Why were antibiotics called 'miracle drugs'?
Antibiotics were once described as miracle drugs because infections that had been fatal could suddenly be cured. Today, however, many bacteria have developed resistance, meaning that the drugs no longer kill them. Resistance spreads when antibiotics are used too often or are not taken for the full course, because the weakest bacteria die first and the strongest survive and multiply. Doctors therefore advise patients to take antibiotics only when prescribed and to complete the course. Researchers are also looking for new drugs, but developing them is slow, and few companies invest in medicines that patients take for only a short time.
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. They could cure infections that had previously been fatal.
- Step 1: The first sentence explains that fatal infections could suddenly be cured. Step 2. That was the reason for the name. Answer: They could cure infections that had previously been fatal. Why not the others: Cost and long-term use are not mentioned; the passage shows resistance is a modern problem.
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