Final answer:
The best paraphrase of the paragraph is "An 'Achilles' heel' is a weakness that can lead to downfall." The phrase comes from the story of Achilles, a Greek soldier who was believed to be invincible but had a vulnerable heel that caused his downfall.
Step-by-step explanation:
The best paraphrase of the paragraph is:
An "Achilles' heel" is a weakness that can lead to downfall.
The phrase "Achilles' heel" is used to describe a weak spot, which comes from the story of Achilles, a Greek soldier who was believed to be invincible but had a vulnerable heel that ultimately caused his downfall.
Today, the term "Achilles' heel" refers to a weakness that can lead to a person's downfall, based on the story of a powerful Greek warrior who had been dipped in the River Styx during childhood.
The best paraphrase of the paragraph describing Achilles' vulnerability, despite being near invincible due to being dipped in the River Styx by his mother, can be stated as follows: Today, the phrase "Achilles' heel" refers to a significant weakness that could potentially lead to one's demise. This term originated from the legend of a mighty Greek warrior who was nearly immortal, having been dipped into the River Styx as a child, with only his heel left vulnerable, the spot by which his mother held him.