Antibiotic resistance is a critical global health threat driven by the overuse of drugs in human medicine and industrial farming, which accelerates natural evolutionary defenses in bacteria. Without intervention, this "silent pandemic" could cause 10 million annual deaths by 2050, severely impacting routine medical procedures and demanding a "One Health" approach. For further insights on the IELTS reading context, review academic materials on this subject.
The crisis began quietly. In the 2010s, factory farms pumped 70% of global antibiotics into healthy livestock to promote growth. Resistant bacteria traveled from pigs to farmers, from farmers to their families, from hospitals to sewers, and from tourist gut bacteria back into local communities. Meanwhile, pharmaceutical companies abandoned antibiotic development — why invest billions in a drug doctors would use for only one week and then stockpile for emergencies? Antibiotic resistance is a critical global health threat
The Growing Global Threat of Antibiotic Resistance: IELTS Reading Answers and Insights False (Ella’s infection was resistant even to colistin)
Addressing this crisis requires a multi-pronged approach. Governments must implement stricter regulations on antibiotic sales and agricultural use. Meanwhile, the pharmaceutical industry needs better incentives to develop new classes of drugs, as the "pipeline" for new antibiotics has run dry due to low profit margins. Ultimately, public education remains vital; patients must understand that antibiotics are a precious resource that must be handled with care to ensure they remain effective for future generations. Questions 1–5 Summary Completion 10
Question (Sentence Completion):
The majority of antibiotics worldwide are used in ______.
Summary Completion
10. C (reserve) – ‘a new antibiotic is a ‘reserve’ drug’
11. A (revenue) – ‘the potential revenue for a new antibiotic is minuscule’
12. D (subscription) – ‘subscription-style payments’ or ‘Netflix model’
13. E (access) – ‘pay for access to antibiotics’
5. TRUE (The text cites a projection of 10 million deaths by 2050.) 6. genetic mutations 7. overprescription 8. agricultural sector 9. post-antibiotic era