Daily Content Archive
(as of Monday, December 7, 2020)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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drivel
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Non-Finite Verbs and GerundsNon-finite verbs are verbs that do not have tenses or subjects that they correspond to. Instead, these verbs are usually infinitives, gerunds, or participles. What suffix do gerunds end in? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 WheeliesA wheelie is an acrobatic stunt in which a vehicle's front wheel—or wheels—is lifted off the ground so that the vehicle is momentarily balanced on its rear wheel or wheels. Wheelies can be performed on bicycles or motorcycles, or even in cars. In mountain biking, the move helps racers navigate large obstacles. Due to the stunt's dangerous nature, drivers in a number of countries are prohibited from "popping" wheelies on public roads. What is the world record for the fastest motorcycle wheelie? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Theatre Royal Opens at Covent Garden in London, England (1732)The original Covent Garden playhouse, called the Theatre Royal, was built in 1732 and hosted performances of plays, pantomimes, and opera. Twice destroyed by fire and rebuilt, the theater that stands today is the third built on the site. The Royal Ballet began performing there in 1946. The Royal Opera House reopened in 1999 after an 18-month renovation. It seats 2,268 people and consists of four tiers of boxes and balconies. What actor financed the construction of the original theater in 1732? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Larry Bird (1956)Bird was an American basketball player. After spending most of his collegiate career at Indiana State University, he was drafted by the Boston Celtics in 1978 and became a perennial all-star. He led the Celtics to three championships and was named the league's most valuable player as many times. He retired after winning gold with the 1992 US Olympic "Dream Team." What future rival did Bird face in a college basketball championship game and then again in three professional championship series? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 So the days pass, and I ask myself sometimes whether one is not hypnotized, as a child by a silver globe, by life, and whether this is living.Virginia Woolf (1882-1941) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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living the dream— Leading an extremely ideal life, especially in relation to one's career. (Sometimes said ironically to mean the opposite.) More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Timor-Leste National Heroes Day (Anniversary of the Indonesian Invasion) (2024)In Timor Leste, the invasion of Indonesian forces on December 7, 1975, initiated a period of occupation in which about 200,000 Timorese were killed. Today, this anniversary remains an occasion to mourn those who were killed and to seek redress for crimes committed during the occupation. Beginning in 1976, the Timorese established a tradition of gathering in the capital, Dili, to commemorate the anniversary of the invasion and stage a public protest over Indonesia's actions. Candlelight vigils and commemorative church services also became common throughout the country. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: spinningheckle - First a "flax comb" for splitting and straightening the fibers for spinning; its metaphorical sense developed from its verb form, "to mangle by cutting, to cut roughly." More... distaff side, spear side - The female side of a family is the distaff side—the distaff being a stick used for holding yarn when spinning; the male side is the spear side. More... fouette - A spectacular pirouette in which the ballerina whips her raised leg around in an eggbeater motion while spinning on the other leg. More... | |