The Growing Global Threat Of Antibiotic Resistance Ielts Reading Answers Top Access
: Strains capable of fighting off treatments with ease.
: Paragraph C mentions: "...in many developing regions, over-the-counter access to antibiotics remains entirely unregulated." 10. Answer: diagnostic technologies
The Reading Passage has seven paragraphs, .Which paragraph contains the following information? Write the correct letter, A–G , in boxes 1–6 on your answer sheet. NB: You may use any letter more than once.
Compounding the issue is a stagnant pharmaceutical pipeline. Developing a new antibiotic is a lengthy, high-risk financial gamble that can take over a decade and cost billions of dollars. Because antibiotics are designed to be taken for short periods—unlike chronic disease medications for high blood pressure or diabetes—pharmaceutical companies struggle to recoup their research and development costs. Consequently, major drug corporations have largely abandoned antibiotic research, leaving scientists with a dwindling arsenal against evolving pathogens. : Strains capable of fighting off treatments with ease
The primary catalyst behind this accelerating crisis is the profound misuse and overuse of antibiotics worldwide. In human medicine, patients frequently demand antibiotics for viral infections like the common cold or influenza, against which these drugs are completely ineffective. Healthcare providers often prescribe broad-spectrum antibiotics prematurely due to diagnostic uncertainty or pressure from patients. Furthermore, in many developing nations, potent antibiotics are sold over the counter without a prescription. This lack of regulation allows untrained individuals to self-medicate, frequently using incorrect dosages or failing to complete the full course of treatment, which creates ideal conditions for resistance to develop.
The economic consequences of using alternative, more potent medications. Questions 7–10
Combating this global threat requires a multi-pronged, international approach known as the "One Health" strategy. This framework recognizes that human, animal, and environmental health are deeply interconnected. Policy changes must enforce stricter regulations on agricultural antibiotic use and ban over-the-counter sales for humans. Simultaneously, public health campaigns must educate communities on the limits of antibiotics. Ultimately, global governments must subsidize pharmaceutical research to incentivize the creation of next-generation antimicrobials before the drugs we rely on fail completely. Questions 1–6 Write the correct letter, A–G , in boxes
Addressing this threat requires a multi-faceted approach. First, there must be stricter regulations on the prescription and sale of antibiotics for both humans and animals. Public awareness campaigns are also essential to educate patients on the dangers of self-medication. Finally, there is an urgent need for international investment in the research and development of new classes of antibiotics, as the "pipeline" for new drugs has slowed significantly in recent decades.
The pipeline for new antibiotics is drying up. Between 2010 and 2020, only ten new antibiotics were approved, and most were variations of existing classes. Pharmaceutical companies have little financial incentive to develop new drugs because antibiotics are used for short courses and resistance limits their long-term profitability.
Individuals must take steps to tackle the themselves. Vocabulary to Watch For Developing a new antibiotic is a lengthy, high-risk
explains the cessation of research by drug companies in the 1980s. Key Vocabulary to Master
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: Human negligence, such as not finishing a prescribed course or using antibiotics for viral infections like the common cold, is a major factor. Global Impact

