San Francisco expands access to an antibiotic pill that may prevent some bacterial STIs

Study the questions and tasks

Work through the material below, or start the interactive practice above to complete an attempt. Try the exercises before opening any answer or transcript sections, then use them to review your work.

Practice level

B2. Try this level if you can follow the instructions and understand most of the language; choose an earlier level if you need more support.

Question formats

Single choice

How to approach this practice

Read the questions, then listen before opening the transcript. Notice names, numbers and any corrections the speaker makes.

1. Question 1 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does Doxy PEP reduce according to the narration?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. The chance of bacterial infection
   2. The need for all medical treatment
   3. The number of sexual partners
   4. The symptoms of every possible STI
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   The chance of bacterial infection

   The narration states that taking it after sex lowers infection chances.

   It is taken after sex, rather than before it, to reduce the chance of infection.

2. Question 2 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Which infections had Toler experienced?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. HIV, influenza, and syphilis
   2. Chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis
   3. Gonorrhea, malaria, and chlamydia
   4. Syphilis, tuberculosis, and influenza
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis

   The narration names three specific infections from his experience.

   Tyler Toler, who has experienced chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis, described problems including itching, burning, discharge, and difficulty swallowing.

3. Question 3 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   When did Toler take the treatment?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. Immediately before every medical appointment
   2. A day or two after sex without a condom
   3. Three years before experiencing an STI
   4. Only after doctors confirmed antibiotic resistance
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   A day or two after sex without a condom

   He used it one or two days after sex without a condom.

   After learning about Doxy PEP, Toler began taking it a day or two after sex without a condom.

4. Question 4 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What may happen when bacteria become resistant?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. Medicines may become less effective
   2. Symptoms always disappear immediately
   3. All infections become easier to prevent
   4. Doctors stop monitoring bacterial infections
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Medicines may become less effective

   Resistance can reduce how well medicines work against infections.

   When this happens, medicines may no longer work as well, making infections more difficult to treat.

5. Question 5 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Which infection receives special attention from doctors?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. Chlamydia
   2. Syphilis
   3. Gonorrhea
   4. A newly discovered viral infection
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Gonorrhea

   The narration singles out gonorrhea because resistance already exists.

   Doctors are especially concerned about gonorrhea because it has already developed resistance to this class of antibiotics.

6. Question 6 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What do doctors fear rapid Doxy PEP use could do?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. Increase antibiotic resistance
   2. End the need for sexual health services
   3. Prevent all bacterial symptoms
   4. Make partner conversations unnecessary
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Increase antibiotic resistance

   They fear rapid use could worsen the existing resistance problem.

   They fear that rapid use of Doxy PEP could increase that problem.

7. Question 7 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What must be protected over the long term?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. The availability of condoms only
   2. The effectiveness of antibiotics
   3. The privacy of every medical conversation
   4. The number of reported symptoms
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   The effectiveness of antibiotics

   The recording emphasizes preserving antibiotics so they remain useful.

   Instead, its benefits must be considered alongside the long-term need to protect antibiotics so they remain effective.

What to review next

Listen again to difficult sections, then open the transcript to check what you heard. Repeat a useful phrase aloud and try the recording once more without the text.

A focused practice result shows how you did on these tasks. Use several activities across skills to decide what to study next; one practice score does not certify an overall CEFR level.

Before you practise: a worked example

Listen for the final information, especially when a speaker corrects or changes an earlier statement.

Example transcript: “Let’s meet at five — actually, half past five would be better.” What is the final suggested time?

The final suggested time is 5:30. Actually signals a correction; the first time is replaced by the later suggestion.

This teaching example is separate from the scored questions. After your test, compare any mistakes with the explanation and revisit the topic before trying again.