The Growing Global Threat Of Antibiotic Resistance Ielts Reading Answers Top -
Mention of agricultural practices that contribute to the proliferation of superbugs.
), here are the typical questions and verified answers based on IELTS Material Answer Key Explanation
A colloquial term for bacteria that are resistant to multiple types of treatment.
By following these tips and staying informed about the growing global threat of antibiotic resistance, you can improve your IELTS reading skills and contribute to the global effort to address this pressing health concern. Mention of agricultural practices that contribute to the
According to the passage, what is "horizontal gene transfer"?
Ultimately, antibiotic resistance is not a distant threat but a present-day reality that is already reshaping how doctors treat common infections. As WHO official Dr. Yvan Hutin has stated: “The less people have access to quality care, the more they’re likely to suffer from drug-resistant infection”. The battle against this global health emergency requires urgent and sustained action from all sectors of society.
Choosing the correct, narrow-spectrum antibiotic for specific infections is vital. According to the passage, what is "horizontal gene transfer"
Compounding this biological threat is a systemic failure within the pharmaceutical industry. The pipeline for developing novel antibiotics has effectively run dry. Pharmaceutical conglomerates have largely abandoned antibiotic research and development (R&D) in favor of far more lucrative drugs targeting chronic conditions, such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, or mental health disorders. Unlike chronic medications that patients must take daily for decades, antibiotics are typically prescribed for short courses of one to two weeks. Furthermore, any genuinely novel antibiotic discovered today would be strictly rationed by doctors as a "last-line defense," drastically limiting its sales volume and ensuring that companies cannot recoup their multi-billion-dollar R&D expenditures under current market models.
Strengthening the monitoring of antibiotic use and resistant bacteria, as outlined in the WHO's 2025 Report. IELTS Reading Practice: Top Vocabulary & Themes
The primary driver of this crisis is the widespread misuse and overuse of antibiotics. In many parts of the world, these drugs are available over the counter without a prescription, leading to their use for viral infections like the common cold, against which they are entirely ineffective. Furthermore, in the agricultural sector, antibiotics are frequently administered to livestock not just to treat illness, but to promote growth and prevent disease in crowded conditions. This constant exposure allows the strongest bacteria to survive and multiply, creating "superbugs" that are resistant to multiple forms of treatment. Yvan Hutin has stated: “The less people have
Resistance happens naturally, but human actions accelerate it. Misuse of Drugs:
The crisis extends far beyond human clinical settings. Globally, a staggering volume of antibiotics is utilized in agriculture and livestock farming, not merely to treat sick animals, but as growth promoters and preventative measures in crowded, unsanitary factory farms. This low-dose, continuous exposure provides the perfect breeding ground for resistant bacteria, which subsequently enter the human food chain through contaminated meat, water runoff, and direct contact. Consequently, the boundary between veterinary medicine and human health has dissolved, compounding the global risk.
