The Discovery of Penicillin Reading Answers

Jan 12, 2023

The Discovery of Penicillin Reading Answers contains a write up about the discovery of penicillin. The Discovery of Penicillin Reading Answers contains a total of 8 paragraphs. Related to the paragraphs are 13 questions. Candidates in this IELTS Section will be shown various question types with clear instructions. The paragraphs contain the information about the discovery and research on penicillin. The process of how penicillin was discovered and its contribution in treating various infections.

The Discovery of Penicillin Reading Answers is an IELTS Reading passage which comprises two types of questions: associate information with paragraph and Complete the summary. To complete the summary candidate must be aware of each detail mentioned. The paragraphs must be read thoroughly and important details remembered. So. A deep understanding of paragraphs is required. To associate information with paragraph interpretation of each paragraph is important. To answer the questions provided in the given passage,Applicants must attentively read each passage. To gain proficiency, candidates can practice from IELTS reading practice test.

Section 1

Read the Passage to Answer the Following Questions

The Discovery of Penicillin Reading Answers

The Scottish bacteriologist Dr Alexander Fleming (1881-1955) is credited with the discovery of penicillin in London in 1928. He had been working at St Mary’s Hospital on the bacteriology of septic wounds. As a medic during World War I, he had witnessed the deaths of many wounded soldiers from infection and he had observed that the use of harsh antiseptics, rather than healing the body, actually harmed the blood corpuscles that destroy bacteria.

In his search for effective antimicrobial agents, Fleming was cultivating staphylococcus bacteria in Petri dishes containing agar1. Before going on holiday in the summer of 1928, he piled up the agar plates to make room for someone else to use his workbench in his absence and left the windows open. When he returned to work two weeks later, Fleming noticed mould growing on those culture plates that had not been fully immersed in sterilizing agents. This was not an unusual phenomenon, except in this case the particular mould seemed to have killed the staphylococcus aureus immediately surrounding it. He realized that this mould had potential.

Fleming consulted a mycologist called C J La Touche, who occupied a laboratory downstairs containing many mould specimens (possibly the source of the original contamination), and they concluded it was the Penicillium genus of ascomycetous fungi. Fleming continued to experiment with the mould on other pathogenic bacteria, finding that it successfully killed a large number of them. Importantly, it was also non-toxic, so there was a bacteria-destroying agent that could be used as an antiseptic in wounds without damaging the human body. However, he was unsuccessful in his attempts to isolate the active antibacterial element, which he called penicillin. In 1929, he wrote a paper on his findings, published in the British Journal of Experimental Pathology, but it failed to kindle any interest at the time.

In 1938, Dr Howard Florey, a professor of pathology at Oxford University, came across Fleming’s paper. In collaboration with his colleague Dr Ernst Chain, and other skilled chemists, he worked on producing a usable drug. They experimented on mice infected with streptococcus. Those untreated died, while those injected with penicillin survived. It was time to test the drug on humans but they could not produce enough – it took 2,000 litres of mould culture fluid to acquire enough penicillin to treat a single patient. Their first case in 1940, an Oxford police officer who was near death as a result of infection by both staphylococci and streptococci, rallied after five days of treatment but, when the supply of penicillin ran out, he eventually died.

In 1941, Florey and biochemist Dr Norman Heatley went to the United States to team up with American scientists with a view to finding a way of making large quantities of the drug. It became obvious that Penicillium notatum would never generate enough penicillin for effective treatments so they began to look for a more productive species. One day a laboratory assistant turned up with a melon covered in mould. This fungus was Penicillium chrysogeum, which produced 200 times more penicillin than Fleming’s original species but, with further enhancement and filtration, it was induced to yield 1,000 times as much as Penicillium notatum. Manufacture could begin in earnest.

The standardization and large-scale production of the penicillin drug during World War II and its availability for treating wounded soldiers undoubtedly saved many lives. Penicillin proved to be very effective in the treatment of pneumococcal pneumonia – the death rate in WWII was 1% compared to 18% in WWI. It has since proved its worth in the treatment of many life-threatening infections such as tuberculosis, meningitis, diphtheria and several sexually-transmitted diseases.

Fleming has always been acknowledged as the discoverer of penicillin. However, the development of a commercial penicillin drug was due to the skill of chemical scientists Florey, Chain and others who overcame the difficulties of converting it into a usable form. Fleming and Florey received knighthoods in 1944 and they, together with Chain, were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1945. Heatley’s contribution seems to have been overlooked until, in 1990, he was awarded an honorary doctorate of medicine by Oxford University – the first in its 800-year history.

Fleming was mindful of the dangers of resistance to penicillin early on and he expressly warned on many occasions against overuse of the drug, because this would lead to bacterial resistance. Ironically, the occurrence of resistance is pushing the drive today to find new, more powerful antibiotics.

—————–

1agar is a culture medium based on a seaweed extract – used for growing microorganisms in laboratories

Section 2

Solution and Explanation

Questions 1-6

Reading Passage 1 has eight paragraphs, A–H.

Which paragraph contains the following information?

Write the correct letter, A–H, in boxes 1–6 on your answer sheet.

results of animal experiments

Answer: D
Supporting Statement: They experimented on mice infected with streptococcus. Those untreated died, while those injected with penicillin survived.
Keywords: Experimented, infected
Keyword Location: Paragraph D
Explanation: As per paragraph D, the scientists experimented on mice infected with the infection of streptococcus. Those mice who were not treated died. While those who were injected with penicillin survived. So, the correct answer is D because the experiment was done first on animals then on humans.

recognition of the scientists’ valuable work

Answer: G
Supporting Statement: Fleming and Florey received knighthoods in 1944 and they, together with Chain, were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1945. Heatley’s contribution seems to have been overlooked until, in 1990, he was awarded an honorary doctorate of medicine by Oxford University – the first in its 800-year history.
Keywords: awarded, contribution
Keyword Location: Paragraph G
Explanation: As per paragraph G, the scientists were awarded. The reason for the recognition given to them was the discovery of penicillin. The hours and years of their discovery and hard work paid off. They were able to discover and successfully make the penicillin. So, the correct answer is G.

a statement about the beginning of mass production

Answer: E
Supporting Statement: In 1941, Florey and biochemist Dr Norman Heatley went to the United States to team up with American scientists with a view to finding a way of making large quantities of the drug.
Keywords: making huge quantities
Keyword Location: Paragraph E
Explanation: As per paragraph E, the scientist and doctor Florey and biochemist Dr Norman Heatley went to America. They went there to team up with American scientists. The main motive was finding a way to make and produce large quantities of drugs. So, the correct answer is E as per the explanation provided.

Fleming’s cautionary advice

Answer: H
Supporting Statement: Fleming was mindful of the dangers of resistance to penicillin early on and he expressly warned on many occasions against overuse of the drug, because this would lead to bacterial resistance.
Ironically, the occurrence of resistance is pushing the drive today to find new, more powerful antibiotics.
Keywords: Fleming, dangers
Keyword Location: Paragraph H
Explanation: As per paragraph H, Fleming was very intelligent and mindful about the dangers of resistance of penicillin. So, he warned on many occasions on the overuse of drugs because this might lead to bacterial resistance. So, the correct answer is H as per the explanation provided.

examples of uses for penicillin

Answer: F
Supporting Statement: The standardization and large-scale production of the penicillin drug during World War II and its availability for treating wounded soldiers undoubtedly saved many lives. Penicillin proved to be very
effective in the treatment of pneumococcal pneumonia – the death rate in WWII was 1% compared to 18% in WWI. It has since proved its worth in the treatment of many life-threatening infections such as tuberculosis,
meningitis, diphtheria and several sexually-transmitted diseases.
Keywords: Treatment, infections.
Keyword Location: Paragraph F
Explanation: As per paragraph F, Pneumococcal pneumonia was successfully treated with penicillin, with a mortality rate of 1% in WWII compared to 18% in World War I. Since then, it has demonstrated its value in the treatment of numerous infections that can be fatal, including tuberculosis, meningitis, diphtheria, and a number of sexually transmitted diseases. So, the correct answer is F.

the starting point for Fleming’s original research

Answer: B
Supporting Statement: Fleming was cultivating staphylococcus bacteria in Petri dishes containing agar1. Before going on holiday in the summer of 1928, he piled up the agar plates to make room for someone else to use his
workbench in his absence and left the windows open.
Keywords: Cultivating, piled up
Keyword Location: Paragraph B
Explanation: As per paragraph B, Two weeks later, when Fleming went back to work, he discovered mold growing on the culture plates that hadn't been completely submerged in sterilizing agents. This was not an unusual occurrence, but in this instance the staphylococcus aureus nearby appeared to have been destroyed by the specific mold. He understood the possibilities of this mold. So, the correct answer is B.

Questions 7–10

Complete the summary below.

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

Write your answers in boxes 7–10 on your answer sheet.

Dr Fleming’s Accidental Discovery

In a bid to find a safe and effective antiseptic, Dr Fleming was growing staphylococcus

aureus bacteria in his lab. On his return from 7……………….., he found mould on an

unsterilised plate and saw that it had destroyed the bacteria around it. A 8………………..

helped him identify the mould. Fleming found that it was active against several different

9……………….. and, because it was 10…………….., it was safe to use in humans.

Question 7)

Answer: holiday
Supporting Statement: Fleming was cultivating staphylococcus bacteria in Petri dishes containing agar1. Before going on holiday in the summer of 1928, he piled up the agar plates to make room for someone else to use his
workbench in his absence and left the windows open.
Keywords: Fleming, holiday
Keyword Location: Paragraph B
Explanation: As per paragraph B, In Petri dishes with agar, Fleming was cultivating staphylococcus bacteria. He heaped up the agar plates to create space for someone else to use his workbench while he was away in the summer of 1928, and left the windows open. So, the correct answer is Holiday.

Question 8)

Answer: Mycologist
Supporting Statement: Fleming consulted a mycologist called C J La Touche, who occupied a laboratory downstairs containing many mould specimens (possibly the source of the original contamination), and they concluded
it was the Penicillium genus of ascomycetous fungi.
Keywords: Fleming, mycologist
Keyword Location: paragraph C
Explanation: As per paragraph C, after coming back from holiday, Fleming saw the different mould and went for help to mycologist C J La Touche. The Penicillium genus of ascomycetous fungi was identified after Fleming spoke with a mycologist named C J La Touche who worked in a laboratory downstairs that housed numerous mold specimens (perhaps the source of the original contamination). So, the correct answer is Mycologist.

Question 9)

Answer: Pathogenic bacteria
Supporting Statement: Fleming continued to experiment with the mould on other pathogenic bacteria, finding that it successfully killed a large number of them.
Keywords: Fleming, pathogenic bacteria
Keyword Location: Paragraph C
Explanation: As per paragraph C, Fleming persisted in testing the mold on more pathogenic germs and discovered that it effectively eliminated a sizable percentage of them. So, the correct answer is pathogenic bacteria as per the explanation.

Question 10)

Answer: Non Toxic
Supporting Statement: Importantly, it was also non-toxic, so there was a bacteria-destroying agent that could be used as an antiseptic in wounds without damaging the human body.
Keywords: Non-toxic, bacteria-destroying agent
Keyword Location: Paragraph C
Explanation: As per paragraph C, The fact that it was non-toxic and capable of eliminating bacteria allowed for its use as an antiseptic in wounds without endangering human health. So the correct answer is C.

Questions 11–13

Complete the table below.

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

Write your answers in boxes 11–13 on your answer sheet

Timeline

1928 Fleming’s discovery of penicillin
1929 Fleming’s research published
1938 Florey begins work on penicillin
1940 The first human subject 11……………….
1941 Collaboration with 12…………….….
1944 Two of the scientists are knighted
1945 Three of them share a 13..……………….
1990 Heatley’s work is acknowledged

Question 11)

Answer: Eventually died
Supporting Statement: Their first case in 1940, an Oxford police officer who was near death as a result of infection by both staphylococci and streptococci, rallied after five days of treatment but, when the supply of penicillin
ran out, he eventually died.
Keywords: First case, 1940
Keyword Location: Paragraph D
Explanation: As per paragraph D, After five days of treatment, their first patient, an Oxford police officer who had staphylococci and streptococci infections and was on the verge of death, recovered. However, when the penicillin supply ran out, he eventually passed away. So, the correct answer eventually died.

Question 12)

Answer: American Scientist
Supporting Statement: In 1941, Florey and biochemist Dr Norman Heatley went to the United States to team up with American scientists with a view to finding a way of making large quantities of the drug.
Keywords: making huge quantities
Keyword Location: Paragraph E
Explanation: As per paragraph E, the scientist and doctor Florey and biochemist Dr Norman Heatley went to America. They went there to team up with American scientists. The main motive was finding a way to make and produce large quantities of drugs. So, the correct answer is American Scientist as per the explanation provided.

Question 13)

Answer: Nobel Prize
Supporting Statement: Fleming and Florey received knighthoods in 1944 and they, together with Chain, were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1945. Heatley’s contribution seems to have been overlooked until, in 1990, he was awarded an honorary doctorate of medicine by Oxford University – the first in its 800-year history.
Keywords: awarded, contribution
Keyword Location: Paragraph G
Explanation: As per paragraph G, the scientists were awarded. The reason for the recognition given to them was the discovery of penicillin. The hours and years of their discovery and hard work paid off. They were able to discover and successfully make the penicillin. So, the correct answer is the Nobel Prize.

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