Daily Content Archive
(as of Sunday, November 1, 2020)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Gradable AdverbsWe can only make comparisons using "gradable adverbs," meaning adverbs that are able to move up and down on a scale of intensity. The majority of adverbs are gradable. As with comparative adjectives, we can state differences in scale by using what words and phrases before the comparative adverb? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 The SistrumThe sistrum is a percussion instrument that functions much like a tambourine. Often made of metal, it consists of a handle and a U-shaped frame run through with thin, loosely set crossbars. The crossbars can have little metal rings or loops on them, and when the sistrum is shaken, the crossbars and loops jangle. The sistrum was used in ancient Sumer, Rome, and Egypt, and some Egyptian goddesses were depicted holding the instrument. What churches still use the sistrum in religious services? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Shakespeare's Othello Performed for the First Time (1604)First performed at London's Whitehall Palace, Shakespeare's Othello—a timeless story of jealousy, betrayal, and racism—is still studied and debated today. The play is likely an adaptation of a short story by Italian writer Cinthio called "Un Capitano Moro" and may have been inspired by certain events of the day—such as the arrival of a Moorish delegation in London in 1600. In Shakespeare's tale, the protagonist strangles his wife, but in Cinthio's story, she is killed in what brutal way? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Grantland Rice (1880)Born in Tennessee, Rice began his career as a reporter with the Nashville News in 1901 before moving to New York. There, he became known as the "Dean of American Sportswriters." For decades, he was in charge of selecting the All-American football team for Collier's magazine. In his widely syndicated column, "The Sportlight," Rice coined some of sports' most memorable phrases. What famous quote about winning and losing is derived from one of Rice's poems? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 By indignities men come to dignities.Francis Bacon (1561-1626) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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in the unlikely event (that) (something) happens— If a very improbable outcome turns out to be the case. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 International Arts and Crafts Fair (2020)The International Arts and Crafts Fair in Burkina Faso, which takes place in the capital city, Ouagadougou, is part of a national development plan that heavily promotes the African handicraft sector. Along with showcasing the works of Burkinabé craftspeople, the 10-day exposition also displays crafts from over 30 other African countries as well as European and Asian nations. It is one of the world's largest handicraft fairs. Exporters from all over the world have traveled to the fair to peruse the many statues, textiles, leatherwork, jewelry, pottery, and ceramics on display. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: mistress | |