Create an introduction that tells us what we are about to read. Make sure to hook the reader and give us the points you are going to talk about. (text structure, point of view) with the story perfectly imperfect
The artist Leonardo da
Vinci, perhaps best
known for painting the
Mona Lisa, produced
a drawing called the
Vitruvian Man. In it, da Vinci
depicted his idea of the perfectly
sized and proportioned male
body. But is this really what a
perfect body looks like? And if it’s perfect, does that make
every other type of body flawed?
Or maybe those are the wrong
questions and the idea of a
“perfect” body is actually
what’s flawed. AN IMPERFECT MAN Consider Michael Phelps. The
winningest swimmer of all time,
Phelps earned 28 Olympic medals. His
body does not look like the Vitruvian
Man. In fact, Phelps’ body is quite
unusual. The best swimmers tend
to have long torsos and short legs.
Phelps is 6 feet 4 inches, but his torso is as long as what you would expect
to see in a man who is 6 feet 8 inches
tall. His legs are the length typical of
a man who is 5 feet 10 inches. Phelps
has long arms too. Like the Vitruvian
Man, most people have a wingspan
roughly the same as their height.
Phelps’ wingspan is 6 feet 7 inches,
three inches longer than his height.
His ankles are (reportedly) double
jointed, and thus extremely flexible.
And his feet are big—he wears size 14
shoes. So Phelps’ legs act like flippers
when he swims. No one could argue that Phelps
has a perfect body in da Vinci’s
sense. But is it correct to say
it is imperfect? What does
“perfection” mean when we are
talking about human biology?
Does it even exist? WHAT IS PHYSICAL PERFECTION? to do with how a body works
than how it looks. How we
function actually depends
upon how well we fit into our
environment.
Here’s an example from the animal kingdom. Imagine a
population of brown rabbits and
white rabbits in a snowy field. Under
these conditions, predators are less
likely to see and catch the white
rabbits. In a summertime field—all
brown soil and green and golden
plants—white rabbits are more
visible and easier to catch. Neither
white nor brown fur is perfect for
rabbit survival. Rabbits need different bodies for different seasons. And
in fact, in some types of rabbits, fur
color changes with the seasons. Like
rabbits, all organisms, including
people, adapt to their environments.
The process of evolution selects for
the survival of organisms that thrive
in their specific environments. But
evolution isn’t engineering. Often,
imperfections that don’t affect
survival too badly get passed on
through the generations.
Odd Parts and Compromises
People have plenty. Here are just a few
imperfections in the human body. Our
knees are less flexible than some of
our other joints, which makes injury
common. Unlike most other animals,
we cannot make vitamin C and need
to make sure we get it in our diets.
And our jaws are too small to easily
fit all our teeth, which is why wisdom
teeth usually need to be removed.
All our odd parts and functional
compromises exist because evolution
builds on what came before. Our
ancestors walked on four legs, not
two. Our knees are a compromise that
allow us to be bipedal. More recent
ancestors of humans lost the ability
to make vitamin C, but we figured
out a way to solve this problem with
a change in diet. Humans’ primate
ancestors grew bigger jaws than we
do, because they ate tougher foods. Now our teeth are crowded. None of
these flaws are so serious that they prevent people from
reproducing, though.
Amazingly, most of
us function extremely
well despite these
flaws. Some of us function spectacularly Variation as
an Element
of Success
Michael Phelps’
body is not perfectly
symmetrical or
balanced. His physical
variations, however,
may have given him
the raw materials to
be a close-to-perfect
swimmer. Phelps’ case is not unique;
elite athletes highlight dramatic
variability that provides them the
physical characteristics to approach
perfection in action. Usain Bolt, an
Olympic sprinter, has an abundance
of fast-twitch muscle fibers that make
him speedy and legs so long that it
takes him four to five fewer steps to
complete a 100-meter race than his
competitors.
Simone Biles, another Olympic gold
medalist, is both strong and small The combination is ideal for her sport
of gymnastics. She may also have a
better-than-average ability to sense
where her body is in space, perhaps
making jumps, spins, and somersaults
a tad easier than for an average person.
No athlete is born with the skills
to win gold medals, though. Those
achievements require years of effort.
Using Variation to
Your Advantage
40
bodies for different seasons. And
in fact, in some types of rabbits, fur
color changes with the seasons. Like
rabbits, all organisms, including
people, adapt to their environments.
The process of evolution selects for
the survival of organisms that thrive
in their specific environments. But
evolution isn’t engineering. Often,
imperfections that don’t affect
survival too badly get passed on
through the generations.
Odd Parts and Compromises
our survival. Human variation has
allowed us to live in wildly different
environments—the tropics, deserts,
and the Arctic—and to develop
many different physical, intellectual,
and emotional talents. Not only is
there no ideal human body, but our
species also thrives because we are
different from one another, each of us
particularly suited for our own way
of living.
How might Michael Phelps,
Usain Bolt, and Simone Biles define
perfection? Perhaps they might say
that perfection, or close to it, occurs
in peak athletic performance. Their
physical traits certainly helped them
excel at their sports. However, it was
hard work, dedication, and training
that allowed them to soar.
How do you define perfection?
Maybe something about you
seems different. Can you combine
your unique physical, mental, and
emotional skills and your attitude in
a way that works toward your version
Da Vinci’s drawing of the Vitruvian Man of perfection?
combined mathematics and art. To
da Vinci, the Vitruvian Man depicted
ideal proportions. It was his image of
the perfectly formed man. Da Vinci is a
time-honored artist, but is there really
such thing as a perfect body?
No.
In biology, there is no such thing
as one ideal body. In fact, variation in
all living things, including us, is the
rule. This variation is essential for
7 answers
Introduction: Embracing the Beauty of Imperfection
In a world obsessed with ideals and standards, the image of the perfectly proportioned human body, epitomized by Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man, has long held a reverent place in our culture. But what if this notion of “perfect” is inherently flawed? Rather than striving for an unattainable ideal, it might be time to celebrate the marvels of imperfection. This exploration dives into the complexities of human biology, examining how unique characteristics can lead to extraordinary abilities, as exemplified by athletes like Michael Phelps, Usain Bolt, and Simone Biles.
In this article, we will delve into the following points:
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The Myth of Physical Perfection: We’ll question the concept of a perfect body, particularly in light of the diverse ways that bodies can function effectively in different environments.
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Valuable Variations: By highlighting the unique physiological traits of elite athletes, we showcase how variations can often pave the way for success rather than hinder it.
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Evolution and Adaptation: We will explore how imperfections are woven into the fabric of our biology through evolutionary processes, leading to adaptations that allow species, including humans, to thrive in various environments.
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Redefining Perfection: Finally, we’ll reflect on what perfection means in the context of individual experiences and achievements, emphasizing that perhaps the true measure of success lies not in conformity to an ideal but in the distinctiveness of our unique journeys.
Through this examination, we challenge the conventional views of beauty and success, inviting readers to embrace the perfectly imperfect nature of humanity and recognize the extraordinary potential that lies in our differences.
make the introduction a bit shorter
Introduction: Embracing the Beauty of Imperfection
In a world captivated by ideals, Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man stands as a symbol of the so-called perfect human body. But is this notion of perfection misguided? Instead of chasing an unattainable ideal, we should celebrate the beauty of our differences. This exploration challenges the concept of physical perfection by showcasing the unique traits of elite athletes like Michael Phelps, Usain Bolt, and Simone Biles, illustrating how variations can lead to extraordinary success.
We will also delve into how evolution embraces imperfections, enabling humans to adapt and thrive in diverse environments. Ultimately, we’ll redefine what perfection means, emphasizing that true achievement lies not in conformity to an ideal but in embracing our individuality. Join us as we journey through the perfectly imperfect nature of humanity and uncover the extraordinary potential within our differences.
Introduction: Embracing the Beauty of Imperfection
When we think of the perfect body, we often picture Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man, a drawing that shows an ideal human figure. But is there really such a thing as a perfect body? Instead of focusing on impossible ideals, we should celebrate our differences! In this piece, we’ll look at how unique traits, like those of famous athletes such as Michael Phelps, Usain Bolt, and Simone Biles, can actually help us succeed.
We’ll explore how evolution has made us all different, helping us adapt and survive in many environments. Finally, we’ll reexamine what perfection really means. True success might not be about fitting a certain mold, but about embracing who we are. Let’s dive into the wonderfully imperfect world of being human and discover the amazing strengths that come from our differences!
Sure! Let me give it another shot, keeping it even more straightforward and relatable.
Introduction: Why Imperfection is Perfect
When we think about the perfect body, we often picture Leonardo da Vinci’s drawing of the Vitruvian Man, which shows what he thought was an ideal human. But is there really a perfect body? Instead of chasing after something that might not even exist, we should celebrate our differences!
In this article, we’ll look at how famous athletes like Michael Phelps, Usain Bolt, and Simone Biles have unique bodies that help them shine in their sports. We’ll also talk about how our imperfections come from evolution, which helps us adapt to the world around us. Finally, we’ll explore what "perfection" really means and see that true success comes from embracing who we are, not just fitting into a certain idea. So, let’s dive in and discover the beauty of being perfectly imperfect!
20 answers