Daily Content Archive
(as of Tuesday, February 16, 2021)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Adjectival AdjunctsAdjectival adjuncts are just adjectives that come immediately before the noun they describe. What are they are more commonly referred to as? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 Fuel CellA fuel cell is a device that converts fuel directly into electricity, a process far more efficient than indirect methods of energy conversion, such as heating steam to turn a turbine connected to an electrical generator. Since fuel cells can be used in place of virtually any other source of electricity, they are being developed for use in automobiles in hopes of greatly reducing pollution. In 1966, automobile manufacturer GM created its first fuel cell-powered automobile. Did it work? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Kyoto Protocol Comes into Force (2005)The 1992 Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, produced a treaty aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions in order to combat global warming. Representatives of 172 nations agreed to work toward the sustainable development of the planet, although most of the agreements were not legally binding. In 1997, an amendment was negotiated called the Kyoto Protocol, by which participating nations commit to reduce their emissions of carbon dioxide. Which countries have not ratified the agreement? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Kim Jong-Il (1941)Despite rumors that he masterminded several terrorist bombings in the 1980s, Kim Jong-Il succeeded his late father as ruler of North Korea in 1994 and remained in power until his death in 2011. Although Kim took steps to improve international relations early in his rule, the country's continued pursuit of nuclear weapons technology soured its dealings with the West. Kim had a reputation for personal extravagance. What are some examples that have been cited as evidence of his excesses? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 All conservatism is based upon the idea that if you leave things alone you leave them as they are. But you do not. If you leave a thing alone you leave it to a torrent of change.Gilbert Chesterton (1874-1936) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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blood in the water— The exposure of a competitive weakness in an opponent that arouses increased competitive aggression in others. Likened to the literal presence of blood in water that causes aquatic predators (such as sharks) to seek out and attack prey. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Lithuania Independence Day (2023)This is a national holiday in Lithuania marking the declaration of independence from Austrian, Prussian, and Russian occupation on February 16, 1918. Today, the anniversary is celebrated with festivals and fireworks, particularly in the capital city of Vilnius. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: tailscomet - Has a tail, and gets its name from Greek kometes, "long-haired star." More... bangs - The practice of cutting horses' tails the same length was called "banging off," which led to this term for a woman's hairstyle. More... soup-and-fish - Refers to the attire of white tie and tails. More... tailgate - Originally a gate that dropped down at the tail of a wagon. More... | |