Antibiotic resistance (AMR) has emerged as one of the most critical public health challenges of the 21st century. As highlighted by WHO reports in 2025 , resistance to conventional antibiotics is increasing rapidly, making it a recurring theme in academic assessments like the IELTS Reading test. Understanding this topic is crucial, not just for general knowledge, but for interpreting complex texts regarding science, medicine, and global policy. 1. Defining the Threat: What is Antibiotic Resistance?

: Resistance develops and spreads through various pathways, including contaminated food, poor hygiene, and horizontal gene transfer.

(Justification: Paragraph B explicitly details "horizontal gene transfer, where bacteria share resistance genes directly with neighboring microbes.")

The passage details how antibiotics were once a "success story," saving millions of lives and advancing surgery. However, this success led to:

Complete the summary using the list of words/phrases below.

For questions asking about specific strains or medical histories, scanning for capitalized terms like Fleming , MRSA , or CRE will immediately guide you to paragraphs A and E.

Answer: The overuse and misuse of antibiotics.

Paragraph D contradicts this by stating that "Rather than treating sick animals, subtherapeutic doses are routinely mixed into animal feed" to promote faster growth and prevent diseases.

Write from the passage for each answer.

Answer: Antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest threats to global health, food security, and development today, as it makes infections harder to treat and threatens our ability to treat a wide range of illnesses.