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Indicate whether the statement is true or false.
1. Nearly all text in Western cultures is aligned at the left and reads from left to right.
a.
True
b.
False
2. When designing documents, you should place as much text as possible on a page to keep the reader engaged.
a.
True
b.
False
3. To sound current, fresh, and trendy, effective business communicators make ample use of slang when writing and
speaking.
a.
True
b.
False
4. Your goal as a business writer is to impress your reader.
a.
True
b.
False
5. Proofreading is the last step in Phase 3 of the 3-x-3 writing process.
a.
True
b.
False
6. Headings should be used only in formal messages.
a.
True
b.
False
7. In describing sexual harassment in the workplace, Julia explains that Supervisors are getting burned in harassment
lawsuits. Julia is using slang in this statement.
a.
True
b.
False
8. Well-designed documents give the impression that the writer is intelligent.
a.
True
b.
False
9. Concise messages are easier to read and comprehend.
a.
True
b.
False
10. When using either a bulleted or numbered list, you should always follow each idea with end punctuation.
a.
True
b.
False
11. The following sentence demonstrates effective writing: Please do not hesitate to call me if you have any questions.
a.
True
b.
False
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12. Only main ideas should be included in a microblog.
a.
True
b.
False
13. You will be interested to learn that is an effective way to begin a business message because it fosters goodwill.
a.
True
b.
False
14. Business messages should contain at least three typefaces to add emphasis and contrast.
a.
True
b.
False
15. Editing and proofreading are interchangeable terms.
a.
True
b.
False
16. Professional writers develop a system of writing and revising that works for them; they may revise at any point in the
process.
a.
True
b.
False
17. You can often reduce flabby expressions to single words.
a.
True
b.
False
18. The best way to judge the success of your communication is through feedback.
a.
True
b.
False
19. Expressions such as pursuant to your request and thank you in advance increases the professionalism of business
messages.
a.
True
b.
False
20. You should follow the same proofreading process for a routine document and a complex document.
a.
True
b.
False
21. Clichés such as think outside the box are effective to use with multicultural audiences because they have flexible
meanings.
a.
True
b.
False
22. Converting a verb into a noun creates stronger, more professional business writing (e.g., made a decision instead of
decided).
a.
True
b.
False
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23. The terms editing, proofreading, and evaluating are synonymous.
a.
True
b.
False
24. Redundant words or phrases convey a meaning more than once.
a.
True
b.
False
25. You can streamline your writing and make it more emphatic by using vivid adverbs such as very, extremely, and
actually as often as possible.
a.
True
b.
False
26. As you revise, make your writing clear by using specific verbs, concrete nouns, and vivid adjectives.
a.
True
b.
False
27. When right margins are not aligned or justified, they provide more white space and improve readability.
a.
True
b.
False
28. Proofreading should take place only after the content of a message is in its final form.
a.
True
b.
False
29. Typing a sentence in all capital letters is an effective way to create emphasis.
a.
True
b.
False
30. In the near future is a more effective expression in business writing than soon.
a.
True
b.
False
31. An electronic grammar- or spell-checker provides sufficient proofreading for most business messages.
a.
True
b.
False
32. The following sentence contains a zombie noun: Our purchasing department will give consideration to the RFP
submitted by Powertex.
a.
True
b.
False
33. Each and every student will be required to participate in one group writing project contains a redundant expression.
a.
True
b.
False
34. Microblogging consists of short messages exchanged on social media sites.
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a.
True
b.
False
35. There are many account representatives who can help you with your order is an example of a cliche´.
a.
True
b.
False
36. Conciseness is critical when microblogging.
a.
True
b.
False
37. The following sentence contains clear and precise wording: In some businesses they won’t let you accumulate sick
leave.
a.
True
b.
False
38. Headings are an effective tool for highlighting information.
a.
True
b.
False
39. Use bulleted lists to represent a sequence of ideas or a numbered order.
a.
True
b.
False
40. You are more likely to find errors when proofreading on a computer screen than on a printed copy.
a.
True
b.
False
Indicate the answer choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
41. Which of the following about writing and revising business documents is most accurate?
a.
Experienced business writers rarely need to revise.
b.
Evaluating your message involves analyzing whether your message achieves its purpose.
c.
Revision is not necessary for informal documents such as internal memos or e-mail messages.
d.
The real work of revision should happen in the writing stage as you select words and form sentences.
42. There is and It is are examples of
a.
long lead-ins.
b.
sentence fillers.
c.
redundancies.
d.
grammatical errors.
43. Long sentence lead-ins
a.
are unnecessary introductory words.
b.
introduce the “meat” of the message.
c.
avoid reader confusion.
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d.
demonstrate effective language usage.
44. Proofreading includes which of the following tasks?
a.
Improving content and tone
b.
Fine tuning sentence and paragraph structure
c.
Correcting spelling, grammar, punctuation, names and numbers, and format
d.
Determining whether the message should be written using the direct or indirect organizational pattern
45. To improve readability and comprehension,
a.
use approximately 20 or fewer words per sentence.
b.
construct paragraphs consisting of 12-15 printed lines.
c.
develop long paragraphs.
d.
avoid the use of topic sentences on shorter paragraphs.
46. Which statement regarding type sizes and fonts is most accurate?
a.
Font styles are a stylistic means of adding emphasis to your words.
b.
Readers are generally most comfortable with 8- to 10-point type for body text.
c.
Fonts include caps, boldfacing, italics, underlining, outlining, and shadowing.
d.
Writers should always use all caps to emphasize their ideas.
47. Concise writing
a.
is necessary for both formal and informal messages.
b.
is easier to read and comprehend.
c.
saves time and money.
d.
All of these are true.
48. Which of the following best avoids a long lead-in?
a.
Yes, we will send the information you requested.
b.
This is to advise you that we will send the information you requested.
c.
You may be interested to learn that we will send the information you requested.
d.
I am writing this letter to inform you that we will send the information you requested.
49. Listed items should reflect parallel structure, which means that
a.
they should be next to each other rather than vertical.
b.
each should be followed by a comma.
c.
they should all use the same graphic font.
d.
they should be expressed using the same grammatical structure.
50. Due to the fact that is a flabby expression that could be shortened to the word(s)
a.
Because.
b.
Until.
c.
Despite.
d.
Although.
51. What is the most common serif typeface?
a.
Arial
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b.
Times New Roman
c.
Univers
d.
Calibri
52. Branch managers of First Federated Savings and Loan received this e-mail message: Please inform all personal that
management retains the right to check personal belongings of employees before employees leave the bank. What error did
the writer make?
a.
A grammatical mistake
b.
A proofreading error
c.
A failure to use spell check
d.
No error was made. The sentence is correct as written.
53. Which sentence avoids redundant expressions?
a.
It is absolutely essential that our accounting records are accurate.
b.
Let’s not repeat our competitor’s mistakes.
c.
Please refer back to the June financial statements.
d.
I want to thank each and every stockholder.
54. Which of the following sentences avoids noun conversion?
a.
Your supervisor will give consideration to all capital budget requests.
b.
The committee worked on the establishment of a fund for scholarships.
c.
The benefits committee will be responsible for the acquisition of an endowment.
d.
The scholarship committee approved the plan.
55. How many typefaces should you use in a business document?
a.
No more than two
b.
At least three
c.
Up to five
d.
At least ten
56. Tyler used a bulleted list on his résumé to describe his previous job duties. Which of the following items from his list
does not demonstrate parallel structure?
a.
Performed inspections of plant equipment, including boilers, condensers, and chillers
b.
Troubleshooting of plant’s chemical equipment
c.
Performed load calculations for plant equipment
d.
Wrote analytical reports detailing system performance
57. All of the following are tips you should follow when microblogging except
a.
ignore spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors.
b.
include only the main ideas.
c.
personalize your message if possible.
d.
choose descriptive but short words.
58. Dylan is designing his document to enhance readability and comprehension. What is the best advice you can give
Dylan?
a.
Justify the left and right margins so they are both even.
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b.
Create white space by using headings, bulleted or numbered lists, short paragraphs, and effective margins.
c.
Use multiple typefaces within the document.
d.
Use ALL CAPS anywhere in a document to emphasize key points.
59. Converting verbs into noun expressions
a.
decreases sentence length.
b.
reduces verb strength.
c.
increases the reader’s ability to process the information.
d.
All answer choices are correct.
60. All of the following sentences contain unnecessary fillers except
a.
There are three important issues to discuss at today’s meeting.
b.
There is only one job opening available.
c.
It was our office manager who won the raffle.
d.
Three candidates are running for the board.
61. Document design techniques to improve readability include
a.
use of white space.
b.
typefaces and fonts.
c.
headings for visual impact.
d.
all of these choices.
62. Which statement about proofreading is most accurate?
a.
Good business writers wait at least 24 hours or longer to proofread a document.
b.
Only important messages or documents need to be proofread.
c.
Documents with errors do not affect a person’s credibility because readers understand that everyone makes
mistakes.
d.
Proofreading should occur while the document is being written.
63. Which of the following sentences contains the best use of vivid adjectives without overkill?
a.
The resort offered luxurious suites with Jacuzzi tubs and saunas.
b.
The all-inclusive, top-notch resort offered luxurious, totally marvelous suites with incredible extras.
c.
The resort had nice rooms.
d.
All sentences use vivid adjectives effectively.
64. Monica’s supervisor has expressed concern about the readability of her messages, claiming that paragraphs are often
too long. What aspect of her writing should Monica focus on to address this issue?
a.
Researching
b.
Proofreading
c.
Formatting
d.
Evaluating her purpose
65. Words such as definitely, quite, actually, extremely, and totally are
a.
adjectives that add a welcome degree of emotion to your writing.
b.
adjectives that may be omitted because they are imprecise.
c.
adverbs that should be used only sparingly in business writing.
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d.
adverbs that should be used as often as possible in business writing to show excitement and enthusiasm.
66. Which of the following sentences demonstrates clear writing?
a.
A supervisor asked everyone to work an extra day.
b.
A supervisor asked production employees to work an extra day.
c.
A supervisor asked everyone to work on Saturday.
d.
Lindsey Goulet asked production employees to work on Saturday.
67. “Tightening” your message refers to
a.
proofreading for grammatical and mechanical errors.
b.
cutting out background information.
c.
addressing more than one topic in the same message.
d.
looking for shorter ways to say what you mean.
68. The dangers of using slang in business writing include
a.
obscuring meaning.
b.
using language that is too informal.
c.
using words that quickly go out of fashion.
d.
All answer choices are correct.
69. Think outside of the box is an example of
a.
clear, precise language.
b.
a buried verb.
c.
a cliche.
d.
outdated language.
70. Which of the following statements about revising business messages is most accurate?
a.
An automated spell checker is sufficient for most messages.
b.
Revision should always occur after you have completed writing.
c.
Effective revision saves time, avoids confusion, and optimizes your credibility.
d.
Revising and proofreading involve the same steps.
71. What is the best advice for proofreading a complex document?
a.
Be prepared to find errors.
b.
Increase your reading speed.
c.
Read the message only once.
d.
Proofread the message immediately after it has been fully written.
72. Katelyn is writing a letter to thank a potential employer for her job interview. Which of these sentences contains
modern expressions Katelyn should use?
a.
Thank you in advance for considering me for your available position.
b.
You will note that my coursework has thoroughly prepared me for your medical technician position.
c.
Enclosed herein please find the salary history you requested during the interview.
d.
Pursuant to your request, I will return for a second interview on May 28.
73. Expressions that are intended to impress rather than express are known as
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a.
cliches.
b.
buzzwords.
c.
trite phrases.
d.
overly exuberant.
74. Which of the following sentences avoids clichés?
a.
We can prove the benefits of exercise for stress reduction beyond a shadow of a doubt.
b.
Employees who engage in a regular fitness program are likely to pass the physical exam with flying colors.
c.
Please encourage your department members to join the health club.
d.
Last but not least, you, too, should join the fitness program.
75. Getting burned is an example of a(n) ____________ expression.
a.
slang
b.
cliched
c.
active
d.
passive
76. Which of the following sentences uses the most precise language?
a.
The board approved a substantial budget increase.
b.
The board approved a 34 percent budget increase.
c.
The board approved a large budget increase.
d.
The board approved a sizeable budget increase.
77. Which of the following is the best advice to follow when you proofread a routine document?
a.
If proofreading on screen, display the entire document at once.
b.
Proofread the document using a printed copy.
c.
Proofread your document as you compose your ideas.
d.
Rely solely on a spell-checker to catch any errors.
78. One way to improve the clarity of your writing is to apply the KISS formula. KISS stands for
a.
Key Ideas Succinctly and Swiftly.
b.
Keep It Short and Simple.
c.
Knowledge Is Supported and Summarized.
d.
Know Intentions, Strategies, and Solutions.
79. There is a new software company that will be hiring employees is an example of a sentence with
a.
concise wording.
b.
a wordy prepositional phrase.
c.
a filler.
d.
faulty parallelism.
80. Which of the following statements regarding bulleted or numbered lists is most accurate?
a.
Lists decrease a reader’s comprehension of the main ideas.
b.
Lists allow readers to review main ideas quickly.
c.
Lists confuse readers because they are visually distracting.
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d.
Lists decrease the readability level of a document.
81. A good standard to apply to your writing is to remember that it
a.
is not as important as it seems.
b.
takes the place of a personal appearance.
c.
is not read closely by many audiences.
d.
should primarily be used for formal messages.
82. Which of the following sentences avoids buzzwords and slang?
a.
Our stock prices tanked last quarter.
b.
All companies must follow the guidelines outlined in the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
c.
The architects blew the budget for the design of the new energy center.
d.
The company decided a new paradigm shift was needed to increase sales.
83. White space refers to
a.
unclear content.
b.
margins only.
c.
the time a reader takes to process information.
d.
empty space on the page.
84. Which statement about margins and text alignment is true?
a.
Margins define the reading area and provide important visual relief.
b.
Nearly all text in Western cultures is aligned at the right.
c.
Business letters and memos usually have side margins of 2 inches.
d.
Ragged right margins decrease white space and readability.
85. Which of the following best avoids flabby expressions?
a.
In very few cases do job applicants perform adequate research about a company.
b.
The CEO is of the opinion that stock prices will increase next quarter.
c.
Although many employees have requested training, we can’t afford the extra expense.
d.
We do not expect any pay raises at this point in time.
86. Microblogging
a.
is ineffective for communication with customers.
b.
involves adding website links to a blog to encourage feedback from others.
c.
consists of short messages exchanged on social media networks.
d.
is performed primarily by corporate officials who write comments about their companies.
87. What is the best way to judge the success of your writing?
a.
Receiving a raise or promotion
b.
Using a spell-checker
c.
Receiving feedback from your receiver
d.
Organizing your message using the direct organizational strategy
88. Taylor is enrolled in a business communications course at her local community college. She just received a paper back
from her professor who noted that Taylor should review the principles for comma usage. How should Taylor handle this
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criticism?
a.
Report her teacher to the president of the college for abuse.
b.
Argue with her teacher about comma rules.
c.
Withdraw from the class.
d.
Accept the feedback and use it constructively to improve her future writing assignments.
89. Which statement regarding headings is most accurate?
a.
Headings provide visual distraction for readers; thus they should be avoided.
b.
Headings appear most often in business letters.
c.
Headings highlight information and improve readability.
d.
Headings should be avoided in all business documents.
90. Which of the following sentences is most effective?
a.
This is to inform you that your account is now up–to-date.
b.
At this point in time, your account is up-to-date.
c.
Due to the fact that we have just received your check, your account is up-to-date.
d.
Your account is now up-to-date.
Enter the appropriate word(s) to complete the statement.
91. Each and every is an example of a _________________ phrase.
92. ____________________, which appear most often in reports, are an effective tool for highlighting information and
improving readability because they encourage the writer to group similar material together and help readers separate
major ideas from details.
93. ____________________ is composed of informal words with arbitrary and extravagantly changed meanings. These
words quickly go out of fashion because they are no longer appealing when everyone begins to understand them.
94. Shoot from the hip is an example of a(n) ____________________, which is an expression that has been exhausted by
overuse.
95. ____________________, which occurs during the third phase of the writing process, means improving the content and
sentence structure of your message. It may include adding, cutting, recasting, reformatting, and redesigning what you have
written.
96. ____________________ consists of short messages exchanged on social media networks such as Twitter, Facebook,
and Tumblr.
97. The best way to evaluate the effectiveness of your message is through ___________________ from the reader.
98. Empty space on a page is called ____________.
99. ____________________ involves checking for problems with spelling, grammar, punctuation, names and numbers,
and format.
100. There are three building sites we are considering. This use of There are is an example of a(n)
____________________.
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