The Growing Global Threat Of Antibiotic Resistance Ielts Reading Answers Verified [cracked]

The growing global threat of antibiotic resistance

Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria evolve to survive exposure to antibiotics that once killed them or stopped their growth. This natural process accelerates through misuse and overuse of antibiotics in human medicine, agriculture, and animal husbandry. As resistant strains spread, common infections become harder—or sometimes impossible—to treat, increasing illness duration, medical costs, and mortality.

1. Stewardship: Strictly regulating antibiotic prescriptions in healthcare to ensure they are only used when necessary.
2. Public Awareness: Educating patients on the importance of completing full courses of medication and understanding that antibiotics do not cure viruses.
3. Agricultural Reform: Banning the use of antibiotics for growth promotion in livestock and improving hygiene in farming to reduce the need for preventative drugs.
4. Innovation: Governments providing incentives, such as market entry rewards or grants, to encourage pharmaceutical companies to re-enter the antibiotic research space.

This process is accelerated by the bacterial ability to exchange genetic material. Bacteria can pass resistance traits to one another through horizontal gene transfer, meaning resistance can spread rapidly between different species of bacteria without them having to reproduce. This process is accelerated by the bacterial ability

The text states that the widespread use of antibiotics in human medicine and agriculture has accelerated the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. increasing illness duration

• Catalyst: A person or thing that precipitates an event (often used to describe what causes resistance).
• Indiscriminate: Done without careful judgment (used regarding the overuse of drugs).
• Susceptible: Likely to be influenced or harmed by a particular thing.
• Prophylactic: Intended to prevent disease (often used regarding agricultural use).
• Obsolete: No longer produced or used; out of date (used regarding old drugs).
• Void: A completely empty space (used to describe the lack of new drugs).
• Coordinated: Working together efficiently (used to describe the needed global response).

While specific question numbers vary by test version, these are the verified answers for the most common question types: This process is accelerated by the bacterial ability

( Source: IELTS Reading Passage - "The Economic Burden of Antibiotic Resistance" by CDC)

E. To combat this, global health leaders are calling for a "One Health" approach. This strategy recognizes that human health is closely connected to the health of animals and the environment. Interventions include stricter regulations on prescriptions, the development of new diagnostic tools to ensure antibiotics are only used when necessary, and significant investment in the research and development of new antibiotics. However, the pipeline for new drugs is drying up because antibiotics are less profitable for pharmaceutical companies than drugs for chronic conditions. Consequently, governments must provide financial incentives to encourage innovation.

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