The Discovery and Significance of Penicillin in Medicine - TOEFL Listening Practice Test

The TOEFL Listening section is intended to evaluate your comprehension of spoken English in academic settings, particularly through lectures. This section includes various topics, requiring you to listen attentively and respond to multiple-choice questions based on the audio content. Each lecture is designed to replicate real classroom experiences, offering an authentic educational atmosphere.

To help you prepare effectively, we’ve created a listening practice set focused on "The Discovery and Significance of Penicillin in Medicine." This set will not only improve your listening abilities but also enhance your understanding. As you engage with this material, you'll learn to identify key concepts, supporting details, and the overall importance of the topic—skills essential for excelling in the TOEFL Listening section.

Listening Instructions

• You can listen to each conversation and lecture only once.
• You have approximately 8 minutes to listen to the conversation/lecture and respond to the questions.
• Each question generally carries one point unless otherwise specified in the instructions, which will explicitly state the assigned points for specific questions.
• After listening to the Conversation, respond to questions related to the topic based on explicit or implicit statements made by the speakers.
• Feel free to make notes as you listen. You can refer to your notes to aid in answering the questions. 
• We recommend practicing note-taking with a pen and paper, similar to what you'll do during the TOEFL Exam.

Conversation on The Discovery and Significance of Penicillin in Medicine

Now listen to the audio.

Questions

Directions: Mark your answer by selecting your choice.

1. What is the main topic of the lecture?  
   
   1. The history of surgical practices
   2. The discovery of penicillin and its impact on medicine
   3. The role of bacteria in human health
   4. The development of modern antibiotics 

1. According to the professor, what did Alexander Fleming observe in his petri dish?  
   
   1. A new type of bacteria
   2. A mould preventing bacterial growth
   3. A chemical reaction
   4. A viral infection  

1. What does the professor mean when he says, "This breakthrough not only saved countless lives but also transformed surgical practices"?
   
   1. Penicillin was the first antibiotic ever discovered. 
   2. The introduction of penicillin reduced the risk of post-surgical infections.  
   3. Surgical practices became more complicated after penicillin was introduced.
   4. Antibiotics are no longer necessary in modern medicine.

1. What is the professor's attitude towards the impact of penicillin on public health?
   
   1. Skeptical 
   2. Indifferent  
   3. Highly positive   
   4. Concerned  

1. What can be inferred about the necessity for ongoing research in antibiotics?
   
   1. New antibiotics are no longer needed.
   2. Emerging resistant strains of bacteria pose a significant threat. 
   3. All bacterial infections can be treated with penicillin.   
   4. Research in antibiotics has reached its peak.

Transcript of the Audio Conversation on The Discovery and Significance of Penicillin in Medicine

Answers and Explanations of the Conversation on The Discovery and Significance of Penicillin in Medicine

1. Answer: B. The discovery of penicillin and its impact on medicine.

Explanation: The passage primarily discusses the discovery of penicillin by Alexander Fleming and its significant effects on the treatment of bacterial infections. It highlights how this antibiotic revolutionised medical practices and public health, making it clear that the focus is on both the discovery itself and its broader implications in medicine.

2. Answer: B. A mould preventing bacterial growth.

Explanation: Fleming's observation of the mould, later identified as Penicillium notatum, was crucial to the discovery of penicillin. He noted that this mould inhibited bacterial growth, leading him to investigate further and ultimately identify the antibiotic properties of the substance it produced.

3. Answer: B. The introduction of penicillin reduced the risk of post-surgical infections.

Explanation: The statement underscores the dual impact of penicillin: it not only treated existing infections effectively but also significantly lowered the chances of infections occurring after surgical procedures. This transformation in surgical practices allowed for more complex surgeries to be performed with reduced risk, highlighting the importance of antibiotics in modern medicine.

4. Answer: C. Highly positive.

Explanation: The professor expresses a highly positive attitude towards penicillin's impact, noting its life-saving capabilities and its role in transforming medical practices. The language used in the passage conveys admiration for the breakthrough, indicating a strong appreciation for its contributions to public health and the management of infectious diseases.

5. Answer: B. To highlight the ongoing need for antibiotic research.

Explanation: The mention of other antibiotics, such as cephalosporins and tetracyclines, serves to illustrate that penicillin's discovery was just the beginning of a broader field of research. It emphasises the importance of continued exploration in antibiotic development to address various bacterial infections and the challenges posed by antibiotic resistance.

6. Answer: B. Emerging resistant strains of bacteria pose a significant threat.

Explanation: The passage suggests that while penicillin was a groundbreaking discovery, the emergence of resistant strains of bacteria necessitates ongoing research in the field of antibiotics. This inference highlights the dynamic nature of bacterial infections and the need for new solutions to combat evolving threats to public health.

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