasthenia - A disorder characterized by loss of energy, lack of motivation, and feelings of inadequacy, along with vague physical symptoms such as headache or muscle pain. More... | |