Daily Content Archive
(as of Sunday, July 30, 2017)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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complaisant
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Defining Concrete Countable NounsMany concrete nouns are countable, such as "cup," "dog," and "doctor." Each of these can be considered as an individual, separable item, which means that we are able to count them with numbers. We can also use them with indefinite articles. What are the two indefinite articles in English? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 The Yellow EmperorKnown as the Yellow Emperor, Huangdi is one of China's five mythical prehistoric emperors who, according to tradition, created the basic elements of Chinese civilization. He is said to have reigned from 2697 BCE to 2597 BCE and is regarded as the ancestor of all Han Chinese, the largest ethnic group in the world; the founder of Taoism; and the inventor of the principles of traditional Chinese medicine. According to legend, Huangdi's wife is said to have taught the Chinese to do what? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Medicare and Medicaid Are Established (1965)The Social Security Act of 1935 established national social insurance, welfare, and other assistance programs in the US, but it did not address healthcare. Years later, President Harry Truman drew attention to this issue when he unsuccessfully lobbied for the establishment of a national healthcare program. By the 1960s, the political climate was more open to reform, and the Social Security Act amendments creating Medicare and Medicaid were passed. What is the difference between the two programs? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Smedley Darlington Butler (1881)Born to a Quaker family in Pennsylvania, Butler joined the US Marines as a teenager. He was decorated for bravery and leadership and advanced through the ranks, but after retiring, he became a proponent of isolationism and an outspoken critic of the government. He believed that he and the military had been used to further the business interests of wealthy Americans under the pretense of defending the country. According to legend, whose long-lost amputated arm did Butler once locate? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 The sudden disappointment of a hope leaves a scar which the ultimate fulfillment of that hope never entirely removes.Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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hurler on the ditch— A person who offers unsolicited criticism or advice about something in which he or she is not an active participant. Taken from the sport of hurling, a player of which is a hurler. Primarily heard in Ireland. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Jhulan Yatra (2020)A Hindu festival honoring Lord Jagannatha, Jhulan Yatra is observed in Orissa and Bengal, and the grandest celebration takes place at the Temple of Jagannath in the Orissa town of Puri. Jhulan Yatra means "swing festival" in Hindi, a reference to the ornately decorated contraption that is specially built to hold the idols of Jagannath and his lover, Radha. Over the course of several nights during the festival, people gather at nighttime to perform songs and dances before the idols. This ritual, known as the raslila, dramatizes scenes from Krishna's life. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: oakrambunctious - Once rumbustious and robusteous, it is probably based on Latin robus, "oak"—implying strength—and can describe a person or animal. More... robust - Comes from Latin meaning "oak" and "oaken." More... tan - From a Latin word for "oak," it first referred to the crushed bark of the oak or other trees, especially in its use to convert hides into leather. More... tree - Part of a large Indo-European group based on deru/doru-, "oak." More... | |