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Indicate whether the statement is true or false.
1. To be most attractive and readable, paragraphs in business messages should be limited to eight or fewer printed lines.
a. True
b. False
2. The verb in the following sentence is in the active voice: James responded to the inquiry.
a. True
b. False
3. During freewriting, it is important to edit each sentence before moving on to the next one.
a. True
b. False
4. Placing the main idea first or last in a sentence is a good way to emphasize the idea.
a. True
b. False
5. One advantage of the indirect organizational strategy is that it saves the time of readers.
a. True
b. False
6. The following contains a comma splice: June is our busiest month, February is our slowest.
a. True
b. False
7. A company invites its Facebook fans to suggest ideas for promoting positive interaction both online and in the real
world. This is an example of crowdsourcing.
a. True
b. False
8. The following represents a run-on sentence: Marco uses Google for his research Stephanie prefers Yahoo.
a. True
b. False
9. Brainstorming is best conducted without a leader or facilitator so that participants can share ideas freely.
a. True
b. False
10. The verb phrase in the following sentence is in the active voice: Kaitlyn was accepted into an MBA program.
a. True
b. False
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11. When you are persuading or delivering bad news to your audience, the indirect paragraph plan is most effective.
a. True
b. False
12. Sentences that average 8 words are most effective for business writing.
a. True
b. False
13. If you have any new ideas is an example of an independent clause.
a. True
b. False
14. A comma splice results when a sentence with two independent clauses is fused together without a conjunction or
semicolon.
a. True
b. False
15. Searching blogs, Twitter, wikis, and Facebook pages for information is an example of an informal research method.
a. True
b. False
16. Crowdsourcing describes the practice of requesting ideas for products or services from employees and contractors.
a. True
b. False
17. One question important to ask yourself in shaping a written message is What will happen if the receiver doesn’t do
what I ask?
a. True
b. False
18. Talking with your boss to gather information is an example of an informal research method.
a. True
b. False
19. The direct organizational pattern should be used when writing to an audience that will be unwilling, uninterested,
displeased, disappointed, or hostile.
a. True
b. False
20. The first ATM opened near London in 1967 is an example of an independent clause.
a. True
b. False
21. Mind mapping produces a visual organization chart summarizing a major event or product.
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a. True
b. False
22. The following sentence contains parallel structure: The policy affected all vendors, suppliers, and those involved with
consulting.
a. True
b. False
23. The focus of a brainstorming session should be on the quality of ideas, not the quantity.
a. True
b. False
24. Organizing a message effectively involves grouping ideas to show relationships.
a. True
b. False
25. The topic sentence of a paragraph must always appear first.
a. True
b. False
26. Madeline is writing an e-mail message to ask about conference facility availability and rates. She should use the direct
pattern.
a. True
b. False
27. The following sentence contains a dangling modifier: Working all night, the report was finished by Robert.
a. True
b. False
28. The following represents a sentence fragment: With a solid idea and careful planning.
a. True
b. False
29. Brody is writing a memo to refuse an employee’s vacation request. He should use the indirect pattern.
a. True
b. False
30. The first step of Phase 2 of the 3-x-3 writing process is to conduct research to collect all the needed information.
a. True
b. False
Indicate the answer choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
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31. Angelica has been asked to learn how many pedestrians walk by a specific location that her company is considering
for a new sporting goods retail shop. Probably the most useful way to research this information would be by ________.
a. manually searching resources in her public library
b. searching the Web
c. conducting her own primary research
d. conducting a scientific experiment with controlled variables
32. Which of the following documents would most likely use an introduction/problem, facts/findings, conclusions, and
recommendations organization?
a. E-mail message
b. Analytical report
c. Proposal
d. Procedural document
33. Elizabeth wants to avoid monotony and add spark to her business messages. What should she do?
a. Include at least one compound-complex sentence per paragraph.
b. Start each paragraph with a question to generate interest.
c. Avoid short sentences (four to six words) because they sound choppy.
d. Use a variety of sentence types.
34. Franco wants to emphasize the new features of a product he is selling. What should he do?
a. Use vivid words to describe the features.
b. Put the most important information in the middle of his sentences.
c. Use the passive voice to describe the features.
d. Put the most important information in a dependent clause.
35. Which of the following statements about paragraphs is most accurate?
a. A paragraph is a group of sentences about one idea.
b. The primary idea always appears first in a paragraph.
c. Well-constructed paragraphs can discuss more than one topic.
d. All of these statements are accurate.
36. For what purpose should the passive voice be used?
a. To strengthen most business writing
b. To de-emphasize bad news
c. To emphasize the doer of the action
d. To lengthen the message
37. Most business messages use the ________ paragraph plan because it clarifies the subject immediately.
a. dovetailing
b. pivoting
c. indirect
d. direct
38. Which of the following should be organized in a direct pattern?
a. An online manual showing visitors how to download a software program
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b. A proposal submitted to the board of directors to add a wellness program to the company’s benefits package
c. An e-mail message to employees telling them that health benefits will be cut
d. A letter denying a customer’s claim about a defective product
39. ________ expressions in paragraphs enable the reader to anticipate what’s coming, reduce uncertainty, and speed
comprehension.
a. Sustaining
b. Transitional
c. Forecasting
d. Introductory
40. Select the sentence with an active-voice verb.
a. The sales meeting has been scheduled for Friday.
b. Many companies now offer wellness programs.
c. The contract must be signed by all parties.
d. The applicant was contacted by the hiring manager.
41. The direct organizational strategy is also known as _______ the main idea.
a. delaying
b. softening
c. frontloading
d. exaggerating
42. Select the sentence with the passive-voice verb.
a. Michael Lewis wrote a book about the financial crisis.
b. Many new grads begin their job search on LinkedIn.
c. Even with little experience, Andrew applied for the position.
d. The website was redesigned by a team of professionals.
43. Josh knows that his co-workers will be pleased by the creation of a new leave-reporting system that will save them
time. Which organizational pattern should he use in writing the message about the new system?
a. indirect pattern.
b. geographical pattern.
c. chronological pattern.
d. direct pattern.
44. Pronouns can help build continuity within a paragraph, but they often need a(n) _________ with them to make their
meaning clear.
a. verb
b. noun
c. adverb
d. adjective
45. What type of sentence fault results when a writer joins two independent clauses with a comma?
a. Run-on sentence
b. Comma splice
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c. Fragment
d. Simple
46. Which of the following is a clause?
a. On Monday
b. Will be presenting
c. When you were on vacation
d. On our Facebook page
47. Using vivid words, labeling the main idea, and strategically placing the key idea in a sentence are examples of
________ ways to stress important ideas.
a. stylistic
b. mechanical
c. grammatical
d. general
48. Using underline, italics, or bold font is a means of creating emphasis _______.
a. stylistically
b. mechanically
c. verbally
d. grammatically
49. When dependent clauses precede independent clauses, they always are followed by a ________.
a. period
b. semicolon
c. comma
d. colon
50. In asking consumers what career its famous Barbie doll should pursue next, toymaker Mattel was using ________.
a. crowdsourcing
b. crowdstorming
c. crowdfunding
d. crowdmarketing
51. Melanie is working on a report and has reached Phase 2 of the 3-x-3 writing process. What should she do first in this
second phase?
a. Write the rough draft of her report.
b. Decide how to organize the report.
c. Analyze her purpose and audience.
d. Gather any necessary information.
52. One of the most important tasks in preparing well-organized messages is ________.
a. using a direct organizational pattern
b. providing clear recommendations
c. including ample tables and charts
d. grouping similar ideas together
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53. Which of the following statements about formal and informal research is most accurate?
a. Long reports and complex business problems generally require some use of formal research.
b. Because most of its information is not credible, the Web should not be used for research for business reports.
c. Interviewing your target audience is an example of formal research.
d. Scientific experiments are not applicable to business writing.
54. Which of the following is an informal research method?
a. Searching the Web.
b. Looking in the company files for information.
c. Conducting a scientific experiment to gather information under controlled circumstances.
d. Searching for information in peer-reviewed journals.
55. Which of the following scenarios would most likely require a scientific experiment?
a. A research firm wants to find out how many parents plan to send their children to private schools.
b. A company wants to measure reactions to the price of a new flavored vitamin water product to learn how much
consumers would be willing to pay.
c. A student wants to find out how a business leader got his start in the industry.
d. A development team has to decide which of four possible locations would be best for a new fast-food restaurant.
56. What type of sentence fault results when a writer punctuates a broken-off part of a complex sentence as if it were a
complete sentence?
a. Run-on sentence
b. Comma splice
c. Fragment
d. Simple
57. Which of the following sentences demonstrates parallelism?
a. In my current position, I interact with customers, input orders, and am responsible for updating the company’s
Facebook page.
b. Our new CEO’s objectives are to improve employee morale, to boost revenues, and to enhance community
relations.
c. Collecting, organizing, and documentation—these are important steps in researching a problem.
d. The person we hire for this position should be flexible, reliable, and have good organizational skills.
58. Which of the following is a sentence fragment?
a. Although we expect sales to increase next quarter.
b. We expect sales to increase next quarter.
c. Although we expect sales to increase next quarter, we can’t afford to hire any additional employees right now.
d. We can’t afford to hire any additional employees right now.
59. Alex is working on a report and has reached Phase 2 of the 3-x-3 writing process. While collecting information, he
should focus on questions that center around _______.
a. himself as the sender
b. the receiver(s) of the report
c. his supervisor’s communication preferences
d. the company’s financial status
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60. Monica wants to make sure that her sentences are easily understood. How long should she make them?
a. An average of 20 words
b. At least 30 words
c. No more than 8 words
d. An average of 28 words
61. Which of the following sentences contains a comma splice?
a. Miguel will write the document, but Alicia will proofread it.
b. Miguel will write the document, Alicia will proofread it.
c. Miguel will write the document; however, Alicia will proofread it.
d. Miguel will write the document. Alicia will proofread it.
62. _______ is a way to generate and sort ideas emphasizing visual concepts.
a. Brainstorming
b. Writing
c. Mind mapping
d. Crowdsourcing
63. Chuck is part of a team identifying ideas to cut expenses. The team has decided to hold a brainstorming session.
Which of the following strategies would likely produce the best results?
a. Discourage wild thinking; all ideas generated should be rational and feasible.
b. Critique and evaluate each idea as it is presented during the brainstorming session.
c. Focus on the quantity of the ideas rather than the quality.
d. To encourage the maximum number of ideas, avoid defining the problem at the beginning of a brainstorming
session.
64. Which of the following is done during Phase 2 of the writing process?
a. Adapting
b. Proofreading
c. Analyzing
d. Organizing
65. Shauna is writing a document that will compare and contrast different retirement plans. She will most likely use the
________ paragraph plan.
a. indirect
b. pivoting
c. transitional
d. direct
66. An organizational pattern that presents the main idea followed by details, explanation, and evidence is the ________.
a. indirect organizational pattern
b. direct organizational pattern
c. geographical organizational pattern
d. chronological organizational pattern
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67. Which sentence best emphasizes the attorney?
a. The closing arguments were delivered by the attorney.
b. Because the attorney is ready, she will give her closing arguments today.
c. Before the trial resumed, the attorney practiced for her closing arguments.
d. The attorney delivered the closing arguments.
68. For what purpose should the active voice be used?
a. To strengthen most business writing
b. To emphasize an action rather than a person
c. To de-emphasize negative news
d. To conceal the doer of the action
69. Marcia tends to avoid traditional brainstorming with her six-person team because it usually results in one or two
people monopolizing the conversation. An alternative technique she might try to generate creative ideas among the team
is called ________.
a. round robin
b. crowdstorming
c. brainwriting
d. Web conferencing
70. Sentences are _________ when an idea at the end of one connects with an idea at the beginning of the next.
a. transitioned
b. fused
c. dovetailed
d. fragmented
71. Peter is writing an e-mail message to his staff announcing that the new company smartphones promised to arrive on
Monday will be delayed two weeks. He knows that many people will be frustrated because their current phones are
outdated. Which organizational pattern should his message follow?
a. Direct pattern
b. Indirect pattern
c. Chronological pattern
d. Geographical pattern
72. To apply for a job, a résumé must be submitted contains ________.
a. an indirect modifier
b. the active voice
c. a dangling modifier
d. a limiting clause
73. Brooke is working on a business proposal for a prospective client. What is the primary question Brooke should ask as
she gathers information for her project?
a. How much money does the client have?
b. What does the client need to know about this topic?
c. Does the client have a good reputation in the community?
d. How can I make myself look good in the eyes of my client?
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74. Which of the following is an example of a formal research method?
a. Hank talks with his boss to decide what items to include on the meeting agenda.
b. Amy conducts a Web search to find information about a competitor’s products.
c. Galen looks in the company files for copies of minutes from previous meetings.
d. Emily calls a few of her colleagues to learn how they feel about carpooling.
75. You are preparing an outline for your report on Web security in the workplace. Which of the following should be a
major category for this outline?
a. Spam
b. Web Security Threats
c. Phishing
d. Adware and Spyware
76. Clauses that begin with words like although, since, because, when, and if are usually ________.
a. independent
b. dependent
c. direct
d. indirect
77. Which of the following is a run-on sentence?
a. Many companies use Facebook to connect with customers; some also use Twitter.
b. Many companies use Facebook to connect with customers, and some also use Twitter.
c. Many companies use Facebook to connect with customers some also use Twitter.
d. Many companies use Facebook to connect with customers. Some also use Twitter.
78. Free writing, one way to overcome writer’s block, involves _______.
a. thinking through ideas slowly and deliberately
b. concentrating on finding the right words and perfect sentence structure before putting your ideas on paper
c. getting your thoughts down quickly knowing that you will refine them later
d. writing social media posts to get your ideas flowing
79. A benefit of mind mapping is that it _______.
a. generates fewer ideas than regular brainstorming so saves time
b. enables managers to visualize the workflow of an entire project
c. can be done only electronically
d. focuses on individual ideas rather than the connections between them
80. Which of the following is a dependent clause?
a. On the 15th of this month
b. Except for our main competitor
c. Since the company began selling stock to the public
d. Your interview went well
81. Suzanne finds it difficult to begin writing an important report that her supervisor is expecting tomorrow. Which of the
following would be the best advice to give her?
a. Avoid writing until she knows exactly what she wants to say.
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b. Ask her supervisor if the next-day deadline is really necessary.
c. Move to a more lively part of the office where she can overhear others’ conversations and might be more inspired.
d. Make a list of the main and minor points she wants to cover in the report.
82. Which of the following is an independent clause?
a. After he signed the contract
b. Of the two choices
c. Please call with any questions you have
d. If you have any questions
83. Brandon is preparing an extensive report for his boss and wants to begin by conducting formal research. What should
he consider doing?
a. Searching through his company’s files for background information and previous correspondence.
b. Talking with his boss to get more information about the type of information his boss would like included in the
report.
c. Creating an informal online survey using a tool like Survey Monkey.
d. Conducting a Web search for credible industry data related to the topic of the report.
84. Which of the following statements is most accurate about sentence length?
a. Comprehension increases as sentences become longer because the reader has to focus more.
b. Writers should strive for a balance between longer sentences and shorter ones to avoid monotony.
c. Writers should use only short sentences to allow readers to grasp ideas immediately.
d. There is no relationship between sentence length and comprehension.
85. Which of the following is a compound sentence?
a. If you have any questions, please e-mail me.
b. Before the meeting ended, Sofia shared her new product idea; consequently, her ideas were included in the
meeting minutes.
c. Raymond applied for the position, and he was called for an interview two days later.
d. It’s highly likely that your request for leave will be approved.
86. Taylor is writing to deny an employee’s request to work from home three days a week. She should write the letter
using the ________.
a. direct pattern
b. geographical pattern
c. indirect pattern
d. chronological pattern
87. What type of sentence fault results when a writer joins two independent clauses without using a conjunction or
semicolon?
a. Run-on sentence
b. Comma splice
c. Fragment
d. Simple