Passage (Science)

Antibiotics have saved countless lives, but their widespread misuse has a cost. Each time bacteria are exposed to the drug without being fully killed, the survivors tend to be the ones best able to resist it. Over time, resistant strains become common, and infections once easy to treat grow dangerous again.

Question

What is the main idea of the passage?

Options

• (A) Misusing antibiotics encourages resistant bacteria.
• (B) Antibiotics should never be used.
• (C) Bacteria cannot be killed by medicines.
• (D) Doctors prescribe too few antibiotics.

Answer

(A) Misusing antibiotics encourages resistant bacteria.

Solution

1. The passage begins by praising antibiotics, then explains the cost of misusing them.
2. Most of the passage describes how survivors become resistant and common, which is option A.
3. The passage does not say antibiotics should never be used or that doctors prescribe too few of them.