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Doctoring Sales Reading Answers: IELTS Reading Practice Test

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Updated on Jul 02, 2024, 09:03

The IELTS Reading section assesses your reading skills in academic contexts. In the academic version, there are three passages that have increasing difficulty, and you have 60 minutes to answer 40 questions. This section tests your ability to understand main ideas, locate specific information, comprehend detailed reasoning, and recognise the writer's opinions and attitudes.

 

The passage about "Doctoring Sales" discusses how pharmaceutical companies try to persuade doctors to prescribe their medicines. It describes the cunning tactics these companies use, such as offering rewards to doctors or altering the results of tests. These tactics can influence doctors to choose certain medicines over others, even if they may not be the best option for patients or public health.

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1. Doctoring Sales Reading Passage

You should spend approximately 20 minutes answering Questions 1 - 13 based on the Reading Passage below. This approach can help manage time effectively during a reading comprehension activity or exam. 

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2. Doctoring Sales Reading Question & Answers

Discover exciting and informative IELTS reading answers about Doctoring Sales

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1.

Doctoring Sales Reading Passage

General Information

  • Read Instructions: Understand each question before answering.
  • Manage Time: Spend about 20 minutes per passage.
  • Skim and Scan: Quickly get the main idea and find specific information.
  • Highlight Key Info: Underline essential words or phrases.
  • Answer All Questions: Attempt every question; no penalty for wrong answers.
  • Stay Focused: Avoid distractions and keep your attention on the task.
  • Check Spelling: Ensure correct spelling and grammar.
  • Transfer Answers Clearly: Write answers neatly on the answer sheet.
  • Don’t Dwell: Move on if stuck and return later.
  • Review: If time allows, review your answers.

 

 Doctoring Sales Reading Passage
 


 

Paragraph A

Kim Schaefer is one of the sales representatives of a major global pharmaceutical company. Few months ago she went into a medical centre in New York to get some information about her company’s latest products and free samples. That day luckily there was a doctor available for her. He asked 'The last rep offered me a trip to Florida. What do you have?' in a half-joking manner.

 

Paragraph B

That day's offer was a pair of tickets for a New York musical. But, as today’s typical drug rep, on any day, Schaefer offers promotional gifts and gadgets in a car trunk full, budget for small country lunches and dinners, 100’s of free drug samples, and freedom to offer $200 for a physician to offer her new product to the next six patients that suits the drug profile. And she also has a few $1,000 honoraria in exchange for a doctor's attendance for her company’s next educational lecture.

 

Paragraph C

In ethical judgment, selling pharmaceuticals is a daily exercise. Buying a prospect’s time for a free meal and prescribing their drugs by bribing the doctors is a common practice for every salesperson like Schaefer. They get highly criticised for their sales and marketing in the industry they work in. However, they are stuck between the age-old chicken or egg question, and businesses won’t use strategies that don't work. Is it right to blame the doctors for the escalating extravagance of pharmaceutical marketing? Or does the industry need to take responsibility for setting the boundaries?

 

Paragraph D

The close examination of the pressures, influences, and relationships between drug reps and doctors takes place due to the explosion of the number of salespeople in the Reid and the amount of funding used to promote their causes. For physicians, salespeople provide much-needed information and education. The primary sources of drug education are the brochures, article reprints, and prescriptions they deliver to healthcare givers. The industry has made a huge investment in face-to-face selling; salespeople have become specialists in one or more drugs, and they have a tremendous advantage in getting the attention of busy doctors if they need any information.

 

Paragraph E

In the office, sales push rarely stops, but it is often followed up with expensive restaurant meals, meetings at warm and sunny places, and promotional gadgets inundation for the left brochures and pamphlets. Patients rarely see a doctor have a pen that isn't emblazoned with a drug's name or see a nurse using a tablet without a pharmaceutical company's logo. Pharmaceutical companies spent millions on promotional products like coffee mugs, shirts, umbrellas, and golf balls. Is the money spent well? That’s hard to tell. One doctor said that I've been the recipient of golf balls from one company, and I use them, but it doesn't make me prescribe their medicine. I think that what they gave me will not influence me.

 

Paragraph F

Offering free samples of new and expensive drugs might be the most effective way to make doctors and patients loyal to a product. Each week, salespeople hand out hundreds of dollars worth of samples, nearly $7.2 billion worth of them in one year. The University of Washington investigated how drug sample availability affected the physician's prescription, though few comprehensive studies have been conducted. A total of 131 doctors self-reported that the availability of samples led them to dispense and prescribe drugs that differed from their preferred drug choice.

 

Paragraph G

As the bottom line, other than investing in research and development, pharmaceutical companies do more in marketing. 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. In the end, the fact remains that pharmaceutical companies have the right to make a profit and continue to find ways to increase sales. Companies will continue to be heavily scrutinised for their sales and marketing strategies as the medical world continues to grapple with what's acceptable and what's not.

2.

Doctoring Sales Reading Question & Answers

Discover exciting and informative IELTS reading answers about Doctoring Sales

Questions and Answers 1-7
  • The reading passage has seven paragraphs: A-G.
  • Choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list of headings below.
  • Write the correct number, i-x, for 1-7.

 

 

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.

 

 

1. v

 

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.


 

2. vi

 

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.


 

3. iii

 

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.


 

4. ix

 

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.


 

5. i

 

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.


 

6. vi

 

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.

 

 

7. x

 

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.

Questions and Answers 8-12
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the Reading Passage?
Write
  • YES if the statement agrees with the views of the writeR
  • NO if the statement contradicts the views of the writer
  • NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this

 

 

A. 1990

 

B. 1998
 

C. 2020

 

6. Some of these countries already shipped twice as much as 1990 volumes and imported five times more than 1990 volumes.
 

7. The ambitious goal can only be fully accomplished.
 

8. The distribution between modes in favor of road transport has fallen sharply.
 

9. Energy consumption in the transportation sector accounted for 28% of CO2 emissions, the top greenhouse gas emissions. 

 

 

European Transport System Reading Answers with Explanations (6- 9)

 

Type of Question: Matching Features 

 

Identify which paragraph contains specific information or matches a list of statements with options from the text.

 

How to best answer: 

 

  • Quickly read through the passage to understand the main ideas and structure.
  • Highlight key terms in the statements and the text to make matching easier.
  • Use the keywords to find the relevant section in the passage.
  • Carefully compare details between the statements and the text to ensure accurate matching.
  • Keep track of matched features to avoid confusion and ensure all options are used correctly.


 

6. B 1998

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph C, "In 1998, some of these countries already shipped twice as much as 1990 volumes and imported five times more than 1990 volumes."

 

Explanation: This paragraph provides specific data on the shipping and importing volumes in 1998 compared to 1990, indicating the significant growth in transportation activities.


 

7. C 2020

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph D, "The ambitious goal can only be fully accomplished by 2020, although the proposed measures are the first important step toward a sustainable transport system, which will take effect in 30 years, by 2040."

 

Explanation: This paragraph discusses the timeline for achieving the EU's ambitious transportation goals, with a target set for full accomplishment by 2020.


 

8. A 1990

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph C, "Although many candidate countries have inherited a rail-promoting mode of transport, the distribution between modes in favor of road transport has fallen sharply since the 1990s."

 

Explanation: This paragraph highlights the shift in transportation modes from rail to road that started in the 1990s, indicating a significant change in distribution preferences.


 

9. B 1998

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph E, "In 1998, energy consumption in the transportation sector accounted for 28% of CO2 emissions, the top greenhouse gas emissions."

 

Explanation: This paragraph specifies the year 1998 when transportation energy consumption contributed significantly to CO2 emissions, highlighting the environmental impact of transport activities.

Questions and Answers 10-13
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the Reading Passage?
Based on your understanding of the passage, mark the statement:

  • TRUE if the statement agrees with the information.
  • FALSE if the statement contradicts the information.
  • NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this

 

 

10. CO2 emissions from transport are hoped to grow by 50% to 1,113 billion tonnes by 2020 based on the latest estimates.
 

11. Road traffic is the major culprit because it accounts for only 84% of the CO2 emissions that cause traffic.
 

12. The second method focuses on road transport pricing but with measures to lower the effectiveness of other methods.
 

13. Cars are more pricey in some EU candidate countries.

 

 

European Transport System Reading Answers with Explanations (10- 13)

 

Type of Question: True, False, Not Given 

 

Determine if statements agree with the passage (True), contradict it (False), or if the information isn't provided (Not Given).
 

How to best answer:

 

  • Fully comprehend the statement before searching the passage.
  • Use keywords to locate the corresponding section in the passage.
  • Match the statement with the passage information precisely.
  • Ensure the statement completely matches or contradicts the passage; if neither, it's Not Given.
  • Base your answer only on the passage content, not on outside knowledge.

 

10. True

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph E, "According to the latest estimates, CO2 emissions from transport are hoped to grow by 50% to 1,113 billion tonnes by 2020, compared to the 739 billion tonnes recorded in 1990, if nothing is done to reverse the development trend." 

 

Explanation: This paragraph provides the exact figures and timeline related to the projected growth in CO2 emissions from transport.


 

11. True

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph E "Again, road traffic is the major culprit because it accounts for only 84% of the CO2 emissions that cause traffic." 

 

Explanation: This paragraph clearly states that road traffic is responsible for 84% of CO2 emissions, making it the major contributor.


 

12. False

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph H "The second method focuses on road transport pricing but with measures to improve the effectiveness of other methods." 

 

Explanation: This paragraph describes the second method as focusing on road transport pricing along with measures to enhance, not lower, the effectiveness of other transport methods.


 

13. Not Given

 

Reference:

 

The information about the price of cars in some EU candidate countries is not mentioned in any of the paragraphs. 

 

Explanation: The passage does not provide any information regarding the cost of cars in EU candidate countries.

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FAQs

Q. How can I improve my comprehension skills for the IELTS Reading test?

Ans. To improve your comprehension skills for the IELTS reading test, you can:
 

  • Read Regularly
  • Practice skimming and scanning
  • Focus on vocabulary
  • Use context clues
  • Take practice tests

 

Following these tips can improve your skills and perform better in the IELTS reading test.

Q. What are some good resources for improving my reading skills in general?

Ans.  You can explore platforms like Project Gutenberg and Medium, which offer a wide range of reading materials. Additionally, consider visiting your local library to discover books that align with your interests. You can utilise apps like Kindle and Goodreads to access books and audiobooks easily. Websites such as Khan Academy and Newsela provide exercises tailored to different reading levels to practise reading comprehension.

Q. What are some common misconceptions about the IELTS Reading test?

Ans. When it comes to the IELTS Reading test, there are several common misconceptions. These include the idea that you must understand every single word in the passage, read the entire passage thoroughly, that the questions are all straightforward, that you need to answer the questions sequentially, and that you require prior knowledge of the topics. By addressing these misconceptions, you can confidently approach the test with a better understanding of what is necessary to achieve success.