Questions 1-11 are based on the following passage.

The Unexpectedly Practical Art of Origami

Origami, 1 the art of paper folding is much more than just paper cranes. With its exquisite folds and intricate geometric shapes, origami has long captivated the minds of those seeking to apply 2 devious solutions to engineering challenges. In recent decades, concepts and techniques derived from origami 3 drive a variety of innovations in science and technology.

Consider, for example, the waterbomb, a classic origami design that, after a series of folds, allows the paper to be inflated through a hole in one corner to form a hollow, box-like shape. A team of scientists from Oxford University turned to this ancient design to help them develop an innovative new tool for the treatment of heart disease: a highly expandable heart stent. A heart stent is a device used to open up clogged arteries. Because heart stents need to be inserted into arteries, they must be extremely narrow. 4 By using the waterbomb origami design, the team was able to design a 5 stent—capable of being inserted at a width of 12 mm and expanding to a width of 23 mm.

[1] While the waterbomb dates back to the earliest days of paper-folding, 6 new origami folds are still being created in order to serve specific technical purposes. [2] As recently as 1995, for instance, the Japanese astrophysicist Koryo Miura developed what became known as the Miura fold. [3] 7 While puzzling over the large and unwieldy design of solar panels carried by spacecraft into orbit, Miura had noted that astronauts were required to carefully unfold the solar panels 8 with hand when the craft reached orbit. [4] The astronauts then had to fold the panels again before re-entering Earth’s atmosphere. [5] Miura wanted to design a solar panel that could be folded and unfolded robotically, in order to automate this complex procedure. [6] This design allowed his robotic solar panels to be opened by only a few motors. 9  

What is the next frontier of origami-inspired engineering? Not surprisingly, origami is going digital. In the emerging field of computational origami, complex computer models are being used to create more 10 intricate and efficient origami designs designed by computer models. While the practical applications of these new designs are still being studied, one thing is certain: origami will 11 be the only traditional art form that continues to inspire technological innovation.

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