For the birds!

the endangered species act was passed by congress in 1973 to protect animals and plants that were at risk of becoming extinct. the following editorial appeared in a local newspaper in north carolina in 1937

a bird

dear citizens of triston,

as a concerned citizen of triston and member of the north carolina conservation of nature council, i am asking for the community's with a serious issue. first, i want to congratulate our town's mayor and city council for planning to build a new community theater. however, do they realize that building the theater on asbury woodlands will destroy the prime breeding ground for an endangered species?

the bachman's warbler is a small bird about four inches in length. this green-backed bird has a bright yellow belly and face and is sometimes confused with the similarly colored hooded warbler.

since 1897, the population of the bachman's warbler has decreased from over 500,000 to fewer than 100 in north carolina. the main reason is the destruction of the areas (like asbury woodlands) that it uses for its natural breeding grounds. bachman's warblers prefer thickly wooded swamps and wet thickets in heavy, full-grown forests where they can build their nests and feed on insects.

this does not mean that we cannot build a community theater. a similar situation recently arose in cape pristo, north carolina. nobel hotels canceled its plans to build a high-rise structure when it became known that the roseate tern, another endangered bird, was living in the suggested location. nobel hotels put up a new building several miles down the beach from the original location, and the roseate tern kept its habitat.

our community has forever prided itself on caring for our natural surroundings. the city council has promised that the proposed theater will be "highly tasteful" and that the structure will "complement the spirit of our town."

the city council's honorable concern for the endangered bachman's warbler would smooth the feathers of many voters. with their and the support of our townspeople, future generations will appreciate the beauty of this little bird.

sincerely,
redmond harris

the last sighting of the bachman's warbler in the united states was in 1988, and the last warbler nest was found in 1937 in alabama.

select the correct answer.
which sentence from the passage best conveys a secondary purpose of entertaining readers?

a.
the city council's honorable concern for the endangered bachman's warbler would smooth the feathers of many voters.
b.
the bachman's warbler is a small bird about four inches in length.
c.
our community has forever prided itself on caring for our natural surroundings.
d.
first, i want to congratulate our town's mayor and city council for planning to build a new community theater.