Facts – Ringo Lingo https://ringolingo.com Free ESL English Dictations and Tools for English Learners Tue, 19 Oct 2021 10:10:30 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 https://i0.wp.com/ringolingo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/cropped-icon-r.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Facts – Ringo Lingo https://ringolingo.com 32 32 200435589 Frisbee https://ringolingo.com/dictation/frisbee/ Wed, 01 Sep 2021 15:34:46 +0000 https://ringolingo.com/?post_type=dictation&p=118 A frisbee is a flying disc that can be thrown for fun,? usually between groups of people,? but with some practice, it is possible for? one person to throw it and have it return to them.? The idea started in 1937 when a young Californian couple? were offered 25 cents to sell a cake pan that? they were throwing between themselves on a beach.? As the pan only cost five cents,? they saw a business opportunity.? More than ten years later,? the first manufactured frisbee was sold,? though that name only came into common use? a decade later.

]]> 118 The History of Groundhog Day https://ringolingo.com/dictation/the-history-of-groundhog-day/ Wed, 01 Sep 2021 15:14:33 +0000 https://ringolingo.com/?post_type=dictation&p=112 Groundhog Day is observed in the United States? and Canada on February 2nd.? According to popular folklore, if it is cloudy? when a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day,? it will not see its shadow, signifying that spring will arrive early.? If it is sunny, the groundhog will supposedly? see its shadow and retreat back into its burrow,? thus signifying that winter will continue for six more weeks.? Sadly, studies have found no consistent correlation? between a groundhog seeing its shadow and the? subsequent arrival time of spring-like weather.

]]> 112 Thumbs-Up https://ringolingo.com/dictation/thumbs-up/ Wed, 01 Sep 2021 15:13:08 +0000 https://ringolingo.com/?post_type=dictation&p=110 Thumb signals are commonly referred to as thumbs-up? or thumbs-down and indicate either approval? or disapproval of something.? Studies of apes have suggested that the thumbs-up gesture? is a naturally occurring gesture,? but it’s also been suggested that? the apes in the study were copying people.? The history of the gesture can be traced back to Roman times,? when it could be used to indicate whether spectators? wanted a gladiator to be spared or killed.? Surprisingly, some historians think the thumbs-up gesture? indicated that a gladiator should be killed,? while wrapping the fist around the thumb? signaled that the gladiator should be saved.

]]> 110 The Story of the Green Man https://ringolingo.com/dictation/the-story-of-the-green-man/ Wed, 01 Sep 2021 15:07:31 +0000 https://ringolingo.com/?post_type=dictation&p=111 The Green Man is an ancient mythical character.? The Green Man is believed to have been used as a? decorative face or design found in? architectural and sculptural ornamentation.? It is also found in folk art and? is the subject of many legends.?

The Green Man can be found all over the world.? The Green Man can be found in Christian, Pagan? and even Neopagan beliefs.? The image of the Green Man may have come from pagan beliefs.? According to some pagan beliefs, the Green Man? represents the Spring, the rebirth of nature.? The Green Man may represent the cycle of life and death.? The eyes of the Green Man may be closed because he is asleep,? but they can also be closed because he is not looking.? The Green Man may also be in human form.

]]> 111 The History of the Jack O Lantern https://ringolingo.com/dictation/the-history-of-the-jack-o-lantern/ Wed, 01 Sep 2021 14:49:43 +0000 https://ringolingo.com/?post_type=dictation&p=104 The Jack O Lantern is the traditional? Halloween decoration.? Largely due to the efforts of the Irish missionary,? legend has it that in 8th century AD Ireland,? a man named Jack, who was notorious as a drunk? and trickster, tricked Satan into climbing a tree.? Jack then carved an image of a cross in the? tree’s trunk, trapping the devil up the tree.? Jack made a deal with the devil that, if he would never? tempt him again, he would let him down the tree.? Jack made the devil promise not to take his soul? when he died, and to never claim his soul, either.?

When Jack died, he was turned away from Heaven because of? his evil ways, and was forced to walk the earth for eternity? with only a burning coal from Hell to warm him.? As he walked, he would toss his glowing coal into? a hollowed out turnip or potato.? This was to frighten away evil spirits? that were attempting to follow him.?

The Irish began to refer to this eerie light? as a “Jack O Lantern” and eventually began? carving scary faces into their own turnips and? potatoes to frighten away their own evil spirits.?

To this day, Halloween lanterns are carved out of pumpkins? in Ireland, but the original 8th century? Jack O Lanterns were carved out of turnips.

]]> 104 Movember https://ringolingo.com/dictation/movember/ Wed, 01 Sep 2021 14:48:41 +0000 https://ringolingo.com/?post_type=dictation&p=105 The made up word of Movember is a combination? of the word moustache and the month of November.? Movember first came to the public attention in 1999? when a group of friends in Adelaide, Australia,? decided to each grow a moustache during the month of November.? The aim was to raise money and awareness? of charities supporting men’s health issues.? Since then the annual event has grown in popularity? and is now celebrated by many men? around the world each year.

]]> 105 Yo-yo https://ringolingo.com/dictation/yo-yo/ Wed, 01 Sep 2021 14:43:50 +0000 https://ringolingo.com/?post_type=dictation&p=103 A yo-yo is a toy that dates back as much as 2,500 years.? It is a simple combination of? two discs held together by an axle.? A string is tied and wrapped around the axle? and the yo-yo can then be thrown downwards and? will then return on the string to the hand.

]]> 103 Show Jumping https://ringolingo.com/dictation/show-jumping/ Wed, 01 Sep 2021 14:39:59 +0000 https://ringolingo.com/?post_type=dictation&p=101 Show Jumping is a sport involving horses and riders? jumping over fences inside an enclosure,? following a specific order of fences.? The sport developed in the 18th century in Britain? as a result of an act of law that saw much? common land split up and distributed? among many new owners.? This meant that a lot of land was newly fenced off? and riders wishing to follow packs of hounds? being used to hunt foxes now had to jump fences.? Originally, show jumping events took place in the country,? but because spectators could not follow and watch,? it become more common to build courses of fences? for events that spectators could watch.

]]> 101 Roller Coaster Facts https://ringolingo.com/dictation/roller-coaster-facts/ Wed, 01 Sep 2021 14:08:43 +0000 https://ringolingo.com/?post_type=dictation&p=92 If you love going on roller coasters, you’ll know that they are? a popular form of entertainment the world over.? So much so that we can find roller coasters can be found? on every continent except for Antarctica.?

Roller coasters are known for their speed.? Many popular roller coasters? achieve speeds of over 100 mph.? The Formula Rossa roller coaster in Abu Dhabi,? for example, has recorded speeds of 149 mph? (which is faster than many racing cars).?

Of course, it’s not just the speed which excites people.? Many popular roller coasters also have extreme drops.? The Kingda Ka roller coaster in the? United States has a drop of 418 feet.?

It’s really not surprising that people say that? roller coaster rides leave them with their hearts in their mouths!

]]> 92 Rubber Ducks – Lost At Sea https://ringolingo.com/dictation/rubber-ducks-lost-at-sea/ Wed, 01 Sep 2021 11:54:36 +0000 https://ringolingo.com/?post_type=dictation&p=90 In 1992, a shipping crate was lost overboard by a cargo ship? which was travelling to the United States from Hong Kong.? The crate contained 28,000 rubber ducks.?

Since then, the rubber ducks have been washed up around the world.? Some have washed up on the shores of Hawaii, Alaska,? South America, Australia and the Pacific Northwest,? while others have been found frozen in Arctic ice.? Still others have somehow made their way as far? as Scotland and Newfoundland in the Atlantic.?

These rubber ducks have quite a following,? with people tracking their progress around the world.? While many of the ducks found their way ashore,? there are many still lost at sea with many of them? presumably floating around the Pacific Ocean.

]]> 90 Coca-Cola https://ringolingo.com/dictation/coca-cola/ Wed, 01 Sep 2021 11:42:39 +0000 https://ringolingo.com/?post_type=dictation&p=89 Coca-Cola or Coke is a popular? fizzy soft drink sold around the world.? Originally sold in 1886, the name? refers to two of the main ingredients.? Coca leaves and kola nuts.? The full recipe is still a closely guarded secret,? though in 1985, the company attempted to change the recipe.? However so many customers were upset at? the introduction of New Coke, the new recipe was? cancelled in favour of the original recipe.

]]> 89 How Many Sausages Would It Take To Surround the World? https://ringolingo.com/dictation/how-many-sausages-would-it-take-to-surround-the-world/ Wed, 01 Sep 2021 11:35:53 +0000 https://ringolingo.com/?post_type=dictation&p=88 Have you ever asked yourself how many? sausages it would take to surround the world??

Well, the answer is one large one!? Or, to be more precise, 421,842,105.?

How is this calculated?? We know the Earth’s circumference is? 40,075 kilometres which is 40,075,000,000 mm.? We also know that the average? pork sausage is 95mm in length.?

Therefore, if we divide 40,075,000,000 by 95? (the size of one sausage),? we get the total of 421,842,105 sausages.? Wow!

]]> 88 First Female Soccer Match https://ringolingo.com/dictation/first-female-soccer-match/ Wed, 01 Sep 2021 11:26:28 +0000 https://ringolingo.com/?post_type=dictation&p=85 It may surprise you to know that the first? official women’s soccer match took place in 1895.? Played at Crouch End in London between teams? representing North London and South London, the game was won? 7 to 1 by the North London team.? The game was not popular with everyone.? One journalist wrote in the Manchester Times newspaper? “When the novelty has worn off, I do not think? women’s football will attract the crowds.”

However, the 2019 Women’s World Cup final was? attended by 57,000 spectators and more than? 1 billion people watched the tournament on TV.

]]> 85 Hello Kitty https://ringolingo.com/dictation/hello-kitty/ Wed, 01 Sep 2021 11:12:52 +0000 https://ringolingo.com/?post_type=dictation&p=83 Hello Kitty wasn’t known by that name originally.? In fact she was originally referred to? as “the white cat with no name”.? The Hello Kitty name was the result of? the first product showing her saying “hello”.? Hello Kitty measures five apples tall and weighs three apples.? Every year, the sale of licenses to? use Hello Kitty raises about $7 billion.? Oddly, Hello Kitty has a pet cat called Charmmy Kitty.

]]> 83 The Smallest Dog https://ringolingo.com/dictation/the-smallest-dog/ Wed, 01 Sep 2021 11:05:01 +0000 https://ringolingo.com/?post_type=dictation&p=82 According to the Guinness book of Records in 2021,? the smallest ever dog was a Chihuahua called Milly.? The dog from Puerto Rico measured just 9.65 cm tall.? When she was born in 2011, Milly weighed less? than 30 g and could fit into a teaspoon.

]]> 82 The Biggest Fruit https://ringolingo.com/dictation/the-biggest-fruit/ Wed, 01 Sep 2021 10:54:15 +0000 https://ringolingo.com/?post_type=dictation&p=79 The biggest naturally occurring fruit is the jackfruit.? The trees that bear the fruit are found in Sri Lanka,? Malaysia and parts of southern India.? The fruit can weigh up to 55kg and measure 90cm long.? As of 2020, the biggest fruit ever recorded, however,? was a pumpkin grown in the USA in 2016.? That weighed a total of 1,190kg.

]]> 79 The Day Nuclear Bombs Were Dropped on Spain https://ringolingo.com/dictation/nuclear-bombs-dropped-on-spain/ Wed, 01 Sep 2021 09:06:50 +0000 https://ringolingo.com/?post_type=dictation&p=59 Most people know that the American air force? dropped nuclear bombs on Japan, but it’s less? well known that they also dropped bombs on Spain.? Unlike the attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki,? the four bombs that fell close to the Spanish town of Palomares? in 1966 were the result of an accident.? Flying at almost 10,000 metres, an American bomber collided? with another aircraft, resulting in three bombs falling? close to the town and a fourth falling into the sea.? Fortunately the bombs were? not armed and so did not explode.

]]> 59 Things You Never Knew About McDonalds https://ringolingo.com/dictation/things-you-never-knew-about-mcdonalds/ Wed, 01 Sep 2021 09:05:34 +0000 https://ringolingo.com/?post_type=dictation&p=58 In 1940, brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald opened up? the first McDonald’s restaurant which was actually a? barbecue joint in San Bernardino, California.? Today it’s a museum.? It wasn’t until 8 years later that McDonalds starting selling? the fries, burgers and shakes which we are familiar with today.?

McDonald’s first drive-through was opened in 1975.? They were inspired to create the drive-through as the? restaurant was near a military base and soldiers were not? allowed to leave their cars in uniform.?

Talking of drive-thoughs, the average McDonald’s? drive-through transaction took roughly three minutes, or 189.49 seconds,? according to one study; the fast-food leader was? Wendy’s with a 133.63 second turnaround time.?

In America, there are more McDonald’s? restaurants than there are hospitals!? There are almost one and a half times the number? of McDonald’s restaurants than hospitals.?

There are McDonald’s restaurants all over the world,? often with variations to the menu which reflect local tastes.? For example, McAloo Tikki burger in? India and a McRice burger (which is used instead? of a bread bun) in Singapore.?

What is your favourite fast food dish?

]]> 58 Beer Drinking Prime Minister https://ringolingo.com/dictation/beer-drinking-prime-minister/ Wed, 01 Sep 2021 08:23:10 +0000 https://ringolingo.com/?post_type=dictation&p=38 For many people, serving as the Prime Minister? of their country would be their greatest achievement.? That might not be the case for the former? Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke.? In 1954, he gained the world record for drinking? 2.5 pints of beer in just 11 seconds.

]]> 38 Tallest Statue https://ringolingo.com/dictation/tallest-statue/ Wed, 01 Sep 2021 08:01:20 +0000 https://ringolingo.com/?post_type=dictation&p=18 The Statue of Unity in India became the tallest statue? in the world when it was completed in 2018.? The statue is a tribute to Indian leader Sardar Patel? who many credit with keeping the newly? independent country of India united, rather than splitting? into many smaller separate countries.? The statue measures 182m tall, contains 25,000? tonnes of steel and over 3,000 tonnes of bronze.? It’s reported to have cost $422 million to build.

]]> 18 Legalised Cannabis https://ringolingo.com/dictation/legalised-cannabis/ Wed, 01 Sep 2021 07:54:19 +0000 https://ringolingo.com/?post_type=dictation&p=10 Many people think The Netherlands was the? first country to legalise cannabis.? However in the 1970s, the Dutch parliament only? voted to decriminalise cannabis use.? In reality, while some other European countries? tolerate cannabis use, the first country to actually legalise? the use of cannabis was Uruguay.? The recreational use of cannabis? was made legal there in 2013.

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