The claim about resistance — Aptitude Question
The claim about resistance: Antibiotic resistance is not a future risk but a present one. Answer and worked solution on CodeKairo.
- Topic: Reading Comprehension
- Section: Verbal Ability
- Difficulty: Medium
- Time target: 105 seconds
Question
Antibiotic resistance is not a future risk but a present one. Every course of antibiotics kills the susceptible bacteria and leaves the resistant to multiply, so resistance is the predictable result of use rather than of misuse alone. Misuse merely accelerates it. This is why the response has two halves that are often confused: using existing drugs more sparingly buys time, but only new classes of drug can replace what is being lost.
What is the passage's main claim?
Options
- Antibiotic resistance is caused only by misuse of drugs.
- Resistance follows from use itself, so sparing use buys time but new drugs are needed to replace what is lost.
- Antibiotics should no longer be prescribed.
- Resistance is a problem that will arise in the future.
Show the answer and the worked solution
Correct answer: B. Resistance follows from use itself, so sparing use buys time but new drugs are needed to replace what is lost.
Worked solution
- The passage says resistance is 'the predictable result of use rather than of misuse alone', with misuse merely accelerating it.
- It then separates two responses: sparing use buys time, new drugs replace what is lost.
- The second option states both halves. The first and fourth contradict the text.
Answer: Resistance follows from use itself, so sparing use buys time but new drugs are needed to replace what is lost.
The idea
When a passage says two things are 'often confused', the main idea usually depends on keeping them apart. The right option preserves that distinction.
Shortcut. Two options contradict the opening lines ('not a future risk', 'rather than of misuse alone') and one, 'no longer be prescribed', goes beyond the text. The survivor keeps both halves of the response.
Common trap. "Antibiotic resistance is caused only by misuse of drugs." — the popular view, and misuse is mentioned, but the passage says resistance comes from use 'rather than of misuse alone', with misuse only accelerating it.