The Growing Global Threat Of Antibiotic Resistance Ielts Reading Answers Top -
Answer the following questions using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.
Complete the summary using the list of words/phrases A–L below.
The One Health approach to antibiotic resistance involves human, animal, and (21) ______ health. Many countries have developed national plans, but (22) ______ is inconsistent. In hospitals, antimicrobial stewardship programs have, for instance, reduced (23) ______ infections in the UK. The EU banned antibiotics for (24) ______ in 2006, while Norway succeeded using vaccines and hygiene. Rapid diagnostic tests and the WHO’s (25) ______ classification help preserve last-line drugs. Future solutions include (26) ______ therapy and CRISPR.
Word list:
A) environmental
B) C. difficile
C) growth promotion
D) fungal
E) implementation
F) economic
G) AWaRe
H) phage
I) viral
J) pandemic
K) cancer
L) water
The Silent Pandemic
Antibiotics have saved hundreds of millions of lives since the discovery of penicillin in 1928. However, the overuse and misuse of these drugs in humans and animals have accelerated a natural evolutionary process: bacteria developing resistance. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria change over time and no longer respond to medicines, making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness, and death.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared AMR one of the top 10 global public health threats. Each year, at least 700,000 people die from drug-resistant infections. Without action, this number could reach 10 million by 2050, surpassing deaths from cancer. Common infections, such as urinary tract infections, pneumonia, and gonorrhoea, are becoming untreatable. Routine surgeries and chemotherapy rely on effective antibiotics to prevent infections; without them, these procedures become high-risk.
Low- and middle-income countries face the greatest burden due to weaker healthcare systems, lack of sanitation, and easy access to antibiotics without prescription. However, no country is immune. Even in high-income nations, antibiotic-resistant bacteria like MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) cause thousands of deaths annually.
Label the diagram/chart summary below using NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from Passage 3 for each blank.
The AWaRe Classification System
Example of successful national action:
Future non-antibiotic therapies:
| Word | Meaning | | :--- | :--- | | Waning | Becoming weaker or smaller | | Rampant | Uncontrolled, widespread | | Reservoir | A large supply or source | | Insidious | Gradual, subtle, but harmful | | Stagnation | Lack of activity or development | | Incentives | Motivations or rewards | | Sparing | Using little of something | | Interconnectedness | Mutual connection between things |
This article serves both as a reading comprehension exercise and a source of accurate vocabulary and content for candidates preparing for the IELTS exam, specifically targeting the high-frequency theme of global health threats. Use the answer key to self-correct and the vocabulary list to build your academic word bank.
The "The Growing Global Threat of Antibiotic Resistance" is a common IELTS Academic Reading passage that explores the rise of superbugs and the factors accelerating this crisis.
Below is an overview of the key themes discussed in the passage, followed by typical question types and answers to help you prepare. Core Themes of the Passage
Antimicrobial resistance: Impacts, challenges, and future prospects
The rise of antibiotic resistance is one of the most pressing health challenges of the 21st century, often described by medical experts as a "silent pandemic." Since the discovery of penicillin, antibiotics have been the bedrock of modern medicine, turning once-fatal infections into manageable conditions. However, the overconsumption and misuse of these drugs have accelerated the evolution of "superbugs"—bacteria that can survive the very treatments designed to kill them.
A primary driver of this crisis is the inappropriate prescription of antibiotics in human healthcare. Patients frequently demand antibiotics for viral infections, like the common cold or flu, against which the drugs are entirely ineffective. When antibiotics are used unnecessarily, or when a course is not completed, the weakest bacteria die while the most resilient survive and multiply. These resistant strains can then spread through communities, making routine surgeries and minor injuries potentially life-threatening once again.
Beyond the clinic, the industrial agricultural sector plays a massive role in exacerbating the threat. In many parts of the world, antibiotics are administered to livestock not just to treat illness, but to promote growth and prevent disease in crowded, unsanitary conditions. This practice creates a vast breeding ground for resistant bacteria, which can reach humans through the food chain or environmental runoff. The globalized nature of trade and travel means that a resistant strain emerging on a farm in one country can appear in a hospital across the world within days. Answer the following questions using NO MORE THAN
The consequences of inaction are dire. If current trends continue, we face a "post-antibiotic era" where chemotherapy, organ transplants, and C-sections become prohibitively risky due to the high chance of untreatable infection. Economically, the burden on healthcare systems will be staggering as patients require longer hospital stays and more expensive, toxic alternative treatments.
Addressing this global threat requires a multi-pronged approach: stricter regulations on agricultural drug use, public education campaigns to reduce patient demand, and significant investment in the development of new classes of antibiotics. Ultimately, antibiotic resistance is a borderless problem that demands a unified, global response to preserve the efficacy of these life-saving medicines for future generations.
This is for informational purposes only. For medical advice or diagnosis, consult a professional. AI responses may include mistakes. Learn more
The IELTS Academic Reading passage titled " The Growing Global Threat of Antibiotic Resistance
" discusses how bacterial evolution, spurred by the overuse and misuse of medicine, has led to a rise in "superbacteria" that are increasingly difficult to treat. Reading Passage Summary
The Success and the Price: While antibiotics saved millions of lives, their success led to global carelessness, such as incorrect usage and failure to follow dosages.
The Process of Resistance: Bacteria replicate quickly; any developed resistance is duplicated during division and can also spread through "horizontal gene transfer".
The Economic Hurdle: Pharmaceutical companies often prioritize more profitable chronic condition drugs over antibiotics, which are relatively inexpensive and used for shorter durations.
Global Impact: Experts estimate that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) was directly responsible for 1.27 million deaths globally in 2019. Common IELTS Question Types and Key Answers
Based on the text found in practice materials from Scribd and IELTSMaterial, here are typical questions and answer pointers: 1. Gap Filling / Summary Completion
Success of antibiotics: Often referred to as a "success story".
Primary concern: Referred to as the "greatest threat" to human existence.
The "Price": Refers to the "growing resistance" of bacterial strains.
Human Behavior: We have become "careless" and often seek a "quick fix" for minor ailments. 2. Matching Information / True, False, Not Given
Antibiotics vs. Viruses: Antibiotics are often incorrectly used against viruses, which is ineffective (Answer: True).
Handwashing: Simple hygiene like washing hands can have a positive effect in reducing spread (Answer: True).
Prescribing Trends: A shift toward using "broader spectrum agents" heightens the problem (Answer: True/Matching).
Economic Factors: Pharmaceutical companies focus on "chronic condition drugs" because they are more profitable than antibiotics. Study Guide Tips Global Threat of Antibiotic Resistance - Bacteria - Scribd
For the IELTS Reading passage "The Growing Global Threat of Antibiotic Resistance," (often also titled "The Rise of Antibiotic-Resistant Infections" Complete the summary using the list of words/phrases
), here are the typical questions and verified answers based on IELTS Material Answer Key Explanation
Antibiotics are sometimes used as a preventative measure (prophylaxis).
Choosing the correct, narrow-spectrum antibiotic for specific infections is vital.
Some bacterial infections now have no effective antibiotic treatment.
Untested drugs can be used for terminal patients on an emergency basis.
Resistance can potentially develop every time an antibiotic is used.
Simple hand washing by healthcare workers has a significant positive effect.
Antibiotics are often incorrectly prescribed for viral infections. Paragraph D
explains how antibiotic resistance happens through gene action and mutation. Paragraph C
discusses the survival of the fittest bacteria during treatment. Paragraph F
details factors like public health measures needed to solve the problem. Paragraph A describes the impact of the discovery of Penicillin. Paragraph E
focuses on the widespread misuse and overuse of antibiotics. Paragraph B
explains the cessation of research by drug companies in the 1980s. Key Vocabulary to Master
To perform well on this passage, you should recognize these high-level terms often tested in synonyms: : Healing or medicinal. Horizontal Gene Transfer : The process of passing resistance genes between bacteria. : Inborn or natural.
: Highly profitable (often used to describe chronic condition drugs vs. antibiotics). Stumbling Block : An obstacle or problem. Passage Summary
The text typically explores how the "medical miracle" of penicillin led to a era of complacency. It highlights that bacteria evolve faster than we can create new drugs, fueled by overuse in humans prophylactic use in livestock
. A major "stumbling block" is that pharmaceutical companies often find antibiotics less than drugs for chronic conditions. practice questions based on this passage to test your skills? Global Threat of Antibiotic Resistance | PDF - Scribd
growing global threat of antibiotic resistance is a key reading passage frequently found in IELTS preparation materials like IELTS Training Online IELTS Material
. It highlights how the overuse and misuse of antibiotics have accelerated the evolution of "superbacteria". www.scribd.com Key Reading Answers & Explanations The Silent Pandemic Antibiotics have saved hundreds of
While specific question numbers vary by test version, the following are common answers derived from this text: The Main Idea : The passage's primary focus is the growing global threat of antibiotic resistance Referencing : In many versions, the word in the first paragraph refers to antibiotics Vocabulary Synonyms "Cyclical" : Often used to describe processes that are or repeat in cycles. : Closely means to Correct Prescribing : Experts like (or initials
) argue that prescribing narrow-spectrum antibiotics is vital because broad-spectrum drugs expose more diverse bacteria to selection for resistance. Dosage Warning Alexander Fleming famously warned that using too small a dose
of antibiotics leads to the production of resistant bacterial strains. Key Themes to Remember Causes of Resistance
: Human negligence, such as not finishing a prescribed course or using antibiotics for viral infections like the common cold, is a major factor. Global Impact
: Resistance is a natural consequence of selective pressure, but it is worsened by the widespread use of antibiotics in food-producing animals Future Outlook
: Pharmaceutical companies often prioritize drugs for chronic conditions over new antibiotics because they are more profitable. www.scribd.com set of questions
(e.g., Matching Features or True/False/Not Given) associated with this passage? Global Threat of Antibiotic Resistance - Bacteria - Scribd
Passage:
The growing global threat of antibiotic resistance
Antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest threats to global health, food security, and development today. Antibiotic resistance happens when bacteria change and become resistant to the antibiotics used to treat infections. This means that antibiotics are no longer effective in killing the bacteria, making infections harder to treat.
The overuse and misuse of antibiotics in human medicine and agriculture are key drivers of antibiotic resistance. In human medicine, antibiotics are often prescribed unnecessarily or used incorrectly, which accelerates the development of resistance. In agriculture, antibiotics are used to promote growth and prevent disease in livestock, which also contributes to the emergence of resistant bacteria.
The consequences of antibiotic resistance are severe. Infections caused by resistant bacteria are more difficult to treat and can lead to longer hospital stays, higher healthcare costs, and increased mortality. Moreover, the loss of effective antibiotics threatens our ability to treat a wide range of infections, from common illnesses like pneumonia and tuberculosis to life-threatening conditions like sepsis and meningitis.
Questions and Answers:
Answer: Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria change and become resistant to the antibiotics used to treat infections. This happens when bacteria are exposed to antibiotics and develop mechanisms to survive and multiply.
Answer: The main causes of antibiotic resistance are the overuse and misuse of antibiotics in human medicine and agriculture.
Answer: The consequences of antibiotic resistance are severe and include longer hospital stays, higher healthcare costs, and increased mortality. It also threatens our ability to treat a wide range of infections.
Answer: The use of antibiotics in agriculture contributes to antibiotic resistance by promoting the emergence of resistant bacteria in livestock.
Answer: Antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest threats to global health, food security, and development today, as it makes infections harder to treat and threatens our ability to treat a wide range of illnesses.
Top Tips for IELTS Reading: