Saving bugs to find new drugs- Reading answers Explanation- CAM 14
Here are explanations of the Questions of passage named ‘Saving bugs to find new drugs’, which is from the Cambridge 14 book. The Questions that have been asked are Finding information, Blanks and MCQs’. You will find the locations of the Reading Answers, Keywords(highlighted and underlined) and justifications.
READING PASSAGE 2: Saving bugs to find new drugs
| Question | Answer |
| 14 | C |
| 15 | H |
| 16 | A |
| 17 | F |
| 18 | I |
| 19 | B |
| 20 | E |
| 21 | B (IN EITHER ORDER) |
| 22 | C (IN EITHER ORDER) |
| 23 | ECOLOGY |
| 24 | PREY |
| 25 | HABITATS |
| 26 | ANTIBIOTICS |
Questions 14-20
Reading Passage 2 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.
14 mention of factors driving a renewed interest in natural medicinal compounds.
Location and Answer: C
Explanation: The main keyword is ‘natural medicinal compounds’ and its reference is there in the first line of the paragraph. ‘This realization, together with several looming health crises, such as antibiotic resistance, the search for useful compounds in nature – firmly back on the map…’Here, ‘firmly back on the map’ means renewed interest. Moreover, ‘looming health crisis…’are the factors.
Saving bugs to find new drugs- Reading answers Explanation- CAM 14
15 how recent technological advances have made insect research easier
Location and Answer: H
Explanation: The answer to this question is in the first line of the paragraph. ‘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…’Here, this statement means there is advancement in DNA research. Thus, this makes answer very clear.
16 examples of animals which use medicinal substances from nature
Location and Answer: A
Explanation: The main keyword is ‘examples of animals’ and its reference is there in the last line of the paragraph. ‘To look at other primates – such as the capuchin monkey…or the chimpanzees… to realise that our ancient ancestors too probably had a basic grasp of medicine.’ Here, ‘capuchin monkey, chimpanzees..’ are the animals. Thus, the answer is A.
Saving bugs to find new drugs- Reading answers Explanation- CAM 14
17 reasons why it is challenging to use insects in drug research
Location and Answer: F
Explanation: The answer to this question is in the second line of the paragraph. ‘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…’These are the reasons why it is challenging to use insects.
Saving bugs to find new drugs- Reading answers Explanation- CAM 14
18 reference to how interest in drug research may benefit wildlife
Location and Answer: I
Explanation: The location of the answer is in the last line of the paragraph. ‘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…’Here, ‘exploring the useful chemistry..animals’ means it may benefit wildlife. Thus, ‘useful’ and ‘benefit’ are synonyms.
Saving bugs to find new drugs- Reading answers Explanation- CAM 14
19 a reason why nature-based medicines fell out of favour for a period
Location and Answer: B
Explanation: The answer to this question is in the second and third line of the paragraph. ‘ Then, for a while, modern pharmaceutical science moved its focus away from nature… Designing chemical compounds from scratch. The main cause of this shift is that although there are plenty… chemical compounds in nature, finding them is far from easy. , Thus, ‘moved its focus away from the nature’ has been written as ‘fell out for a period’ in the question.
20 an example of an insect-derived medicine in use at the moment
Location and Answer: E
Explanation: The main keyword is ‘insect-derived medicine’ and its reference is there in the second line of the paragraph. ‘For example, alloferon, an antimicrobial compound produced by blow fly larvae, is used as an antiviral and antitumor agent in South Korea and Russia. Here, ‘antiviral’ and ‘antitumor’ are the examples of an insect-derived medicine. Thus, this makes an answer very clear.
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?
A the huge number of individual insects in the world
B the variety of substances insects have developed to protect themselves
C the potential to extract and make use of insects’ genetic codes
D the similarities between different species of insect
E the manageable size of most insects
Location: G paragraph
Explanation: The answer to this question is in the second line of the paragraph. ‘The creatures that particularly interest us are the many insects that secrete powerful poison for subduing prey and keeping it fresh for future consumption…’Here ‘powerful poison’ is a substance that protect insects. Thus, the answer is B.
Location: H paragraph
Explanation: The location of the answer is in the second line of the paragraph. ‘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. Here, ‘carry codes’ means to make use of genetic codes. Thus, this statement makes an answer very clear. Hence, the answer is C.
Answer (21,22): B or C (in any order)
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.
Location: G paragraph
Explanation: The main keyword ‘Aberystwyth University’ helps to locate the answer in the beginning of the paragraph. ‘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…’Here, ‘expertise’ and ‘knowledge’ are synonyms. Moreover, ‘fellow zoologists’ means ‘colleagues…’Thus, the answer is ‘Ecology’.
Answer: Ecology
They are especially interested in the compounds that insects produce to overpower and preserve their 24………………………….
Location: G paragraph
Explanation: The location of the answer is in the second line of the paragraph. ‘The creatures that particularly interest us are the many insects that secrete powerful poison for subduing prey and keeping it fresh for future consumption…’ Firstly, ‘secrete’ and ‘produce’ are synonyms. Secondly, ‘subduing’ means ‘overpower’. Moreover, ‘keeping it fresh for future consumption’ give reference to preservation.
Answer: Prey
Saving bugs to find new drugs- Reading answers Explanation- CAM 14
They are also interested in compounds which insects use to protect themselves from pathogenic bacteria and fungi found in their 25…………………………
Location: G paragraph
Explanation: The main keyword ‘pathogenic bacteria’ helps to locate the answer in the third line of the paragraph. ‘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…’ Here, ‘faeces and carcasses’ are pathogenic bacteria.
Answer: Habitats
Piper hopes that these substances will be useful in the development of drugs such as 26……………………………..
Location: G paragraph
Explanation: The answer to this question is in the last line of the paragraph. ‘These insects have many antimicrobial compounds for dealing with pathogenic bacteria and fungi, that there is certainly potential to find many compounds that can serve as or inspire new antibiotics. Thus, the answer is ‘antibiotics’.
Answer: Antibiotics
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