The Discovery of Penicillin

Reading passage
A
Before the 20th century, many people died from simple infections. A small cut on the hand could become dangerous if bacteria entered the body. Doctors had few ways to stop these infections from spreading. Patients often became very sick, and some did not survive. This situation changed completely after one important discovery in 1928.
B
Alexander Fleming was a scientist who studied bacteria at a hospital in London. He worked in a small room where he grew bacteria in special dishes. Fleming wanted to understand how bacteria grew and how they could harm people. In September 1928, he returned to his room after a holiday. He had left several dishes on his desk before leaving. When he came back, he noticed something unusual in one of the dishes.
C
One dish had mould growing in it by accident. Mould is a type of fungus that can grow on old food or in damp places. Fleming saw that the bacteria around the mould had died. The area near the mould was clear, but bacteria were still alive in other parts of the dish. This observation surprised Fleming because something in the mould had killed the bacteria. He decided to study this mould more carefully.
D
Fleming grew more of this mould and tested it on different types of bacteria. He found that the mould could kill many dangerous bacteria that caused infections in humans. The mould came from a group called Penicillium, so Fleming named the substance penicillin. He published his findings in 1929, but many scientists did not pay much attention at first. Fleming also had problems growing large amounts of penicillin for medical use.
E
Two other scientists, Howard Florey and Ernst Chain, became interested in Fleming's work in the late 1930s. They worked at Oxford University and wanted to make penicillin in larger quantities. By 1940, they successfully produced enough penicillin to test on animals. The results were very good. Mice with serious infections survived after receiving penicillin treatment. Florey and Chain then tested penicillin on human patients in 1941.
F
The first human patient was a policeman who had a severe infection. The infection had spread through his body, and he was dying. After doctors gave him penicillin, his condition improved quickly. However, the scientists did not have enough penicillin to complete his treatment. The patient became sick again and died. Despite this sad result, the test showed that penicillin could work in humans. The scientists needed to produce much more of it.
G
During World War Two, many soldiers were dying from infected wounds. The governments of Britain and America supported research to make penicillin in factories. By 1943, companies were producing large amounts of penicillin. Doctors used it to treat soldiers, and thousands of lives were saved. After the war, penicillin became available to ordinary people in hospitals and clinics. It was the first antibiotic medicine that doctors could use widely.
H
The discovery of penicillin changed medicine forever. Before penicillin, common infections could kill healthy people. After its discovery, doctors could treat these infections easily. Fleming, Florey, and Chain received the Nobel Prize in 1945 for their work. Today, doctors still use penicillin and similar medicines to fight bacterial infections. However, some bacteria have become resistant to these drugs, so scientists continue to search for new treatments.

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Questions 1 to 20

Answer the following questions based on the passage

1.Before the 20th century, a small cut on the hand could become dangerous if ___ entered the body.

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2.The situation with infections changed completely after one important discovery in ___.

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3.Alexander Fleming was a scientist who studied ___ at a hospital in London.

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4.Fleming worked in a small room where he grew bacteria in ___.

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5.In September 1928, Fleming returned to his room after a ___.

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6.Mould is a type of ___ that can grow on old food or in damp places.

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7.Fleming observed that the bacteria around the mould had ___.

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8.Fleming discovered that something in the ___ had killed the bacteria.

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9.The mould could kill many dangerous bacteria that caused ___ in humans.

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10.The mould came from a group called ___.

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11.Fleming published his findings in ___.

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12.Howard Florey and Ernst Chain worked at ___.

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13.By 1940, Florey and Chain successfully produced enough penicillin to test on ___.

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14.Florey and Chain tested penicillin on ___ in 1941.

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15.The first human patient was a ___ who had a severe infection.

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16.The scientists did not have enough penicillin to complete the policeman's ___.

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17.During World War Two, many soldiers were dying from ___.

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18.By ___, companies were producing large amounts of penicillin.

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19.Penicillin was the first ___ medicine that doctors could use widely.

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20.Fleming, Florey, and Chain received the ___ in 1945 for their work.

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