Doctoring Sales Reading Answers: IELTS Reading Practice Test

List of headings
 

i.     Not every doctor gets influenced

ii.     Picking the best offers

iii.    Who takes responsibility for raising the promotion?

iv.    The drug companies clash

v.    Expectations of doctors from drug companies example

vi.    Financial incentives are provided as gifts

vii.   Research shows the impacts of promotion

viii.  High research costs 

ix.    Drug promotion and its advantage

x.    Who pays for the free gifts of doctors? 

1. Paragraph A
2. Paragraph B
3. Paragraph C
4. Paragraph D
5. Paragraph E
6. Paragraph F
7. Paragraph G

Doctoring Sales Answers with Explanations (1-5)

Type of question: Matching Headings

In this question type, you will be asked to choose the correct heading for each paragraph from a list of headings provided. This type of question assesses your ability to understand the main idea or theme of each paragraph.

How to best answer: 

• Familiarise yourself with the list of headings before reading the paragraphs. This helps you know what to look for.
• Identify the main idea or theme of each paragraph by looking for topic sentences or recurring themes.
• Find keywords or phrases that are similar to those in the headings. This can help you make connections.
• Eliminate incorrect options that don't match any paragraphs to narrow down your choices.
• Skim and Scan each paragraph efficiently to get a context about the content.

Reference:

From paragraph A: "Kim Schaefer is one of the sales representatives of a major global pharmaceutical company —---He asked 'The last rep offered me a trip to Florida. What do you have?' in a half-joking manner."
 

Explanation

The line "The last rep offered me a trip to Florida. What do you have?" illustrates the expectations doctors have from drug companies, indicating the theme of doctor expectations.

Reference:

From paragraph B: “That day's offer was a pair of tickets for a New York musical—---she also has a few $1,000 honoraria in exchange for a doctor's attendance for her company’s next educational lecture.”
 

Explanation

The mention of "100’s of free drug samples" and offering "$200 for a physician" showcases the financial incentives provided by drug companies, supporting the theme of financial incentives as gifts.

Reference:

From paragraph C:  "In ethical judgement, selling pharmaceuticals is a daily exercise. Or does the industry need to take responsibility for setting the boundaries?"
 

Explanation

The question, "Is it right to blame the doctors for the escalating extravagance of pharmaceutical marketing?" reflects on the debate of responsibility for the rise in promotion, aligning with the paragraph's discussion of ethical judgments and industry responsibility.

Reference:

From paragraph D: "The close examination of the pressures, influences, and relationships—--advantage in getting the attention of busy doctors if they need any information.”

Explanation

The statement "They have a tremendous advantage in getting the attention of busy doctors if they need any information" highlights the advantage of face-to-face selling and education, supporting the advantage of drug promotion.

Reference:

From paragraph E: "In the office sales push rarely stops but it is often followed up with expensive restaurant meals—--------but it doesn't make me prescribe their medicine. I think that what they gave me will not influence me."

Explanation

The doctor's statement "I think that what they gave me will not influence me" indicates that not every doctor gets influenced by promotional gifts, emphasising the point that not all doctors are influenced.

Reference:

From paragraph F: "To make doctors and patients loyal to a product, offering free samples —----samples led them to dispense and prescribe drugs that differed from their preferred drug choice."
 

Explanation

The mention of the University of Washington investigating how drug sample availability affects prescriptions aligns with the paragraph's discussion of research showing the impacts of promotion.

Reference:

From paragraph G: "As the bottom line, other than investing in research and development—-----the medical world continues to grapple with what's acceptable and not."

Explanation

The statement "For every pen that's handed out, every free theatre ticket, and every steak dinner eaten, patients are the ones who pay the skyrocketing prescription prices" connects with the theme of who ultimately bears the cost of the free gifts, reflecting the clash between drug companies and patient expenses.