Daily Content Archive
(as of Wednesday, April 26, 2017)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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shutout
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Attributive NounsAttributive nouns, also called noun adjuncts, are nouns that are used to modify other nouns. For example, the noun adjunct "toy" can be used to modify the noun "soldier." The resulting phrase ("toy soldier") is known as what? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 Operation Praying MantisIn April 1988, US naval forces launched Operation Praying Mantis, attacking several Iranian targets in retaliation for the mining of an American warship in the Persian Gulf. The battle, the largest for American surface forces since World War II, was the first surface-to-surface missile engagement in US Navy history. It resulted in the sinking of two Iranian warships and three speedboats and helped pressure Iran into a ceasefire that ended its eight-year war with what neighboring country? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Studio 54 Opens in New York (1977)The disco craze was relatively short-lived, beginning in the mid-1970s and fading by the 1980s, yet it had a lasting influence on the music scene. A beat-driven style of dance music, disco got its name from the "discotheque," the type of nightclub where it originated. No discotheque was more central to disco than Studio 54, the Manhattan club famous for its mix of celebrities, beautiful people, and hedonism. The club paralleled disco's demise and closed in 1980. What is the space used for today? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Fanny Blankers-Koen (1918)Representing her native Netherlands, Blankers-Koen made her Olympic debut at the 1936 Berlin Games but failed to medal. Two years later, she set her first world record in track and field. Unfortunately for her, both the 1940 and 1944 Games were cancelled due to WWII, so she had to wait until 1948's Summer Games in London to compete again. In addition to losing precious years, the athlete gave birth twice in the interim. Still, she went on to win four gold medals in London, earning what nickname? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 Excess on occasion is exhilarating. It prevents moderation from acquiring the deadening effect of a habit.W. Somerset Maugham (1874-1965) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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move house— To relocate from one house or place of residence to another. Primarily heard in UK. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Tanzania Union Day (2018)On April 26, 1964, the East African countries of Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged to form the United Republic of Tanzania. Union Day celebrates this merger. In the city of Dar es Salaam, speeches and a parade mark Union Day. Dignitaries from nearby countries join Tanzanian government officials in these festivities. In 2004, to mark Union Day, Tanzanian president Benjamin Mkapa pardoned nearly 4,500 prisoners who had been sentenced for minor crimes or who had less than three years to serve of a longer sentence. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: shoespumps - The shoes are so named for the sound they make. More... revamp - Originally referred to shoes—vamp being the covering of the instep. More... Brannock device - The device used to measure feet for shoes. More... be down on your uppers - To be down on your uppers (referring to shoes) is to be scuffing along, in poor circumstances. More... | |
| In the News | |
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Premature Lambs Kept Alive in 'Plastic Bag' WombScientists have been able to keep premature lambs alive for weeks using an artificial womb that looks like a plastic bag. It provides everything the foetus needs to continue growing and maturing, including a nutrient-rich blood supply and a protective ... More... | |