Extract:
Microbes and Health
There are 10 times more microbes than human cells in the human body. Scientists have long known that the human body is host to a staggering number of microorganisms, but recent information is shedding light on just how pivotal a role these bacteria play in the development of the human immune system.
The human body plays host to a wide array of microorganisms that are specially adapted to survive in particular portions of the human body. There is such a great amount of variation in these microorganisms that few people will share the same strains of bacteria in the same quantities. This process begins at birth: a newborn infant emerges from the womb, a germ-free environment, and is immediately coated with germs from its mother’s birth canal. These germs immediately begin to breed and colonize the human body that will now be its new host.
The most intriguing discovery is not that the body’s immune system tolerates these millions of harmless organisms, but that it may rely upon their presence to function properly. Scientists recently found that with laboratory mice that could not produce a particular inflammation-reducing molecule, upon being injected with a particular strain of bacteria that was then allowed to breed, their immune system quickly developed the ability to synthesize that molecule. Simply put, the mice needed the bacteria for their immune systems to function properly.
This same basic concept is also being used with humans. A relatively experimental process known as fecal bacteriotherapy is now being used to reintroduce healthy bacteria into a colon that lacks the capability to defend itself against pathogenic agents. Scientists are just beginning to understand the important role that these microorganisms play in the body of a healthy human being, but early tests have yielded remarkable discoveries.
What is the author’s primary purpose in writing this essay?
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A
To persuade
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B
To inform
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C
To entertain
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D
To analyze
The author's primary purpose is to inform readers about the essential relationship between microbes and immune system function through objective presentation of scientific discoveries.
A) To persuade
Persuasive writing employs calls to action, value judgments, or advocacy language absent here. The author neutrally reports research findings without urging readers to change hygiene habits or embrace bacteriotherapy.
B) To inform
The passage systematically educates readers about: microbial colonization beginning at birth, individual microbial variation, the groundbreaking mouse study demonstrating immune dependency on bacteria, and emerging human applications, all presented with clinical precision and factual neutrality without personal commentary.
C) To entertain
No narrative elements, humor, or engaging anecdotes appear. The tone remains academic and straightforward, designed for knowledge transfer rather than enjoyment.
D) To analyze
Analysis involves interpretive examination of causes, implications, or relationships. While the author presents information conducive to analysis, they don't perform analytical work themselves, merely reporting research findings without drawing conclusions about broader implications.
Conclusion
Informative writing prioritizes factual accuracy and comprehensive topic coverage without advocacy or subjectivity. This passage exemplifies these qualities through its structured presentation of microbiome research, from colonization mechanics to immune dependency evidence, without persuasive intent or personal perspective.