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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Making Infinitives NegativeTo make an infinitive or infinitive phrase negative, we use the word "not" before the infinitive. We can also put greater emphasis on "not" by placing it after "to." This creates what is known as a "split infinitive"—an infinitive that has an adverb between "to" and the base form of the verb. Is it ever acceptable to use split infinitives? 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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 USS Indianapolis Sunk by Japanese, Hundreds Die Awaiting Rescue (1945)After delivering parts for the first atomic bomb to a US base in the Pacific, the USS Indianapolis was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine. It sank in 12 minutes. Roughly 300 sailors were killed in the initial attack, and the remaining 900 faced exposure, dehydration, and shark attacks while awaiting rescue. The US Navy only learned of the sinking four days later, when survivors were spotted by a pilot on patrol. In the end, only 316 survived. Why was the ship's captain court-martialed? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Henry Ford (1863)Ford was a prominent American industrialist and innovator of mass production via the assembly line. His introduction of the Model T automobile revolutionized transportation and made car ownership affordable to many. Though controversial, Ford was undeniably one of the most influential men of the 20th century. He instituted an eight-hour workday in his factories and paid his workers relatively well but also strenuously opposed labor unions. Whom did he employ to intimidate union organizers? 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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on the hush-hush— In a state of secrecy or minimal public knowledge; being known only by a select few people. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Vanuatu Independence Day (2018)The most important national holiday in Vanuatu, Independence Day is celebrated throughout the country. It marks the end of colonial rule by the French and British. The largest Independence Day celebrations take place in the capital city of Port Vila. A number of sporting events are held, as well as canoe and yacht races in the harbor. A military parade takes place in Independence Park. Dancing takes place and aerobics groups from throughout Vanuatu perform, and a string band competition is held. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: punishexecute - Derives from Latin exsequi, "carry out, follow up; punish." More... gruelling - Comes from the verb gruel, "to exhaust, punish." More... punish - Derives from Latin punire, "punish," which came from poena, "penalty, punishment." More... penal, punitive - Penal means "relating to punishment," while punitive means "serving to punish." More... | |
| In the News | |
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The Artificial Glacier Growing in the DesertIn the far north of India, a cold mountain desert is the stunning backdrop to an unprecedented icy structure. This is a land of extremes, where rainfall is scarce and temperatures range wildly from torrid to far below freezing. The locals say it's the only ... More... | |