Question

A Bird of Bad Moral Character
1
Lion, chicken, dog, peacock, donkey. What comes to mind for each of these animals? Perhaps power, fear, loyalty, pride, stubbornness? Animals are powerful symbols in all cultures, and many countries use an animal to represent their nation.

A table with two columns labeled 'Country' and 'Symbol.' The table lists the following pairs: Thailand - Elephant, England - Lion, India - Tiger, Spain - Bull, Russia - Bear.

2
In 1782, the United States’ Congress chose the bald eagle as the symbol of the new nation, but they made the wrong choice. Even the great Benjamin Franklin criticized their choice. In a letter to his daughter, Franklin wrote, “I wish that the bald eagle had not been chosen as the representative of our country; he is a bird of bad moral character.”

3
Franklin wrote that the eagle “does not get his living honestly.” He points out in his letter that bald eagles are bullies who steal more than they hunt. They often snatch fish from other birds such as hawks and osprey:

4
You may have seen him perched on some dead tree, where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the labor of the fishing-hawk; and, when that diligent bird has at length taken a fish . . . the bald eagle pursues him, and takes it from him.

5
Bald eagles are at the top of the food chain. However, they take advantage of the work of smaller birds, rather than relying on their own strength and skills.

6
Franklin even called the bird “a rank coward” and said that “the little kingbird, not bigger than a sparrow, attacks [the eagle] boldly and drives him out of the district.” Along with being chased about by such a tiny bird, bald eagles prefer an easy living. While they are birds of prey, they take advantage of any opportunity, including eating dead or dying fish near the surface of the water. The bird approaches its prey in a shallow glide and simply snatches it from the surface. Eagles have also been known to visit garbage dumps for a meal, their stately white heads marred with filth from the trash. This isn’t bravery at all.

7
These facts speak poorly of the eagle as a symbol of our country. They suggest that we, like bald eagles, perch at the top of the food chain, steal food, and bully others to stay alive. We need to consider what kind of image the bald eagle lends to our country.

Multiple Choice Question
Which of these statements is a central argument in the text The Bald Eagle: A Point of National Pride?

A.
The U.S. Congress was right to set a holiday for the eagle.

B.
Many chemicals are very dangerous to wildlife.

C.
Birds of prey are important to the food chain.

D.
The national bird is a symbol of liberty.

Answer 1

D

The central argument of a text titled "The Bald Eagle: A Point of National Pride?" is that the national bird serves as a symbol of liberty (choice D).