The boats on the back of the seal symbolize the agricultural commerce of Georgia. Similarly, the farmer and crop bundles represent Georgia’s dependence on agriculture for survival. During the mid to late 1800s, over 700,000 cotton bales were produced each year. Cotton is still a “king” crop in Georgia. The state currently produces almost three million bales per year. This is only one reason why the state is an important asset to its country.
In paragraph eight, the word asset means

A) benefit.
B) debt.
C) element.
D) expense