This large seabird spends most of its time in the air over the oceans and may have a wingspan of over 11 feet; sailors believe that killing one brings bad luck. Name it.

This large seabird spends most of its time in the air over the oceans and may have a wingspan of over 11 feet; sailors believe that killing one brings bad luck. Name it.

• A. Albatross
• B. Pelican
• C. Seagull
• D. Petrel

Answer: (A)

The key idea is recognizing a seabird famous for an enormous wingspan and a well-known maritime superstition. Albatross fits because these birds spend most of their lives gliding over open oceans, with wingspans that can exceed 11 feet, making long, wind-assisted flights over the sea a defining trait. The sailor superstition about killing one bringing bad luck is a classic part of maritime lore, brightly reinforced by literature and folklore surrounding the albatross. Pelicans, seagulls, and petrels don’t have that combination of an extremely large wingspan and the same strong cultural association with bad luck tied to killing them, so they’re not the best match here.

The key idea is recognizing a seabird famous for an enormous wingspan and a well-known maritime superstition. Albatross fits because these birds spend most of their lives gliding over open oceans, with wingspans that can exceed 11 feet, making long, wind-assisted flights over the sea a defining trait. The sailor superstition about killing one bringing bad luck is a classic part of maritime lore, brightly reinforced by literature and folklore surrounding the albatross. Pelicans, seagulls, and petrels don’t have that combination of an extremely large wingspan and the same strong cultural association with bad luck tied to killing them, so they’re not the best match here.