Questions –13 The correct answer is false

C is incorrect: 
The text refers to two scientists but does not mention any confusion. 
D is 
incorrect:
The text refers to the fact that some microbes cause disease but does not give any 
details about this.
17 The correct answer is G: 
‘Disease’ has a similar meaning to illness. In the sixth paragraph, 
the text says that ‘while fewer than one hundred species of bacteria bring disease, many 
thousands more play a vital role in maintaining our health’. This compares the number of 
bacteria which lead to illness with the number which help keep us healthy. The ‘fewer than 
one hundred’ bacteria species which cause disease is relatively small in comparison to the 
thousands which maintain our health.
18 The correct answer is B: 
The text says, ‘bacteria should not be viewed as either friends or 
foes, villains or heroes. Instead we should realise we have a symbiotic relationship, that can be 
mutually beneficial or mutually destructive.’ ‘Foes’ means enemies, so the text is saying that we 
should not think of bacteria as either our friends or our enemies. We should think of them as a 
species with which we have a ‘symbiotic’ relationship: this is when different species co-exist 
together in close association, similar to a partnership.

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IELTS 16 Academic, Test 2 answer key with extra explanations, Reading
© Cambridge University Press and Cambridge Assessment 2021
19 The correct answer is H: 
In the seventh paragraph, the text refers to ‘our unhealthy, 
low-fibre diets’ as one of several factors contributing to the increase in allergies and immune 
system problems. Our ‘diets’ are what we eat and drink, and this word has a similar meaning 
to nutrition. If our diet is ‘unhealthy’, this means that our nutrition is poor.