The Growing Global Threat Of Antibiotic Resistance Ielts Reading Answers Verified //free\\ Jun 2026

Paragraph C states explicitly that antibiotics are "entirely ineffective" against viral infections like flu or the common cold. 7. Answer: TRUE

Encouragingly, non-traditional biological agents—including bacteriophages, antibodies, anti-virulence agents, immune-modulating agents and microbiome-modulating agents—are increasingly being explored as complements and alternatives to antibiotics. However, studying and regulating these non-traditional agents is not straightforward, and further efforts are needed to facilitate clinical studies and assessments.

The race is far from lost—but time is not on humanity’s side. Every unnecessary antibiotic prescription, every incomplete course of treatment, every kilogram of antibiotics fed to healthy livestock, adds fuel to an already blazing fire. As one passage aptly concludes: “If innovation in research were encouraged, and new tools developed, the WHO argued, the threat might yet be contained. But herein lies the biggest challenge of all.”

Claim : Washing hands can have a positive effect on resistance. . Paragraph C states explicitly that antibiotics are "entirely

: Paragraph A opens with historical context: "The discovery of penicillin by Alexander Fleming in 1928 marked the dawn of the antibiotic era..."

An account of how preventative farming practices introduce resistant microbes into the human diet.

: The process of bacteria repeating or copying themselves during division. Horizontal Gene Transfer As one passage aptly concludes: “If innovation in

Addressing this escalating threat requires a dual approach: discouraging consumption while simultaneously discovering fresh treatments. Unfortunately, the pharmaceutical pipeline for new antibiotics has completely dried up over the last few decades. Developing a new antibiotic is an exceptionally costly, high-risk venture that takes upwards of a decade. From a commercial standpoint, pharmaceutical corporations prefer investing in chronic disease medications—such as those for blood pressure or diabetes—which patients must consume daily for life. In contrast, antibiotics are taken for short durations and are intentionally held in reserve by doctors to prevent resistance, making them financially unviable for corporate research and development. IELTS Reading Questions Questions 1–6

Many consumers have come to take antibiotics for granted. As Linda McCaig, a scientist at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), observes: “Many consumers have an expectation that when they’re ill, antibiotics are the answer. Most of the time the illness is viral, and antibiotics are not the answer. This large burden of antibiotics is certainly selecting resistant bacteria.”

An explanation of why pharmaceutical firms avoid developing new antimicrobial drugs. the outlook is dire.

The growing global threat of antibiotic resistance has emerged as a cornerstone topic in the module. This subject combines scientific mechanisms with socio-economic analysis, making it an ideal test of a candidate’s ability to follow complex arguments.

"The growing threat of antibiotic resistance...The overuse of antibiotics in agriculture and medicine has accelerated the emergence of resistant bacteria...The World Health Organization estimates that at least 700,000 people die each year due to antibiotic-resistant infections."

Antibiotic medications are highly effective at curing common colds and flu infections if administered early.

Looking ahead, the outlook is dire. The CDC's 2025 report indicates that antimicrobial resistance could lead to as many as 10 million deaths annually by 2050—a figure that would surpass major diseases like cancer as leading causes of death worldwide.