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CHAPTER 17. Formal Reports
True/False Questions
1. Among the typical questions answered by formal reports are “Why does X
happen” and “How do I do X?”
2. A formal report may address two or more categories of approaches—
comparative, causal, and feasibility.
3. A formal report should address only the immediate cause and leave out any
distant causes.
4. When writing formal reports, you only need to be concerned with the primary
audience, not the secondary audience.
5.
report.
6.
A letter of transmittal is not part of the report but is submitted on top of a
The headings and sub-headings in the table of contents exactly match the
headings and sub-headings in the report.
7. If your report contains more than five terms that your audience might not
understand, you should include a glossary of terms in your end matter.
8. Embarrassing or bad news may be placed in an appendix to the main report.
9. Most formal reports are written for decision makers.
10. Incorporate as many visual elements as possible and place them all at the
end of the report.
Fill-in-the-blank Questions
11. The list of references, appendices, glossary, and other supplemental materials are
examples of .
12.
whereas analysis rates similar items based on specific criteria,
analysis may explain the effects of a problem or decision.
13. Questionnaires and interview questions are examples of items that may be placed in
the formal report’s .
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Multiple-choice Questions
14. A feasibility analysis
(a) excludes evidence that refutes your ultimate recommendation.
(b) carefully analyzes both opposing and supporting data.
(c) includes opposing evidence but downplays it.
(d) carefully analyzes both opposing and supporting data, and includes opposing
evidence, but downplays it.
(e) None of these answers is correct.
15. Appropriate content for a letter of transmittal might be
(a) acknowledging individuals who helped with the report.
(b) referring to specific portions of the report.
(c) offering personal observations.
(d) acknowledging individuals who helped with the report and referring to specific
portions of the report.
(e) All of these answers are appropriate content for a letter of transmittal.
16. A table of contents should include
(a) the title page.
(b) a letter of transmittal.
(c) the abstract.
(d) tables and figures.
(e) the abstract as well as tables and figures.
17. Front matter includes the
(a) introduction.
(b) table of contents.
(c) letter of transmittal.
(d) table of contents and letter of transmittal.
(e) introduction and table of contents.
18. When incorporating research into your report, you
(a) may interpret the data to suit your needs.
(b) should include a references list but omit citations in the text.
(c) must choose sources that are credible.
(d) include extensive tables of data without discussion.
(e) All of these are correct.
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19. Which of the following is not an element of effective reports?
(a) navigable design
(b) personable style
(c) audience-centered visuals
(d) general purpose statement
(e) logical structure
20. Which of the following sections of a formal report may be optional?
(a) title page
(b) table of contents
(c) abstract or executive summary
(d) list of tables and figures
(e) conclusion
21. Which of the following statements is least accurate?
(a) Once a purpose statement is written, it may not be revised.
(b) Formal reports may have both primary and secondary purposes.
(c) If a report has secondary purposes, the purpose statement should include them.
(d) Once a purpose statement is written, it may not be revised; and if a report has
secondary purposes, the purpose statement should include them.
(e) Formal reports may have both primary and secondary purposes; and if a report has
secondary purposes, the purpose statement should include them.
22. Features of an effective causal analysis include
(a) identifying coincidence as cause.
(b) identifying only the immediate cause and omitting distance causes.
(c) determining a cause that fits the effect.
(d) identifying only the immediate cause and omitting distance causes, and determining a
cause that fits the effect.
(e) identifying only the immediate cause and omitting distance causes, determining a
cause that fits the effect, and identifying coincidence as cause.
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CHAPTER 17 ANSWER KEY