Saving Bugs to Find New Drugs Reading Answers

Oct 20, 2022

Saving Bugs to Find New Drugs Reading Answers 13 questions that have to be answered in 20 minutes. Saving Bugs to Find New Drugs Reading Answers comprises question types, namely- choosing the correct option, and yes/no/not given. For yes/no/not given, candidates must read the passage and understand the statement provided. In choose the correct option, candidates are required to answer based on a given cue. They are required to choose from multiple options. Candidates must read the IELTS reading passage, identify keywords, and recognize synonyms to answer the question.

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Reading Passage Question

More drugs than you might think are derived from, or inspired by, compounds found in living things. Looking to nature for the soothing and curing of our ailments is nothing new – we have been doing it for tens of thousands of years. You only have to look at other primates – such as the capuchin monkeys who rub themselves with toxin-oozing millipedes to deter mosquitoes, or the chimpanzees who use noxious forest plants to rid themselves of intestinal parasites – to realise that our ancient ancestors too probably had a basic grasp of medicine.
Pharmaceutical science and chemistry built on these ancient foundations and perfected the extraction, characterization, modification and testing of these natural products. Then, for a while, modern pharmaceutical science moved its focus away from nature and into the laboratory, designing chemical compounds from scratch. The main cause of this shift is that although there are plenty of promising chemical compounds in nature, finding them is far from easy. Securing sufficient numbers of the organism in question, isolating and characterizing the compounds of interest, and producing large quantities of these compounds are all significant hurdles.
Laboratory-based drug discovery has achieved varying levels of success, something which has now prompted the development of new approaches focusing once again on natural products. With the ability to mine genomes for useful compounds, it is now evident that we have barely scratched the surface of nature’s molecular diversity. This realization, together with several looming health crises, such as antibiotic resistance, has put bioprospecting – the search for useful compounds in nature – firmly back on the map.
Insects are the undisputed masters of the terrestrial domain, where the occupy every possible niche. Consequently, they have a bewildering array of interactions with other organisms, something which has driven the evolution of an enormous range of very interesting compounds for defensive and offensive purposes. Their remarkable diversity exceeds that of every other group of animals on the planet combined. Yet even though insects are far and away the most diverse animals in existence, their potential as sources of therapeutic compounds is yet to be realised.
From the tiny proportion of insects that have been investigated, several promising compounds have been identified. For example, alloferon, an antimicrobial compound produced by blow fly larvae, is used as an antiviral and antitumor agent in South Korea and Russia. The larvae of a few other insect species are being investigated for the potent antimicrobial compounds they produce. Meanwhile, a compound from the venom of the wasp Polybia paulista has potential in cancer treatment.
Why is it that insects have received relatively little attention in bioprospecting? Firstly, there are so many insects that, without some manner of targeted approach, investigating this huge variety of species is a daunting task. Secondly, insects are generally very small, and the glands inside them that secrete potentially useful compounds are smaller still. This can make it difficult to obtain sufficient quantities of the compound for subsequent testing. Thirdly, although we consider insects to be everywhere, the reality of this ubiquity is vast numbers of a few extremely common species. Many insect species are infrequently encountered and very difficult to rear in captivity, which, again, can leave us with insufficient material to work with.
My colleagues and I at Aberystwyth University in the UK have developed an approach in which we use our knowledge of ecology as a guide to target our efforts. The creatures that particularly interest us are the many insects that secrete powerful poison for subduing prey and keeping it fresh for future consumption. There are even more insects that are masters of exploiting filthy habitats, such as faeces and carcasses, where they are regularly challenged by thousands of micro-organisms. These insects have many antimicrobial compounds for dealing with pathogenic bacteria and fungi, suggesting that there is certainly potential to find many compounds that can serve as or inspire new antibiotics.
Although natural history knowledge points us in the right direction, it doesn’t solve the problems associated with obtaining useful compounds from insects. Fortunately, it is now possible to snip out the stretches of the insect’s DNA that carry the codes for the interesting compounds and insert them into cell lines that allow larger quantities to be produced. And although the road from isolating and characterizing compounds with desirable qualities to developing a commercial product is very long and full of pitfalls, the variety of successful animal-derived pharmaceuticals on the market demonstrates there is a precedent here that is worth exploring.
With every bit of wilderness that disappears, we deprive ourselves of potential medicines. As much as I’d love to help develop a groundbreaking insect-derived medicine, my main motivation for looking at insects in this way is conservation. I sincerely believe that all species, however small and seemingly insignificant, have a right to exist for their own sake. If we can shine a light on the darker recesses of nature’s medicine cabinet, exploring the useful chemistry of the most diverse animals on the planet, I believe we can make people think differently about the value of nature.

Solution and Explanation
Questions 14-20:
Reading Passage has nine paragraphs, A-I
Which paragraph contains the following information?
Write the correct letter, A-I, in boxes 14-20 on your answer sheet.

Q14. mention of factors driving a renewed interest in natural medicinal compounds.

Answer: paragraph C
Supporting Sentence: Laboratory-based drug discovery has achieved varying levels of success, something which has now prompted the development of new approaches focusing once again on natural products.
Keywords: factors, renewed interest, natural medicinal compounds
Keyword Locations: paragraph C, lines 1-2
Explanation: The final lines of paragraph C contain the solution. This discovery has brought bioprospecting—the study of valuable substances in nature—firmly back onto the map, the author says, along with a number of impending health issues including antibiotic resistance.
Back on the map here Equals newfound interest

Q15. how recent technological advances have made insect research easier

Answer: Paragraph H
Supporting Sentence: Fortunately, it is now possible to snip out the stretches of the insect’s DNA that carry the codes for the interesting compounds and insert them into cell lines that allow larger quantities to be produced.
Keywords: recent technological advances, insèct research, easier
Keyword Locations: Paragraph H, lies 2-4
Explanation: The lines show that, luckily, recent technology developments in DNA study have made the research easier. Here, "Fortunately, it is now possible" = recent technological developments

Q16. examples of animals which use medicinal substances from nature

Answer: Paragraph A
Supporting Sentence: You only have to look at other primates – such as the capuchin monkeys who rub themselves with toxin-oozing millipedes to deter mosquitoes, or the chimpanzees who use noxious forest plants to rid themselves of intestinal parasites – to realise that our ancient ancestors too probably had a basic grasp of medicine.
Keywords: animal, use, medicinal substance, nature
Keyword Locations: Paragraph A, lines 3-6
Explanation: The chimpanzees who employ toxic forest plants to get rid of intestinal parasites. Further, the capuchin monkeys that rub themselves with poisonous millipedes to ward against insects.

Q17. reasons why it is challenging to use insects in drug research

Answer: Paragraph F
Supporting Sentence: Firstly, there are so many insects that, without some manner of targeted approach, investigating this huge variety of species is a daunting task. Secondly, insects are generally very small, and the glands inside them that secrete potentially useful compounds are smaller still.
Keywords: reasons, challenging use insects, drug research
Keyword Locations: Paragraph F, lines 1-4
Explanation: There are so many different kinds of insects that identifying them all would be difficult without a focused strategy. Insects are often rather tiny, and their internal glands that release potentially beneficial substances are even more so.

Q18. reference to how interest in drug research may benefit wildlife

Answer: Paragraph I
Supporting Sentence: I sincerely believe that all species, however small and seemingly insignificant, have a right to exist for their own sake. If we can shine a light on the darker recesses of nature’s medicine cabinet, exploring the useful chemistry of the most diverse animals on the planet, I believe we can make people think differently about the value of nature.
Keywords: reasons, interest in drug research, benefit
Keyword Locations: Paragraph I, lines 4-7
Explanation: It is possible to change people's perspectives on the worth of nature if we explore the helpful chemistry of the most diversified animals in the world. And shed light on their darkest corners of nature's medicine cabinet.

Q19. a reason why nature-based medicines fell out of favour for a period

Answer: Paragraph B
Supporting Sentence: Then, for a while, modern pharmaceutical science moved its focus away from nature and into the laboratory, designing chemical compounds from scratch. The main cause of this shift is that although there are plenty of promising chemical compounds in nature, finding them is far from easy.
Keywords: laboratory, designing, chemical compounds
Keyword Locations: Paragraph B, lines 3-6
Explanation: The focus of contemporary pharmaceutical science has shifted from nature to the lab, where scientists are creating chemical molecules from scratch. Although there are many interesting chemical compounds in nature, discovering them is extremely difficult, which is the fundamental reason for this move.

Q20. an example of an insect-derived medicine in use at the moment

Answer: Paragraph E
Supporting Sentence: For example, alloferon, an antimicrobial compound produced by blow fly larvae, is used as an antiviral and antitumor agent in South Korea and Russia. The larvae of a few other insect species are being investigated for the potent antimicrobial compounds they produce.
Keywords: antiviral, antitumor, South Korea, Russia
Keyword Locations: Paragraph E, lines 2-5
Explanation: In South Korea and Russia, alloferon, an antibacterial substance made by blow fly larvae, is employed as an antiviral and anticancer agent. The powerful antibacterial chemicals produced by the larvae of a few additional insect species are being studied.

Questions 21-22:
Choose TWO letters, A-E
Write the correct letters in boxes 21 and 22 on your answer sheet.
Which TWO of the following make insects interesting for drug research?

the huge number of individual insects in the world
the variety of substances insects have developed to protect themselves
the potential to extract and make use of insects’ genetic codes
the similarities between different species of insect
the manageable size of most insects

Answer: B- the variety of substances insects have developed to protect themselves
C- the potential to extract and make use of insects’ genetic codes
Supporting Sentence: The creatures that particularly interest us are the many insects that secrete powerful poison for subduing prey and keeping it fresh for future consumption. There are even more insects that are masters of exploiting filthy habitats, such as faeces and carcasses, where they are regularly challenged by thousands of microorganisms.
Fortunately, it is now possible to snip out the stretches of the insect’s DNA that carry the codes for the interesting compounds and insert them into cell lines that allow larger quantities to be produced.
Keywords: make insects interesting, drug research
Keyword Locations: paragraph G, lines 3-4, paragraph H, lines 2-4
Explanation: The creatures that particularly interest us are the many insects that secrete powerful poison for subduing prey and keeping it fresh for future consumption.
Fortunately, it is now possible to snip out the stretches of the insect's DNA that carry the codes for the interesting compounds. And insert them into cell lines that allow larger quantities to be produced.

Questions 23-26:
Complete the summary below.
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 23-26 on your answer sheet.

Research at Aberystwyth University

Ross Piper and fellow zoologists at Aberystwyth University are using their expertise in 23………………………… when undertaking bioprospecting with insects. They are especially interested in the compounds that insects produce to overpower and preserve their 24…………………………. They are also interested in compounds which insects use to protect themselves from pathogenic bacteria and fungi found in their 25………………………… Piper hopes that these substances will be useful in the development of drugs such as 26……………………………..

Question 23:

Answer: ecology
Supporting Sentence: My colleagues and I at Aberystwyth University in the UK have developed an approach in which we use our knowledge of ecology as a guide to target our efforts.
Keywords: Aberystwyth University, ecology
Keyword Locations: paragraph G, lines 1-2
Explanation: Devised a strategy where we direct our efforts using what we know about ecology.

Question 24:

Answer: prey
Supporting Sentence: The creatures that particularly interest us are the many insects that secrete powerful poison for subduing prey and keeping it fresh for future consumption
Keywords: compounds, insects produce, to overpower and preserve
Keyword Locations: paragraph G, lines 3-4
Explanation: Here, release strong poison (insect chemicals), subdue (overpower), and preserve (keep it fresh)

Question 25:

Answer: habitats
Supporting Sentence: There are even more insects that are masters of exploiting filthy habitats, such as faces and carcasses, where; they are regularly challenged by thousands of microorganisms. These insects have many antimicrobial compounds for dealing with pathogenic bacteria and fungi
Keywords: compounds, insects use, to protect themselves, pathogenic bacteria and fungi
Keyword Locations: paragraph G, lines 3-4
Explanation: The pathogenic bacteria and fungus are discovered in the unclean surroundings here for coping with to protect themselves from.

Question 26:

Answer: antibiotics
Supporting Sentence: There are even more insects that are masters of exploiting filthy habitats, such as faces and carcasses, where; they are regularly challenged by thousands of microorganisms. These insects have many antimicrobial compounds for dealing with pathogenic bacteria and fungi
Keywords: compounds, insects use, to protect themselves, pathogenic bacteria and fungi
Keyword Locations: paragraph G, lines 3-4
Explanation: The pathogenic bacteria and fungus are discovered in the unclean surroundings here for coping with to protect themselves from.

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