The Growing Global Threat Of Antibiotic Resistance Ielts Reading Answers Top 【2025-2026】
The Growing Global Threat of Antibiotic Resistance Reading Time: 20 minutes
The growing global threat of antibiotic resistance is a pressing concern that requires immediate attention. Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria develop the ability to survive and thrive despite the presence of antibiotics. This report will summarize the key points from the IELTS reading passage on antibiotic resistance and provide an overview of the issue.
Compounding the problem is a severe stagnation in the pharmaceutical drug pipeline. For decades, major pharmaceutical conglomerates have largely abandoned the development of new antibiotics. The economic reality is that discovering a new drug costs billions of dollars and takes up to a decade, yet antibiotics offer a notoriously poor return on investment. Unlike chronic medications for hypertension or diabetes, which patients take daily for life, antibiotics are typically prescribed for only a few days. Furthermore, any newly discovered breakthrough antibiotic would be strictly rationed by doctors as a "last resort" to prevent resistance from developing, severely limiting the manufacturer's sales volume. The Growing Global Threat of Antibiotic Resistance Reading
| Question | Answer | Explanation (Paragraph reference) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | NOT GIVEN | The passage mentions Fleming’s discovery but does not state that he predicted resistance. This information is absent. (Para 1) | | 2 | FALSE | The passage states: “an estimated 70-80% of all antibiotics sold globally are used in livestock and aquaculture” – not human medicine. (Para 2) | | 3 | TRUE | The text says: “doctors are forced to revert to ‘last-resort’ antibiotics like colistin” – implying it is used when others fail. (Para 3) | | 4 | NOT GIVEN | The passage states antibiotics are less profitable, but it does not say cancer is “more common.” Profit motive is discussed, not prevalence. (Para 4) | | 5 | TRUE | The passage explicitly states: “Countries like the United Kingdom have introduced ‘subscription’ models.” (Para 5) | | 6 | viral infections | Direct quote: “antibiotics are prescribed for viral infections like the common cold.” (Para 2) | | 7 | livestock | Quote: “used in livestock and aquaculture.” (Para 2) | | 8 | second- or third-line | Quote: “may require second- or third-line drugs.” (Para 3) | | 9 | 10 million | Quote: “to 10 million deaths per year by 2050.” (Para 3) | | 10 | One Health | Quote: “a coordinated ‘One Health’ approach.” (Para 5) | | 11 | hygiene | Quote: “improving infection prevention through vaccination and hygiene.” (Para 5) | | 12 | subscription | Quote: “introduced ‘subscription’ models.” (Para 5) | | 13 | low- and middle-income | Quote: “particularly in low- and middle-income countries.” (Para 6) |
At its core, antibiotic resistance is a natural evolutionary phenomenon accelerated by human behavior. When a population of bacteria is exposed to an antimicrobial drug, the most susceptible organisms are eradicated. However, individuals possessing random genetic mutations that confer resistance manage to survive. These surviving bacteria multiply, passing their advantageous genetic traits to their offspring. More alarmingly, bacteria can exchange genetic material horizontally. Through mechanisms like conjugation, transformation, and transduction, completely different species of bacteria can share resistance genes. This means a harmless gut bacterium can transfer resistance traits to a lethal pathogen, rendering standard treatments useless. Compounding the problem is a severe stagnation in
While evolution is inevitable, human actions have dangerously accelerated this timeline. The primary driver of AMR is the pervasive misuse and overuse of antibiotics in human medicine. In many developing nations, these tightly regulated drugs are available over-the-counter without a doctor’s prescription, leading to widespread self-medication for viral illnesses like the common cold or influenza, against which antibiotics are entirely useless. Even in developed healthcare systems, under-resourced clinicians frequently prescribe broad-spectrum antibiotics as a precautionary measure while waiting for slow laboratory cultures to identify the exact pathogen, a practice that unnecessarily exposes vast swathes of microbiota to selective drug pressure.
Most pharmaceutical companies are actively funding the research of new antibiotics because of high profit margins. Understanding the issue
The text states that superbugs will surpass cancer, meaning antibiotic resistance will kill more people than cancer, making the statement false. Share public link
Responsible management of antibiotic resources. Summary Table: Antibiotic Resistance Overview Primary Cause Misuse/Overuse in humans and animals. Global Impact 1.27M direct deaths in 2019. Scope Affects all ages, healthcare, and agriculture. Major Risk Return of untreatable bacterial infections.
The primary cause of antibiotic resistance is the overuse and misuse of antibiotics.
The growing global threat of antibiotic resistance demands immediate attention and action. Understanding the issue, its causes, and potential solutions is crucial for IELTS test-takers and individuals interested in global health. By providing IELTS reading answers and insights into the topic, this article aims to contribute to the conversation on antibiotic resistance and encourage responsible action to mitigate this pressing global health threat.