You should prepare for a video interview in much the same way you would prepare for
an in-person interview.
Answer:
Recommendation letters have created so many legal problems that many companies no
longer allow employees to write them.
Answer:
Among other factors, the globalization of business has decreased the demand for skilled
communicators.
Answer:
Many reports, especially short ones, require neither a synopsis nor an executive
summary.
Answer:
When analyzing your audience, you should ignore everyone except the key decision
makers.
Answer:
You should be able to summarize the main idea for a speech in a single sentence that
links your subject and purpose to the audience’s frame of reference.
Answer:
When people must choose between alternatives that aren’t completely wrong or
completely right, they are facing an ethical lapse.
Answer:
Honor and progress are concrete words.
Answer:
One characteristic of effective teams is that one leader tends to take charge and make all
the major decisions.
Answer:
When you’re responding to a solicited proposal, ignore any stipulations in the RFP that
could diminish your chances of winning the contract.
Answer:
With practice, most writers can create first drafts that do not need to be revised.
Answer:
The appropriate clothing for most job interviews is something conservative, such as a
dark blue suit.
Answer:
Managers use feasibility reports to examine the ramifications of a decision they are
about to make.
Answer:
Skilled communicators include only the information that their audience has specifically
requested.
Answer:
The recommendations you make in a report should offer practical guidance on next
steps.
Answer:
Natural boundaries and national borders represent insurmountable barriers to global
business.
Answer:
In business documents, items in a list should always be numberedusing bullets or other
graphics is unprofessional.
Answer:
In the signature block of a business letter, three blank lines are left between the
complimentary close and the sender’s typed name.
Answer:
When you proofread the text part of a report, you should essentially look for the same
types of mistakes as you would look for in any business message.
Answer:
Induction refers to reasoning from a generalization to a specific conclusion.
Answer:
When conducting business with others who speak a language other than English, it is
best to avoid trying to speak any words or phrases in their language.
Answer:
A landscaper bidding on a job at the request of a general contractor would submit an
external, unsolicited proposal.
Answer:
No one has time to plan messages anymore, so when you need to create one it is best to
simply dive right in and begin writing.
Answer:
In general, when writing to someone in another country, U.S. businesspeople should be
a bit more formal than they would be otherwise.
Answer:
Within organizations, formal communication is upward and downward, while informal
communication is always horizontal.
Answer:
A new co-worker recently won a prestigious award for her work on green technologies.
Since you do not know her well, you should not send a note to congratulate her on the
achievement.
Answer:
The best background for your slides is one with a colorful, interesting pattern that will
grab the audience’s attention.
Answer:
To resolve conflicts successfully, it is helpful to get opponents to fight together against
an “outside force” (such as increased competition) instead of against each other.
Answer:
If a newspaper article doesn’t have an author, your citation begins with the title of the
newspaper.
Answer:
A conversational tone is not appropriate for most business messages.
Answer:
Focusing on conclusions in an analytical report involves using the direct approach to
organization.
Answer:
As you explain and justify your request, you should try to point out how complying
with the request could benefit the reader.
Answer:
Touch is an important way to convey warmth, comfort, and reassurance; so don’t
hesitate to show your feelings by hugging others in the workplace.
Answer:
Unlike with verbal language, the meanings of nonverbal signals are consistent across
cultures.
Answer:
The “information technology paradox” refers to
A) widespread confusion over how to utilize email and IM.
B) the idea that technology has cut down interpersonal communication in business.
C) the idea that the use of information technology can waste as much time as it saves.
D) frustration surrounding incompatibility between Apple and Microsoft operating
systems.
E) none of the above.
Answer:
A knowledge-management system
A) helps companies limit the amount of information employees store on the network.
B) enables organizations to test employees periodically to ensure they are doing
adequate research.
C) is a centralized database of experiences and insights of employees throughout an
organization.
D) is a tool for creating a bibliography when writing long reports.
E) is an expensive scan-and-save system for converting paper documents to electronic
files.
Answer:
Which of the following possessive phrases is not correct?
A) A year’s recommendations
B) Two years’ recommendations
C) Its recommendations
D) His recommendations
E) It’s recommendations
Answer:
You can count on grammar checking software to ________ when you want to revise a
message you’ve written.
A) assess the readability of your message
B) show proposed changes and a history of revisions
C) determine whether you’ve stated your message clearly and completely
D) highlight potential concerns, such as passive voice and long sentences
E) all of the above
Answer:
When you receive an RFP, you’ll usually find that it includes
A) specific instructions on referring to the RFP itself in your proposal.
B) a list of companies that have submitted failed proposals in the past.
C) any negative information about the company that might affect the project.
D) a disclaimer stating that costs noted in the RFP may increase after the proposal is
accepted.
E) all of the above.
Answer:
If you’re planning to create a table for online use, ________ to make sure that the table
is easy to read.
A) reduce the number of columns and rows
B) eliminate lines and spaces between columns and rows
C) display data items in unrounded, multiple units
D) present large amounts of data and information
E) add additional columns and rows
Answer:
Most business communication should aim for a ________ tone.
A) formal
B) colloquial
C) confrontational
D) conceptual
E) conversational
Answer:
Which of the following will not help you write routine messages that promote
goodwill?
A) Providing information your readers may find helpful
B) Using content and tone to provide an element of entertainment
C) Including a sales pitch with every routine message
D) All of the above
E) None of the above
Answer:
If you want to call attention to the visuals in a formal report, you should
A) work them into the table of contents.
B) submit them as a separate enclosure.
C) cite their sources in the bibliography.
D) include a list of illustrations as a prefatory element.
E) refer to them in your conclusions and recommendations.
Answer:
Cultural differences appear in a number of important areas, including
A) nonverbal signals.
B) gender.
C) religion.
D) attitudes toward work and success.
E) all of the above.
Answer:
In business messages, varying the length of your sentences
A) confuses readers and makes documents less interesting.
B) helps you control the emphasis given to major and minor points.
C) makes you look like an amateur.
D) makes the revision process much more difficult.
E) is a waste of time unless your document is highly technical.
Answer:
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) present your conclusions first to arouse the audience’s interest in your message.
D) open with a humorous anecdote to establish rapport with the audience.
E) none of the above.
Answer:
A scannable résumé differs from the traditional format in that
A) its formatting is more complex.
B) it is printed in all caps.
C) it is printed in boldface type.
D) it always includes a keyword summary.
E) it is printed in an extra-large font.
Answer:
A public corporation filing a quarterly tax report would be providing
A) a progress report.
B) a compliance report.
C) a justification report.
D) a periodic operating report.
E) unnecessary information.
Answer:
On your second or third visit to an organization, if you haven’t been offered the job, you
should
A) ask whether you did anything wrong during the interview.
B) state that trifling with a jobseeker’s emotions is rude.
C) ask tactfully when you can expect to learn of the decision.
D) explain that your domineering mother expects you to get a job soon.
E) pretend that you have another job offer and push for an immediate decision.
Answer:
When selecting the appropriate compositional mode for a communication task using
electronic media, the central factor to consider is
A) which one you like the most.
B) which one will save you the most time.
C) which one is most likely to impress your boss.
D) what kind of information audience members are likely to need.
E) what medium you will use.
Answer:
Infographics are
A) visuals in business messages that inform, rather than decorate.
B) software programs designed to help create effective visuals for business reports.
C) professional designers who are skilled in making business documents come to life
with effective visuals.
D) statistical analyses that help companies determine the exact mix of text and visuals
to use in communicating with a particular audience.
E) messages that combine powerful visuals with supporting text.
Answer:
If you must deliver a negative message, ask ________ to help you choose the direct or
indirect approach for delivering the message.
A) “Will the reader be shocked by the news?”
B) “How important is the news to the reader?”
C) “Does the reader prefer short, direct messages?”
D) “Do I need to get the reader’s attention immediately?”
E) all of the above
Answer:
If you have mildly disappointing information to deliver as part of a positive message,
you should
A) put the negative information in a favorable context.
B) just leave it out.
C) put the negative information first.
D) put the negative information last.
E) use sarcasm to suggest that it’s not all that bad.
Answer:
If you haven’t done anything specific to set a customer’s expectations but you’ve
discovered that a shipment to that customer will be delayed by 48-hours, what should
you do?
A) Don’t say anything and wait for the customer to contact you.
B) Inform the customer of the situation, without apologizing.
C) Inform the customer, and apologize profusely for the inconvenience.
D) Cancel the shipment and tell the customer to place another order.
E) Tell the customer to contact the shipper for an apology.
Answer:
Use a ________ to show frequency or distribution of parts in a whole.
A) line chart
B) bar chart
C) histogram
D) flowchart
E) pie chart
Answer:
Personality, lifestyle, and attitudes are assessed through
A) demographic surveys.
B) psychographic studies.
C) drive-by assessments.
D) semiannual census data.
E) none of the above.
Answer:
When you want to develop a paragraph by showing how a general idea is broken into
specific categories, which of these methods would you use?
A) Illustration
B) Comparison and contrast
C) Cause and effect
D) Classification
E) Generalization
Answer:
Which of the following is not an example of demographic information?
A) Age
B) Occupation
C) Lifestyle
D) Income
E) Education
Answer:
When you have covered all the main points in your speech, you should
A) get ready to end your message on a strong, positive note.
B) wrap up as quickly as possible.
C) avoid using such phrases as “To sum it all up” and “In conclusion.”
D) keep it simple with a statement such as, “Well, I guess that’s it.”
E) end with a detailed explanation of how hard you worked on preparing your speech.
Answer:
If you’re making recommendations and they involve some potential risks
A) ignore the risks since they may discourage your audience.
B) downplay the risks and stay focused on reaching your objectives.
C) introduce the benefits and risks of following your recommendations.
D) explain how to achieve the benefits and how to handle the potential risks.
E) both C and D
Answer:
When receiving business-related phone calls,
A) you should use frequent verbal responses (such as, “I see”) to show that you are
listening.
B) it is impolite to say things such as, “I understand” while the other person is speaking.
C) it is perfectly acceptable to put the caller on hold without explanation.
D) your primary goal should be to get off the phone (and back to work) as quickly as
possible.
E) do none of the above.
Answer:
The best way to find job opportunities is usually
A) searching online job boards such as Monster.
B) looking for them in the newspaper’s classified ads.
C) counting on the people you know to keep you in the loop.
D) identifying the companies you want to work for and focusing your efforts on them.
E) to send a form letter to as many companies as possible, asking that they call you
when they have openings.
Answer:
A ________ helps a potential buyer move through the purchasing process without
having to make an immediate decision; a ________ encourages a potential buyer to
make a purchase decision immediately.
A) marketing message; product push
B) measured response; content quotient
C) persuasive appeal; sales message
D) marketing message; sales message
E) pitch presentation; selling event
Answer:
In general, audiences are likely to
A) ignore poor organization if the message is important.
B) form inaccurate conclusions from poorly organized messages.
C) fully understand most messages, even those that are poorly organized.
D) feel more comfortable with free-flowing, disorganized messages than with those that
are rigidly structured.
E) none of the above.
Answer:
Only one sales representative can go to the conference in Hawaii, but both Susan and
Sean want to go. After much discussion and arguing, they draw straws and Susan gets
the trip. This is an example of
A) a win-lose situation.
B) the five-step decision-making process.
C) the best way to deal with a conflict.
D) a lose-lose situation.
E) all of the above.
Answer:
A special class of diagrams called ________ contains enough textual information to
function as standalone documents.
A) informatics
B) pictograms
C) data clouds
D) infographics
E) monographs
Answer:
A woman returns a formal dress to your store, asking for a refund. The bodice is stained
and the hemline is torn, but she says that she’s returning it unworn because it doesn’t fit.
Which of the following would be the best way to refuse her request for a refund?
A) State that company policy prevents you from accepting the return but that if you had
anything to say about it, you’d take back the dress, no questions asked.
B) Restate her complaint to let her know you understand it, explain as positively as
possible that you are unable to accept the return of damaged merchandise, and
recommend a tailor who can fix the tear and alter the dress for her.
C) Challenge the woman to try on the dress and prove that it doesn’t fit.
D) Tell a funny story to divert her attention soften the blow of your refusal.
E) Let her know that she’s not the first deadbeat customer to try this scam, and threaten
to call the police.
Answer:
If you are responding negatively to a request, an effective buffer statement will
A) deliver the bad news, right up front.
B) create a verbal barrier between you and the person who made the request.
C) make the reader think that the message will contain a favorable response.
D) trivialize the concerns of the person who made the request.
E) none of the above.
Answer:
Since cultures do not always share the same perspectives on ethical issues, how can you
keep messages ethical during intercultural communication?
Answer:
Briefly explain the nature and importance of the final phase in the communication
process.
Answer:
Identify and discuss the relationship between social networks and brand communities.
Answer:
Provide at least one example of an idiomatic phrase that would be best to avoid in
writing to an audience whose first language is not English.
Answer:
What are the five most common techniques for developing paragraphs?
Answer:
Describe five characteristics of effective business messages.
Answer:
How can career counseling aid your search for employment?
Answer:
Explain what it means to choose “words that communicate well,” then list four
techniques for selecting the best words when writing business messages.
Answer:
What is workforce diversity?
Answer:
Give an example of one way to arouse audience attention at the beginning of a
presentation on your company’s new long-term disability insurance.
Answer:
Identify and discuss four important elements of successful business blogs.
Answer:
In preparing a letter to a vendor regarding a missing part of your order, would the direct
or indirect approach be preferable? Briefly explain your choice.
Answer:
Outline the eight steps of the communication process.
Answer:
Rewrite the following to make it a more active statement: “I was in charge of customer
complaints and all ordering problems.”
Answer:
List at least five common mistakes that can severely hinder your job search.
Answer:
Discuss six principles to keep in mind when designing visuals regarding the aesthetic
and symbolic aspects of graphic art.
Answer:
You are scheduled to discuss a negative performance evaluation with one of the
employees you supervise. How can you emphasize the positive during your
conversation?
Answer:
When your AIDA message uses an indirect approach and will be delivered by email,
what should you keep in mind as you write the subject line?
Answer:
How do panel interviews differ from group interviews?
Answer:
Briefly describe at least three advantages of a diverse workforce.
Answer: