【趣谈英语】本.富兰克林曾建议用火鸡作为国徽-Ben Franklin and the Turkey
英语课
Pre-Listening Vocabulary
propose: suggest
Great Seal of the US: a presidential stamp placed on federal documents in the US
illustration: drawing
vain: overly admiring of oneself
invader 1: an unwelcome person who tries to enter or take over a region by force
criticize: to speak or write negatively about someone or something
immoral 2: not kind or caring towards others
reservations: concerns or doubts
Ben Franklin and the Turkey
Did Benjamin Franklin really propose that a turkey, rather than an eagle, should be the national symbol on the Great Seal of the United States? Not exactly. In a letter to his daughter, dated January 26, 1784, Benjamin Franklin noted 3 that the proposed drawing of the bald eagle for the Great Seal looked more like a turkey. He went on to say that perhaps the illustration was fitting, since a turkey is a more respectable bird than a bald eagle. He said that though a turkey is a bit vain and silly, it is also a native species with great courage who would protect its territory from invaders 4. He went on to criticize the eagle, saying that these birds were immoral cowards that liked to steal. While Benjamin Franklin’s letter to his daughter suggests he had reservations about the symbolism of the eagle, it is a myth to say that this Founding Father truly felt the turkey ought to be America’s national bird.
propose: suggest
Great Seal of the US: a presidential stamp placed on federal documents in the US
illustration: drawing
vain: overly admiring of oneself
invader 1: an unwelcome person who tries to enter or take over a region by force
criticize: to speak or write negatively about someone or something
immoral 2: not kind or caring towards others
reservations: concerns or doubts
Ben Franklin and the Turkey
Did Benjamin Franklin really propose that a turkey, rather than an eagle, should be the national symbol on the Great Seal of the United States? Not exactly. In a letter to his daughter, dated January 26, 1784, Benjamin Franklin noted 3 that the proposed drawing of the bald eagle for the Great Seal looked more like a turkey. He went on to say that perhaps the illustration was fitting, since a turkey is a more respectable bird than a bald eagle. He said that though a turkey is a bit vain and silly, it is also a native species with great courage who would protect its territory from invaders 4. He went on to criticize the eagle, saying that these birds were immoral cowards that liked to steal. While Benjamin Franklin’s letter to his daughter suggests he had reservations about the symbolism of the eagle, it is a myth to say that this Founding Father truly felt the turkey ought to be America’s national bird.
1 invader
n.侵略者，侵犯者，入侵者
- They suffered a lot under the invader's heel.在侵略者的铁蹄下，他们受尽了奴役。
- A country must have the will to repel any invader.一个国家得有决心击退任何入侵者。
2 immoral
adj.不道德的，淫荡的，荒淫的，有伤风化的
- She was questioned about his immoral conduct toward her.她被询问过有关他对她的不道德行为的情况。
- It is my belief that nuclear weapons are immoral.我相信使核武器是不邪恶的。