1. The first step of the writing process is to compose a first draft of the message.
a. True
b. False
2. The writing process consists of planning, drafting, revising, formatting, and proofreading.
a. True
b. False
3. Without identifying the primary audience for a message, you cannot know whether you’ve achieved your goal.
a. True
b. False
4. Email is neither as formal as a letter nor as informal as a telephone call.
a. True
b. False
5. You can more easily personalize a message addressed to several people than a message addressed to one person.
a. True
b. False
6. Even if you cannot satisfy everyone, your first priority is to satisfy the needs of the primary audience.
a. True
b. False
7. Messages for readers outside your organization tend to be less formal than those written for readers inside your
organization.
a. True
b. False
8. When you write to someone higher in your organization, you usually present the main idea in your first paragraph.
a. True
b. False
9. When communicating with subordinates, you should encourage collaboration and corporate ownership of your
proposal.
a. True
b. False
10. You should criticize the action, not the person, when writing a message to say something negative to a subordinate.
a. True
b. False
11. When praising or criticizing, it is important to be specific and to criticize the action, not the person.
a. True
b. False
12. Praise in public; criticize in private.
a. True
b. False
13. If you expect that a reader will react negatively to your message, use a direct approach.
a. True
b. False
14. If your reader is likely to reject your proposal, provide external evidence and several examples to support your
position.
a. True
b. False
15. If you do not know how much your readers know about a topic, gear the amount of detail in your message to the
needs of the secondary audience.
a. True
b. False
16. When you personalize the content of a message, you make the reader feel important.
a. True
b. False
17. When you face writer’s block, you should minimize distractions by turning off the audible incoming message alert
feature on your email account and by switching your smartphone to vibrate only.
a. True
b. False
18. People often delete or read email based upon the subject line alone.
a. True
b. False
19. Every business communication contains an element of persuasion.
a. True
b. False
20. Concise writing, short paragraphs, and formal style are hallmarks of writing for the web.
a. True
b. False
21. Using “BCC” (blind computer copy) is advisable whenever you want to show your manager how you are handling a
difficult coworker situationto protect yourself against recriminations later.
a. True
b. False
22. Use attachments for any email messages over 100 words.
a. True
b. False
23. The expression of the general purpose of a message should state the response or action that the writer desires from
the reader.
a. True
b. False
24. A clearly stated purpose guides you in planning the content of your message.
a. True
b. False
25. When you brainstorm ideas before composing a message, you should strive for quality, not quantity.
a. True
b. False
26. You can use mind mapping to develop a step-by-step list of ideas to include in a message.
a. True
b. False
27. When preparing a rough draft, you should write down your ideas as quickly as possible, without worrying about
format or style.
a. True
b. False
28. You will write more creatively and efficiently if you edit while composing your first draft.
a. True
b. False
29. Writer’s block is the inability to draft a message and focus on the writing process.
a. True
b. False
30. You can overcome writer’s block by creating a perfect first draft.
a. True
b. False
31. Choosing an environment conducive to work and scheduling a reasonable block of time are two ways to avoid
writer’s block.
a. True
b. False
32. Free writing is a method that helps some writers get past writer’s block.
a. True
b. False
33. Allowing some time between drafting and revising helps you distance yourself enough to identify weaknesses in
logic or diction.
a. True
b. False
34. Writers should revise for content first and then look at audience appeal and the mechanics of putting together the
document.
a. True
b. False
35. When you revise for content, you should check whether the purpose of your message will be clear to the reader.
a. True
b. False
36. Revising for content includes determining whether your sentences have the proper rhythm and flow.
a. True
b. False
37. The final step in the revision process is to check your writing style and be sure it conveys a suitable image of you as
the writer.
a. True
b. False
38. You can detect overly long sentences by reading your message out loud.
a. True
b. False
39. Editing to identify grammar errors should precede revising for content and style.
a. True
b. False
40. If you are confident in your writing skills, the drafting stage of the business writing process is not essential and can
be skipped to save time.
a. True
b. False
41. Blogs use far more text than websites and typically allow for customer comments.
a. True
b. False
42. Regardless of who types a document, the writer is ultimately responsible for its accuracy and appearance.
a. True
b. False
43. You will catch more errors when proofreading your final document if you proofread it on your computer screen
where you have access to a spell-checker.
a. True
b. False
44. Typically, people are willing to spend time reading long blocks of text on websites that they have selected
themselves.
a. True
b. False
45. Static websites let people retrieve information but also create strong relationships with customers.
a. True
b. False
46. Engaging graphics, useful content, and helpful links on company websites, are more user-friendly than well-crafted
paragraphs of text.
a. True
b. False
47. Proofreading for content includes ensuring that the document makes sense.
a. True
b. False
48. Well-written web pages are highly skimmable.
a. True
b. False
49. When you proofread for format errors, you should check that all the parts of the document are included and in the
proper position.
a. True
b. False
50. Identify the correct sequence of the steps in the writing process.
a. drafting, brainstorming, audience analysis, formatting, revising, proofreading
b. brainstorming, audience analysis, planning, revising, proofreading, formatting
c. audience analysis, planning, drafting, revising, formatting, proofreading
d. formatting, planning, audience analysis, drafting, proofreading, revising
e. audience analysis, planning, drafting, proofreading, revising, formatting
51. Which of the following statements about primary and secondary audiences is not correct?
a. The cooperation of the primary audience is needed to achieve the objectives of your message.
b. The secondary audience approves or rejects the request presented in your message.
c. The primary audience is often the highest-ranking person who receives your message.
d. Not all of your messages will have both primary and secondary audiences.
e. You can try to satisfy the needs of the secondary audience after you satisfy the needs of the primary
audience.
52. When you analyze your audience, you
a. identify the reaction you will have to the reader’s needs.
b. adapt your message tone after observing any negative reaction.
c. examine your relationship with the reader.
d. present external evidence to support your logos.
e. decide on the purpose that suits each reader.
53. Upward communication is usually
a. more formal than downward communication.
b. front-loaded with pathos.
c. geared toward the secondary, higher-level audience.
d. adapted to the writer’s preference of style and diction.
e. more authoritarian in tone than other messages.
54. Which advice about analyzing the audience reaction is correct?
a. Regardless of the anticipated reader reaction, use the indirect approach.
b. If the reader is likely to oppose your ideas, supply additional evidence and supporting facts.
c. If the reader is likely to have a positive reaction, use little jargon and strong persuasion.
d. If you expect the reader to react negatively to you, prove that your colleagues strongly agree with you.
e. If you anticipate a neutral reaction, open your message with your strongest point.
55. What is the most important reason why you should determine what your audience knows about the topic of your
message?
a. You can decide on personal touches that show readers they are important.
b. You can anticipate whether the reader’s reaction will be positive or negative.
c. You can gain the cooperation of your colleagues in presenting persuasive arguments.
d. You can move through the steps of the writing process more quickly.
e. You can decide how much jargon to use and what readability level is appropriate.
56. ____ use far more text than websites and typically allow for customer comments.
a. IMs
b. Tweets
c. vlogs
d. Letters
e. Blogs
57. If your supervisor is hesitant about accepting your ideas, your best strategy would be to
a. write a direct and to the point opening paragraph.
b. add a paragraph to establish your credibility.
c. preview your conclusion before you begin.
d. praise your supervisor for her past insights.
e. end your message with specific action steps.