How does resistance spread, according to the passage?
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: B. Stronger bacteria survive when drugs are overused or not finished and then multiply.
- Step 1: The passage links overuse and unfinished courses to the survival of the strongest bacteria. Step 2. These then multiply, spreading resistance. Answer: Stronger bacteria survive when drugs are overused or not finished and then multiply. Why not the others: Sunlight is not mentioned; prescribing different drugs is not the cause; the passage says weak bacteria die, not change.
Practise more Reading Comprehension.
Free questions with an explanation for every one, and full timed Iraqi National English Proficiency Test (INPT) mock tests.
More Reading Comprehension questions
- What is the main idea of the passage?
- According to the passage, why do cities stay warm at night?
- The word 'attracted' in 'has attracted attention' is closest in meaning to:
- What can be inferred about green roofs from the last sentence?
- The author mentions 'planting trees along streets' mainly in order to:
- According to the passage, what changed after movable metal type was developed?