Question

during world war i, many soldiers died because their wounds became infected. antibiotics had not been discovered at that time. during world war ii, many more soldiers died while in combat. antibiotics are used to treat infections because they kill bacteria in the body. they are easily the most widely prescribed drug in the world. which statement best supports the central idea of the passage? a. many world war i soldiers died from infections b. more world war ii soldiers died while in combat c. there were no antibiotics in world war i d. antibiotics are used to treat infections

Explanation:

The passage discusses that in World War I, many soldiers died from infected wounds as antibiotics hadn't been discovered yet. In World War II, antibiotics were used to treat infections (they kill bacteria in the body), and it's also mentioned that antibiotics are the most widely - prescribed drug. The central idea is about the role of antibiotics in treating infections. Option D directly states that antibiotics are used to treat infections, which ties in with the information in the passage about their function (killing bacteria in the body to treat infections). Option A only focuses on World War I deaths from infections but doesn't highlight the key aspect of antibiotics' role (the central idea is more about antibiotics' function rather than just the death toll in a particular war). Option B compares the death tolls of two wars in combat, which is not the central idea. Option C is incorrect as the passage implies there were no antibiotics in World War I (as they were discovered later), but it's more of a side - detail rather than supporting the central idea about antibiotics' function.

Answer:

D. Antibiotics are used to treat infections