QUESTION: 137 Topic - Section: Reading

Reading Material

(1) The study, published today in Nature Microbiology, holds promise for a new treatment method against antibiotic-resistant bacteria (commonly known as superbugs). (2) The star-shaped structures are short chains of proteins called ‘peptide polymers’, and were created by a team from the Melbourne School of Engineering.

(3) The team included Professor Greg Qiao and PhD candidate Shu Lam, from the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, as well as Associate Professor Neil O’Brien-Simpson and Professor Eric Reynolds from the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences and Bio21 Institute.

(4) Professor Qiao said that currently the only treatment for infections caused by bacteria is antibiotics.

(5) However, over time bacteria mutate to protect themselves against antibiotics, making treatment no longer effective.

(6) These mutated bacteria are known as ‘superbugs’.

(7) “It is estimated that the rise of superbugs will cause up to ten million deaths a year by 2050. (8) In addition, there have only been one or two new antibiotics developed in the last 30 years,” he said.

(9) Professor Qiao and his team have been working with peptide polymers in the past few years. (10) Recently, the team created a star-shaped peptide polymer that was extremely effective at killing Gram-negative bacteria - a major class of bacteria known to be highly prone to antibiotic resistance - while being non-toxic to the body.

(11) In fact, tests undertaken on red blood cells showed that the star-shaped polymer dosage rate would need to be increased by a factor of greater than 100 to become toxic.

(12) The star-shaped peptide polymer is also effective in killing superbugs when tested in animal models. (13) Furthermore, superbugs showed no signs of resistance against these peptide polymers.

(14) The team discovered that their star-shaped peptide polymers can kill bacteria with multiple pathways, unlike most antibiotics which kill with a single pathway.

(15) They believe that this accounts for the superior performance of the star-shaped peptide polymers over antibiotics. (16) One of these pathways includes ‘ripping apart’ the bacteria cell wall.

(17) While more research is needed, Professor Qiao and his team believe that their discovery is the beginning of unlocking a new treatment for antibiotic-resistant pathogens.

According to the text, what shows promise in killing antibiotic-resistant bacteria?

a superbug
nothing
stronger antibiotics recently developed in Australia
a star-shaped peptide polymer

Answer(s): D

Explanation:

Paragraph 5 states that the team of scientists recently “created a star-shaped peptide polymer that was extremely effective at killing Gram-negative bacteria - a major class of bacteria known to be highly prone to antibiotic resistance - while being non-toxic to the body.”

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QUESTION: 138 Topic - Section: Reading

Reading Material

(1) The study, published today in Nature Microbiology, holds promise for a new treatment method against antibiotic-resistant bacteria (commonly known as superbugs). (2) The star-shaped structures are short chains of proteins called ‘peptide polymers’, and were created by a team from the Melbourne School of Engineering.

(3) The team included Professor Greg Qiao and PhD candidate Shu Lam, from the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, as well as Associate Professor Neil O’Brien-Simpson and Professor Eric Reynolds from the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences and Bio21 Institute.

(4) Professor Qiao said that currently the only treatment for infections caused by bacteria is antibiotics.

(5) However, over time bacteria mutate to protect themselves against antibiotics, making treatment no longer effective. (6) These mutated bacteria are known as ‘superbugs’.

(7) “It is estimated that the rise of superbugs will cause up to ten million deaths a year by 2050. (8) In addition, there have only been one or two new antibiotics developed in the last 30 years,” he said.

(9) Professor Qiao and his team have been working with peptide polymers in the past few years. (10) Recently, the team created a star-shaped peptide polymer that was extremely effective at killing Gram-negative bacteria - a major class of bacteria known to be highly prone to antibiotic resistance - while being non-toxic to the body.

(11) In fact, tests undertaken on red blood cells showed that the star-shaped polymer dosage rate would need to be increased by a factor of greater than 100 to become toxic.

(12) The star-shaped peptide polymer is also effective in killing superbugs when tested in animal models.
(13) Furthermore, superbugs showed no signs of resistance against these peptide polymers.

(14) The team discovered that their star-shaped peptide polymers can kill bacteria with multiple pathways, unlike most antibiotics which kill with a single pathway.

(15) They believe that this accounts for the superior performance of the star-shaped peptide polymers over antibiotics. (16) One of these pathways includes ‘ripping apart’ the bacteria cell wall.

(17) While more research is needed, Professor Qiao and his team believe that their discovery is the beginning of unlocking a new treatment for antibiotic-resistant pathogens.

Which of these statements cannot be inferred from the passage?

The polymers seem to be effective in killing the bacteria because they kill with multiple pathways as opposed to antibiotics’ one pathway.
If we do not develop some kind of treatment, the death rate from superbugs will continue to rise.
Scientists need to continue to study the polymers’ effectiveness against superbugs.
These new polymers are completely safe to use in humans and will defend against all antibiotic-resistant pathogens.

Answer(s): D

Explanation:

While this might be the hope, it has not yet been proven and this text does not suggest that claim. All other answer options can be inferred from the text.

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QUESTION: 139 Topic - Section: Reading

Reading Material

(1) The study, published today in Nature Microbiology, holds promise for a new treatment method against antibiotic-resistant bacteria (commonly known as superbugs). (2) The star-shaped structures are short chains of proteins called ‘peptide polymers’, and were created by a team from the Melbourne School of Engineering.

(3) The team included Professor Greg Qiao and PhD candidate Shu Lam, from the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, as well as Associate Professor Neil O’Brien-Simpson and Professor Eric Reynolds from the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences and Bio21 Institute.

(4) Professor Qiao said that currently the only treatment for infections caused by bacteria is antibiotics.

(5) However, over time bacteria mutate to protect themselves against antibiotics, making treatment no longer effective. (6) These mutated bacteria are known as ‘superbugs’.

(7) “It is estimated that the rise of superbugs will cause up to ten million deaths a year by 2050. (8) In addition, there have only been one or two new antibiotics developed in the last 30 years,” he said.

(9) Professor Qiao and his team have been working with peptide polymers in the past few years. (10) Recently, the team created a star-shaped peptide polymer that was extremely effective at killing Gram-negative bacteria - a major class of bacteria known to be highly prone to antibiotic resistance - while being non-toxic to the body.

(11) In fact, tests undertaken on red blood cells showed that the star-shaped polymer dosage rate would need to be increased by a factor of greater than 100 to become toxic.

(12) The star-shaped peptide polymer is also effective in killing superbugs when tested in animal models.

(13) Furthermore, superbugs showed no signs of resistance against these peptide polymers.

(14) The team discovered that their star-shaped peptide polymers can kill bacteria with multiple pathways, unlike most antibiotics which kill with a single pathway.

(15) They believe that this accounts for the superior performance of the star-shaped peptide polymers over antibiotics. (16) One of these pathways includes ‘ripping apart’ the bacteria cell wall.

(17) While more research is needed, Professor Qiao and his team believe that their discovery is the beginning of unlocking a new treatment for antibiotic-resistant pathogens.

The term superbug refers to .

mutated bacteria that are larger in size than non-mutated bacteria
bacteria that help the body fight off infection
mutated bacteria that have developed a resistance to antibiotics
bacteria from insect bites that only affect humans

Answer(s): C

Explanation:

The definition for superbug is provided in paragraph 3.

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QUESTION: 140 Topic - Section: Reading

Reading Material

(1) The study, published today in Nature Microbiology, holds promise for a new treatment method against antibiotic-resistant bacteria (commonly known as superbugs). (2) The star-shaped structures are short chains of proteins called ‘peptide polymers’, and were created by a team from the Melbourne School of Engineering.

(3) The team included Professor Greg Qiao and PhD candidate Shu Lam, from the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, as well as Associate Professor Neil O’Brien-Simpson and Professor Eric Reynolds from the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences and Bio21 Institute.

(4) Professor Qiao said that currently the only treatment for infections caused by bacteria is antibiotics.

(5) However, over time bacteria mutate to protect themselves against antibiotics, making treatment no longer effective. (6) These mutated bacteria are known as ‘superbugs’.

(7) “It is estimated that the rise of superbugs will cause up to ten million deaths a year by 2050. (8) In addition, there have only been one or two new antibiotics developed in the last 30 years,” he said.

(9) Professor Qiao and his team have been working with peptide polymers in the past few years. (10) Recently, the team created a star-shaped peptide polymer that was extremely effective at killing Gram-negative bacteria - a major class of bacteria known to be highly prone to antibiotic resistance - while being non-toxic to the body.

(11) In fact, tests undertaken on red blood cells showed that the star-shaped polymer dosage rate would need to be increased by a factor of greater than 100 to become toxic.

(12) The star-shaped peptide polymer is also effective in killing superbugs when tested in animal models.

(13) Furthermore, superbugs showed no signs of resistance against these peptide polymers.

(14) The team discovered that their star-shaped peptide polymers can kill bacteria with multiple pathways, unlike most antibiotics which kill with a single pathway.

(15) They believe that this accounts for the superior performance of the star-shaped peptide polymers over antibiotics. (16) One of these pathways includes ‘ripping apart’ the bacteria cell wall.

(17) While more research is needed, Professor Qiao and his team believe that their discovery is the beginning of unlocking a new treatment for antibiotic-resistant pathogens.

The tone of this text might best be described as .

cautiously optimistic
timidly uncertain
critically condescending
persuasively convincing

Answer(s): A

Explanation:

This new discovery could provide a new way to fight deadly disease, but more studies need to be done. So the tone is one of hope and optimism, but with a degree of caution, since we are not there quite yet. The tone is not disparaging or condescending, it doesn’t try to convince the reader of anything, and it is not timid in its delivery as much as cautious.

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QUESTION: 137 Topic - Section: Reading

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QUESTION: 138 Topic - Section: Reading

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QUESTION: 139 Topic - Section: Reading

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QUESTION: 140 Topic - Section: Reading

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