Question

you, with no limit or no bound, may choose for yourself the limits and bounds of your nature. we have placed you at the world’s center so that you may survey everything else in the world. we have made you neither of heavenly nor of earthly stuff, neither mortal nor immortal, so that with free choice and dignity, you may fashion yourself into whatever form you choose.

(from “oration on the dignity of man” by giovanni pico della mirandola)

which is the most complete paraphrase of the passage?

1. humans have no limits because they have free will.

1. since their only limits are self - imposed, humans control what they become.

1. because they have free will, humans are the center of everything in nature.

1. humans can become whatever they choose in the world.

Explanation:

• Option 1: The passage says humans may choose their limits, not that they have no limits. Eliminate.
• Option 2: The passage states humans can choose their limits/bounds of nature, are at the world's center, and can fashion themselves into any form with free choice. This option captures self - imposed limits and controlling what they become, matching the passage's ideas.
• Option 3: The passage places humans at the world's center to survey, not because of free will. The cause - effect here is incorrect. Eliminate.
• Option 4: The passage has more details (self - chosen limits, world's center, neither heavenly/earthly nor mortal/immortal) than just "become whatever they choose". This is too simplistic. Eliminate.

Answer:

1. Since their only limits are self - imposed, humans control what they become.