Read the following passage and answer the question that follows. Your answers to these items should be based on the passage only. There are reports that some of the antibiotics sold in the market are fed to poultry and other livestock as growth promoters. Overusing these substances can create superbugs, pathogens that are resistant to multiple drugs and could be passed along humans. Mindful of that, some farming companies have stopped using the drugs to make chickens gain weight faster. Since Denmark banned antibiotic growth promoters in the 1990s, the major pork exporter says it is producing more pigs - and the animals get fewer diseases. Which one of the following statements best reflects the criticalmessage conveyed by the passage given above?
Antibiotics should only be used to treat diseases.
Analyzing the Passage on Antibiotic Use in Livestock
The passage discusses a concerning practice in animal farming: feeding antibiotics to poultry and other livestock not just to treat illness, but as growth promoters to make them gain weight faster. It highlights a significant risk associated with this overuse: the creation of 'superbugs'. These are pathogens that become resistant to multiple drugs, posing a potential threat to human health if passed along.
The passage also offers a positive example from Denmark. After banning antibiotic growth promoters in the 1990s, Denmark, a major pork exporter, reported producing more pigs with fewer diseases. This suggests that restricting antibiotic use for growth promotion can lead to healthier animals and potentially reduce the development of drug resistance.
Identifying the Critical Message
The question asks for the critical message conveyed by the passage. We need to evaluate each option based on the information and emphasis within the text.
- Option 1: People should avoid consuming the products of animal farming. The passage focuses on the *method* of farming (antibiotic use) and its consequences (superbugs, resistance). It doesn't directly advise against consumption itself. While the issue relates to food safety, the core message is about the *practice* of using antibiotics, not abstinence from animal products.
- Option 2: Foods of animal origin should be replaced with foods of plant origin. Similar to Option 1, the passage doesn't advocate for a dietary shift. It addresses a specific problem within animal farming and a potential solution (restricting antibiotic use).
- Option 3: Using antibiotics on animals should be banned. The passage mentions Denmark banned antibiotic *growth promoters*, not all antibiotic use on animals. Antibiotics are still necessary to treat sick animals. The passage points to the problem of *overuse* and use for *growth promotion*.
- Option 4: Antibiotics should only be used to treat diseases. This aligns well with the passage's concerns. The problem highlighted is the use of antibiotics as 'growth promoters' (a non-disease treatment use) which leads to superbugs. The positive example of Denmark, which banned *growth promoters* and saw fewer diseases, supports the idea that the appropriate role for antibiotics is in treating illness, not enhancing growth or compensating for poor conditions that might otherwise lead to disease. This option captures the essence of restricting antibiotic use to therapeutic purposes, addressing the core issue raised in the passage.
Conclusion
Based on the analysis of the passage, the critical message is that the overuse of antibiotics, specifically for non-therapeutic purposes like growth promotion, is dangerous. The passage implicitly advocates for their use to be limited to treating actual diseases, which is the practice that the Denmark example supports as beneficial.
| Option | Alignment with Passage Message | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low | Passage focuses on farming practices, not dietary choices. |
| 2 | Low | Passage addresses antibiotic use in animal farming, not a call for veganism. |
| 3 | Moderate | Passage mentions banning *growth promoters*, not all antibiotic use. Too broad. |
| 4 | High | Directly addresses the misuse (growth promotion) vs. proper use (treating disease) highlighted in the text. Supported by the Denmark example. |
Therefore, Option 4 best reflects the critical message conveyed by the passage.
Revision Table: Understanding Antibiotic Use in Farming
Reviewing the key points about antibiotic use in livestock based on the passage:
- Issue: Antibiotics used as growth promoters in poultry and livestock.
- Risk: Creation of 'superbugs' - drug-resistant pathogens.
- Consequence: Potential transfer of resistant pathogens to humans.
- Positive Example: Denmark banned antibiotic growth promoters.
- Outcome in Denmark: Increased pig production, fewer animal diseases.
- Implied Solution/Message: Restrict antibiotic use to treating diseases, not promoting growth.
Additional Information: Superbugs and Antibiotic Resistance
Antibiotic resistance is a major global health concern. When bacteria are repeatedly exposed to antibiotics, some may survive due to natural mutations. These surviving bacteria can then multiply, passing on their resistance. Using antibiotics frequently and unnecessarily accelerates this process. Using antibiotics for growth promotion contributes to this problem because it exposes large numbers of animals (and thus bacteria) to antibiotics continuously, even when there is no active infection. This creates an environment where resistant bacteria are more likely to develop and spread. Limiting antibiotic use to therapeutic purposes – treating confirmed infections – helps preserve the effectiveness of these vital drugs for both animal and human health.
Important Questions from Reading Comprehension
Why, according to the writer can't people be motivated to use a resource prudently?
1. They feel that others may overuse the resource
2. It is possible to substitute the resource
3. Abundance of the resource availability
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
When do people use resources exhaustively?
The self-interest of people affects the use of renewable resources
People rooted in a locality
Which among the following is closest in meaning with the word 'deplete'?
