Read the passage. Since 1886, the Statue of Liberty has stood proudly in New York Harbor. Today, the massive copper structure, 305 feet tall and weighing some 450,000 pounds, is one of the most recognizable and beloved monuments in the world. It is easy to understand why. For millions of immigrants fleeing oppression, persecution, and hopelessness in their homelands, the Statue of Liberty is the physical embodiment of everything they came to America to find – a sculpture somehow imbued with the most positive values of the nation.

In this passage, what does the Statue of Liberty symbolize?

A) freedom and opportunity

B) tradition and ritual

C) good humor and charm

D) military strength and victory