Implementing a "One Health" policy has successfully eliminated superbugs in Europe. Verified IELTS Reading Answers and Explanations
Antibiotics are chemical substances used to kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria. Since Alexander Fleming’s discovery of penicillin in 1928, these modern miracles have saved hundreds of millions of lives. However, the fundamental law of evolutionary biology dictates that organisms adapt to survive. When exposed to an antibiotic, the majority of susceptible bacteria die, but those possessing random genetic mutations that grant them immunity survive and replicate.
Strategy: Look for keywords like "Fleming" and "foresee." The text explicitly states that Fleming issued a "prophetic warning" regarding the misuse and subsequent resistance of microbes during his 1945 Nobel speech.
→ Paragraph B
Found in Paragraph F: "...global policy must enforce stricter regulations regarding agricultural antibiotic use..." 12. Answer: financial returns
According to the World Health Organization's Global Antibiotic Resistance Surveillance Report 2025, resistance levels are alarmingly high and unevenly distributed worldwide. Between 2018 and 2023, antibiotic resistance rose in over 40% of the pathogen-antibiotic combinations monitored, with an average annual increase of 5-15%. The WHO estimates that roughly one in six bacterial infections worldwide involves antibiotic-resistant pathogens, rising to one in three for urinary tract infections.
Given the scientific and global importance of antibiotic resistance, this topic appears frequently in IELTS Academic Reading passages. The following practice materials are drawn from authentic IELTS reading tests, with verified answers based on official answer keys. → Paragraph B Found in Paragraph F: "
The mechanisms by which bacteria evade antibiotic action are marvels of evolutionary adaptation. Bacteria can develop thick cellular walls that prevent drugs from penetrating their defenses, or they can produce specialized pumps—known as efflux pumps—that actively eject the antibiotic before it can cause damage. Others manufacture enzymes, such as beta-lactamases, which chemically degrade and neutralize the medication. Most alarming of all is the capacity of bacteria to share these resistance genes with neighboring microbes through a process called horizontal gene transfer. This allows completely different species of bacteria to rapidly acquire resistance without inheriting it from a parent cell. Paragraph F
The consequences are increased morbidity and mortality, and a significant economic burden.
The reading passage has seven paragraphs, .Choose the correct heading for paragraphs B–G from the list of headings below. List of Headings i The agricultural contribution to superbugs ii Biological defense mechanisms of bacteria iii A historical revolution in healthcare iv The impending global economic and human cost v Solutions through a unified global framework vi The emergence of a critical contemporary threat vii The role of medical malpractice in hospitals viii Human behavioral factors accelerating resistance Example: Paragraph A -> iii Paragraph B Paragraph C Paragraph D Paragraph E Paragraph F Paragraph G Questions 7–10 This isn't just bad luck
To comprehend the scale of the threat, it is essential to understand the evolutionary biology that drives bacterial adaptation. Bacteria reproduce rapidly, often dividing every twenty minutes under optimal conditions. This accelerated lifecycle allows for a high frequency of genetic mutations. When a population of bacteria is exposed to an antibiotic, vulnerable organisms are eradicated, leaving behind a resilient minority possessing genetic traits that shield them from the drug's mechanism of action.
. This isn't just bad luck; it’s a natural consequence of selective pressure—whenever we use an antibiotic, we unintentionally give resistant bacteria a chance to survive and multiply.
The solutions require coordinated action across multiple fronts: aggressive antibiotic stewardship to reduce unnecessary use; enhanced global surveillance to track and respond to emerging resistance; substantial investment in research and development of novel antibiotics and alternative therapies; expanded vaccination programmes; and improved public education. expanded vaccination programmes