Direction for the following 4 (four) items: Read the following four passages and answer the items (1-4) that follow. Your answers to these items should be based on the passages only.

There are reports that some of the antibiotics sold in the market are fed to poultry and other livestock as growth promoters. Overusing these substances can create superbugs, pathogens that are resistant to multiple drugs and could be passed along humans. Mindful of that, some farming companies have stopped using the drugs to make chickens gain weight faster. Since Denmark banned antibiotic growth promoters in the 1990s, the major pork exporter says it is producing more pigs and the animals get fewer diseases.

Which one of the following statements best reflects the critical message conveyed by the passage given above?

The correct answer is: Antibiotics should only be used to treat diseases.

Step-by-Step Explanation:

1. Understanding the Main Point of the Passage:
The passage highlights the risks associated with using antibiotics as growth promoters in livestock and poultry farming. Specifically, it notes that overusing antibiotics in this manner can lead to the creation of "superbugs" (drug-resistant pathogens) that can infect humans. It also presents Denmark's successful ban on antibiotic growth promoters as evidence that animals can be raised healthier and more productively without non-therapeutic antibiotic use.

2. Evaluating the Options:

• Option 1 ("People should avoid consuming the products of animal farming"): This is an extreme conclusion. The passage advocates against the improper use of antibiotics in farming, not against animal farming altogether.

• Option 2 ("Foods of animal origin should be replaced with foods of plant origin"): The passage does not discuss diet replacement or plant-based foods.

• Option 3 ("Using antibiotics on animals should be banned"): This statement is too broad and incorrect because antibiotics are still necessary to treat sick animals. The passage specifically addresses banning their use as growth promoters, not eliminating all antibiotic use in animals.

• Option 4 ("Antibiotics should only be used to treat diseases"): This best reflects the core message. By restricting antibiotics to disease treatment (therapeutic use) and eliminating their routine use for weight gain/growth promotion, we can prevent the rise of drug-resistant superbugs while keeping livestock healthy.

Thus, the critical message is that antibiotics should be reserved solely for treating diseases rather than being misused for growth promotion.