Cambridge IELTS 16Test2Passage2 Reading original translation I contain microorganisms
The second article of the second set of topics for IELTS 16 reading is about microorganisms. The article consists of nine paragraphs, which respectively introduce the history of microorganisms, their universality, diversity, discovery process, and people's attitude towards microorganisms. The following is the translation of each paragraph.
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IELTS Reading Vocabulary Cambridge IELTS 16 Test 2 Passage 2 Microbiology
Cambridge IELTS 16Test2Passage2 Reading Answers Analysis I contain microorganisms
Cambridge IELTS 16 Test2 Passage1 Reading original translation
Paragraph 1
Microbes, most of them bacteria, have populated this planet since long before animal life developed and they will outlive us. Invisible to the naked eye, they are ubiquitous. They inhabit the soil, air, rocks and water and are present within every form of life, from seaweed and coral to dogs and humans. And, as Yong explains in his utterly absorbing and hugely important book, we mess with them at our peril.
Microbes, mostly bacteria, lived on the earth long before animals appeared, and they will continue to exist after we disappear. Although invisible to the naked eye, they are everywhere. They appear in soil, air, rock and water, and also in any form of life, from seaweed and coral to dogs and humans. And, as Yang said in his very fascinating and vital book, we risk manipulating them.
Paragraph 2
Every species has its own colony of microbes, called a ‘microbiome’, and these microbes vary not only between species but also between individuals and within different parts of each individual. What is amazing is that while the number of human cells in the average person is about 30 trillion, the number of microbial ones is higher – about 39 trillion. At best, Yong informs us, we are only 50 per cent human. Indeed, some scientists even suggest we should think of each species and its microbes as a single unit, dubbed a ‘holobiont’.
Each species has its own microbial community, which is called "microbiota". Microbes are different among different species, individuals, and even different parts of each individual. Surprisingly, although the average person has about 30 trillion cells, the number of microorganisms is higher, about 39 trillion. Yang told us that even under the best circumstances, only 50% of us belong to human beings. Indeed, some scientists even believe that we should treat each species and its microorganisms as a whole and call it "holobiont".
Paragraph 3
In each human there are microbes that live only in the stomach, the mouth or the armpit and by and large they do so peacefully. So ‘bad’ microbes are just microbes out of context. Microbes that sit contentedly in the human gut (where there are more microbes than there are stars in the galaxy) can become deadly if they find their way into the bloodstream. This article is from Laokaoya website. These communities are constantly changing too. The right hand shares just one sixth of its microbes with the left hand. And, of course, we are surrounded by microbes. Every time we eat, we swallow a million microbes in each gram of food; we are continually swapping microbes with other humans, pets and the world at large…
In everyone, there are microorganisms that only exist in the stomach, mouth or armpit. Generally speaking, they live in peace. Therefore, "bad" microorganisms are actually only microorganisms separated from the corresponding environment. Microbes living comfortably in the human digestive tract (there are even more microorganisms than the stars in the Milky Way) will become very deadly if they enter the blood. These communities also change frequently. The microbes on the right hand are only one sixth the same as those on the left hand. Of course, we are also surrounded by microorganisms. Every time we eat, with every gram of food, we will swallow 1 million microorganisms. We have been exchanging microorganisms with other humans, pets and the whole world.
Paragraph 4
It’s a fascinating topic and Yong, a young British science journalist, is an extraordinarily adept guide. Writing with lightness and panache, he has a knack of explaining complex science in terms that are both easy to understand and totally enthralling. Yong is on a mission. Leading us gently by the hand, he takes us into the world of microbes – a bizarre, alien planet – in a bid to persuade us to love them as much as he does. By the end, we do.
This is a fascinating topic. Yang, a young British natural science reporter, is a very skilled guide. He explained complex scientific terms in an easy to understand and fascinating way. Yang is responsible for his mission. Gently holding our hand, he took us into the world of microorganisms - a strange and strange planet - and tried to make us fall in love with them like him. After reading the whole book, we did.
Paragraph 5
For most of human history we had no idea that microbes existed. The first man to see these extraordinarily potent creatures was a Dutch lens-maker called Antony van Leeuwenhoek in the 1670s. Using microscopes of his own design that could magnify up to 270 times, he examined a drop of water from a nearby lake and found it teeming with tiny creatures he called ‘animalcules’. It wasn’t until nearly two hundred years later that the research of French biologist Louis Pasteur indicated that some microbes caused disease. It was Pasteur’s ‘germ theory’ that gave bacteria the poor image that endures to day.
For most of human history, we did not know the existence of microorganisms. In the 1770s, a Dutch lens craftsman named Antony van Leeuwenhoek wrote an article from the old roast duck IELTS who saw these extremely powerful creatures for the first time. Using a microscope designed by himself, which can be magnified to 270 times, he examined a drop of water in a nearby lake and found that it was full of tiny creatures he called "animalcules". It was not until nearly 200 years later that Louis Pasteur, a French biologist, showed that some microorganisms could cause diseases. It is Pasteur's germ theory that has given bacteria a bad image that continues to this day.
Paragraph 6
Yong’s book is in many ways a plea for microbial tolerance, pointing out that while fewer than one hundred species of bacteria bring disease, many thousands more play a vital role in maintaining our health. The book also acknowledges that our attitude towards bacteria is no a simple one. We tend to see the dangers posed by bacteria, yet at the same time we are sold yoghurts and drinks that supposedly nurture “friendly’ bacteria. In reality, says Yong, 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.
Yang's book asks us to be tolerant of microorganisms in many ways. He pointed out that although there are less than 100 kinds of bacteria that can cause diseases, there are still thousands of bacteria that play an important role in maintaining our health. This book also recognizes that our attitude towards bacteria is not uniform. We will see the danger caused by bacteria, but at the same time we will also buy yogurt and drinks to cultivate probiotics. In fact, Yang believes that bacteria should not be regarded as friends or enemies. They are neither villains nor heroes. On the contrary, we should realize that there is a symbiotic relationship between us, that is, we can benefit each other or destroy each other.
Paragraph 7
What then do these millions of organisms do? The answer is pretty much everything. New research is now unravelling the ways in which bacteria aid digestion, regulate our immune systems, eliminate toxins, produce vitamins, affect our behaviour and even combat obesity. ‘They actually help us become who we are, ’ says Yong. But we are facing a growing problem. Our obsession with hygiene, our overuse of antibiotics and our unhealthy, low-fibre diets are disrupting the bacterial balance and may be responsible for soaring rates of allergies and immune problems, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
So what are these millions of lives doing? The answer is almost anything. New research now shows that bacteria help digestion, manage our immune system, eliminate toxins, produce vitamins, affect our behavior, and even fight obesity. "They actually help us shape ourselves," Yang said. But we also face more and more serious problems. Our obsession with hygiene, excessive use of antibiotics, and our unhealthy, low fiber diet are destroying the balance of colonies, and may be responsible for more and more allergic and immune system diseases, such as Inflammatory bowel disease.
Paragraph 8
The most recent research actually turns accepted norms upside down. For example, there are studies indicating that the excessive use of household detergents and antibacterial products actually destroys the microbes that normally keep the more dangerous germs at bay. Other studies show that keeping a dog as a pet gives children early exposure to a diverse range of bacteria which may help protect them against allergies later.
The latest research actually overturns our generally accepted view. For example, some studies have shown that excessive use of detergents and antibacterial products in the home will destroy microorganisms that usually hinder the invasion of more dangerous bacteria. Other studies have shown that keeping a dog as a pet will expose children to all kinds of bacteria early, which will help protect them from allergies in the future.
Paragraph 9
The readers of Yong’s book must be prepared for a decidedly unglamorous world. Among the less appealing case studies is one about a fungus that is wiping out entire populations of frogs and that can be halted by a rare microbial bacterium. Another is about squid that carry luminescent bacteria that protect them against predators. However, if you can overcome your distaste for some of the investigations, the reasons for Yong’s enthusiasm become clear. The microbial world is a place of wonder. Already, in an attempt to stop mosquitoes spreading dengue fever – a disease that infects 400 million people a year – mosquitoes are being loaded with a bacterium to block the disease. In the future, our ability to manipulate microbes means we could construct buildings with useful microbes built into their walls to fight off infections. Just imagine a neonatal hospital ward coated in a specially mixed cocktail of microbes so that babies get the best start in life.
The readers of Yang's works must be prepared to understand a very boring world. One of the less popular case studies is about a fungus that is exterminating the whole frog population, and only a rare bacterium can stop this process. The other item is about squid. They carry glowing bacteria that protect them from predators. However, if you can overcome your aversion to some research, the reasons behind Yang's enthusiasm will become very obvious. The microbial world is full of surprises. In an attempt to prevent mosquitoes from transmitting Geden fever, a disease that infects 400 million people every year, mosquitoes are loaded with a bacterium that can block the disease. In the future, our ability to manipulate microorganisms means that we can build buildings with microorganisms embedded in the walls to fight infection. Imagine that a new hospital ward is covered with microorganisms that have been mixed in a specific way so that babies can start their lives perfectly.
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