The IELTS reading passage titled The Growing Global Threat of Antibiotic Resistance
(also known as "The Rise of Antibiotic Resistant Infections") explores how bacteria evolve resistance faster than new drugs are developed. It highlights that the overuse of antibiotics in humans and livestock, alongside a decline in pharmaceutical innovation, has created a global health crisis. Answer Key and Summary of Common Versions
Most versions of this passage include matching statements, True/False/Not Given, and sentence completion tasks. 1. Matching Statements (Matching Initials)
These questions often require matching a perspective or research finding to a specific person or organization mentioned in the text (e.g., Killeen, Emma Thompson, or the WHO). Choosing correct antibiotics is vital : Killeen (PK). Constant race to discover new drugs : Emma Thompson. WHO guidelines issued in 2014 : World Health Organization. Studocu Vietnam 2. Information Matching (Paragraph Location)
Users typically need to identify which paragraph (A-F) contains specific information: Global Threat of Antibiotic Resistance | PDF - Scribd
The text for "The Growing Global Threat of Antibiotic Resistance" (also appearing in some IELTS materials as "The Rise of Antibiotic-Resistant Infections") highlights how bacteria evolve resistance faster than new drugs can be developed due to overuse, misuse, and pharmaceutical profit priorities IELTS Reading Answers & Key Highlights
The following answers are commonly found in variations of this passage across IELTS training platforms IELTS Material Matching People/Statements: PK (Patrick Killeen): The IELTS reading passage titled The Growing Global
Emphasizes that prescribing the correct antibiotic for particular infections is vital to prevent diverse bacteria from being exposed to broad-spectrum agents. ET (Emma Thompson):
Describes the "continuous race" to find new antibiotics so humanity doesn't lose ground against infection. True / False / Not Given (Sample Statements):
Merely washing hands can have a positive effect on preventing the spread of resistant infections.
Resistance only develops when an antibiotic is used (Actually, it can occur through spontaneous mutation or horizontal gene transfer).
Antibiotics are sometimes used solely to prevent infections (e.g., in livestock). Sentence Completion: The pharmaceutical industry often prioritizes drugs for chronic conditions (like asthma) over antibiotics because they are more profitable
If no new treatments are found by 2050, it is estimated that 10 million people could die annually from resistant infections. Core Themes of the Passage Global Threat of Antibiotic Resistance - Bacteria - Scribd IELTS Academic Reading Practice Test Time: 20 Minutes
The "Growing Global Threat of Antibiotic Resistance" is a prominent topic in IELTS Academic Reading tests, often exploring how misuse and over-reliance on these drugs have led to the emergence of "superbugs". Core Themes of the Passage
The Evolutionary Process: Bacteria develop resistance naturally through mutation and natural selection. When antibiotics are used, they kill defenseless bacteria but leave behind resistant ones, which then multiply rapidly—sometimes doubling in number within a day.
Human Misuse: A major driver is the inappropriate prescribing of antibiotics for viral infections or as a preventative measure. In many countries, antibiotics are also heavily used in livestock as growth supplements, which creates massive environmental reservoirs for resistance genes.
Economic Barriers: Pharmaceutical companies often prioritize the development of more profitable drugs for chronic conditions (like asthma or heart disease) over new antibiotics, which are relatively inexpensive and used for short durations.
Global Health Impact: By 2050, it is estimated that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) could cause up to 10 million deaths annually, surpassing cancer as a leading cause of mortality. Global Threat of Antibiotic Resistance - Bacteria - Scribd
The IELTS reading passage "The Growing Global Threat of Antibiotic Resistance" highlights how overuse in medicine and agriculture drives the rapid evolution of drug-resistant bacteria. Key themes include the economic, agricultural, and clinical factors that threaten to return modern medicine to a pre-antibiotic era. For a full analysis of the reading answers, visit Kanan.co. alongside a decline in pharmaceutical innovation
This is for informational purposes only. For medical advice or diagnosis, consult a professional. AI responses may include mistakes. Learn more Global Threat of Antibiotic Resistance - Bacteria - Scribd
Time: 20 Minutes (recommended for this single text) Instructions: Read the passage and answer the questions below.
Complete the summary below using words from the box. Write the correct letter (A-G) next to questions 10-13.
The Economic Challenges of Antibiotic Development
The discovery of new antibiotics has slowed dramatically because companies face a unique market problem. Unlike drugs for chronic diseases, new antibiotics are intended to be kept in (10) ______ to avoid creating resistance. This means sales volumes are low. As a result, the potential (11) ______ from an antibiotic is much smaller than that from other medications. To solve this, some propose a (12) ______ system where governments pay a set fee for (13) ______ to antibiotics, regardless of how much is used.
| A. revenue | B. prescription | C. reserve | D. subscription | | E. access | F. demand | G. production | |