Daily Content Archive
(as of Wednesday, September 9, 2020)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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stopgap
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Regular and Irregular InflectionRegular inflection is governed by consistent, predictable rules. Irregular inflection doesn’t seem to follow any rules or conventions at all. What are some examples of irregular inflection? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 Shark Fin SoupThe ingredient that gives shark fin soup its name actually lends little flavor to the dish. Instead, it is added to improve the soup’s texture—and the perceived status of the consumer. Considered a delicacy in Asia, where it is often served at weddings as a symbol of prosperity, the soup has led to an increased demand for fins, and shark populations have been decimated as a result. After their fins are removed, the still-living sharks are often returned to the water, where what happens to them? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Tajikistan Gains Independence from the Soviet Union (1991)Russia first took control of Tajik lands in the 1880s. In the aftermath of the 1917 Russian Revolution, the Tajiks rebelled against Russian rule, and the Red Army did not retake control until 1921. Tajikistan was made an autonomous republic within Uzbekistan in 1924 and joined the USSR in 1929. In 1991, at around the time the USSR was being dissolved, the Republic of Tajikistan declared its independence. Civil war broke out a year later. When was a peace agreement reached? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Otis Redding (1941)Redding, an American soul singer known for his emotive style, began his career with Johnny Jenkins and the Pinetoppers and recorded his first hit, "These Arms of Mine," during time left over at the end of a Johnny Jenkins session. His biggest hit, "(Sittin' on) The Dock of the Bay," was recorded just days before he died in a plane crash at age 26. It became the first posthumous number-one single. What are some different explanations for why Redding whistles at the end of the song? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 The knight's bones are dust,And his good sword rust; His soul is with the saints, I trust. Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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Are you having a laugh?— An exclamation of disbelief or incredulity, like "Are you being serious?" or "Are you kidding me?" Primarily heard in UK. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Tajikistan Independence Day (2023)On September 9, 1991, Tajikistan officially declared its independence from the distintegrating Soviet Union. Independence Day is celebrated with parades, solomn services, theatrical events, and pageantry. July 22 is another national holiday, celebrating the Tajik language. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: stiff | |