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Word of the Day



Definition: (adjective) Of a size or splendor suggesting great expense; lavish.
Synonyms:deluxe, opulent, princely, luxurious
Usage:The sumptuous homes of the wealthy were full of gilding and ornament. Discuss. Play

Daily Grammar Lesson


Identifying Auxiliary Verbs

Auxiliary verbs are verbs that add functional meaning to other "main" verbs in a clause. Auxiliary verbs can be identified by two main criteria. What are they? More... Discuss

Article of the Day


Kabul University

Established in the 1930s, Afghanistan's Kabul University became a premier educational institution. By the 60s, it was so highly regarded that it was even attracting foreign scholars, who introduced students to topics like communism. However, Afghanistan's civil war greatly disrupted university operations. Much of the faculty fled, and many of the library's 200,000 books were sold or destroyed. The school has since regained some of its former prominence. How many of its 7,000 students are women? More... Discuss

This Day in History


28,800 Floating Bath Toys Topple into Ocean (1992)

Children's bath toys may seem an unlikely source of oceanographic data, but that is just what they have been since 1992, when a shipment of Friendly Floatees from China went rogue while en route to Tacoma, Washington. It all began when 12 shipping containers went overboard during a storm in the Pacific. One broke open, releasing 28,800 toy ducks, beavers, frogs, and turtles into the water. Oceanographer Curtis Ebbesmeyer began tracking their progress after the first Floatees washed ashore where? More... Discuss

Today's Birthday


Fukuzawa Yukichi (1835)

Japanese author, educator, and publisher Fukuzawa Yukichi grew up during a tumultuous time in Japan, as Western powers began infiltrating the country and the Japanese people's hostility toward the ruling shogunate grew. Fukuzawa—who was intrigued by the West—traveled to the US on a diplomatic mission in 1860 and afterward became involved in Japan's Meiji Restoration, which restored the emperor to power and rapidly modernized the country. What is considered Fukuzawa's most important contribution? More... Discuss

Quotation of the Day


Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) Discuss


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Grammar Quiz

Which of the following sentences contains a preposition of reason or purpose?

Spelling Bee

Difficulty level:
n. A system of thought that centers on humans and their values, capacities, and worth
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Match Up

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Today's Holiday


Benin National Vodoun Day

Vodoun is an ancient, African, pantheistic religion. When it was brought to the Americas by African slaves, it was blended with elements of Christianity into what is known as "Voodoo." The present African country of Benin, situated on the former kingdom of Dahomey, is known as a center of Vodoun culture. The day is celebrated throughout Benin with processions, Vodoun rituals, dances, and even an international film festival. The celebration's central activity, however, is the re-enactment of the journey from the slave auction block in the center of town to the ships in the harbor. More... Discuss


Idiom of the Day

be on (the) air

To be broadcasting live, as on television or radio. More... Discuss