Archives

While you’re making design choices for an electronic slide deck, let simplicity be your guide because A) simple materials often take less time to create. B) simple visuals are less likely to be misinterpreted. C) keeping things simple reduces the […]

Short words are generally more vivid and easier to read than long words. Answer: Presentations offer important opportunities for you to put all your communication skills on display. Answer: TRUE Explanation: Oral presentations involve all of your communication skills, and […]

The reference to a bar chart in your report on advertising costs should A) come directly after the chart itself appears. B) precede the chart. C) come on the page following the chart, and refer to it as “the abovementioned […]

If you are sending an informative memo to employees about policy statements or procedural changes, you should A) assume that employees will have a neutral response. B) use the indirect approach. C) use the body of the message to provide […]

Which of the following is the best example of an ethical dilemma? A) Deciding whether to promote the employee who has the better performance record or the employee who seems to be the better leader B) Deciding whether to tell […]

If you’re marketing a new security system to an audience of wealthy professionals, the consumer benefit you would most want to emphasize is A) protection of the consumer’s property. B) the low cost of the system. C) the low monthly […]

When discussing topics of profound importance to your audience, you can usually count on having their attention as soon as you introduce your main idea. Answer: Writing in ________ is key to attracting and keeping blog readers. A) a carefully […]

In business documents, abbreviations such as U.S.A. and M.B.A. must always contain periods. Answer: If you must deliver bad news, ask ________ to help you choose the direct or indirect approach for delivering the message. A) Will the reader be […]

According to the theory of nonverbal communication, touch A) is the least important form of nonverbal communication. B) is the great equalizer, putting people of different status on the same footing. C) should be completely avoided in all business situations. […]

The basic purpose of informational reports is A) to persuade the audience to act. B) to present recommendations and conclusions to a superior for how to solve a particular problem. C) to present data, facts, feedback, and other types of […]

Cultural context refers to the pattern of physical cues, environmental stimuli, and implicit understanding that conveys meaning between members of the same culture. Answer: According to the concept of visual symbolism, many shapes and colors have the same meaning, across […]

Because phone calls lack the visual richness of face-to-face conversations, you’ll need to use ________ to convey confidence and professionalism. A) questions and social media B) smartphones and apps C) context and subject matter D) attitude and tone of voice […]

A new coworker recently won a prestigious award for her work on green technologies. Since you do not know her well, you should not send a note to congratulate her on the achievement. Answer: “The evaluator noted several shortcomings” is […]

The Modern Language Association of America recommends compiling the list of references after you’ve written your report. Answer: If you find graphics, photos, videos, and other elements online, you can use them in your own documents without worrying about copyright […]

When preparing text slides for an upcoming presentation, you should A) try to have a slide to go with every concept you want to convey. B) be sure to use complete sentences. C) limit each slide to expressing a single […]

Reports that examine the financial aspects of a proposed decision, such as acquiring another company, are called due diligence reports. Answer: Preliminary screening interviews are often conducted via telephone or Skype. Answer: TRUE Explanation: Preliminary screening interviews are used to […]

________ is a measure of how effectively a company engages with its various online stakeholders in a mutually beneficial exchange of information. A) Impression management B) Marketplace share C) Product potentiality D) Brand socialization Answer: Best practices for communicating via […]

If you request a recommendation from a person you haven’t had contact with recently, you should A) use the opening of your letter to refresh the person’s memory. B) enclose a stamped, preaddressed envelope. C) use the persuasive approach. D) […]

If a newspaper article doesn’t have an author, your citation begins with the title of the newspaper. Answer: The American Psychological Association style uses the author-date system. Answer: TRUE Explanation: The American Psychological Association recommends the author-date system of documentation. […]

A report focused on recommendations should A) first establish or verify the need for action. B) not include conclusions. C) avoid mentioning any potential risks. D) outline costs, but not in detail. Answer: When you’re writing a report, be sure […]

Which of the following is NOT a useful strategy in preparing business reports? A) Understand and meet audience expectations. B) Use the same format for reports, regardless of topic. C) Keep your report as short as possible. D) All of […]

________ focuses on the process and outcomes of communication, whereas ________ delivers criticism with no guidance to stimulate improvement. A) Intuitive feedback; rational feedback B) Circular feedback; linear feedback C) Open feedback; closed feedback D) Constructive feedback; destructive feedback Answer: […]

Demographic information includes people’s psychological characteristics, such as personality, attitudes, and lifestyle. Answer: Respecting the chain of command is an important element of effective email messages. Answer: TRUE Explanation: Though you may have the ability to fire off an email […]

Grammarians and professional editors agree on the rules of grammar. Answer: The functions of footnotes and endnotes are identical; the only difference between the two is their placement. Answer: TRUE Explanation: Both types of notes perform the same function. Endnotes […]

When creating text or graphics slides, it is important to keep content and graphics as simple and readable as possible. Answer: You can find information about job-search strategies on the Internet, but you can’t find information on specific companies. Answer: […]

Analytical reports for skeptical audiences should generally follow the ________ approach. A) direct B) indirect C) hypothetical D) aggressive Answer: If price is one of your strong selling points, you should A) mention special offers, such as volume discounts, before […]

A prospecting job application letter should begin with a statement designed to get the reader’s attention. Answer: Using iTunes to distribute podcasts is unrealistic for most organizations. Answer: FALSE Explanation: iTunes is a viable option for the distribution of business […]

When conducting business with others who speak a language other than English, it is best to avoid trying to speak any words or phrases in their language. Answer: Search engines and directories use different approaches to find and index websites. […]

If the interviewer makes you a job offer and you begin to discuss salary, you should A) be sure to raise the topic before the interviewer. B) pick a salary number that is 20 percent higher than the industry standard. […]

The best opening for a positive message includes the single most important information you need to give the audience. Answer: Valid surveys measure what they’re intended to measure. Answer: FALSE Explanation: Reliability is defined as how reproducible a study is. […]

Business communication uses of microblogging are limited to the publication of brief updates. Answer: An infographic shows the relative frequency of terms used in a blog, a website, or another collection of online text. Answer: FALSE Explanation: A tag cloud […]

In preparing a speaking outline for your presentation, avoid cluttering it with complete sentences. Answer: Accuracy of information is less important in business communication than in other types of communication everyone is busy, and mistakes are simply unavoidable. Answer: FALSE […]

Because they contain more textual information than structured slides, free-form slides require less preparation and practice on the part of the speaker. Answer: As you conclude your presentation, it is vital to emphasize whatever you want your listeners to do […]

All of the following are examples of unethical communication except A) using jargon. B) selective misquoting. C) distorting visuals. D) plagiarism. Answer: Group members who are motivated mainly to fulfill personal needs play a A) team-maintenance role. B) task-facilitating role. […]

If you receive a job offer but you’re waiting to hear from other possible employers, you can ask the employer for a A) statement of intent. B) time extension. C) do-over. D) rain check. Answer: In the Chicago Humanities style […]

Unlike structured slides, free-form slides A) are completely random and have no design consistency. B) don’t follow a rigid design structure. C) use the same color for background and text. D) contain extra-large fonts. Answer: Effective text slides should do […]