Daily Content Archive
(as of Tuesday, August 11, 2020)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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drudge
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Modal Auxiliary Verbs - MustThe modal verb "must" is most often used to express necessity—i.e., that something has to happen or be the case. When is "must" used in interrogative sentences? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 The TaigaComprising about a third of the world's forest land, the taiga is a vast belt of coniferous forest stretching across northern Eurasia and North America. Bounded by the treeless tundra to the north, it has a short annual growing season and long, harsh winters. Soil in the taiga is poor, and swampy areas form in the spring. Only hardy cereals and roots, such as potatoes and barley, can be cultivated there. Still, it is a major source of lumber. What adaptations help plants and animals live there? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 The Watts Riots Begin (1965)As Los Angeles, California, became a hub for the production of munitions and supplies during World War II, thousands of African Americans moved to the city to work. Massive suburban growth in Los Angeles after the war, however, created or exacerbated a variety of urban problems. In 1965, the African-American community of Watts was the site of six days of race rioting that left 34 people dead and caused extensive property damage. What happened on the evening of August 11 to trigger the riots? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Eiji Yoshikawa (1892)Yoshikawa was a popular Japanese historical novelist. Despite the fact that many of his novels are actually revisions of past works, Yoshikawa was awarded the Order of Cultural Merit in 1960. Just before his death from cancer two years later, he received the Mainichi Art Award as well. His success is especially impressive given his lack of formal education—he had not been able to study beyond primary school due to his family's financial troubles. What are some of Yoshikawa's novels? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 As long as war is regarded as wicked it will always have its fascination. When it is looked upon as vulgar, it will cease to be popular.Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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yankee dime— A kiss. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Chad Independence Day (2022)On August 11, 1960, Chad became an independent country after struggling against the French since they first claimed Chad as a French territory in the 1890s. Celebrations of this national holiday—including parades, dancing, and singing—are often moved to January 11 because of the heavy rains in August. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: marriedbenedick, benedict - A long-time bachelor who is newly married is a benedick or benedict. More... quadrigamist - Someone who has married four times. More... connubial - A synonym for "married, wedded." More... matrimony - From Latin matrimonium, "state of being married," from mater, "mother," and monium, "-mony" (state, condition). More... | |