I Contain Multitudes — IELTS Reading Answers

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

1. AThey adapt quickly to their environment.
2. BThe risk they pose has been exaggerated.
3. CThey are more plentiful in animal life than plant life.
4. DThey will continue to exist for longer than the human race.correct

“they will outlive us.”

The first paragraph says microbes 'will outlive us', meaning they will continue to exist longer than the human race, so D.

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

1. Aeach species tends to have vastly different microbes.
2. Bsome parts of the body contain relatively few microbes.
3. Cthe average individual has more microbial cells than human ones.correct
4. Dscientists have limited understanding of how microbial cells behave.

“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”

The writer is amazed that 'the number of microbial ones is higher - about 39 trillion' against 30 trillion human cells, so C.

What is the writer doing in the fifth paragraph?

1. Aexplaining how a discovery was madecorrect
2. Bcomparing scientists’ theories about microbes
3. Cdescribing confusion among scientists
4. Dgiving details of how microbes cause disease

“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’.”

The fifth paragraph recounts Leeuwenhoek examining lake water through his own microscopes and finding 'animalcules', showing how a discovery was made, so A.

“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 gap needs the book's overall purpose; 'a plea for microbial tolerance' that notes only a few bacteria cause disease fits G.

“Instead we should realise we have a symbiotic relationship, that can be mutually beneficial or mutually destructive.”

The gap needs the relationship described; 'a symbiotic relationship, that can be mutually beneficial or mutually destructive' supplies B.

“our unhealthy, low-fibre 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 gap needs the cause of rising allergies; 'our unhealthy, low-fibre diets are disrupting the bacterial balance' fits H.

“Our obsession with hygiene”

The gap needs the other factor blamed alongside diet; 'Our obsession with hygiene' supplies E.

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

“the excessive use of household detergents and antibacterial products actually destroys the microbes that normally keep the more dangerous germs at bay.”

'the excessive use of household detergents and antibacterial products actually destroys the microbes that normally keep the more dangerous germs at bay', so the products backfire, YES.

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

“keeping a dog as a pet gives children early exposure to a diverse range of bacteria, which may help protect them against allergies later.”

A dog gives children 'early exposure to a diverse range of bacteria, which may help protect them against allergies', so minimising contact is not advised, NO.

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

“The readers of Yong’s book must be prepared for a decidedly unglamorous world.”

The text warns readers to expect 'a decidedly unglamorous world' but never comments on whether the book has too many case studies, so NOT GIVEN.

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

“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.”

The squid case study appears 'among the less appealing case studies', so it may indeed have limited appeal, so YES.

Efforts to control dengue fever have been surprisingly successful

“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.”

The passage describes loading mosquitoes with a bacterium to block dengue but never reports how successful those efforts have been, so NOT GIVEN.

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

“In the future, our ability to manipulate microbes means we could construct buildings with useful microbes built into their walls to fight off infections.”

Microbe-filled walls are a future possibility - 'In the future ... we could construct buildings with useful microbes built into their walls' - not something already done, so NO.