Daily Content Archive
(as of Thursday, March 23, 2017)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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buffoon
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Alternative QuestionsAlternative questions are questions that provide a choice among two or more answers. These choices might be explicitly stated in the question (identified by the coordinating conjunction "or"), or they might be implied by the context. What are alternative questions also known as? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 The Red Imported Fire AntAccidentally introduced into the US in the 1930s from its native S America, the red imported fire ant (RIFA) is an invasive ant species that has since spread to Asia and Australia. These resilient, aggressive pests possess a painful sting and build mounds that can destroy crops. US officials estimate that the ants cause more than $5 billion in damages annually. While RIFA stings are rarely life-threatening to humans, the insects are responsible for at least 80 deaths. What causes them to swarm? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 NASA Launches Gemini 3 (1965)Gemini 3 was the first manned launch of the Gemini program, whose objective was to develop techniques for orbital rendezvous and docking—procedures later used in the Apollo moon-landing missions. Gemini 3's primary goal was to test the new, maneuverable Gemini spacecraft. In space, the crew fired thrusters to change the shape of their orbit, shift their orbital plane slightly, and drop to a lower altitude. What dangerous contraband did one astronaut sneak on board the spacecraft? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Schuyler Colfax (1823)Colfax was the 17th vice president of the US, serving under Ulysses S. Grant. A prominent newspaperman, he helped organize Indiana's Republican party and was elected to the House of Representatives in the 1850s. He retained his congressional seat until 1869, when he moved on to the office of vice president. With a combined age of 91, Grant and Colfax were the youngest team to enter the White House until Bill Clinton and Al Gore over a century later. What scandal ended Colfax's political career? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 Faith is believing what you know ain't so.Mark Twain (1835-1910) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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scream (one's) head off— To scream or yell very loudly and lengthily. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Pakistan Day (2022)This national holiday is also known as Republic Day, and it is the anniversary of a 1940 resolution calling for a Muslim country for Muslim Indians. On the same day in 1956, Pakistan became an Islamic republic within the British Commonwealth. Pakistan Day is celebrated with parades and fairs. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: vigorvim, vigor - Vim is the same as vigor. More... bouncing - In bouncing baby, it means "vigorous." More... feckful - Means "efficient, vigorous," or "powerful." More... macho, machismo - Macho is from Mexican Spanish, meaning "male animal or plant" or "masculine, vigorous"—from Latin masculus, "male"; machismo (pronounced mah-CHEEZ-mo) is based on macho. More... | |