Question

Who is the intended audience for this passage?


design students


science teachers


modern architects


nature experts

Reading Passage
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Designed by Nature

1 Look around and you will start to realize how many inventions are inspired by nature. Airplanes that glide through the air use some of the same design features of a bird. Newly developed walking canes that help the visually impaired navigate obstacles use ultrasonic waves similar to echolocation: the use of sound to help direct movement, used by bats and dolphins. These are just a few examples of human innovation that use nature as a model.

2 When humans copy what they see in nature, it is called biomimicry: bios means “life” and mimesis means “to imitate.” The principle behind biomimicry is not simply to copy nature, but to look at the designs that we can see in nature and use those designs to help solve human problems.

3 One of the clearest examples of biomimicry is found in the buildings that we live and work in. Contemporary architects often turn to nature for design inspiration and problem solving. Most recently, these architects have been trying to create environmentally friendly structures that serve the needs of the population, while still aesthetically pleasing to the eye. As these contemporary architects strive to create these structures, they turn to various designs in nature to inspire them.

Spirals

4 There are many forms in nature that can inspire biomimicry. One of the most common organic designs is that of the spiral.

5 The spiral is a beautiful, universal shape: it is a curve that winds outward from a fixed point. In nature, a spiral design is prominent in animals with shells; even the horns on a ram may take a spiral shape.

A photo shows a spiral seashell in the sand

Here is an example of a natural spiral design.

6 Humans have been intrigued by the spiral and have used the design in their buildings. In 113 AD, the Romans built a spiral staircase inside the narrow Trajan Column. The staircase mirrors the intricate pattern of a nautilus shell.

A side-by-side photo shows an ancient spiral staircase and an ancient column

7 Spiral staircases are not the only designs that mimic nautilus shells. Modern parking garages and buildings use the natural beauty of the coiling spiral in their construction. The design offers a space-saving feature as well—circular stairs and ramps take up less space than traditional horizontal structures.

Answer 1

Design students.

Reason: The passage explains biomimicry and how natural forms (like spirals) inspire architectural/design solutions in clear, introductory language—aimed at learners of design rather than practicing architects, science teachers, or nature experts.