MCAT Sample Questions ›› Verbal Reasoning

MCAT Sample Questions : Verbal Reasoning

Passage-III

The Food and Drug Administration has formulated certain severe restrictions regarding the use of antibiotics, which are used to promote the health and growth of meat animals. Though the different types of medicines mixed with the fodder of the animals kills many microorganisms, it also encourages the appearance of bacterial strains, which are resistant to anti-infective drugs.

It has already been observed that penicillin and the tetracyclines are not as effective therapeutically as they once used to be. This resistance to drugs is chiefly caused due to tiny circlets of genes, called plasmids, which are transferable between different species of bacteria. These plasmids are also one of the two kinds of vehicles on which molecular biologists depend on while performing gene transplant experiments. Existing guidelines also forbid the use of plasmids, which bear genes for resistance to antibiotics, in the laboratories. Though congressional dabate goes on as to whether these restrictions need to be toughened with reference to scientists in their laboratories, almost no congressional attention is being paid to an ill advised agricultural practice, which produces deleterious effects.

1. In the present passage, the author's primary concern is with:
   1. The discovery of methods, which eliminate harmful microorganisms without generating drug-resistant bacteria.
   2. Attempting an explanation of the reasons for congressional inaction about the regulation of gene transplant experiments.
   3. Portraying a problematic agricultural practice and its serious genetic consequences
   4. The verification of the therapeutic ineffectiveness of anti-infective drugs
   5. Evaluation of the recently proposed restrictions, which are intended to promote the growth of meat animals.

   Answer : C

2. As inferred from the above passage, the mutual transfer of plasmids between different bacteria can result in which of the following?
   1. Microorganisms, which have an in-built resistance to drugs
   2. Therapeutically useful circlets of genes
   3. Penicillin like anti-infective drugs
   4. Viruses used by molecular biologists
   5. Carriers for performing gene transplant experiments.

   Answer : A

3. According to the above passage the author believes that those who favor the stiffening of restrictions on gene transplant research should logically also.
   1. Approve and aid experiments with any plasmids except those, which bear genes for antibiotic resistance.
   2. Inquire regarding the addition of anti-infective drugs to livestock feeds
   3. Oppose the using of penicillin and tetracyclines in order to kill microorganisms
   4. Agree to the development of meatier live-stock through the use of antibiotics
   5. Approve of congressional debate and discussion regarding science and health issues.

   Answer : B

4. The attitude the author has with reference to the development of bacterial strains that render antibiotic drugs in effective can best be described as
   1. indifferent
   2. perplexed
   3. pretentious
   4. insincere
   5. apprehensive

   Answer : E