I Contain Multitudes Reading Answers

Jan 2, 2023

I Contain Multitudes Reading Answers contains a write up about the different microbes.This passage has been taken from Wendy Moore's review of Ed Yong’s book about microbes. I Contain Multitudes Reading Answers contains a total of 9 paragraphs. Related to the paragraphs are 13 questions. Candidates in this IELTS Section will be shown various question types with clear instructions.

I Contain Multitudes Reading Answers comprises three types of questions: Choose the correct option,Complete the Summary and True/False and Not Given To answer the questions provided in the IELTS Reading passage,Applicants must attentively read each passage. Candidates to complete the summary must grasp the concept and skim the passage for key terms. To choose the best response, candidates must comprehend both the supplied statement and the IELTS Reading passage. To gain proficiency, candidates can practice from IELTS reading practice test.

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 14–26, which are based on the reading passage below.

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Section 1

I Contain Multitudes Reading Answers

Microbes, most of them bacteria, have populated this planet since long before animal life developed and they will outlive us. Invisible to the naked eye, they are ubiquitous. They inhabit the soil, air, rocks and water and are present within every form of life, from seaweed and coral to dogs and humans. And, as Yong explains in his utterly absorbing and hugely important book we mess with them at our peril.
Every species has its own colony of microbes, called a ‘microbiome’, and these microbes vary not only between species but also between individuals and within different parts of each individual. 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. At best, Yong informs us, we are only 50 percent human. Indeed, some scientists even suggest we should think of each species and its microbes as a single unit, dubbed a ‘holobiont’.
In each human there are microbes that live only in the stomach, the mouth or the armpit and by and large they do so peacefully. So ‘bad’ microbes are just microbes out of context. Microbes that sit contentedly in the human gut (where there are more microbes than there are stars in the galaxy) can become deadly if they find their way into the bloodstream. These communities are constantly changing too. The right hand shares just one sixth of its microbes with the left hand. And, of course, we are surrounded by microbes. Every time we eat, we swallow a million microbes in each gram of food; we are continually swapping microbes with other humans, pets and the world at large.
It’s a fascinating topic and Yong, a young British science journalist, is an extraordinarily adept guide. Writing with lightness and panache, he has a knack of explaining complex science in terms that are both easy to understand and totally enthralling. Yong is on a mission. Leading us gently by the hand, he takes us into the world of microbes – a bizarre, alien planet – in a bid to persuade us to love them as much as he does. By the end, we do.
For most of human history we had no idea that microbes existed. The first man to see these extraordinarily potent creatures was a Dutch lens-maker called Antony van Leeuwenhoek in the 1670s. 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’. It wasn’t until nearly two hundred years later that the research of French biologist Louis Pasteur indicated that some microbes caused disease. It was Pasteur’s ‘germ theory’ that gave bacteria the poor image that endures today.
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. The book also acknowledges that our attitude towards bacteria is not a simple one. We tend to see the dangers posed by bacteria, yet at the same time we are sold yogurts and drinks that supposedly nurture ‘friendly’ bacteria. In reality, says Yong, bacteria should not be viewed as either friends or foes, villains or heroes. Instead we should realize we have a symbiotic relationship that can be mutually beneficial or mutually destructive.
What then do these millions of organisms do? The answer is pretty much everything. New research is now unraveling the ways in which bacteria aid digestion, regulate our immune systems, eliminate toxins, produce vitamins, affect our behavior and even combat obesity. ‘They actually help us become who we are,’ says Yong. But we are facing a growing problem. 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).
The most recent research actually turns accepted norms upside down. For example, 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. 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.
The readers of Yong’s book must be prepared for a decidedly unglamorous world. 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 them against predators. However, if you can overcome your distaste for some of the investigations, the reasons for Yong’s enthusiasm become clear. The microbial world is a place of wonder. 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. 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.

Section 2

Questions 14 – 16
Solutions With Explanation

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

Write the correct letter in boxes 14-16 on your answer sheet.

What point does the writer make about microbes in the first paragraph?

They adapt quickly to their environment.
The risk they pose has been exaggerated.
They are more plentiful in animal life than plant life.
They will continue to exist for longer than the human race.

Answer: D
Supporting Sentence: Microbes, the majority of which are bacteria, have existed on this planet since well before the emergence of animal life, and they will outlive us. They can't be seen with the naked eye and are common. Every kind of life, from seaweed and coral to dogs and people, contains them; they live in the soil, the air, the rocks, and the water.
Keywords: Microbes, Outlive, Existed
Keyword Location:Paragraph 1
Explanation: Even after the human race they will continue to live. In paragraph 1 the writer clearly states that microbes will outlive us. THey existed before the human race and they will keep on existing even after the human race. The option D states that they will continue to exist for longer than the human race. The Option D is the correct answer as per the explanation provided.

In the second paragraph, the writer is impressed by the fact that

each species tends to have vastly different microbes.
some parts of the body contain relatively few microbes.
the average individual has more microbial cells than human ones.
scientists have limited understanding of how microbial cells behave.

Answer: C
Supporting Sentence: Amazingly, microbial cells outnumber human ones, with a total of roughly 39 trillion, compared to an average person's 30 trillion. Yong tells us that we are only 50% human at most. The term "holobiont" refers to the idea that each species and its associated bacteria should be considered as a single entity.
Keywords: Microbial cells, Outnumber human ones.
Keyword Location: Paragraph 2
Explanation: As clearly stated in paragraph 2, human cells are 30 trillion while the microbial cells are 39 trillion. The microbial cells are outnumbered as compared to the human cells. The option C states that the average individual has more microbial cells than human ones. So, the correct answer is C as per the explanation provided.

What is the writer doing in the fifth paragraph?

explaining how a discovery was made
comparing scientists’ theories about microbes
describing confusion among scientists
giving details of how microbes cause disease

Answer: A
Supporting Sentence: In the 1670s, a Dutch lens-maker by the name of Antony van Leeuwenhoek was the first person to witness these incredibly powerful creatures. He investigated a drop of water from a nearby lake using his own custom-built, up to 270-fold-magnifying microscopes and discovered that it was swarming with microscopic critters he termed "animalcules."
Keywords: Witness, magnifying microscopes, discovered.
Keyword Location: Paragraph 5
Explanation: In paragraph 5, the writer using a microscope of 270 fold is observing and interpreting a drop of water. In this drop of water he finds tiny creatures which he acknowledges as animalcules. So, The option A states explaining how a discovery was made. So, the correct option is A as per the explanation given.

Questions 17 – 20

Complete the summary using the list of words, A-H, below.

Write the correct letter, A-H, in boxes 17-20 on your answer sheet.

We should be more tolerant of microbes

Yong’s book argues that we should be more tolerant of microbes. Many have a beneficial effect, and only a relatively small number lead to 17 ………………… . And although it is misleading to think of microbes as ‘friendly’, we should also stop thinking of them as the enemy. In fact, we should accept that our relationship with microbes is one based on 18 ………………… .

New research shows that microbes have numerous benefits for humans. Amongst other things, they aid digestion, remove poisons, produce vitamins and may even help reduce obesity. However, there is a growing problem. Our poor 19 …………………, our overuse of antibiotics, and our excessive focus on 20 ………………… are upsetting the bacterial balance and may be contributing to the huge increase in allergies and immune system problems.

A solution B partnership C destruction
D exaggeration E cleanliness F regulations
G illness H nutrition

Question 17.

Answer: G
Supporting Sentence: In many ways, Yong's book is an appeal for microbial tolerance, noting that while only a small number of bacterial species cause disease, countless more are essential for preserving our health.
Keywords: disease,microbial tolerance.
Keyword Location: Paragraph 6
Explanation: According to paragraph 6, microbials are important and play a crucial role in our well being and health. They are beneficial and a ew might cause disease. Here the disease word is used in place of illness. So, the answer is G Illness as per the explanation.

Question 18.

Answer: B
Supporting Sentence: Bacteria shouldn't be thought of as either allies or enemies, villains or heroes, according to Yong. Instead, we ought to understand that our symbiotic relationship can either be useful to both of us or
harmful to both of us.
Keywords: allies, symbiotic relationship, harmful.
Keyword Location: Paragraph 6
Explanation: The writer clearly stated in paragraph 6, that a symbiotic relationship is formed between microbials and humans. Symbiotic relationship refers to a beneficial relationship in which both the determinants are on the profitable side. This symbiotic relationship can also be stated as partnership. So, the correct answer is B Partnership, as per the explanation.

Question 19.

Answer: H
Supporting Sentence: The bacterial equilibrium is being upset by our fixation with cleanliness, our abuse of antibiotics, and our poor, low-fiber diets, which may be the cause of the rising rates of allergies and immunological issues like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Keywords: cleanliness, low-fiber diets, allergies.
Keyword Location: Paragraph 7
Explanation: As per the paragraph 7, the writer claims that humans have a poor diet. The diet of humans is low-fiber which leads to many allergies and diseases. So, this low-fiber diet can also be replaced by the word nutrition. So, the correct answer is H Nutrition, as per the explanation.

Question 20.

Answer: E
Supporting Sentence: The bacterial equilibrium is being upset by our fixation with cleanliness, our abuse of antibiotics, and our poor, low-fiber diets, which may be the cause of the rising rates of allergies and immunological issues like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Keywords: cleanliness, low-fiber diets, allergies.
Keyword Location: Paragraph 7
Explanation: The writer clearly states in paragraph 7 that humans are fixed on lack of cleanliness. Poor hygiene and sanitation along with a low-fiber diet raises many allergies and diseases in humans. So, the correct answer is E Cleanliness, as per the explanation.

Questions 21 – 26

Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer in Reading Passage?
In boxes 21-26 on your answer sheet, write -

YES if the statement agrees with the claims of the writer
NO if the statement contradicts the claims of the writer
NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this

It is possible that using antibacterial products in the home fails to have the desired effect.

Answer: Yes
Supporting Sentence:Recent research literally flips conventional wisdom on its head. For instance, research shows that using household detergents and antibacterial items excessively actually kills the microorganisms that ordinarily keep the more harmful pathogens at bay.
Keywords: household detergents, antibacterial items.
Keyword Location: Paragraph 8
Explanation: As stated in paragraph 8, using excessive antibacterial products can be harmful. There are some bacterias that help to keep the dangerous bacteria from the household. So, the excessive use of antibacterial products in the household kills those bacterias as well. Which increases the high rate of harmful bacterias. So, the correct answer is Yes as per the explanation provided.

It is a good idea to ensure that children come into contact with as few bacteria as possible.

Answer: No
Supporting Sentence: According to other research, having a dog as a pet exposes kids to a variety of microorganisms at a young age, which may help shield them from allergies in the future.
Keywords: pet exposes, microorganisms, shield
Keyword Location: Paragraph 8
Explanation: The statement is contradictory as per stated by the writer. The paragraph 8, mentions that it is beneficial for the children’s health to get exposed to various bacterias. The pets expose various microorganisms. This exposure towards bacterias acts as a shield of protection from harmful bacterias for the kids. So, the correct answer is NO, as per the explanation given.

Yong’s book contains more cause studies than are necessary.

Answer: Not Given
Explanation: There has been no relevant information provided in the paragraph related to the question.

The case study about bacteria that prevent squid from being attacked may have limited appeal.

Answer: Yes
Supporting Sentence: The milieu described in Yong's novel is clearly not glamorous, so readers must be ready for that. A case study on a fungus that is eradicating entire populations of frogs and that can be stopped by a rare microbial bacterium is among the less appealing ones. Another concerns squid that are protected from predators by luminous microorganisms.
Keywords: case study, fungus, less appealing.
Keyword Location: Paragraph 9
Explanation: As clearly mentioned in paragraph 8, the case study on bacteria that prevent squid is less appealing. The exposure and appeal of this case study is limited. So, the statement is correct. Hence the answer is Yes.

Efforts to control dengue fever have been surprisingly successful

Answer: Not Given
Explanation: There has been no relevant information provided in the paragraph related to the question.

Microbes that reduce the risk of infection have already been put inside the walls of some hospital wards.

Answer: No
Supporting Sentence: Future buildings could contain beneficial bacteria embedded into their walls to ward against illnesses thanks to our capacity to manage microbes. Imagine a neonatal hospital ward that is covered in a
carefully curated combination of germs to ensure that newborns have the best possible start in life.
Keywords: Future buildings, walls to ward.
Keyword Location: Paragraph 9
Explanation: The answer is No. Because the writer mentions the future architecture. There is no statement indicating that the microbe causing infection are already walled inside the room. This is an idea of the future that has yet to occur. So, the correct answer is No, as per the explanation.

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