Daily Content Archive
(as of Monday, September 16, 2019)| Word of the Day | |||
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Declarative Sentences in the Past IndicativeVerbs in the past indicative describe things that have happened or are believed to have happened at some point in the past. In declarative sentences in the past indicative, the past simple tense and past perfect tense describe something that finished in the past. What do the past continuous tense and past perfect continuous tense describe? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 The Hungarian Revolution of 1956In October 1956, discontented Hungarians—emboldened by a speech in which Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev criticized actions taken by Stalin's regime—began a revolt that quickly spread across the country, toppling the government. However, Western powers failed to respond to appeals for assistance, and the USSR soon invaded and quashed the revolution. Nevertheless, Hungary did thereafter experience a slow evolution toward some internal autonomy. Who was Time magazine's 1956 Man of the Year? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Montreal Protocol Signed to Protect the Ozone Layer (1987)The Montreal Protocol was enacted in response to the discovery that the ozone layer—which shields life on Earth from harmful radiation—was diminishing. Signed by the majority of the world's nations, the treaty mandates the decreased use of ozone-depleting substances such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and has been amended several times based on new scientific data. By 1993, CFC production had dropped dramatically. If the agreement is followed, the ozone layer is expected to recover by what year? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 B.B. King (1925)A singer and guitarist born into a sharecropping family in the Mississippi Delta region of the US, King began playing guitar at 12. He worked as a radio DJ in Memphis before coming to prominence as a guitarist in 1952. He has toured widely, averaging over 300 shows a year for nearly 30 years. King famously named his guitar Lucille after a woman who inspired a fight at one of his concerts that ended with the venue burning down. King's first name is Riley. What does B.B. stand for? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 Hope is a leaf-joy, which may be beaten out to a great extension, like gold.Francis Bacon (1561-1626) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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be sick to death of (something)— To be or become exceedingly wearied by, bored of, or exasperated with something. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Mexico Festival of Independence (2025)At 11 o'clock on the night of September 15 in Mexico City, the president appears on the balcony of the National Palace and proclaims the famous Grito de Dolores ("cry of Dolores")—the "call to freedom" that the priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla used to rouse the peasant population to fight for their independence in 1810. The people respond by cheering Viva México! and shooting off fireworks. The following day is Independence Day, which is celebrated with fireworks, the ringing of cathedral bells, and a huge military parade. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: leadercoryphaeus - A Greek word meaning "chief," for the leader of a party, sect, school of thought, etc. More... herald - Etymologically, a "leader of an army," from Germanic kharjaz, "army." More... hegemon - A Greek word for "leader." More... nestorian, nestor - Nestorian means wise and aged, and a nestor is a senior figure or leader in one's field. More... | |