21
47) When choosing words to convey a message, successful writers pay attention to
A) convenience and mannerisms.
B) correctness and effectiveness.
C) metaphors and euphemisms.
D) connotation and vocalization.
E) using words that don’t convey too much power.
AACSB: Written and oral communication
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Conceptual
Learning Outcome: Compose and shape business messages
48) The ________ of a word is its literal or dictionary meaning.
A) figurative meaning
B) denotative meaning
C) connotative meaning
D) contextual meaning
E) euphemistic meaning
AACSB: Written and oral communication
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Conceptual
Learning Outcome: Compose and shape business messages
49) As you create and refine your messages, evaluate your writing at all of the following levels
except
A) strong words.
B) effective sentences.
C) coherent paragraphs.
D) multimedia enhancements.
E) use of words that convey power.
AACSB: Written and oral communication
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Application
Learning Outcome: Compose and shape business messages
22
50) Some terms and phrases called ________ have become so common that they have lost some
of their power to communicate, and ________ are newly coined terms often associated with
technology, business, or cultural changes.
A) euphemisms; idioms
B) clichés; buzzwords
C) colloquialisms; clichés
D) pull quotes; derivations
E) idioms; colloquialisms
AACSB: Written and oral communication
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Application
Learning Outcome: Compose and shape business messages
51) Most ________ express a concept, quality, or characteristic. Most ________ represent
something you can see, touch, or visualize.
A) abstract words; concrete words
B) interpretive words; explanatory words
C) incisive words; generalized words
D) selective words; common words
E) generalized; abstract
AACSB: Written and oral communication
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Conceptual
Learning Outcome: Compose and shape business messages
23
52) Which of the following words are the most abstract?
A) two, contract, performance
B) software, code, signal
C) kick, move, walk
D) productivity, excellence, motivation
E) chair, table, horse
AACSB: Written and oral communication
Difficulty: Difficult
Classification: Critical Thinking
Learning Outcome: Compose and shape business messages
53) The ________ meaning of a word is its literal, dictionary meaning; the ________ meaning
includes all the associations and feelings it evokes.
A) connotative; denotative
B) objective; subjective
C) denotative; connotative
D) transactional; transcendental
E) euphemistic; subjective
AACSB: Written and oral communication
Difficulty: Difficult
Classification: Conceptual
Learning Outcome: Compose and shape business messages
24
54) When you begin to write your first draft of a message,
A) try to write and edit at the same time.
B) make the draft as perfect as possible to save time later.
C) show the draft to several others to gain feedback.
D) start with an introduction, and then move to the body of the message.
E) be as creative as possible.
AACSB: Written and oral communication
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Conceptual
Learning Outcome: Compose and shape business messages
55) When choosing words that communicate well with the audience, a writer should focus on
using
A) unfamiliar but professional sounding words.
B) jargon.
C) buzzwords.
D) a limited use of nouns.
E) precise words.
AACSB: Written and oral communication
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Critical Thinking
Learning Outcome: Compose and shape business messages
25
56) When communicating with members of the same, specialized field, the use of ________ can
be an efficient way to convey complex ideas quickly.
A) clichés
B) buzzwords
C) anecdotes
D) jargon
E) simple sentences
AACSB: Written and oral communication
Difficulty: Difficult
Classification: Critical Thinking
Learning Outcome: Compose and shape business messages
57) In business communication, it is best to use words that are low in connotative meaning.
AACSB: Written and oral communication
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Conceptual
Learning Outcome: Compose and shape business messages
58) How is the denotative meaning of a word different from its connotative meaning?
AACSB: Reflective thinking
Difficulty: Difficult
Classification: Synthesis
Learning Outcome: Compose and shape business messages
26
59) Explain what it means to choose “words that communicate well,” then list four techniques for
selecting the best words when writing business messages.
AACSB: Written and oral communication
Difficulty: Difficult
Classification: Synthesis
Learning Outcome: Compose and shape business messages
60) Discuss the difference between connotative and denotative words, and when each might be
appropriate to use in business writing.
AACSB: Reflective thinking
Difficulty: Difficult
Classification: Synthesis
Learning Outcome: Compose and shape business messages
61) “Although our servers are stable, the telephone system is a serious concern” is a
A) simple sentence.
B) compound sentence.
C) complex sentence.
D) compound-complex sentence.
E) simple-compound sentence.
within a message.
AACSB: Written and oral communication
Difficulty: Difficult
Classification: Application
Learning Outcome: Compose and shape business messages
27
62) “Insurance premiums have increased, and cost-of-living raises have not kept up” is a
A) simple sentence.
B) compound sentence.
C) complex sentence.
D) compound-complex sentence.
E) simple-compound sentence.
within a message.
AACSB: Written and oral communication
Difficulty: Difficult
Classification: Application
Learning Outcome: Compose and shape business messages
63) Which of the following is a compound sentence?
A) Interest rates are low, and now is an excellent time to buy a home.
B) Because interest rates are low, now is an excellent time to buy a home.
C) Low interest rates make this an excellent time to buy a home.
D) With interest rates low, now is an excellent time to buy a home.
E) Interest rates are low.
within a message.
AACSB: Written and oral communication
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Application
Learning Outcome: Compose and shape business messages
28
64) A complex sentence consists of
A) two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction.
B) a single subject and a single predicate plus any modifying phrases.
C) two or more independent clauses along with all modifying phrases.
D) one main thought and one or more subordinate thoughts.
E) words that are hard to understand.
within a message.
AACSB: Written and oral communication
Difficulty: Difficult
Classification: Conceptual
Learning Outcome: Compose and shape business messages
65) You can emphasize key points by
A) using few, but strong, words to describe them.
B) making less important ideas the subject of the topic sentence.
C) placing them at the end of the paragraph.
D) using several simple sentences in a row.
E) giving the most important points the most space.
within a message.
AACSB: Written and oral communication
Difficulty: Easy
Classification: Conceptual
Learning Outcome: Compose and shape business messages
29
66) To downplay a dependent clause in a complex sentence, you should
A) place it at the beginning of the sentence.
B) place it at the end of the sentence.
C) place it in the middle of the sentence.
D) set it off with a semicolon.
E) use two simple sentences.
within a message.
AACSB: Written and oral communication
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Synthesis
Learning Outcome: Compose and shape business messages
67) Consider the following sentence: “Employee turnover has decreased significantly this
quarter, so even though you may question Sam’s training methods, you’ll have to admit that his
results are impressive.” What type of sentence does it represent?
A) compound
B) complex
C) congruent
D) compound-complex
E) simple-run on
within a message.
AACSB: Written and oral communication
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Application
Learning Outcome: Compose and shape business messages
30
68) ________ sentences express two or more independent but related thoughts of equal
importance, usually joined by a coordinating conjunction.
A) Complex
B) Compound
C) Conjoined
D) Compound-complex
E) Simple-active
within a message.
AACSB: Written and oral communication
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Conceptual
Learning Outcome: Compose and shape business messages
69) ________ sentences express one main thought and one or more subordinate thoughts related
to it.
A) Complex
B) Compound
C) Confounded
D) Compound-complex
E) Conjoined
within a message.
AACSB: Written and oral communication
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Conceptual
Learning Outcome: Compose and shape business messages
70) To emphasize a dependent clause, it is better to place it at the end of a sentence rather than in
the middle.
within a message.
AACSB: Written and oral communication
Difficulty: Difficult
Classification: Conceptual
Learning Outcome: Compose and shape business messages