Antibiotics are chemical substances that kill or inhibit the growth of

Question

Antibiotics are chemical substances that kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria. The success of antibiotics against disease-causing bacteria is one of modern medicine’s great achievements. However, many bacteria harmful to humans have developed ways to circumvent the effects of antibiotics, and many infectious diseases are now much more difficult to treat than they were just a few decades ago. Antibiotic resistance is an especially difficult problem for hospitals with critically ill patients who are less able to fight off infections without the help of antibiotics.

Bacteria can develop antibiotic resistance because they have the ability to adapt quickly to new environmental conditions. Most commonly, bacteria share with each other genetic material called resistance plasmids; these shared plasmids, which contain the genetic code enabling antibiotic resistance, can spread throughout a bacterial population to create a strain of resistant bacteria. Less commonly, a natural mutation that enables antibiotic resistance takes place within the chromosome of the bacteria, and the resulting strain of bacteria can reproduce and become dominant via natural selection. In the absence of human involvement, however, bacteria in the wild rarely develop resistance to antibiotics.

In the United States, animals raised on industrial-scale factory farms are routinely administered low levels of antibiotics in their feed not as a cure for ongoing maladies, but primarily as a growth-enhancing agent to produce more meat and also as a prophylactic measure to compensate for overcrowded and unsanitary conditions. Currently, several antibiotics that are used in human medical treatment are administered non-therapeutically to healthy livestock and poultry. Examples include tetracycline, penicillin and erythromycin. This long-term non-therapeutic feeding of antibiotics to animals creates the ideal conditions for the development of antibioticresistant bacteria, as it kills the susceptible bacteria while leaving the resistant strains to reproduce and flourish. Europe is far ahead of the United States in the responsible use of antibiotics: On January 1, 2006, the European Union banned the feeding of all antibiotics to livestock for nontherapeutic purposes. This sweeping policy follows a 1998 ban on the non therapeutic use of four medically-important antibiotics on animals. The time has come for the United States to follow Europe’s lead.   1 
 1. Based on the information in the passage, to which of the following practices would the author most likely be opposed?

A. Hospitals are hiring higher numbers of infectious disease specialists than ever before.
B. Many health insurance policies do not or only partially reimburse patients for prescriptions of the newest and most effective antibiotics.
C. The industrial farm industry contributes more than $100 million to incumbent members of Congress each year.
D. Physicians routinely prescribe antibiotics to patients with viral diseases, even though antibiotics have no effect on viruses.
E. Hospitals are enforcing more stringent “hand-hygiene” standards in an effort to reduce infections.

2 
 2.Based on the information in the passage, which of the following statements can be inferred?

A. Most industrial farms do not meet the standards for sanitation required by the United States government.
B. If the non-therapeutic use of antibiotics were halted worldwide, there would be no new resistant strains of antibiotic resistant bacteria.
C. European livestock and poultry are raised in more sanitary conditions than are those in the United States.
D. Hospitals are better learning to cope with the growing spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria.
E. It is possible for antibiotic-resistant bacteria in animals to be passed on to humans.

3 
 3. Which of the following best describes what the phrase “prophylactic measure” in the third paragraph means?

A. a measure to cure the animals of any existing infectious diseases
B. a contraceptive measure to prevent the animals from spreading genetic diseases
C. a pre-emptive measure to kill bacteria in the animals before the animals become ill
D. an antiseptic measure to kill surface bacteria in the surrounding environment
E. a measure that creates a physical barrier that protects the animals from the bacteria in the surrounding environment

4 
 4. The passage is primarily concerned with

A. advocating the banning of a practice
B. explaining the mechanism of a process
C. explaining the practices of a particular industry
D. describing the history of a phenomenon
E. weighing the costs versus the benefits of a practice

5 
 5.According to the passage, which of the following describes how bacteria can develop antibiotic resistance?

A. Radiation from medical devices such as x-ray machines weaken the immune system in both humans and animals.
B. Resistant strains developed through genetic engineering dominate a bacterial population through natural selection.
C. Medical practitioners over-prescribe antibiotics in hospitals which encourages bacteria to adapt and form resistant strains.
D.Genetic material containing the resistant trait is shared among a bacterial population.
E. Many antibiotics lose potency and become ineffective over time.

6 
 6. According to the passage, why are antibiotic-resistant bacteria problematic for humans?

(A) Antibiotics are no longer effective in treating disease.
(B) Some diseases are harder to treat because some antibiotics are less able to fulfill their prescribed function.
(C) Bacteria spread more easily in a hospital setting due to the close proximity of many patients who may harbor different bacteria.
(D) Bacteria can infect both humans and animals.
(E) Bacteria gain resistance via the exchange of plasmids.

7 
 7. Which of the following can be inferred about antibiotic-resistant bacteria?

(A) If bacteria did not contain antibiotic-resistant plasmids, then they would be incapable of developing resistance to antibiotics.
(B) Human involvement is necessary in order for bacteria to develop resistance to antibiotics.
(C) The United States should ban the use of antibiotics for non-therapeutic uses.
(D) If bacteria were not able to adapt quickly to new environments, it would be more difficult for bacteria to develop resistance to antibiotics.
(E) Critically ill patients with infections due to antibiotic-resistant bacteria are more likely to die.

deep14 · Accepted Answer

Hi,

Here are my explanations

Q2. For this one, you have to read all the choices and go back to the passage and find out which one of them is correct.

A. Most industrial farms do not meet the standards for sanitation required by the United States government.  Wrong , We know that some farms, such as animal farms, have unsanitary conditions and use non-therapeutic drugs to compensate for that. But we don't know whether this is the case for ALL farms.
B. If the non-therapeutic use of antibiotics were halted worldwide, there would be no new resistant strains of antibiotic resistant bacteria.  Wrong , too extreme. The passage mentions "..bacteria in the wild rarely develop resistance to antibiotics". Rarely does not mean never.
C. European livestock and poultry are raised in more sanitary conditions than are those in the United States.  Wrong , EU countries are better in dealing with non-therapeutic drugs, doesn't mean they have better sanitation.
D. Hospitals are better learning to cope with the growing spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria.  Wrong , we don't know that. In fact, we have to scan the passage really hard to get anything related to hospitals.
E. It is possible for antibiotic-resistant bacteria in animals to be passed on to humans.  Right . If this weren't the case then we shouldn't have been losing our sleep over the animal farms that use non-therapeutic drugs.

Q3. This one is best tackled by first thoroughly reading the relevant sentence and then applying POE unless of course, you know the exact meaning of the word. So by POE

A. a measure to cure the animals of any existing infectious diseases.  Wrong , because in the sentence it is mentioned, "that In the United States, animals raised on industrial-scale factory farms are routinely administered low levels of antibiotics in their feed not  as a cure for ongoing maladies ..."
B. a contraceptive measure to prevent the animals from spreading genetic diseases.  Wrong , because we are NOT worried about ANIMALS spreading genetic diseases but we are concerned how BACTERIA spreads its resistant genes.
C. a pre-emptive measure to kill bacteria in the animals before the animals become ill.  Right . If you read the sentence carefully you can guess this option. If you are still not sure then hold this one as a contender and move on to next choices.
D. an antiseptic measure to kill surface bacteria in the surrounding environment.  Wrong , we are concerned with bacteria within animals that resist drugs.
E. a measure that creates a physical barrier that protects the animals from the bacteria in the surrounding environment.  Wrong , This one is kind of tricky. We don't know whether the drugs save those animals from external bacteria but if you read that 3rd paragraph you will find that these drugs kill weaker strains while leaving the stronger ones untouched. That means we are dealing with bacteria present within the animals not coming from outside.

Hope this helps.

Adi93 · Answer

2.

This is a GMAT inference question, which means that the correct answer is not explicitly stated in the passage, but can be reasonably concluded or deduced based on the given information. The correct choice is always a likely or probable conclusion: if an answer choice requires you to assume too much or make a large leap of faith, it is incorrect.

(A) We are not given any information as to the government’s standards regarding sanitation. Although the passage states that antibiotics are used “to compensate for overcrowded or unsanitary conditions,” the word “unsanitary” could refer to a wide range of conditions considered unsanitary by the author and not necessarily those that do not meet government standards. In addition, the fact that antibiotics are “routinely” administered to compensate for such conditions could imply that such conditions described as “unsanitary” by the author may be the norm and may actually fall within government guidelines.

(B) The passage does not state that non-therapeutic use of antibiotics is the sole cause of antibiotic resistance. Hence, it is not reasonable to conclude that halting such use would prevent new types of resistant bacteria from developing.

(C) The passage says nothing to imply that conditions for European livestock and poultry are generally better than those for their American counterparts.

(D) While this may be true in general, the passage does not state anything from which such an inference can be made. It is not reasonable to conclude that hospitals are better learning to cope with the problem simply because the problem is becoming worse and they are forced to deal with it.

(E) CORRECT. In the first paragraph, the passage discusses how antibiotic resistant bacteria are becoming a problem for the treatment of infectious diseases in humans.

The third paragraph, however, discusses a practice that promotes the spread of antibiotic resistance in animals, and the conclusion of the passage calls for the ban of this specific practice. In addition, in the third paragraph, the author makes a point to specifically mention that some of those antibiotics are used to treat humans. If it were not possible for the resistant bacteria in animals to infect humans, then there would be no link between the animal bacteria and the author’s concern for human health; the policy that is subsequently advocated would be moot. Hence, it is a reasonable inference that antibiotic resistant bacteria in livestock and poultry can indeed be spread to humans.

3.

While it is helpful to know that the dictionary definition of the adjective “prophylactic” is “acting to defend against or prevent something, especially disease; protective,” this knowledge is not necessary; the intended meaning of the phrase “prophylactic measure” can be inferred from the context of the passage.

The beginning of the first sentence of the third paragraph specifically points out that the antibiotics are used “not as a cure for ongoing maladies” and the last sentence of the paragraph describes such use as “non-therapeutic.” In addition, the phrase “to compensate for ... unsanitary conditions” implies that the antibiotics were used to counteract an environment replete with bacteria. Hence, it is reasonable to infer that the antibiotics were applied as a preventive measure to protect the animals from catching an infectious disease in such an environment.

(A) The passage specifically points out that the antibiotics are not used “as a cure for ongoing maladies” and describes such use as “non-therapeutic.”

(B) The passage is not concerned with genetic diseases.

(C) CORRECT. Since the use of antibiotics in the farm industry is specifically described to be “non-therapeutic,” it cannot be used as a curative measure and,
therefore, is most likely used as a pre-emptive measure in order to prevent or protect the animals from developing infectious diseases.

(D) The passage states that the antibiotics are administered to the animals in their feed. Hence, it is clearly not used as a surface disinfectant.

(E) The antibiotics are orally administered to the animals in their feed. There is nothing in the passage to suggest that a “physical barrier” is involved in any way.

Sajjad1994 · Answer

We can answer  question #7  by reading the second paragraph only.

(A) If bacteria did not contain antibiotic-resistant plasmids, then they would be incapable of developing resistance to antibiotics.

Refereed text:

Most commonly, bacteria share with each other genetic material called resistance plasmids; these shared plasmids, which contain the genetic code enabling antibiotic resistance

A is extreme to consider.

(B) Human involvement is necessary in order for bacteria to develop resistance to antibiotics.

Referred text:

In the absence of human involvement, however, bacteria in the wild  rarely develop resistance  to antibiotics.

The text above shows that there still chances even without the involvement of humans. This is also extreme answer choice.

(C) The United States should ban the use of antibiotics for non-therapeutic uses.

Out of context

(D) If bacteria were not able to adapt quickly to new environments,  it would be more difficult for bacteria to develop  resistance to antibiotics.

Perfect:

Referred text:

Bacteria can develop antibiotic resistance because they have the ability to adapt quickly to new environmental conditions.

(E) Critically ill patients with infections due to antibiotic-resistant bacteria are more likely to die.

Extreme.

Answer: D

Barfi · Answer

Could someone please explain how the correct option for question 1 is D?

1. Based on the information in the passage, to which of the following practices would the author most likely be opposed?

A. Hospitals are hiring higher numbers of infectious disease specialists than ever before.
B. Many health insurance policies do not or only partially reimburse patients for prescriptions of the newest and most effective antibiotics.
C. The industrial farm industry contributes more than $100 million to incumbent members of Congress each year.
D. Physicians routinely prescribe antibiotics to patients with viral diseases, even though antibiotics have no effect on viruses.
E. Hospitals are enforcing more stringent “hand-hygiene” standards in an effort to reduce infections.

GMATCoachBen · Answer

Barfi  First, note that the wording in the stem, "would", signals that this is a hypothetical, and might not appear explicitly in the passage. This is sometimes referred to as an "Application" question type.

As always, we must understand what's being asked: what would the author "oppose"?

In the first paragraph, the author explains that antibiotics work against BACTERIA: "Antibiotics are chemical substances that kill or inhibit the growth of  bacteria . The success of antibiotics  against disease-causing bacteria  is one of modern medicine’s great achievements."

However, D is talking about antibiotics being prescribed for "VIRAL diseases, even though antibiotics have  no effect on viruses "; in other words, antibiotics do not work against viruses. Therefore, the author would oppose this practice.

Rainman91 · Answer

2.Based on the information in the passage, which of the following statements can be inferred?

A. Most industrial farms do not meet the standards for sanitation required by the United States government. (Key word is Most here. Nowhere does it say that MOST farms do not meet standards. This is TOO extreme. Eliminate)

B. If the non-therapeutic use of antibiotics were halted worldwide, there would be no new resistant strains of antibiotic resistant bacteria.
(Again, we are making too big of a leap in this question. Infer as little as possible)

C. European livestock and poultry are raised in more sanitary conditions than are those in the United States.
There is no such comparison mentioned. Just that Europeans banned the usage of antibiotics.

D. Hospitals are better learning to cope with the growing spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria.
Again, this is completely out of scope.

E. It is possible for antibiotic-resistant bacteria in animals to be passed on to humans.

There is a reason for the whole drama with the court is mentioned. That Europeans have already banned them and that USA should follow. The reason why there is so much concern is because humans are affected.

Rainman91 · Answer

6. According to the passage, why are antibiotic-resistant bacteria problematic for humans?

(A) Antibiotics are no longer effective in treating disease.
(No, this is too extreme of an assumption. The passage states "many infectious diseases are now much more difficult to treat than they were just a few decades ago." Difficult is not equal to no longer effective in treating.

(B) Some diseases are harder to treat because some antibiotics are less able to fulfill their prescribed function.
Yes, difficult equates to harder.

(C) Bacteria spread more easily in a hospital setting due to the close proximity of many patients who may harbor different bacteria.
Out of scope. 
(D) Bacteria can infect both humans and animals.
Does not mention in the passage. Out of scope. But even if it were true, the question is why is it problematic for humans. Because they can infect animals? does not make sense.

(E) Bacteria gain resistance via the exchange of plasmids.
But that is a mere fact. They can gain resistance in other ways and still it would be problematic. This is limited scope.

TheAdmissionHub · Answer

Paragraph 1
What the author does: The author introduces antibiotics and explains the problem of antibiotic resistance.
Brief summary: Antibiotics kill bacteria, but many bacteria have become resistant, making infections harder to treat.
Paragraph 2
What the author does: The author explains how bacteria develop antibiotic resistance.
Brief summary: Bacteria can become resistant by sharing genetic material or through mutations and natural selection.
Paragraph 3
What the author does: The author explains how the use of antibiotics on farm animals contributes to antibiotic resistance and compares the United States with Europe.
Brief summary: Antibiotics are widely used in livestock in the US, which encourages resistance, while Europe has introduced stricter rules. The author argues that the US should follow Europe’s example.

1. Based on the information in the passage, to which of the following practices would the author most likely be opposed? 
(A) Hospitals are hiring higher numbers of infectious disease specialists than ever before. —  Wrong:  The author is concerned about antibiotic resistance in hospitals. Hiring more specialists to fight infections would help address the problem.
(B) Many health insurance policies do not or only partially reimburse patients for prescriptions of the newest and most effective antibiotics. —  Wrong:  The passage does not discuss health insurance or the cost of antibiotics.
(C) The industrial farm industry contributes more than $100 million to incumbent members of Congress each year. —  Wrong:  The passage discusses industrial farms and antibiotic use, but it does not mention political contributions.
(D) Physicians routinely prescribe antibiotics to patients with viral diseases, even though antibiotics have no effect on viruses. —  Correct:  The author is opposed to the unnecessary use of antibiotics because their misuse contributes to antibiotic resistance. Prescribing antibiotics for viral diseases is an unnecessary use.
(E) Hospitals are enforcing more stringent “hand-hygiene” standards in an effort to reduce infections. —  Wrong:  Better hygiene helps prevent infections and would be consistent with the author's concern about reducing the spread of infections.
 
 2. Based on the information in the passage, which of the following statements can be inferred? 
(A) Most industrial farms do not meet the standards for sanitation required by the United States government. —  Wrong:  The passage says that industrial farms can have overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, but it does not say that most farms fail to meet government standards.
 
(B) If the non-therapeutic use of antibiotics were halted worldwide, there would be no new resistant strains of antibiotic resistant bacteria. —  Wrong:  Bacteria can also develop resistance through natural mutations. Therefore, stopping non-therapeutic antibiotic use would not completely prevent new resistant strains. extreme
 
(C) European livestock and poultry are raised in more sanitary conditions than are those in the United States. —  Wrong:  The passage says that Europe is more responsible in its use of antibiotics, but it does not say that European farms are more sanitary.
 
(D) Hospitals are better learning to cope with the growing spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria. —  Wrong:  The passage says that antibiotic resistance is a difficult problem for hospitals. It does not say that hospitals are becoming better at dealing with it.
 
(E) It is possible for antibiotic-resistant bacteria in animals to be passed on to humans. —  Correct:  The passage explains that the use of antibiotics in livestock creates antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Since these bacteria can develop in animals and some of the same antibiotics are used to treat humans, it can be inferred that resistant bacteria from animals can potentially affect humans.

3. Which of the following best describes what the phrase “prophylactic measure” in the third paragraph means? 
 
(A) a measure to cure the animals of any existing infectious diseases —  Wrong:  The passage says the antibiotics are given not as a cure for ongoing illnesses, but to prevent disease.
 
(B) a contraceptive measure to prevent the animals from spreading genetic diseases —  Wrong:  “Prophylactic” in this context has nothing to do with reproduction or genetic diseases.
 
(C) a pre-emptive measure to kill bacteria in the animals before the animals become ill —  Correct:  A prophylactic measure is a preventive action taken before a disease occurs. The animals receive antibiotics while healthy to prevent them from becoming ill. 
 Prophylactic  significa  preventivo , cioè qualcosa che viene fatto  per prevenire una malattia prima che si manifesti .
 
  prophylactic measure  =  misura preventiva  
 Nel testo: gli antibiotici vengono dati agli animali sani  prima che si ammalino , per prevenire le infezioni.  
 Roots / origine della parola 
 prophylactic  deriva dal greco:
 
  pro-  = “before” →  prima  
  phylassein / phylax  = “to guard, protect” →  proteggere, sorvegliare

(D) an antiseptic measure to kill surface bacteria in the surrounding environment —  Wrong : The antibiotics are given to the animals through their feed; they are not used to disinfect the  surrounding environment. 
 
(E) a measure that creates a  physical barrier that protects the animals  from the bacteria in the surrounding environment —  Wrong:  Antibiotics do not create a physical barrier. They act against bacteria inside the animals.
 4. The passage is primarily concerned with 
 
(A) advocating the banning of a practice —  Correct:  The author explains the dangers of using antibiotics unnecessarily in livestock and argues that the United States should follow Europe’s example and ban this practice. In the last part of the passage
 
(B) explaining the mechanism of a process —  Wrong:  The author explains how antibiotic resistance develops, but this is not the main purpose of the entire passage.
 
(C) explaining the practices of a particular industry —  Wrong:  Industrial farming is discussed, but mainly to show how its use of antibiotics contributes to antibiotic resistance.
 
(D) describing the history of a phenomenon —  Wrong:  The passage does not focus on the history of antibiotic resistance.
 
(E) weighing the costs versus the benefits of a practice —  Wrong : The author does not compare the costs and benefits of using antibiotics; instead, the author argues against their non-therapeutic use.
 
5 . According to the passage, which of the following describes how bacteria can develop antibiotic resistance? 
 
(A) Radiation from medical devices such as x-ray machines weaken the immune system in both humans and animals. —  Wrong:  The passage does not mention radiation or medical devices as a cause of antibiotic resistance.
 
(B) Resistant strains developed through genetic engineering dominate a bacterial population through natural selection. —  Wrong:  The passage mentions natural mutations, not genetic engineering.
 
(C) Medical practitioners  over-prescribe  antibiotics in hospitals which encourages bacteria to adapt and form resistant strains. —  Wrong:  The passage does not say that doctors' over-prescription in hospitals is the mechanism by which bacteria develop resistance.
 
(D) Genetic material containing the resistant trait is shared among a bacterial population. —  Correct:  The passage explains that bacteria commonly share resistance plasmids, which contain the genetic code that enables antibiotic resistance.
 
(E) Many antibiotics lose potency and  become ineffective  over time. —  Wrong:  The problem is that bacteria become resistant to antibiotics, not that the antibiotics naturally become weaker.
 
 6. According to the passage, why are antibiotic-resistant bacteria problematic for humans? 
 
(A) Antibiotics  are no longer effective  in treating disease. —  Wrong : The passage does not say that antibiotics are completely ineffective. Some antibiotics can still work against susceptible bacteria.
Passage saysAntibiotic resistance is an especially difficult problem for hospitals with critically ill patients who are less able to fight off infections without the help of antibiotics.
(B) Some diseases are harder to treat because some antibiotics are less able to fulfill their prescribed function. —  Correct:  The passage states that many infectious diseases are now much more difficult to treat because bacteria have developed resistance to antibiotics.
 
(C) Bacteria spread more easily in  a hospital setting  due to the close  proximity  of many patients who may harbor different bacteria. —  Wrong:  The passage says antibiotic resistance is a particularly difficult problem in hospitals, but it does not give patient proximity as the reason.
 
(D) Bacteria can infect both humans and animals. —  Wrong:  This does not explain why antibiotic-resistant bacteria are particularly problematic for humans.
 
(E) Bacteria gain resistance via the exchange of plasmids. —  Wrong:  This explains how bacteria can develop resistance, not why antibiotic-resistant bacteria are problematic.
 
 7. Which of the following can be inferred about antibiotic-resistant bacteria? 
 
(A) If bacteria did not contain antibiotic-resistant plasmids, then they would be incapable of developing resistance to antibiotics. —  Wrong:  The passage says bacteria can also develop resistance through natural mutations, so plasmids are not the only way resistance can develop.
 
(B) Human involvement is necessary in order for bacteria to develop resistance to antibiotics. —  Wrong:  The passage explains that bacteria can naturally develop resistance through mutations, even without human involvement.
 
 (C)  The United States should ban the use of antibiotics for non-therapeutic uses.  —  Wrong:   The author says that the United States should follow Europe’s example, but the question asks what can be  inferred about antibiotic-resistant bacteria , not what the United States should do.
 (D)  If bacteria were not able to adapt quickly to new environments, it would be more difficult for bacteria to develop resistance to antibiotics. —   Correct:   The passage says bacteria can develop resistance because they  “have the ability to adapt quickly to new environmental conditions.”  Therefore, if they could not adapt quickly, developing resistance would be more difficult.
 
(E) Critically ill patients with infections due to antibiotic-resistant bacteria are more likely to die. —  Wrong:  The passage says critically ill patients are less able to fight infections without antibiotics, but it does not state that they are more likely to die. Too extreme

Antibiotics are chemical substances that kill or inhibit the growth of

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Antibiotics are chemical substances that kill or inhibit the growth of

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