If you find graphics, photos, videos, and other elements online, you can use them in
your own documents without worrying about copyright violations.
Answer:
A period goes inside quotation marks if the whole sentence is quoted but outside the
quotation marks if only the last part of the sentence is a quote.
Answer:
In a behavioral interview, you are asked to describe how you would handle various
hypothetical situations on the job.
Answer:
Most employers now prefer functional résumés to chronological ones.
Answer:
The difference between solicited and unsolicited application letters is similar to the
difference between solicited and unsolicited proposals.
Answer:
The only real difference between the “1.0” and “2.0” approaches to Business
Communication is that 2.0 involves using more communication technology.
Answer:
The purpose of most business presentations is to inform or persuade.
Answer:
A résumé is a persuasive message designed to help you get an interview.
Answer:
The difference between “lie” and “lay” is that “lie” is an intransitive verb and “lay” is a
transitive verb.
Answer:
Staging mock interviews can help you identify undesirable nonverbal behaviors and
speech mannerisms.
Answer:
A group of men and women of various ages working together is an example of cultural
diversity.
Answer:
You can never be too modest in the messages you send.
Answer:
When requesting recommendations, you should use the indirect approach.
Answer:
An example of an informative heading would be “Redesigning Material Flow to Cut
Material Costs.”
Answer:
The close of a proposal is the right place to discuss any costs associated with your
recommendations.
Answer:
Following the “Golden Rule” is an effective strategy for adapting to other cultures.
Answer:
Selective listening is an important skill for professionals, since it helps them filter out
information that is not relevant to their jobs.
Answer:
The appropriate clothing for most job interviews is something conservative, such as a
dark blue suit.
Answer:
In general, user-generated content sites have yielded disappointing results for
companies that have used them for business purposes.
Answer:
In the planning stage of an important business report, you should never engage in free
writing, since doing so will only confuse you.
Answer:
Connotative meanings are the literal or dictionary meanings of words.
Answer:
The subject and predicate of a sentence should be kept as close together as possible.
Answer:
As long as employees get the job done, most companies are not concerned with
employees meeting expectations of business etiquette.
Answer:
Using simple language in persuasive messages usually increases your credibility.
Answer:
After sending your report, you should wait at least three weeks before contacting the
audience if you don’t receive a response.
Answer:
A good résumé is targeted for specific situations and prospective employers.
Answer:
The introduction is a good place to tell readers why they should be concerned with your
topic.
Answer:
Creating effective social media content in business means taking every opportunity to
promote your company’s products.
Answer:
Poorly organized messages are unlikely to be effective, regardless of their content.
Answer:
Demographic information includes people’s psychological characteristics, such as
personality, attitudes, and lifestyle.
Answer:
It is not necessary to ask someone’s permission before listing his or her name as a job
reference.
Answer:
Workforce diversity includes differences not only in race but also in gender, education,
and other areas.
Answer:
The AIDA model for persuasive messages works only with the indirect approach.
Answer:
In the final paragraph of your application letter, you should forcefully demand an
interview.
Answer:
Part of preparing for a job interview involves anticipating the questions that will be
asked and rehearsing answers to each one.
Answer:
“Our clients have become more knowledgeable, and we need to accommodate them” is
a complex sentence.
Answer:
Regardless of the audience’s specific needs, if your product is good and your message is
clear, you will likely persuade them to make a purchase.
Answer:
When delivering negative news,
A) it is important to look for positive points that will foster a good relationship with
your audience.
B) don’t waste time trying to emphasize the positive—your audience will see right
through it.
C) you should always be positive and upbeat, even if what you say or write sounds
insincere at first.
D) being blunt is always best.
E) there is no way around being negative in your wording and tone.
Answer:
Because of its natural feel and versatility, the ________ approach is generally the most
persuasive way to develop an analytical report for skeptical readers.
A) 2 + 2 = 4
B) yardstick
C) direct
D) hypothetical
E) emotional
Answer:
Establishing credibility in persuasive messages
A) is impossible unless the audience is already familiar with you.
B) is a waste of time, since data and evidence are the only things audiences find
convincing.
C) requires a condescending, “know-it-all” tone.
D) works only when you make negative comments about your company’s competitors.
E) is essential when you are trying to persuade a hostile or skeptical audience.
Answer:
Based on the expectations of today’s younger employees, listening skills
A) have become even more vital for managers.
B) have become less important than in years past, when face-to-face interaction was
more prevalent.
C) now rank low on the list of what employees look for in job candidates.
D) are still important, but only for managers.
E) have become less of an emphasis in leading U.S. business schools.
Answer:
Preparing for a video interview is generally
A) the same as preparing for a face-to-face interview.
B) not necessary.
C) similar to preparing for a face-to-face interview, but requires familiarizing yourself
with the equipment and process.
D) virtually impossible to do effectively.
E) unnecessary, since you never know what the interviewers will ask.
Answer:
When making claims or requesting adjustments, you should begin by
A) complimenting the company for past service.
B) providing a detailed description of the faulty merchandise.
C) providing a straightforward statement of the problem.
D) threatening legal action if you do not receive a favorable adjustment.
E) saying how disappointed you are in the company.
Answer:
The most popular type of visual aid for business presentations is
A) flip charts.
B) whiteboards.
C) electronic slides.
D) overhead transparencies.
E) All of the above are equally popular.
Answer:
Despite the variety among them, many analytical reports include a
A) standard opening.
B) section of recommendations.
C) “this is how it’s done” quality.
D) standard middle section.
E) disclaimer on the last page.
Answer:
Excluding important negative information about a candidate in a recommendation letter
A) is expected—otherwise no one would be able to get a good job.
B) has led some employers to sue after hiring the candidate and discovering problems.
C) is the only way to prevent the candidate from suing you.
D) is okay, as long as you explain to the candidate that you are doing it.
E) is fine unless you have a business relationship with the recipient of your letter.
Answer:
Your report contains a spreadsheet with figures that are updated daily. To ensure
currency, you should include the spreadsheet as a(n) ________ file.
A) linked
B) embedded
C) encrypted
D) compressed
E) none of the above
Answer:
Whereas a(n) ________ file in a report requires readers to be online so the file can be
updated, a(n) ________ file does not.
A) embedded; linked
B) linked; embedded
C) pdf; Microsoft Word
D) Microsoft Word; pdf
E) compressed; uncompressed
Answer:
Using humor in business messages is
A) an effective way to build strong relationships with international clients.
B) usually not effective for formal and intercultural messages.
C) appropriate for external messages, but never for internal.
D) expected in virtually every profession.
E) none of the above.
Answer:
Which of the following is a particularly helpful medium when you need to update
content for a large audience quickly?
A) webpage
B) email
C) instant message
D) podcast
E) blog
Answer:
Whatever the length of your message, you should limit the number of major support
points to roughly
A) two.
B) three.
C) six.
D) ten.
E) twenty.
Answer:
When writing business reports for outsiders (such as customers or suppliers), it is best
to
A) use a more formal tone than you would for an internal audience.
B) use a less formal tone than you would for an internal audience.
C) include personal references such as “you” and “us.”
D) use a great deal of idiomatic language.
E) use contractions whenever possible.
Answer:
When selecting media for a report
A) you should choose the ones that are most convenient.
B) you should choose the ones that are most economical.
C) your decisions should reflect your audience’s expectations.
D) you should always present your report in writing.
E) you should always select those that are high-tech.
Answer:
A good way to deliver bad news kindly is to
A) maximize the space devoted to it.
B) say, “I trust our decision is satisfactory.”
C) avoid stating it and hope that the reader understands what you mean.
D) deemphasize it by embedding it in the middle of a paragraph or use parenthetical
expressions.
E) emphasize how much you wish you had good news.
Answer:
Which media would be best for keeping in touch with a sales team whose members live
in several different states?
A) Written media
B) Oral media
C) Electronic media
D) Presentations
E) None of the above
Answer:
Disadvantages of delivering a presentation from memory include all of the following
except
A) sounding stilted.
B) possibly forgetting your lines.
C) sounding too informal.
D) none of the above—memorization is the best method.
E) all of the above are disadvantages.
Answer:
When adapting to business cultures, a sense of humor
A) is inappropriate and unprofessional—business is no laughing matter.
B) can help people move past awkward and embarrassing moments.
C) is helpful unless you are in a management or executive position.
D) is accepted and helpful in many cultures, but not in the U.S.
E) will not help, since humor does not transfer from one culture to another.
Answer:
The purpose of the interest section of a persuasive message is to
A) capture attention.
B) explain the relevance of your message to your audience.
C) increase the audience’s desire to take the action recommended in the message.
D) get the reader to act immediately.
E) coax the audience into thinking what you’re about to say is insignificant.
Answer:
Unsolicited application letters to prospective employers
A) require more research than solicited letters.
B) irritate the personnel office staff.
C) are never read.
D) almost never result in a job offer.
E) are none of the above.
Answer:
Rehearsing your presentation will
A) help you check your voice, timing, phrasing, and equipment.
B) increase your nervousness.
C) most likely ruin your ability to make an effective presentation.
D) rob you of the confidence you need.
E) waste valuable time, since most presentations are delivered in person.
Answer:
At the close of a business presentation,
A) audience attention tends to reach its lowest point.
B) be clear about what you want the audience to do next.
C) you should avoid making it obvious that you’re about to finish.
D) audiences resent being reminded of the presentation’s main ideas.
E) it is always best to avoid having to answer any questions.
Answer:
When writing to audiences whose first language is not English, using plenty of
transitions
A) helps readers follow your train of thought.
B) is insulting, since it will seem that you are talking down to them.
C) will confuse readers, since it will make your message longer.
D) is useful only if your readers belong to a high-context culture.
E) should be avoided, since it will make your writing sound simple and unsophisticated.
Answer:
Overhead transparencies are
A) no longer used.
B) old-fashioned, but offer some advantages compared to electronic slides.
C) appropriate only for highly technical presentations.
D) much easier to edit than electronic slides.
E) none of the above.
Answer:
One effective way to arouse interest at the start of a speech is to
A) always start things off with a joke.
B) unite the audience around a common goal.
C) tease the audience by not mentioning specifically what you’ll be talking about.
D) say something outrageous, such as an insulting comment about an audience member.
E) do none of the above.
Answer:
When responding to a request for adjustment when a third party is at fault, the best
approach is to
A) refuse the claim and suggest that the customer sue the third party.
B) refuse the claim but forward the paperwork to the third party.
C) respond promptly, explaining how the problem will be solved.
D) honor the claim but explain that your company was not at fault.
E) refuse the claim, but assure the customer that you will never do business with the
third party again.
Answer:
The best way to handle frequent job changes on a résumé is to
A) avoid any mention of a job you held for less than a year.
B) group similar jobs under a single heading.
C) provide a detailed explanation of each one.
D) do none of the above.
E) omit descriptions of several positions.
Answer:
Organizing messages effectively helps readers by
A) helping them understand the message.
B) helping them accept the message.
C) saving them time.
D) leading them to form accurate conclusions about your topic.
E) all of the above.
Answer:
Condolence messages should
A) be as long as possible.
B) make as little reference to the deceased as possible.
C) avoid “poetic” passages and stilted or formal phrases.
D) include comments on how you felt in a similar situation.
E) not mention the deceased by name.
Answer:
Give at least three examples of how podcasts could replace more traditional message
formats in business.
Answer:
When your AIDA message uses an indirect approach and is delivered by email, what
are two goals to keep in mind as you write the subject line?
Answer:
How is the denotative meaning of a word different from its connotative meaning?
Answer:
Conclusions should accomplish what two tasks?
Answer:
Explain how inappropriate use of email at work can lead to legal problems.
Answer:
Briefly describe at least three strategies for writing effective multicultural messages.
Answer:
________ ________ are the most attractive features of an idea or product.
Answer:
Explain the three basic categories of analytical business reports and provide at least one
example of each type.
Answer:
Distinguish between “formal” and “informal” cultural rules, then briefly describe three
areas in which differing informal rules can become evident during intercultural
communication.
Answer:
While having lunch with a client, what should you do with the business papers you
brought to discuss? Why?
Answer:
How can your audience’s level of understanding help you determine the appropriate
amount of information to include in a business message?
Answer:
What are three methods of reasoning you can use when making a logical appeal?
Answer:
Explain each phase of the three-step writing process.
Answer:
Briefly describe the characteristics of an effective email subject line.
Answer:
How does proofreading reports and proposals differ from proofreading other business
messages?
Answer:
In a formal proposal, where does the Work Plan section normally appear, and what
information does it contain? Can it be changed later?
Answer:
Explain why goodwill messages are important, then describe at least two characteristics
of effective goodwill messages.
Answer: