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Chapter 4—Test Bank
Revising Business Messages
DIFFICULTY (DIF) TYPE OTHER CODES
5 = Most difficult Ap: Application question ANS: Answer
3 = Average difficulty Con: Conceptual question REF: Page Reference
1 = Least difficult Def: Definition OBJ: Chapter Objective
NOT: Note (feedback/explanations)
AAC: AACSB Competencies
Multiple Choice
1. To be successful in the business world, you must be able to create messages and
presentations that are
a. concise.
b. clear.
c. vigorous.
d. All answer choices are correct.
2. Which of the following is true about writing and revising business documents?
a. Rarely is the first version satisfactory, but usually the second version is excellent.
b. Experts say only amateurs expect writing perfection on the first try.
c. Revision is not necessary for informal documents such as internal memos or e-mail
messages.
d. The real work of revision should happen in the writing stage as you select words and
form sentences.
3. Monica lost a promotion due to poor writing skills. Which phase of the writing process
should she most focus on to demonstrate better writing skills?
a. Improving content and research
b. Revising and proofreading
c. Formatting and documenting
d. Identifying her purpose and her audience
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4. Which of the following statements about revision is most accurate?
a. You must compose first drafts quickly (sprint writing) and return later for editing.
b. Careful writers always revise as they write.
c. Revision is required only for long and complex business documents.
d. Some business writers prefer to compose first drafts quickly and revise later; others
prefer to revise as they go.
5. Good business writing is concise. Concise means that the writing
a. avoids the use of redundant phrases.
b. is free of errors in grammar and punctuation.
c. has been revised to include examples and research.
d. contains proper documentation of resources.
6. Concise writing
a. should be used only in informal business documents such as e-mail messages.
b. is easier to read and comprehend.
c. is improved during the proofreading step of the third phase of the writing process.
d. should be avoided because it can come across as being abrupt and rude.
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7. Due to the fact that is a flabby phrase that could be written more concisely as
a. About.
b. Although.
c. While.
d. Because.
8. Which of the following best avoids flabby expressions?
a. In very few cases do job applicants perform adequate research about a company.
b. The CEO is of the opinion that stock prices will increase next quarter.
c. Although many employees have requested training, we can’t afford the extra
expense.
d. We do not expect any pay raises at this point in time.
9. In the near future is a flabby expression that could be written more concisely as
a. Now.
b. Soon.
c. Probably.
d. For.
10. I am writing this letter to inform you that is an example of
a. a flabby expression.
b. an effective introductory statement.
c. a long lead-in.
d. strong business writing.
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11. Which of the following best avoids a long lead-in?
a. Yes, we will send the information you requested.
b. This is to advise you that we will send the information you requested.
c. You may be interested to learn that we will send the information you requested.
d. I am writing this letter to inform you that we will send the information you
requested.
12. It is important to avoid long lead-ins because
a. they are grammatically incorrect.
b. conciseness is enhanced through long lead-ins.
c. the reader is delayed from reaching the meaning of the sentence.
d. they result in faulty parallelism.
13. Which of the following sentences is most effective?
a. This is to inform you that your account is now up-to-date.
b. At this point in time, your account is up-to-date.
c. Due to the fact that we have just received your check, your account is up-to–date.
d. Your account is now up-to-date.
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14. There are 15 candidates who applied for the job opening is an example of a sentence
with
a. concise wording.
b. a wordy prepositional phrase.
c. a filler.
d. faulty parallelism.
15. Which sentence avoids the use of unnecessary fillers?
a. There are three important issues to discuss at today’s meeting.
b. There is only one job opening available.
c. It was our office manager who won the raffle.
d. Three candidates are running for the board.
16. Which of the following is a redundant expression?
a. Repeat again
b. New beginning
c. True facts
d. All choices are redundant expressions.
17. Which sentence avoids redundant expressions?
a. It is absolutely essential that our accounting records are accurate.
b. Let’s not repeat our competitor’s mistakes.
c. Please refer back to the June financial statements.
d. I want to thank each and every stockholder.
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18. Katelyn is writing a letter to thank a potential employer for her job interview. Which of
these sentences contains modern expressions Katelyn should use?
a. Thank you in advance for considering me for your available position.
b. I am confident that my education has prepared me well for the medical technician
position.
c. Enclosed herein please find the salary history you requested during the interview.
d. Pursuant to your request, I will return for a second interview on May 28.
19. Which of the following expressions is most modern?
a. Enclosed is
b. Under separate cover
c. Every effort will be made
d. Please do not hesitate to
20. Jargon
a. is specialized terminology that individuals in a specific profession or field use.
b. should not be used in business writing.
c. is the same as slang.
d. improves the precision of most messages.
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21. The dangers of using slang in business writing include
a. obscuring meaning.
b. using language that is too informal.
c. using words that quickly go out of fashion.
d. All answer choices are correct.
22. Which of the following sentences avoids jargon and slang?
a. Our stock price tanked last quarter because we blew our budget.
b. All companies must follow the guidelines outlined in the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
c. That company might get busted if the internal corporati don’t watch their backs.
d. The de minimus use of the material creates a quasi violation, but quid pro quo is
difficult to determine.
23. Which of the following sentences avoids clichés?
a. We can prove the benefits of exercise for stress reduction beyond a shadow of a
doubt.
b. Employees who engage in a regular fitness program are likely to pass the physical
exam with flying colors.
c. Please encourage your department members to join the health club.
d. Last but not least, you, too, should join the fitness program.
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24. Which of the following sentences avoids noun conversion?
a. Your supervisor will give consideration to all capital budget requests.
b. The committee worked on the establishment of a fund for scholarships.
c. The benefits committee will be responsible for the acquisition of an endowment.
d. The scholarship committee approved the plan.
25. Words such as definitely, quite, actually, extremely, and totally are
a. adjectives that add a welcome degree of emotion to your writing.
b. adjectives that may be omitted because they are imprecise.
c. adverbs that should be used only sparingly in business writing.
d. adverbs that should be used as often as possible in business writing to show
excitement and enthusiasm.
26. Which of the following is most concrete?
a. The board approved a substantial budget increase.
b. The board approved a 34 percent budget increase.
c. The board approved a large budget increase.
d. The board approved a sizeable budget increase.
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27. Which of the following sentences contains the best use of vivid adjectives without
overkill?
a. The resort offered luxurious suites with Jacuzzi tubs and saunas.
b. The all-inclusive, top-notch resort offered luxurious, totally marvelous suites with
incredible extras.
c. The resort had nice rooms.
d. All of the sentences use vivid adjectives effectively.
28. Dylan is designing his document to enhance readability and comprehension. What is the
best advice you can give Dylan?
a. To improve readability, justify the left and right margins so they are both even.
b. To increase readability, create white space by using headings, bulleted or numbered
lists, short paragraphs, and effective margins.
c. Use only one typeface per document.
d. Use ALL CAPS anywhere in a document you want to emphasize your point.
29. Proofreading includes which of the following tasks?
a. Improving content and tone
b. Fine tuning sentence and paragraph structure
c. Correcting spelling, grammar, punctuation, names and numbers, and format
d. Determining whether the message should be written using the direct or indirect
organization pattern
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30. Branch managers of First Federated Savings and Loan received this e-mail message:
Please inform all personal that management retains the right to check personal
belongings of employees before employees leave the bank. What error did the writer
make?
a. A grammatical mistake
b. A proofreading error
c. Failure to use spell check
d. No error was made. The sentence is correct as written.
True-False
1. Once you master your business writing skills, you will begin to write perfect first drafts.
2. Professional writers develop a system of writing and revising that works for them; they
may revise at any point in the process.
3. One reason concise messages are essential in business is that they save money by saving
reading time.
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4. In view of the fact that could be written more concisely as in light of this information.
5. You will be interested to learn that is a recommended and professional way to begin a
business document.
6. All fillers can be eliminated from your writing.
7. There are several excellent reasons to consider purchasing our new OfficeDataPro
software. This sentence is clear and concise.
8. Each and every student will be required to participate in one group writing project
contains a redundant expression.
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9. Business English is a necessary prerequisite for taking this course. This sentence is
written as concisely as possible.
10. Using expressions such as pursuant to your request and thank you in advance adds a
level of professionalism to business writing.
11. Effective business communicators should use jargon only when communicating with
others in the field or profession.
12. In order to sound current, fresh, and trendy, effective business communicators make
ample use of slang when writing and speaking.
13. In describing sexual harassment in the workplace, Julia explains that Supervisors are getting
burned in harassment lawsuits. Julia is using slang in this statement.
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14. A colleague says during a meeting, Meeting this year’s budget guidelines will be easier
said than done. He has used jargon.
15. Smart business communicators use clichés such as think outside the box to show that
they are familiar with current business terminology.
16. Converting a verb into a noun creates stronger, more professional business writing (e.g.,
made a decision instead of decided).
17. You can streamline your writing and make it more emphatic by using vivid adverbs
such as very, extremely, and actually as often as possible.
ANS: F REF: p. 80 TYPE: Ap DIF: 5
18. As you revise, make your writing clear by using specific verbs, concrete nouns, and
vivid adjectives.
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19. Business writers should consider document design during the revision process because
well-designed documents improve readability and comprehension.
20. When designing documents, try to place as much text as possible on a page so that you
can save paper and printer toner.
21. When right margins are “ragged”—that is, without alignment or justification—they
provide more white space and improve readability..
22. Sans serif typefaces, such as Times New Roman, have small features at the ends of
strokes and are frequently used for body text in business messages and longer
documents.
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23. You should proofread every sentence of a document as soon as you write it.
24. You are more likely to find errors when proofreading on screen than on a printed copy.
25. One careful proofreading of any document is sufficient.
Fill-in-the-Blank
1. _____________, which occurs during the third phase of the writing process, means
improving the content and sentence structure of your message. It may include adding,
cutting, recasting, reformatting, and redesigning what you have written.
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2. ______________ involves correcting the grammar, spelling, punctuation, format, and
mechanics of your messages.
3. I am sending this e-mail message to inform you that is an example of a long
__________.
4. There are three building sites we are considering. This use of There are is an example
of a ___________.
5. You should eliminate phrases like basic fundamentals and combined together because
they represent ____________ expressions.
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6. Telecommunications experts use terms such as clickstream and protocols. These are
examples of ____________, which is special terminology that is specific to particular
activities or professions.
7. ____________ is composed of informal words with arbitrary and extravagantly changed
meanings. These words quickly go out of fashion because they are no longer appealing
when everyone begins to understand them.
8. Expressions that have become exhausted by overuse such as shoot from the hip are
called _______________.
9. The accountants performed an analysis of the financial statements. This sentence
contains a verb that has been converted to a(n) ______________.
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10. ______________, which appear most often in reports, are an effective tool for
highlighting information and improving readability because they encourage the writer to
group similar material together and help readers separate major ideas from details.