Reading MaterialSmallpox is one of the deadliest and dangerous diseases affecting the human population across the world. The first recorded epidemic was in 1350 BC during the Egyptian-Hittite war, and it was quite prevalent in the late 1800’s through a large part of the 1900’s. Approximately five hundred million people were infected with the disease prior to its eradication in the 1970’s, with the last case being in Somalia in 1977. Symptoms of infection included excessive bleeding, high fever, delirium, vomiting, and a raised pink rash. Most cases of smallpox ended in death and survivors were often seriously maimed by pock marks, blindness, or infertility. The pain and suffering remained for a lifetime after the disease was gone.There is no known cure for smallpox, only preventative vaccinations. Because smallpox was wiped out in 1970′ s, the World Health Organization (W.H.O.) recommended that all countries stop vaccinating for the disease in 1980. This means that today, most young people are not vaccinated against the disease. Because the disease is considered eradicated, the issue of what to do with the remaining government-held vaccines has been an issue of debate. Should the stored vaccines be destroyed since the disease is no longer a concern, or do we keep them in storage for research or in case of an unexpected outbreak? Experts at the Center for Disease Control (C.D.C.) and the World Health Organization have spent an enormous amount of time researching this issue and have given much educated thought to the matter. Reportedly the W.H.O. wants to destroy all vaccines, however some scientists feel the destruction could do more harm than good.The issue of bioterrorism adds another layer of complexity to the issue. In the case of smallpox, just a small amount of the virus released in the air could infect thousands of people in 6-24 hours. If such a disease were used as a weapon, we would obviously want the vaccine available for use. However, the fact that the vaccine still exists allows the use of smallpox for bioterrorism in the first place. If we could be sure all of the vaccine was destroyed, the decision may be a bit easier, but what if it the vaccine were only partially destroyed, and the remainder was used by an unfriendly nation?In this world of global unrest and increasing technology, bioterrorism will come an increasing concern. The smallpox virus could be a serious threat to world health should any nation engage in the act if bioterrorism against an enemy. The question remains: do we run the risk of bioterrorism by continuing to store the medicine for several hundred smallpox vaccinations or do we destroy the vaccine and pray that there is no outbreak of the deadly virus? Because it is unknown at this time if researchers are able to re-create the vaccine, either solution may have permanent consequences.According to the text, why is there an increasing concern over bioterrorism?
Answer(s): D
The first sentence of the concluding paragraph states, “[i]n this world of global unrest and increasing technology, bioterrorism will come an increasing concern.”
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?
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.”
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?
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.
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 .
Answer(s): C
The definition for superbug is provided in paragraph 3.
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 .
Answer(s): A
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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