Because we tend to assume the (i)_____ of natural design, nature can often (ii)_____ us: as the Wright brothers discovered, birds initially misled them in almost every respect, but their aircraft ultimately succeeded by being the least bird-like of the early flying machines.
| Blank (i) | Blank (ii) |
|---|---|
| A. quirkiness | D. galvanize |
| B. preeminence | E. befriend |
| C. maladroitness | F. beguile |
This two-blank question hinges on understanding the Wright brothers example.
Blank (i): The Wright brothers assumed bird flight represented the superior or ideal design solution. Preeminence means supremacy or superiority — we assume nature’s design is preeminent (the best). “Quirkiness” means oddness (wrong direction), and “maladroitness” means clumsiness (the opposite of what we assume about nature).
Blank (ii): Because we assume nature’s design is best, we get fooled or misled by it. Beguile means to charm or deceive. This fits — nature “beguiles” us into copying it when we shouldn’t. “Galvanize” means to energize/motivate (wrong), and “befriend” is irrelevant.
Correct Answers: Blank (i) = B (preeminence), Blank (ii) = F (beguile).
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