Daily Content Archive
(as of Wednesday, October 18, 2017)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Conditional VerbsConditional verbs are used in conditional sentences, which express something that might happen, depending on whether or not a particular condition is met. To denote such a condition, what word is commonly used with one of the verbs in a conditional sentence? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 The Basmachi RevoltBegun in 1916, the Basmachi Revolt was a largely Turkic uprising against Russian rule in Central Asia that developed into a lengthy civil war between the Soviets and the rebels, who were called Basmachi, or "bandits," a deliberately pejorative term. The Soviet strategy of simultaneously acceding to ethnic demands and ruthlessly pursuing the guerrillas successfully quelled the revolt by the 1930s. How did the Soviets counter British and Turkish aid to the Basmachi? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Women in Canada Finally Recognized as "Persons" (1929)In the early 20th century, Canadian women were often prohibited from hearing court testimony deemed inappropriate. Emily Murphy protested and became the first woman magistrate in Canada—and all of the British Empire—but her rulings were often challenged because women were not legally considered "persons." Murphy and four other women, the "Famous Five," submitted a petition for constitutional clarification. The subsequent Persons Case granted Canadian women personhood. What else did it establish? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Pierre Trudeau (1919)As prime minister of Canada from 1968–79 and 1980–84, Trudeau advocated a strong federal government and took a determined stand against the Quebec separatist movement. Despite his opposition to Quebec's independence, he supported Canadian sovereignty and secured for the country a new constitution in 1982 that precipitated its official independence from Britain. He also had French adopted as an official state language. How did Trudeau figure into an alleged plot to assassinate Fidel Castro? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 Dress is at all times a frivolous distinction, and excessive solicitude about it often destroys its own aim.Jane Austen (1775-1817) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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mush (something) up— To mash or crush something into a thick, soft pulp. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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.svg.png) Alaska Day (2021)Alaska Day commemorates the formal transfer of Alaska from Russia to the United States on October 18, 1867. The event, which took place at Sitka, was a sad one for the Russian colonists who had already made Alaska their home. After the transfer, Alaska was eventually organized as a territory and maintained this status until it became a state on January 3, 1959. Today, the lowering of the Russian flag and the raising of the Stars and Stripes is reenacted every year as part of this festival in Sitka. Other events include a parade and a period costume ball. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: sailscrab-skuit - A small, open fishing boat with sails. More... haul - Originally had the nautical meaning of "to trim the sails to sail closer to the wind." More... sail - Once meant specifically "to travel on a ship with sails," and, later, "to travel on any ship"; figuratively, it means "to go through effortlessly," as in, "to sail through the exam." More... three sheets to the wind - Pertains to chains that regulate the angle of sails; if the sheets were loose, the boat would become unstable and tipsy. More... | |