Ethical standards differ from culture to culture.
When creating a new wiki, the long-term purpose should be planned, just as it would be
on a blog or podcast.
Recommendation letters have created so many legal problems that many companies no
longer allow employees to write them.
Detailed images that look fine on a printed page are well suited for presentation slides.
The amount of time needed for proofreading depends on the complexity of the writing.
In order to set a formal tone in a report, include first-person and second-person
pronouns in your writing.
In reports focused on recommendations, it is best to avoid the direct approach.
Generally speaking, a line chart should not contain more than 2-3 lines for comparison.
Emotions often run high when negative messages are involved for both the sender and
the receiver which makes high standards of ethics and etiquette important.
Born after 1996, Generation Z is the first full generation to be born after the World
Wide Web was invented.
Pre-employment assessments are always the best predictor of job success.
Data consumption is a consideration when developing messages for mobile devices.
Your online personality should change to match the norms of each social platform you
use.
You should always include your college GPA on your rsum.
Using descriptive headings, such as “Effects of Pay Scales on Employee Turnover,” will
help you maintain a hard-hitting, direct tone in a business report.
Deductive reasoning moves from specific evidence to a general conclusion.
A Gantt chart is a type of time line chart used to track the progress of a project.
The business aspect of a dinner meeting usually begins after entre plates have been
removed.
If a customer makes an unreasonable claim against your company, there is no need for
you to explain why you are rejecting it.
Globally, no more than 50 percent of Internet users access the web at least some of the
time with a mobile device.
All important research information is now available online.
A company’s mission statement, structure, and objectives can be found in its business
plan.
Flip charts are particularly effective for recording ideas during group brainstorming
sessions.
You usually do not need permission to use a person’s name or photograph in a
marketing or sales message.
Use a table to summarize information that would be difficult or tedious to handle in the
main text.
If your audience is skeptical, you should introduce conclusions gradually and with more
proof.
Because you can adapt to your audience while you are speaking, don’t worry about
analyzing the audience for an oral presentation.
Even though a presentation isn’t written word for word, the three-step writing process
should still be used.
When writing content for slides, it is best to use passive voice whenever possible.
If you create slides in PowerPoint and Keynote, you’re limited to creating linear flows
of bullet-point slides.
Typical RFPs are nothing more than routine requests.
The general purpose of a message identifies what you hope to accomplish with the
message and what your audience should do or think after receiving your message.
________ focus on a particular function or a particular audience.
A) Private networks
B) Public, specialized networks
C) Public, general-purpose networks
D) Personalized synchronous networks
The most effective and easiest mode of speech delivery in nearly all situations is
A) memorization.
B) reading from a prepared script.
C) speaking from an outline or notes.
D) impromptu speaking.
E) recording the presentation on a podcast.
When you’re writing a business message, use headings and subheadings to
A) reveal how your document is organized.
B) capture the attention of your readers.
C) indicate shifts from one idea to the next.
D) all of the above.
What is one of the key goals related to the audience that should be developed within the
specific purpose of your message?
A) How to best inform the audience of your ideas
B) What the audience should do or think after receiving your message
C) The extent of the collaboration needed with the audience
D) The overall approach that should be used to get the message to the audience
E) The information and the organization of the message
If a writer focuses on the similarities and differences of a topic to compose a paragraph,
then he or she is using the ________ approach.
A) connotative and denotative
B) problem and solution
C) comparison or contrast
D) cause and effect
When would it be appropriate to use jargon in a message?
A) When accuracy is critical
B) When there is a need to express thoughts specifically and dynamically
C) When other word choices have lost the power to communicate
D) When the words or phrases become part of popular culture
E) When communicating with a specific audience that is in the same field
Prospecting application letters to prospective employers
A) requires more research than solicited letters.
B) irritate the personnel office staff.
C) are never read.
D) must include a specific job applying for along with salary requirements.
E) are more specific and detailed.
Which of the following is achieved when presenting all information, including
information that does NOT support your line of reasoning?
A) Documentation
B) Balance
C) Logic
D) Clarity
E) Accuracy
When drafting website content, how does the inverted pyramid style of presenting
information help the reader?
A) Readers will choose only the additional layers they want to
B) Readers will trust the accuracy of the content
C) The website will appear more authoritative
D) Information will be viewed as concise but skimmable
E) Main ideas will be easier to link
Do all of the following EXCEPT ________ when you’re editing a document for
conciseness.
A) eliminate redundancies
B) shorten long words and phrases
C) delete unnecessary words and phrases
D) convert sentences to “it is” or “there are” structures
Which of the following is a reason why interested parties should post comments and
critiques on blogs and e-commerce sites?
A) An opportunity to build their personal brands
B) To help people better understand which posts are appropriate and which are not
C) To take advantage of self-promotion opportunities
D) To remind readers of the importance of their work
E) To redirect readers to other sites through the use of teasers
Topical organization strategies for informational reports include all of the following
EXCEPT
A) complexity.
B) sequence.
C) importance.
D) comparison.
Creating a plain-text file of your rsum
A) is an outdated practice.
B) allows you to include your rsum in the body of an email message, instead of as an
attachment.
C) is helpful, but very difficult to do without expensive software.
D) requires that you center all headings instead of left-justifying them.
E) is used to practice sending a rsum digitally.
Which of the following is used to create the sensation of being in an alternative
environment?
A) Virtual reality
B) Content marketing
C) Hubs
D) User-generated content
E) Augmented reality
During which step of the writing process should you select the medium and channel to
be used?
A) Writing
B) Composing
C) Producing
D) Planning
E) Completing
If you plan to grant a claim made by a customer who’s clearly at fault
A) pinpoint the customer’s shortcomings to discourage future mistakes.
B) discourage future mistakes without insulting the customer.
C) scold the customer to discourage future mistakes.
D) post the situation on social media to discourage future mistakes.
E) specifically identify exactly what the customer did wrong.
When using slide transitions, you should
A) limit them to text; they are not appropriate for graphics.
B) vary the direction, sometimes going from top to bottom and sometimes going from
left to right.
C) reveal information in a way that helps your audience understand your message.
D) use transitions that are flashy and create visual interest.
E) avoid simple, boring slides.
Formal speeches differ from informal ones in that
A) formal speeches always include obscure, unfamiliar vocabulary.
B) formal speeches are always much longer.
C) formal speeches are often delivered from a stage or platform.
D) when delivering a formal speech, you should speak more rapidly.
E) they do not include visual aids.
Generally speaking, limitations of the formal communication network
A) discourage employees from taking advantage of social media.
B) have not affected the popularity of social media in the business environment.
C) have helped to spur the growth of social media in the business environment.
D) do none of the above.
Which type of visual can be used to convey both data and concepts?
A) Bubble diagrams
B) Infographics
C) Organization charts
D) Flowcharts
E) Tables
When should a writer use direct quotes?
A) The original language enhances the writer’s argument
B) The writer is unsure of the meaning of the original language
C) The original language can easily be presented in the writer’s own words
D) The writer wants a consistent tone
E) The writer wants to use words and phrases the audience will be familiar with
Which of the following is an advantage of an effective design?
A) The design helps to eliminate ineffective tone
B) The design helps guide the reader through the message
C) The design acts as a barrier to poor communication
D) The design replaces the nonverbal messages for the reader
E) The design minimizes the effect of production quality
Which type of artwork does NOT add information or meaning to the message?
A) Decorative artwork
B) Slide master
C) Clipart
D) Functional artwork
E) Multimedia
Which of the following should be done to make a rsum tight, clear, and focused?
A) Keep the rsum to one page
B) Add links to the rsum for additional information
C) Eliminate unnecessary details and irrelevant information
D) Write the rsum for viewing on mobile technology
E) Use a longer qualification section and shorter job descriptions
When sending an email message that includes additional files, which of the following
should be verified before you distribute your message?
A) The document is marked as urgent
B) A statement as to the value of the message is included
C) Your virus software is still functional
D) All attachments are included
E) Correct acronyms are used
Why is the close of a routine reply or positive message generally short?
A) The reader already knows what you need done
B) You are not asking the reader to do anything
C) You have already offered your thanks in the opening paragraph
D) It is simply a resale opportunity and doesn’t need any development
E) A shorter message minimizes the negative news
Which of the following is an advantage of having cultural competency in the culture
you grew up in?
A) Your response to those of other cultures is generally automatic
B) You don’t need to consider the norms of other cultures
C) You understand how your society works
D) You don’t have to explain the rules that govern cultures
E) You have stronger intercultural communication skills
Which of the following is one of the purposes of using the indirect approach for
negative messages?
A) To obscure news
B) To delay sharing the news
C) To help the readers accept the situation
D) To limit your responsibility
E) To signal the seriousness of the news
Which of the following is an advantage to focusing on conclusions and
recommendations in an analytical report?
A) The report will be longer and include more detail
B) The readers will agree on criteria for each alternative
C) Readers will quickly grasp what the conclusions or recommendations do
D) All criteria used in the decision-making process are fully explained
E) It puts a hostile or skeptical audience at ease
Some terms and phrases called ________ have become so common that they have lost
some of their power to communicate, and ________ are newly coined terms often
associated with technology, business, or cultural changes.
A) euphemisms; idioms
B) clichs; buzzwords
C) colloquialisms; clichs
D) pull quotes; derivations
Define and explain the “visual evolution in business communication.”
Discuss the disadvantages of using instant messaging systems for business.
Briefly explain the difference between trade journals and academic journals.
Explain important considerations to keep in mind when deciding whether to conduct an
interview face-to-face or via email.
Explain each phase of the three-step writing process.
Briefly explain the main difference between an Internet search engine and a web
directory.
What are your five main goals when delivering bad news?
Describe five techniques you can use to compose effective messages for mobile
devices.
Identify and discuss the 6 types of nonverbal communication signals.
What is culture? How does culture affect communication?
What are user-generated content (UGC) sites? Why are these sites useful in business?
Briefly explain the difference between selling points and benefits, and then give an
example of each.
What should you keep in mind when you’re deciding what to include in a message of
condolence?
Discuss considerations when choosing a design strategy for your rsum.
Why is it important for companies to have mobile-friendly websites?
Briefly explain the primary differences between solicited application letters and
prospecting application letters.
Identify the advantage to seeking help from a reference librarian when conducting
research.
Compare and contrast drawing conclusions and making recommendations in a report.