Look at the picture, then give the missing word in this sentence. The number of antibiotic-resistant bacteria will __________ over time.

The missing word in the sentence is likely "increase."

In the context of antibiotic resistance, as antibiotics are used more frequently—especially when misused or overprescribed—bacteria may evolve mechanisms to survive exposure to these drugs. This evolutionary process leads to a rise in the population of antibiotic-resistant strains. Over time, this can result in more infections that are difficult to treat, posing serious public health risks. It underscores the importance of using antibiotics responsibly and developing new treatment strategies to combat resistant bacteria. Hence, the completed sentence would read: "The number of antibiotic-resistant bacteria will increase over time."