Question

What is the intended purpose of the passage?


to inform readers about the influence of nature on design


to entertain readers about designs found in nature


to persuade designers to use natural shapes when building


to show that designs based on nature are the strongest

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.

Answer 1

to inform readers about the influence of nature on design

Reason: The passage explains biomimicry, gives examples (airplanes, canes, architecture) and describes natural forms like spirals—its purpose is to inform readers about how nature inspires design.