Question

43
the first paragraph of passage 1 primarily serves to
a) present a claim that is supported and developed over the course of the passage.
b) introduce a controversy that the study described in the passage is intended to resolve.
c) identify a problem that the research discussed in the passage may help to address.
d) offer a theory that is challenged by the findings presented in the passage.

44
the author of passage 1 suggests that an advantage of the method lewis’s team used to grow microorganisms is that it
a) identifies the requirements for soil bacteria to thrive and replicates those features in artificial soil.
b) enables soil bacteria to take in more nutrients than they typically consume in natural settings.
c) directly affects the cell walls of bacteria rather than the proteins those bacteria produce.
d) allows researchers to make use of soil bacteria that they had previously been unable to exploit.

45
which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question?
a) lines 17-21 (“but only … now”)
b) lines 28-32 (“to do … cells”)
c) lines 32-34 (“we just … says”)
d) lines 44-47 (“it’s likely … organically”)

46
the author of passage 2 would most likely agree with which statement about the development of teixobactin?
a) it reveals that some antibiotics are effective against gram-negative bacteria.
b) it shows that conventional methods can still yield new types of antibiotics.
c) it casts doubt on the practicality of searching for new antibiotics in exotic environments.
d) it confirms a long-held belief about a potential source of new antibiotics.

47
as used in line 79, “caveats” most nearly means
a) exceptions.
b) restrictions.
c) misgivings.
d) explanations.

48
in the last sentence of passage 2, the author uses the phrase “five years and £500 million” primarily to
a) emphasize the scale of the effort needed to make teixobactin available for consumer use.
b) criticize the level of funding that the government has committed to teixobactin development.
c) underscore the amount of time and money that has already been spent researching teixobactin.
d) compare the amount of money spent developing teixobactin with the amount spent developing other antibiotics.

Explanation:

Since the problem is a set of reading comprehension questions (likely from a standardized test like the SAT), we'll analyze each question one by one. However, as the passages are not fully provided, we can only explain the general approach for such questions.

Question 43

• Approach: Analyze the purpose of the first paragraph of Passage 1. We need to determine if it presents a claim, introduces a controversy, identifies a problem, or offers a theory.
• Explanation for correct answer (Option C): The first paragraph likely presents a problem (e.g., antibiotic resistance or difficulty in developing new antibiotics) that the research in the passage aims to address. Option A is incorrect if the claim isn't developed; B is incorrect if there's no controversy; D is incorrect if the theory isn't challenged.
• Answer: C. identify a problem that the research discussed in the passage may help to address.

Question 44

• Approach: Find the advantage of Lewis’s team’s method to grow microorganisms from Passage 1.
• Explanation for correct answer (Option D): The method probably allows using previously unexploitable soil bacteria. A is incorrect if it's not about replicating soil features; B is incorrect if it's not about more nutrients; C is incorrect if it's not about cell walls vs proteins.
• Answer: D. allows researchers to make use of soil bacteria that they had previously been unable to exploit.

Question 45

• Approach: Find the line reference that supports the answer to Question 44.
• Explanation for correct answer (Option A): Lines 17 - 21 ("But only... now") likely explain how the method enables using new bacteria, supporting Question 44's answer. B, C, D don't relate to the method's advantage.
• Answer: A. Lines 17 - 21 ("But only... now")

Question 46

• Approach: Determine the author of Passage 2’s view on teixobactin’s development.
• Explanation for correct answer (Option B): If teixobactin was developed using conventional methods, the author would agree conventional methods still work. A is incorrect if teixobactin isn't for gram - negative; C is incorrect if it doesn't doubt exotic environments; D is incorrect if it doesn't confirm a long - held belief.
• Answer: B. It shows that conventional methods can still yield new types of antibiotics.

Question 47

• Approach: Determine the meaning of "caveats" in line 79.
• Explanation for correct answer (Option C): "Caveats" here likely means misgivings (doubts or reservations). A (exceptions), B (restrictions), D (explanations) don't fit the context.
• Answer: C. misgivings.

Question 48

• Approach: Analyze the purpose of "five years and £500 million" in Passage 2’s last sentence.
• Explanation for correct answer (Option A): The phrase emphasizes the effort (time and money) needed to make teixobactin available. B is incorrect if it's not criticizing funding; C is incorrect if it's not about already spent resources; D is incorrect if it's not a comparison.
• Answer: A. emphasize the scale of the effort needed to make teixobactin available for consumer use.

Answer:

Since the problem is a set of reading comprehension questions (likely from a standardized test like the SAT), we'll analyze each question one by one. However, as the passages are not fully provided, we can only explain the general approach for such questions.

Question 43

• Approach: Analyze the purpose of the first paragraph of Passage 1. We need to determine if it presents a claim, introduces a controversy, identifies a problem, or offers a theory.
• Explanation for correct answer (Option C): The first paragraph likely presents a problem (e.g., antibiotic resistance or difficulty in developing new antibiotics) that the research in the passage aims to address. Option A is incorrect if the claim isn't developed; B is incorrect if there's no controversy; D is incorrect if the theory isn't challenged.
• Answer: C. identify a problem that the research discussed in the passage may help to address.

Question 44

• Approach: Find the advantage of Lewis’s team’s method to grow microorganisms from Passage 1.
• Explanation for correct answer (Option D): The method probably allows using previously unexploitable soil bacteria. A is incorrect if it's not about replicating soil features; B is incorrect if it's not about more nutrients; C is incorrect if it's not about cell walls vs proteins.
• Answer: D. allows researchers to make use of soil bacteria that they had previously been unable to exploit.

Question 45

• Approach: Find the line reference that supports the answer to Question 44.
• Explanation for correct answer (Option A): Lines 17 - 21 ("But only... now") likely explain how the method enables using new bacteria, supporting Question 44's answer. B, C, D don't relate to the method's advantage.
• Answer: A. Lines 17 - 21 ("But only... now")

Question 46

• Approach: Determine the author of Passage 2’s view on teixobactin’s development.
• Explanation for correct answer (Option B): If teixobactin was developed using conventional methods, the author would agree conventional methods still work. A is incorrect if teixobactin isn't for gram - negative; C is incorrect if it doesn't doubt exotic environments; D is incorrect if it doesn't confirm a long - held belief.
• Answer: B. It shows that conventional methods can still yield new types of antibiotics.

Question 47

• Approach: Determine the meaning of "caveats" in line 79.
• Explanation for correct answer (Option C): "Caveats" here likely means misgivings (doubts or reservations). A (exceptions), B (restrictions), D (explanations) don't fit the context.
• Answer: C. misgivings.

Question 48

• Approach: Analyze the purpose of "five years and £500 million" in Passage 2’s last sentence.
• Explanation for correct answer (Option A): The phrase emphasizes the effort (time and money) needed to make teixobactin available. B is incorrect if it's not criticizing funding; C is incorrect if it's not about already spent resources; D is incorrect if it's not a comparison.
• Answer: A. emphasize the scale of the effort needed to make teixobactin available for consumer use.