The Growing Global Threat Of Antibiotic Resistance Ielts Reading Answers [work] Jun 2026

Antibiotics are effective at treating the common cold if used correctly.

The passage discusses the overuse of antibiotics and its consequences.

The process of resistance occurs because certain bacteria possess that allow them to endure antibiotic treatment. This is worsened by the 7. __________ of drugs for conditions they cannot treat. Additionally, bacteria from the 8. __________ can reach humans through food or the environment. To combat this, the WHO suggests we must avoid entering a 9. __________ where minor infections become deadly. Answer Key

The dual problems of non-prescription access and incomplete treatment courses. Questions 7–10 Antibiotics are effective at treating the common cold

Alexander Fleming was aware of the impending crisis of antibiotic resistance.

The future burden is predicted to be highest in Asia and sub‑Saharan Africa. Pan‑drug‑resistant organisms—those resistant to all known drugs—are being described more frequently and have been identified on all five continents.

Bacteria can develop resistance to antibiotics through two main routes. First, individual bacteria that possess natural 1. __________ survive when an antibiotic is used and then multiply, eventually becoming the 2. __________ type. Second, bacteria can exchange genetic material via a process known as 3. __________, which allows resistance to spread even more rapidly. This is worsened by the 7

Found in Paragraph E. The text contrasts daily chronic medications with antibiotics, which are described as "curative drugs used for short durations."

Identify the difference between bacterial and viral infections.

According to the passage, which of the following is a cause of higher resistance in some regions? A. Lack of effective vaccines B. Weak health systems and limited diagnostics C. Higher rates of viral infections D. Greater use of alternative medicine __________ can reach humans through food or the environment

The topic of antibiotic resistance appears frequently in IELTS Reading tests because of its international importance and scientific relevance. To perform well on such passages:

Paragraph H → i

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.

For nearly a century, antibiotics have been the bedrock of modern medicine. The accidental discovery of penicillin by Alexander Fleming in 1928 transformed global healthcare, turning once-fatal infections like pneumonia and tuberculosis into treatable ailments. This medical revolution allowed complex surgeries, organ transplants, and cancer therapies to become routine practices. However, humanity’s reliance on these "miracle drugs" has triggered an unintended evolutionary crisis. Today, bacteria are mutating faster than we can develop new drugs to kill them, ushering in an era of unprecedented global threat: antibiotic resistance.

If the passage states "bacteria replicate quickly" and the question says "bacteria take a long time to reproduce," the answer is FALSE .