89) Which of the following is a mini version of a report?
A) A descriptive synopsis
B) An executive summary
C) An indirect report
D) An abstract
E) A table of content
90) Why would a writer include an appendix, index, or bibliography in a report or proposal?
A) To illustrate key concepts in the message
B) To call attention to particularly important illustrations
C) To provide the purpose and scope of the report
D) The material may be of interest, but isn’t crucial to the message
E) As a mini report for those who don’t have time to read the entire message
91) In an unsolicited proposal, which of the following would replace the synopsis and executive
summary typically found in a formal report?
A) Call to action
B) Analysis
C) Appendix
D) Introduction
E) Letter of transmittal
92) When using the indirect approach to write a proposal, where is the call to action placed?
A) At the end of the report
B) In the supplemental section
C) In the executive summary
D) In the appendix
E) In the introduction
93) Which of the following is an advantage of delivering a report or proposal in person?
A) The ability to request a follow up meeting
B) The opportunity to introduce the report or proposal
C) The elimination of computer viruses
D) An opportunity to highlight additional web-based content
E) Time to review the contents of the report or proposal
94) Which of the following would be the most effective way to deliver a report that you’ve
prepared for a small group of managers in your local office?
A) Delivering the report to them in person
B) Texting them to download the report from your personal webpage
C) Spending extra money to hire a professional courier to deliver the report
D) Saving the report in an open-source format on a USB drive and sending it to them via snail
mail
E) Delivering the report to the key decision maker and allowing them to distribute the report to
the rest of the group
95) Within the context of preparing formal reports and proposals, the term “limitations” refers to
A) the boundaries of your proposal, what you can and can’t do.
B) excuses for inadequate research or a poorly written report.
C) factors beyond your control that have affected the report’s outcome.
D) the risks, rewards, costs, and benefits of a specific course of action.
E) expectations you have on the reader of the report.
96) If you want to call attention to the visuals in a formal report, you should
A) create a table of contents.
B) include a list of illustrations.
C) submit them in a separate document.
D) cite their sources in the bibliography.
E) place all visuals at the beginning of the report.
97) Include a title fly with business reports when you want to
A) give the name of the company for which the report has been prepared.
B) add a touch of formality to the report.
C) protect the report from dirt and careless handling.
D) provide a page for the reader to make notes on.
E) send copies of the same report to multiple companies.
98) An executive summary
A) is shorter than a synopsis.
B) presents a fully developed “mini” version of the report.
C) provides additional information (not covered in the report) that executives will need.
D) is unnecessary if the report is not intended for executives.
E) replaces the summary found at the end of the report.
99) Materials in an appendix are NOT incorporated into the text because
A) they are controversial.
B) they include bad news.
C) they are lengthy, or lack direct relevance to the report.
D) they will not be interesting to anyone who reads the report.
E) they give away the recommendations that will be made later in the report.
100) The prefatory parts of a solicited proposal may include
A) a bibliography.
B) a copy of the RFP.
C) an index.
D) visual elements.
E) a purpose, scope, and limitations section.
101) All of the following EXCEPT ________ are important functions of a transmittal document
in a formal report.
A) introducing the report
B) offering to provide additional information or assistance
C) authorizing the completion of the report
D) acknowledging help received while preparing the report
102) The synopsis of a formal report is
A) a brief overview of the report’s most important points.
B) a fully developed “mini” version of the report.
C) usually from one to five pages in length.
D) a list of all the headings and subheadings in the report.
103) An index in a formal report
A) lists names, places, and subjects mentioned in the report.
B) lists only the names of authors cited in the report.
C) lists the names of things and ideas, but not individual people or authors of works.
D) involves all of the above.
104) If your company or client expects you to distribute a report online
A) double-check that you’ve uploaded the correct file.
B) make sure that you put the file in the right location.
C) verify how the report displays and functions on screen.
D) all of the above.
105) The cover, title page, and table of contents are among the ________ of a formal report.
A) salutary components
B) introductory portions
C) prefatory parts
D) compulsory elements
106) When using the indirect approach to write a report, you can include a descriptive synopsis
that describes
A) the names, places, and subjects mentioned in the text of the report.
B) what the report is about, without divulging how the report ends.
C) what the report is about, including how the report ends.
D) the content of the entire report for readers who lack the time or motivation to read the report.
107) A(n) ________ is a fully developed “mini” version of the report itself.
A) memo of transmittal
B) executive summary
C) informative synopsis
D) comprehensive abstract
108) An appendix, a bibliography, and an index are the ________ of a formal report.
A) embedded elements
B) introductory sections
C) supplementary parts
D) conceptual portions
109) In an unsolicited proposal, the letter of transmittal should follow the pattern for
A) informative messages.
B) educational messages.
C) persuasive messages.
D) collaborative messages.
110) If your proposal is solicited, follow the instructions in the RFP.
111) A synopsis is generally more comprehensive than an executive summary.
112) The most common supplementary parts to include in a formal report are the appendix, the
bibliography, and the index.
113) What is a letter of transmittal?
114) In a formal proposal, how do you determine the organizational approach to use in the letter
of transmittal?
115) What is a synopsis? What’s the difference between an informative synopsis and a
descriptive synopsis?
116) What elements are normally included in the body of a formal proposal?
117) When writing an RFP, which type of report are you writing?
A) Reports based on logical appeal
B) Persuasive message
C) Analytical reports
D) Informational reports
E) Problem-solving reports
47
118) Which section of an RFP includes information on what the proposal should look like, how
it should be submitted, and how many copies should be included?
A) Decision criteria
B) Proposal requirements
C) Submission information
D) Contact information
E) Project description
119) The requirements section in a request for proposals should
A) let bidders know how and when you’ll be making a decision.
B) spell out everything you expect from potential vendors.
C) provide contact information for someone who can answer detailed questions.
D) give potential bidders some background information on your organization.
E) offer examples of the types of services you can provide.
120) Managing RFPs can be labor-intensive and time-consuming. However, you can maximize
the effectiveness of the RFP process if you use a smart management approach that involves
A) identifying your decision-making criteria.
B) pressuring bidders to respond as quickly as possible.
C) maintaining a manual system for tracking responses to RFPs.
D) waiting until all bids have been received before you finalize your information needs.
E) using the same format for every RFP used by the organization.
121) In addition to being a request, a request for proposals (RFP) is ________ that provides
potential bidders with the information they need to compose effective proposals.
A) an actionable effort
B) a comprehensive document
C) an analytical report
D) an informational report
E) an indirect report
122) When providing information on the company and your priorities, which type of information
are you providing to those who respond to your RFP?
A) Decision criteria
B) Proposal requirements
C) Submission and contact information
D) Company background
E) Project description
123) Why is it important to specifically state everything you need from suppliers when you are
creating an RFP?
A) The potential bidders need the information to write a better proposal
B) To make the proposal more informational than analytical
C) To outline the key pieces of information that should be included in the proposal
D) To put the requirements in context
E) The proposal process will eventually lead to a contract for delivery of the service
124) Which section of an RFP would include information about how you will choose which
proposal is accepted?
A) Decision criteria
B) Proposal requirements
C) Submission information
D) Contact information
E) Project description
125) Which of the following should be included in an RFP to tell people how to respond and
who can answer further questions?
A) Decision criteria
B) Proposal requirements
C) Submission and contact information
D) Requirements
E) Project description
126) Which of the following should be used to begin the writing process of creating the most
effective RFP possible?
A) Brainstorming the information needed
B) Asking for detailed information about all aspects of the bidder’s organization
C) Determining the timeframe bidders will have to respond
D) Determining decision criteria
E) Identifying what type of tracking system will be used when proposals are submitted
127) When writing an RFP, why should you avoid asking for information that isn’t relevant to
your decision-making process?
A) Bidders will not have enough time to respond
B) Bidders might focus on the wrong information and not write the proposal correctly
C) Proposal writing software will not recognize the type of information needed and fail
D) Tracking the proposal responses will be more difficult
E) It might discourage some potentially attractive bidders from responding
128) When you’re preparing an RFP, identify decision criteria and choose information to
measure against those criteria. Otherwise, you will
A) place unreasonable demands on bidders.
B) cause unnecessary complications in your review process.
C) discourage some potentially attractive bidders from responding.
D) all of the above.
129) Typical RFPs are nothing more than routine requests.
130) When you’re composing the requirements section of a request for proposals (RFP), you can
assume that bidders will understand the conventions and protocols of your industry.
131) How can you minimize the work for all involved when requesting proposals, while
maximizing the effectiveness of the proposals you are receiving?
132) Why is it important to think through the writing of an RFP before it is sent out?
133) What is a request for proposals (RFP)?