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Read the opening paragraphs of Perfectly Imperfect by Donna Bozzone. Then, use the questions to identify the author’s position and distinguish it from what most people think.
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.
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.
Question 1
What does Donna Bozzone think about the topic of the “perfect” human body?
There is no such thing as a perfect human body in real life.
Descriptions of the perfect body have changed over the centuries.
The perfect body is an ideal that can be achieved with lots of work.
D. Most people want to have a perfect body, even though it’s impossible.
Answer
Question 2
Bozzone’s position differs from what most people think. Unlike most people, Bozzone believes that—
there is an ideal body type.
the perfect body is imperfect.
humans shouldn’t try for perfection.
only those with perfect bodies can survive.
Answer
Question 3
What evidence does Bozzone use to support her position?
Leonardo da Vinci’s drawing, the Vitruvian Man, illustrates the ideal human body.
Michael Phelps’s body is imperfect, but he is the “winningest” swimmer of all time.
Answer
Question 4
How does this evidence help make the author’s position unique?
It shows that even an imperfect body can be very successful.
It suggests what every person’s body is meant to look like.
Answer
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Question 1: The answer is "There is no such thing as a perfect human body in real life." This is evident from the author's statement that the idea of a "perfect" body is actually flawed.
Question 2: The answer is "the perfect body is imperfect." The author believes that the concept of a perfect body is flawed and that there is no such thing as a perfect body.
Question 3: The evidence the author uses is Leonardo da Vinci's drawing, the Vitruvian Man, which illustrates his idea of the ideal human body, and Michael Phelps's body, which is described as unusual but he is still highly successful.
Question 4: The evidence helps make the author's position unique as it shows that even an imperfect body like Michael Phelps's can be highly successful, suggesting that the concept of a perfect body is not necessary for success.