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61. A series of short paragraphs helps readers maintain a rhythm in their reading when they are absorbing many new
ideas.
a. True
b. False
62. Business writers aim for paragraphs that are 60 to 80 words long, with three or four sentences supporting a single
topic sentence.
a. True
b. False
63. To sound confident, effective writers often use the phrase "I know that" in front of key assertions.
a. True
b. False
64. Effective business communicators use a confident, competent tone in their messages but avoid sounding arrogant.
a. True
b. False
65. Readers may think you are unsure of yourself if you use self-conscious phrases such as I hope in your messages.
a. True
b. False
66. Believing that your decision is based on sound reasoning increases your risk of writing with less confidence.
a. True
b. False
67. Writing "I am sure that you will agree" in a business letter conveys an appropriate level of confidence.
a. True
b. False
68. Using platitudes will give readers the sense that you have a condescending attitude.
a. True
b. False
69. Adapting your language to the reader's needs helps you convey an appropriately condescending attitude.
a. True
b. False
70. Obvious flattery detracts from the sincerity of your message.
a. True
b. False
71. One way to avoid exaggeration and sound more sincere is to use only an appropriate number of modifiers.
a. True
b. False
72. The statement "I am amazed that you filled in the form correctly" has a courteous tone.
a. True
b. False
73. Effective communicators do not signal which of the ideas in a message are the most important, because readers
should be encouraged to draw their own conclusions.
a. True
b. False
74. Putting an idea in a short, simple sentence emphasizes its importance.
a. True
b. False
75. You can emphasize an idea by putting it into the first or last paragraph.
a. True
b. False
76. Three mechanical ways to emphasize an idea are enumeration, indenting from the margin, and use of italics.
a. True
b. False
77. To avoid influencing readers' attitudes toward an idea, you should imply but not actually say that it is of "primary
importance."
a. True
b. False
78. You are acting ethically if you imply but do not state that an idea is much more important than it is.
a. True
b. False
79. Using words such as deny and cannot helps you make a positive impression on your audience.
a. True
b. False
80. Using positive expressions helps you build goodwill among audience members.
a. True
b. False
81. To build goodwill in a business letter, use neutral expressions such as cannot and will not.
a. True
b. False
82. When writing a letter to a customer, emphasize what your organization can do rather than what it can't do.
a. True
b. False
83. When your message emphasizes how you, as the writer, will benefit, you are applying the "you" attitude.
a. True
b. False
84. You look selfish if your message focuses only on what the reader will get from doing what you request in your
message.
a. True
b. False
85. Because emails are short and informal, writers using this channel may begin most sentences with "I."
a. True
b. False
86. Using the passive voice when discussing a reader's mistake is often appropriate.
a. True
b. False
87. A competent communicator frequently uses the word you, regardless of whether positive or negative news is
conveyed.
a. True
b. False
88. Parallel structure is essential in report headings, but less important on bulleted lists on presentation slides.
a. True
b. False
89. To achieve a sincere tone, avoid obvious flattery.
a. True
b. False
90. All else being equal, an idea with more space devoted to it will be judged as more important than an idea covered
more briefly.
a. True
b. False
91. Writers should ask themselves "What's in it for me?" and then write so that the answer is obvious.
a. True
b. False
92. Techniques for creating paragraph coherence include using transitional words, creating redundancy, and building
parallelism.
a. True
b. False
93. Identify the sentence that contains specific, concrete language.
a. The committee met several times to discuss the proposal.
b. Many employees are dissatisfied with the change in retirement benefits.
c. A substantial number of complaints were received from customers.
d. Three new representatives will complete their training this week.
e. The speaker used an emotional tone when addressing the sales meeting.
94. Style consists of
a. the effective use of words, sentences, paragraphs, and tone.
b. creative ideas presented in subjunctive form.
c. the balanced use of complex, compound, and negative language.
d. business messages organized with the main point first.
e. frequent use of redundancy to reinforce important points.
95. Mechanics include all of the following except
a. content.
b. punctuation.
c. number expression.
d. word division.
e. abbreviations.
96. Identify the sentence that does not contain a mechanical error.
a. Please call the Springfield; MO, office.
b. He ordered 6 new computer systems for the office.
c. I understand the brochure is completed please send me a copy.
d. The new ceo plans to improve productivity by 15% in one year.
e. We use special packaging to protect our products.
97. Which of the following is not a good guideline for writing clearly?
a. Be sure the message is accurate and complete.
b. Use familiar words and phrases.
c. Emphasize compound sentences.
d. Avoid dangling expressions.
e. Eliminate unnecessary jargon.
98. Your message is inaccurate if you
a. include the who, what, when, where, and why.
b. omit something important that readers should know.
c. take care with the mechanics.
d. truthfully present the facts and figures.
e. present information without manipulating your readers.
99. To ensure ethical communication, business writers should use
a. positive words and an emphatic tone.
b. ambiguous, complex sentences.
c. persuasion and tactful, indirect language.
d. integrity, fairness, and good judgment.
e. more information than the reader needs.
100. Which sentence effectively uses words that are familiar to businesspeople?
a. Please ascertain whether the deliverance of merchandise will be forthcoming in the duration of the business
cycle.
b. He was not cognizant of the actuality that he was still in a probationary period.
c. A financial deficit may be encountered during the transitional period following the merger.
d. The board of directors will soon meet to discuss acquiring the Sonar Company.
e. The accountant will commence to compute the amount of monetary funds that should be allocated for
remunerations.
101. Short and simple words help business writers
a. impress their readers.
b. emphasize the receiver of the action.
c. use jargon to build credibility.
d. express their meaning without distracting readers.
e. use redundancy in appropriate situations.
102. Long words are appropriate when
a. slang is insufficiently formal for the message.
b. you want to stimulate a particular reaction.
c. short words can't convey your meaning.
d. negative language is not practical.
e. you are including brief subjunctive phrases.
103. By using short, simple words, you
a. emphasize the emotional meaning rather than the logical meaning of your message.
b. encourage readers to respond to your message using short slang words.
c. avoid a conversational tone that can distract readers from relevant facts and figures.
d. keep ethnocentrism out of your writing.
e. focus readers on the content of your message, not on how it is conveyed.
104. Short and simple words
a. should be used at all times to avoid dangling expressions.
b. are less likely than long, complex words to be misused or misunderstood.
c. are more effective if used in moderation.
d. contribute to an overly conversational tone.
e. areappropriateassupplementsforclichésandjargon.
105. Identify the statement that does not contain an unnecessarily long word.
a. Brian fabricated the events of the accident to circumvent prosecution.
b. Please initiate the modification of the innovative computer system.
c. Try to bring William with you, because he is vital to the meeting's success.
d. The vice president will recapitulate the presentation about how to utilize the new software.
e. Initiate termination procedures for employees who are not indispensable.
106. Which statement does not contain a dangling expression?
a. Eric informed Jason about the policy changes, but he doesn't like the changes.
b. While reviewing the corporate report, a few discrepancies were found.
c. During a trip to the Boston office, the auditor will review the financial reports.
d. Abraham Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg Address while traveling to Gettysburg on the back of an envelope.
e. The manager plans to address the use of cell phones in weekly meetings.
107. Which statement contains a dangling expression?
a. Robert started analyzing the data after he told Jose about the deadline.
b. Mr. Carlton, our treasurer, spoke to the bank's managers on Thursday.
c. When you review a message, you should identify errors to be corrected.
d. David read the memorandum to Sammy, but he didn't like the new policy.
e. Michael asked Heather to make copies of the news article.
108. Ifyouuseclichésinyourbusinesswriting,you
a. should balance them with concrete, specific examples.
b. need short, simple words to convey relevant facts and figures.
c. risk having your readers misinterpret the main points you want to convey.
d. send the message that you can't be bothered with tailoring your words to your readers.
e. focus your readers on the content of your message, not on the way it is conveyed.
109. Identify the sentence that does not containacliché,slang,orabuzzword.
a. If you want to play ball with me, you need to increase your offer.
b. Let me take this opportunity to congratulate you on your promotion.
c. As you requested, I sent a new catalog to the supervisor.
d. The bottom line is that we must strategize about improving our customer relations.
e. If I can be of further help, please do not hesitate to call me.
110. Which statement about jargon is correct?
a. Jargon is effective when one is communicating with individuals in the same field.
b. Jargon can help a computer technician explain a network problem to a nontechnical manager.
c. Business writers should use jargon to impress their readers.
d. Slang is a synonym for jargon.
e. Jargon should be avoided in all business situations.
111. Which guideline or statement about vigorous language is not correct?
a. Use buzzwords frequently in written documents.
b. Eliminate language that lacks freshness and originality.
c. Use vigorous words to maintain the reader's interest.
d. Select words that have a definite, unambiguous meaning.
e. Avoid general words such as recently and several.
