When workplace bad news involves one person or a small group nearby, you should
generally deliver that news in person.
a. True
b. False
Answer:
Choose the best closing sentence for a cover message.
a. You should schedule my interview on Tuesday, September 7, at 10 a.m.
b. Please feel free to call me at your earliest convenience.
c. I hope you contact me soon to set up an interview for the systems analyst position.
d. To add to your team an experienced systems analyst with proven analytical and
troubleshooting skills, call me at (555) 555-4321 to arrange an interview.
Answer:
Purposes of e-mail marketing include attracting new customers, keeping existing
customers, encouraging future sales, cross-selling, and
a. seeking new employees.
b. lobbying local legislators.
c. cutting costs.
d. importing products from international businesses.
Answer:
According to research, what percentage of our work time is spent listening?
a. 50 percent
b. 90 percent
c. 10 percent
d. 25 percent
Answer:
Effective speaking skills are important to recruiters.
a. True
b. False
Answer:
The number of persuasive messages has increased drastically within the last decade.
a. True
b. False
Answer:
Surveys can generate primary data economically and efficiently from large groups of
people.
a. True
b. False
Answer:
How many typefaces should you use in a business document?
a. No more than two
b. At least three
c. Up to five
d. At least ten
Answer:
The major advantage of line charts is that they
a. compare related items.
b. present large amounts of data.
c. show the proportion of parts to a whole.
d. demonstrate trends.
Answer:
Which of the following is the most effective closing for a sales message?
a. Making this training choice for your employees today may be the smartest business
decision you’ll ever make. Consider the benefits, and I am sure that you will agree.
b. Because we are confident that you will choose us for your training needs, we will
visit you on Friday to finalize your contract.
c. Complete the enclosed interest card and mail it to us at your earliest convenience.
d. If your sales don’t increase at least 10 percent after your salespeople complete our
“Closing the Deal” training, you get a full refund. Use our toll-free number to call me
by August 1 and begin training on September 1.
Answer:
North Americans consider time a precious commodity and correlate it with productivity,
efficiency, and money.
a. True
b. False
Answer:
When delivering bad news, you should first determine if the negative information is
newsworthy.
a. True
b. False
Answer:
Many business communicators are intimidated when they must write a message
expressing thanks, recognition, or sympathy.
a. True
b. False
Answer:
What information should be included in the introduction of a formal report?
a. Copies of surveys
b. A discussion of the report findings
c. Conclusions and recommendations
d. Explanation of the problem
Answer:
Because of today’s communication technology, employees in today’s workforce can
expect to write fewer messages.
a. True
b. False
Answer:
Parallel writing
a. uses similar structures to express similar words.
b. places modifiers close to the words being described.
c. uses mechanical techniques such as underlining and bolding to emphasize ideas.
d. de-emphasizes ideas by placing the ideas in dependent clauses.
Answer:
All proposals should use easy-to-understand language and show the value and benefits
of the product or services being recommended.
a. True
b. False
Answer:
All companies have embraced social networking.
a. True
b. False
Answer:
Paraphrasing is
a. restating an original passage in your own words.
b. repeating the grammatical structure of the original passage.
c. replacing original words with appropriate synonyms.
d. indicating the source of the original work.
Answer:
Panel interviews are typically conducted by people who will be your supervisors and
colleagues. An important advantage of the panel interview is
a. allowing the company to measure the candidate’s leadership and communication
skills.
b. saving company money on repeated interviews and related costs.
c. determining the best candidate through multiple interviews.
d. testing the reactions of a candidate during nerve-racking situations.
Answer:
Which of the following sentences represents an appropriate end date in a claim
message?
a. Because we have enjoyed your prompt service in the past, we hope to receive the
correct projectors by January 12.
b. We wish to end our contract with your company if you cannot improve your service.
c. Service calls were made to our Washington Street office on May 20, May 22, and
May 27 without resolving the problem.
d. Please replace the five Panasonic projectors we received on December 22 because
the model numbers do not match the models ordered.
Answer:
Before your interview you should study the job opening, identify key needs, and then
develop matching success stories that emphasize your most strategic skills, areas of
knowledge, strongest personality traits, and key accomplishments.
a. True
b. False
Answer:
Recruiters often rank communication skills as the highest skill set sought by employers.
a. True
b. False
Answer:
To improve your listening ability, focus both on what is spoken and what is unspoken.
a. True
b. False
Answer:
According to writing experts, approximately what percentage of time should you spend
on the prewriting phase of a business message?
a. 90 percent
b. 50 percent
c. 25 percent
d. 5 percent
Answer:
Instant messaging and text messaging are advantageous for all of the following reasons
except
a. guaranteed privacy.
b. low cost.
c. immediacy.
d. speed.
Answer:
The major advantage of line charts is that they show changes over time, thus indicating
trends.
a. True
b. False
Answer:
What is the most common serif typeface?
a. Arial
b. Times New Roman
c. Univers
d. Calibri
Answer:
Which of the following sentences uses the most precise language?
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.
Answer:
Which of the following would be least effective in a sympathy note?
a. We are deeply saddened, Corbin, to learn of the death of your wife.
b. Bethany’s volunteer work in the job center endeared her to many.
c. If we may help you during this difficult time or lighten your load in any way, you
need only call.
d. I am sorry to hear your sad news; but if I may be of any help, please do not hesitate
to contact me.
Answer:
Which of the following statements about the ethics of delivering bad news is most
accurate?
a. Delaying the bad news in a message is manipulative.
b. The indirect strategy is unethical only if the writer intends to deceive the reader.
c. Using the indirect strategy is a way to hide the bad news from the reader.
d. Delivering bad news is a fact of life; consequently, you need not worry about ethics.
Answer: