Magy's English Edu. Club
Cambridge 16 Academic Reading Test Two Passage Two
I contain Multitudes
Choose the correct answer.
14. What point does the writer make about microbes in the first paragraph?
The answer is D. > They will continue to exist for longer than the human race.
In paragraph one, microbes, most of them bacteria, have populated this planet since long before animal life developed and they will outlive us.
15. In the second paragraph, the writer is impressed by the fact that
The answer is C. > the average individual has more microbial cells than human ones
In paragraph two, what is amazing is that while the number of human cells in the average person is about 30 trillion, the number of microbial ones is higher, about 39 trillion.
16. What is the writer doing in the fifth paragraph?
The answer is A. > explaining how a discovery was made
In paragraph five, using microscopes of his own design that could magnify up to 270 times, he examined a drop of water from a nearby lake and found it teeming with tiny creatures he called ‘animalcules’.
Questions from 8 to 13 are completion of a summary
17. Many have a beneficial effect and only a relatively small number lead to ………
The answer is G. > ILLNESS
In paragraph six, Yong’s book is in many ways a plea for microbial tolerance, pointing out that while fewer than one hundred species of bacteria bring disease, many thousands more play a vital role in maintaining our health.
18. In fact, we should accept that our relationship with microbes is one based on …..
The answer is B. > PARTNERSHIP
In paragraph six, instead, we should realize we have a symbiotic relationship, that can be mutually beneficial or mutually destructive.
19:20. Our poor ….., our overuse of antibiotics, and our excessive focus on ….. are upsetting the bacterial balance and may be contributing to the huge increase in allergies and immune system problems.
19. The answer is H. > NUTRITION
20. The answer is E. > CLEANLINESS
In paragraph seven, our obsession with hygiene, our overuse of antibiotics, and our unhealthy, low-fiber diets are disrupting the bacterial balance and may be responsible for soaring rates of allergies and immune problems, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer in Reading Passage 2?
Write YES, NO, or NOT GIVEN.
21. It is possible that using antibacterial products in the home fails to have the desired effect.
The answer is YES.
In paragraph eight, there are studies indicating that the excessive use of household detergents and antibacterial products actually destroys the microbes that normally keep the more dangerous germs at bay.
22. It is a good idea to ensure that children come into contact with as few bacteria as possible.
The answer is NO.
In paragraph eight, other studies show that keeping a dog as a pet gives children early exposure to a diverse range of bacteria, which may help protect them against allergies later.
23. Yong’s book contains more case studies than are necessary.
The answer is NOT GIVEN.
In paragraph nine, the readers of Yong’s book must be prepared for a decidedly unglamorous world.
24. The case study about bacteria that prevent squid from being attacked may have limited appeal.
The answer is YES.
In paragraph nine, among the less appealing case studies is one about a fungus that is wiping out entire populations of frogs and that can be halted by a rare microbial bacterium. Another is about squid that carry luminescent bacteria that protect than against predators.
25. Efforts to control dengue fever have been surprisingly successful.
The answer is NOT GIVEN.
In paragraph nine, already, in an attempt to stop mosquitoes spreading dengue fever, a disease that infects 400 million people a year, mosquitoes are being loaded with a bacterium to block the disease.
26. Microbes that reduce the risk of infection have already been put inside the walls of some hospital wards.
The answer is NO.
In paragraph nine, in the future, our ability to manipulate microbes means we could construct buildings with useful microbes built into their walls to fight off infections. Just imagine a neonatal hospital ward coated in a specially mixed cocktail of microbes so that babies get the best start in life.