Origami Is Capable of Turning a Simple Sheet of Paper into a Pretty Paper Crane

Reading Passage Question:

Origami is capable of turning a simple sheet of paper into a pretty paper crane, but the principles behind the paper-folding art can also be applied to making a microfluidic device for a blood test, or for storing a satellite's solar panel in a rocket's cargo bay. A team of researchers is turning kirigami, a related art form that allows the paper to be cut, into a technique that can be applied equally to structures on those vastly divergent length scales. The researchers lay out the rules for folding and cutting a hexagonal lattice, a structure made from strips of material that cross over each other with spaces between, into a wide variety of useful three-dimensional shapes.

A hexagonal lattice may seem like an odd choice for a starting point, but the researchers think that the pattern has advantages over a seemingly simpler tessellation, such as one made from squares; for instance, it is easier to fill a space with a hexagonal lattice and move from 2-D to 3-D. Starting from a flat hexagonal grid on a sheet of paper, the researchers outlined the fundamental cuts and folds that allow the resulting shape to keep the same proportions of the initial lattice, even if some of the material is removed. This is a critical quality for making the transition from paper to materials that might be used in real-world applications.

Having a set of rules that draws on fundamental mathematical principles means that the kirigami approach can be applied equally across length scales, and with almost any material that can be selected on the basis of its relevance to the ultimate application, whether it is in nanotechnology, architecture, or aerospace.The rules also guarantee that "modules," basic shapes such as channels that can direct the flow of fluids, can be combined into more complex ones. Kirigami is particularly attractive for nanoscale applications, where the simplest, most space-efficient shapes are necessary, and self-folding materials would circumvent some of the fabrication challenges inherent in working with other materials at such small scales.

“Origami is capable of turning a simple sheet of paper into a pretty paper crane” - is a GMAT reading comprehension passage with answers. Candidates need a strong knowledge of English GMAT reading comprehension.

This GMAT Reading Comprehension consists of 3 comprehension questions. The GMAT Reading Comprehension questions are designed for the purpose of testing candidates’ abilities in understanding, analyzing, and applying information or concepts. Candidates can actively prepare with the help of GMAT Reading Comprehension Practice Questions.

Solution and Explanation

1. Which of the following most aptly describes the function of the second paragraph?

1. To introduce a discussion on the most critical aspect of the technique that dictates the transformation of origami from paper to potentially real structures
2. To highlight the scope of kirigami across various applications
3. To suggest how maintaining a quality of the technique of kirigami is key to its application to various materials
4. To evaluate some key features of the technique of kirigami
5. ​To analyze what makes kirigami a successful technique for fabricating materials

2. Which of the following statements would the author most likely agree with?

1. Origami as an art form is less flexible than kirigami, making it less relevant for building nanostructures.
2. In nanoscale projects, certain building materials can be tricky to work with as they are relatively rigid for the purpose of shaping.
3. It is very difficult to fill in spaces in structures formed of patterns other than the hexagonal lattice.
4. An important quality for transforming paper designs to materials that could be used in real-world structures is that the shape of the hexagonal grid should not change.
5. The type of material to be used changes drastically with the change in the ultimate application.

3. The author is primarily concerned with

1. discussing the advantages and disadvantages of a technique
2. explaining how a technique is more than just a superficial art form
3. highlighting the relevance of a particular pattern in the application of a technique to building structures
4. discussing revolutionary techniques for building 3-D structures
5. discussing the potential of a technique for building varied physical structures

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