【趣谈英语】本.富兰克林曾建议用火鸡作为国徽-Ben Franklin and the Turkey

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

invader¹: an unwelcome person who tries to enter or take over a region by force

criticize: to speak or write negatively about someone or something

immoral²: 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 noted³ 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 invaders⁴. 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

参考例句：

• 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

参考例句：

• 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。

3 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

4 invaders   

入侵者，侵略者，侵入物( invader的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They prepared to repel the invaders. 他们准备赶走侵略军。
• The family has traced its ancestry to the Norman invaders. 这个家族将自己的世系追溯到诺曼征服者。