IELTS Reading Summary Completion Topic 9

“Freebie” Marketing

Not all forms of freebie marketing are legal. One notable example of this is the use of freebie marketing to “push” habit-forming goods in areas where there is otherwise no market. For illegal substances, this is already restricted on the basis of the product’s illegality, but the use of freebie marketing to promote legal goods such as tobacco, alcohol and pharmaceuticals is also outlawed because the short-term gain to a small number of commercial outlets is not deemed worth the social cost of widespread substance abuse.

Another practice that is prohibited under antitrust laws is a form of freebie marketing known as “tying”. This is when a seller makes the sale of one good conditional on the acquisition of a second good. In these instances, the first good is typically important and highly desirable, while the second is inferior and undesirable. A music distributor who has the rights to an album that is in high demand, for example, might only allow stores to purchase copies of this album if they also buy an unpopular stock that does not sell very easily. Because this typically relies on the manipulation of a natural monopoly on the part of the distributor, such practices are widely understood to constitute anti-competitive behaviour.

Questions 1-4

Complete the summary below. 

Choose No More Than Two Words from the text for each answer.

Write your answers in blank spaces next to 1-4 on your answer sheet.

Freebie marketing is not permitted by law for either illegal or legal 1………………… products. This type of promotion of goods such as tobacco and alcohol is not considered worth the 2…………….. and has consequently been outlawed. “Tying” is also prohibited. This is when the sale of an attractive product is 3…………………. on the purchase of another. It tends to occur when the seller takes advantage of a natural monopoly and is generally considered to be 4………………..

Explanation

Now, could you guess the reason behind the answers?