133) Which of these techniques can help a writer identify main ideas and groups of supporting
ideas?
A) Identify the scope
B) Limit the number of main ideas to three
C) Brainstorm
D) Evaluate the sense of urgency for the receiver
E) Form a topic sentence
134) How should supporting points be handled when you are determining the scope of a
message?A) Add one supporting point for each main idea
B) Eliminate supporting points that are indicated in the topic sentences
C) Use one supporting point for each department that will receive the message
D) If you have many supporting points, combine them as much as possible for more impact
E) Use supporting points to replace headings and subheadings
135) Why might a message need to be longer when the audience is skeptical or hostile?
A) There will be fewer supporting points to win over the audience
B) The message can then be focused on conclusions and recommendations
C) You will have a better opportunity to use a direct format for the message
D) The audience will not understand the main idea of the message
E) You will have to build a consensus about the controversial subject
136) How should a message begin when you’re using the direct approach?
A) Main idea
B) Recommendations
C) Conclusion
D) Scope
E) Evidence
137) How should the message begin when using the indirect approach?
A) Main idea
B) Recommendations
C) Conclusion
D) Scope
E) Evidence
138) Which of the following can help you visualize relationships among different parts of a
complex message?
A) Direct approach
B) Outlining
C) Scope
D) Indirect approach
E) Identifying the main idea
139) Which of the following can help you establish the goals and strategy of the message?
A) Mind mapping
B) Scope
C) The main idea
D) Outlining
E) The direct approach
140) In addition to identifying what you want your audience to do, what will the main idea help
you establish?
A) The major points of the message
B) How to limit the scope
C) A visualization of the outline
D) Why the audience should do what you want them to do
E) The importance of the details
141) How should examples and evidence be incorporated in a message?
A) To create a persuasive message
B) To allow for mind mapping
C) To identify the focus of the message
D) To create topic sentences
E) To confirm or expand the supporting points
142) When you want to confirm, illuminate, or expand on the supporting points in a business
message, use ________ if you believe that dramatic tension will stimulate your audience’s
interest.
A) facts and figures
B) narration or storytelling
C) references to authority figures
D) examples and quotations
143) Use the ________ to organize a message if you believe your audience will be receptive to
what you have to say.
A) direct approach
B) didactic approach
C) dialectical structure
D) diametric pattern
144) The scope of a business message pertains to
A) a specific statement about the overall subject of the message.
B) the range of information you present to support your main idea.
C) the efforts you expend when you proofread the message.
D) the act of conveying the message through more than one informational cue.
145) If your audience will be skeptical of or resistant to your message
A) state your main idea and then present your evidence.
B) start with the evidence and build your case before presenting your main idea.
C) start by asking rhetorical questions to arouse the audience’s interest in your message.
D) open your message with a humorous anecdote to establish rapport with the audience.
146) As it applies to business communication, presenting information in a well-organized
manner
A) helps your readers understand the message.
B) encourages your readers to accept the message.
C) allows your readers to save time.
D) all of the above.
147) Which of the following is an example of a message topic?
A) “To get the board of directors to increase the research and development budget”
B) “Competitors spend more than our company does on research and development”
C) “Funding for research and development”
D) “The research and development budget is inadequate in our competitive marketplace”
148) Narrative techniques are
A) inappropriate for professional communication.
B) acceptable in business, but only for messages organized in the direct approach.
C) an effective way to organize messages in a variety of business communication scenarios.
D) a great way to help the audience grasp key points about sets of data.
149) All of the following EXCEPT ________ pertain to the scope of a business message.
A) the range of information that is presented
B) the sequence in which the information is presented
C) the overall length of the message
D) the level of detail presented in the message
150) The ________ of a business message summarizes what you want your audience members to
do or think and why they should do so.
A) topic
B) scope
C) sequence
D) main idea
151) Use ________ when you need to help your audience grasp key points about sets of data or
visualize connections between ideas.
A) facts and figures
B) descriptions
C) visual aids
D) narratives or stories
152) Storytelling can serve as a means of strategic business analysis.
153) Examples and evidence should be determined before the main idea has been developed.
154) The indirect approach is best when your audience is likely to be skeptical.
155) Describe the importance and effectiveness of storytelling when crafting business
communications.
156) Briefly explain the difference between the topic of a message and the main idea.
157) Discuss the value of outlining your content before you begin the actual writing process.
158) How do examples and evidence improve a message, and how should they be incorporated?