If you are listening mainly to understand the speaker’s message, you are engaging in
________ listening.
A) content
B) critical
C) empathic
D) active
E) defensive
Answer:
What is the tense of the verb in this sentence? “We had given Tim the money a week
before he arrived.”
A) Present
B) Past
C) Future
D) Past perfect
E) Imperfect
Answer:
Because many email programs display the first few words or lines of incoming
messages, you should
A) include symbolism to pique your reader’s interest.
B) insert several blank lines at the beginning of each message.
C) make sure that your opening words grab the attention of your reader.
D) try to limit all email messages to a single sentence.
E) all of the above.
Answer:
Regarding printed messages in today’s business environment,
A) printed messages are no longer useful.
B) most people think printed messages are too informal.
C) email has replaced printed memos for all internal communication.
D) hard-copy messages are used primarily for negative information.
E) printed messages are still preferred for formal correspondence or a court of law.
Answer:
When using builds, you should
A) limit them to text; they are not appropriate for graphics.
B) vary the direction: sometimes from top to bottom, sometimes from left to right.
C) reveal information in a way that helps your audience understand your message.
D) set them up so that each letter of the text on a slide appears one at a time.
E) do none of the above since builds don’t fit into business presentations.
Answer:
During a screening interview, your best approach is to
A) ask as many questions as possible.
B) keep your answers short, but offer key points that set you apart from other
candidates.
C) expand on your answers as much as possible so that the interviewer knows you are
at ease.
D) keep as low a profile as you can; this is not the time to try to differentiate yourself
from other candidates.
E) ask for feedback on how you compare to other candidates.
Answer:
When using the direct approach to deliver a negative message
A) save the bad news for last.
B) state the bad news at the beginning.
C) embed the bad news in a parenthetical expression.
D) subordinate the bad news in a compound sentence.
E) imply the bad news within the context of a universal metaphor.
Answer:
Flowcharts are used to
A) summarize large amounts of statistical data.
B) show the relative sizes of the parts of a whole.
C) show how something looks or operates.
D) illustrate processes and procedures.
E) none of the above
Answer:
Unlike traditional press releases, a social media release
A) emphasizes bullet-point content over narrative paragraphs.
B) makes it more difficult to publicize your content.
C) must always be written using “I” or “we.”
D) is much longer.
E) almost always reaches a much smaller audience.
Answer:
When you’re writing a routine reply to a positive message, your readers will generally
be ________ what you have to say; therefore, you can use the ________ with a routine
reply or positive message.
A) interested in, direct approach
B) resistant to, indirect approach
C) skeptical of, direct approach
D) in tune with, indirect approach
E) oblivious to, direct approach
Answer:
Do not include on your résumé items that could encourage discrimination, such as
A) home address.
B) hobbies.
C) marital status.
D) military service.
E) management experience.
Answer:
In high-context cultures,
A) people rely more on nonverbal circumstances and cues to convey meaning.
B) people rely less on the environmental setting to convey meaning.
C) the rules of everyday life are highly explicit.
D) aggressive negotiation is expected and common.
E) all of the above occur.
Answer:
Which of the following would be the best wording in a marketing or sales message?
A) The Never-Off whole-house generator requires professional installation.
B) The Never-Off whole-house generator provides either 110 volts for standard use or
210 volts for washers and dryers.
C) The Never-Off whole-house generator provides the 110-volt power source that will
keep your family stay safe and comfortable during electrical outages.
D) The Never-Off whole-house generator is compact and unobtrusive.
E) The Never-Off whole-house generator may be noisy, but the power it provides is
worth it.
Answer:
Organizing messages effectively helps readers by
A) helping them understand the message.
B) helping them accept the message.
C) saving them time.
D) leading them to form accurate conclusions about your topic.
E) all of the above.
Answer:
Which of the following would be an appropriate handout to accompany an oral
presentation?
A) An interesting but unrelated news article
B) A list of unfiltered URLs to relevant websites
C) A photo of you, with a caption listing all of your qualifications
D) A brief note explaining that, unfortunately, there will not be time for questions
E) Any of the above
Answer:
When representing your company online, all of the following will help you maintain a
high standard of business etiquette except for
A) differentiating facts from opinions and supporting facts with evidence.
B) assuming that people are available to discuss work-related issues around the clock.
C) following basic expectations of spelling, punctuation, and capitalization.
D) watching your language and keeping your emotions under control.
E) none of the above.
Answer:
When you’re completing a persuasive message
A) proofread your message meticulously.
B) judge your argument objectively.
C) ask an experienced colleague to review your draft.
D) choose distribution methods that the audience expects and prefers.
E) all of the above.
Answer:
When you’re proofreading a workplace document, treat the process as a
A) casual scan up and down the page or the screen.
B) chance to build your skills as a multitasker.
C) survey of cost, time, convenience, security, and privacy issues.
D) methodical procedure in which you look for specific problems that may occur.
E) review of the content, organization, style, and tone of the document.
Answer:
________ communication flows between departments to help employees share
information, coordinate tasks, and solve complex problems.
A) Upward
B) Downward
C) Horizontal
D) Diagonal
E) Circular
Answer:
When asking for information and action, explaining why you’re making the request
A) is unnecessary since the audience is likely to comply.
B) is part of an effective strategy for getting what you want.
C) suggests that you think the audience is unintelligent.
D) causes your request to be wordy and hard to understand.
E) generally reduces the likelihood of receiving a positive response.
Answer:
If you have serious concerns about the qualifications of a job candidate who has asked
you for a recommendation, you should
A) avoid mentioning your concerns in the letter of reference.
B) include hearsay in the body of the recommendation message.
C) tell the job candidate that you won’t be able to provide a recommendation.
D) use social media to express your concerns about the job candidate.
E) avoid responding to the job candidate’s request in any way.
Answer:
When you’re writing an unsolicited proposal, approach the transmittal letter as
A) a persuasive message.
B) an informative message.
C) a cordial message.
D) an informational message.
E) none of the above.
Answer:
When making a claim or requesting an adjustment, your close should usually
A) clearly state how angry and disappointed you are.
B) explain the specific details of the problem.
C) request a specific action or express your desire to find a solution.
D) explain that you are planning to seek legal counsel.
E) suggest that you will probably take your business elsewhere.
Answer:
“Emotional intelligence” refers, in part, to
A) the ability to keep emotions completely out of your communication at work.
B) the ability to figure out what others are thinking, even before they speak.
C) the ability to relate to the needs of others.
D) knowing how to diagnose and treat emotional problems in one’s co-workers.
E) an aptitude for manipulating others’ emotions.
Answer:
The practice of content marketing involves ________, in order to build closer ties with
current and potential online customers.
A) pitching your products and services at every opportunity
B) building up your company by tearing down your competitors
C) stalking online consumers in order to capture data about their behavior
D) offering free information that’s valuable to community members
E) monitoring the Twittersphere for discussions about your brand
Answer:
During the selection stage of the interview processes, you should
A) ask the interviewer when you can start the job.
B) differentiate yourself from the other candidates.
C) allow the interviewer to ask all of the questions.
D) monopolize the conversation by telling your favorite stories.
E) relate your skills and experience to the organization’s needs.
Answer:
When you’re participating in a video interview with a prospective employer
A) make eye contact with the camera.
B) concentrate on your computer screen.
C) read from a carefully prepared script.
D) dim the lights in the room to minimize glare.
E) multitask on Twitter and Facebook.
Answer:
In a proposal to install and monitor a security system, statements such as “Our company
has over 25 years of experience” should appear in what section?
A) Introduction
B) Body
C) Close
D) Appendix
E) Index
Answer:
A complex sentence consists of
A) two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction.
B) a single subject and a single predicate plus any modifying phrases.
C) two or more independent clauses along with all modifying phrases.
D) one main thought and one or more subordinate thoughts.
E) words that are hard to understand.
Answer:
All of the following except ________ will make your business messages more effective.
A) providing practical information
B) clarifying expectations and responsibilities
C) presenting information in a concise efficient manner
D) discussing personal issues and complaining about problems
E) All of the above make business messages more effective.
Answer:
Regarding the use of the “you” attitude in business communication,
A) cultural differences are not a concern, since it is universally acceptable.
B) it is important to recognize and accommodate cultural differences.
C) you should assume that members of high-context cultures would find it offensive.
D) you should avoid it completely in intercultural communication.
E) it’s no more complicated than using the word “you” as much as possible.
Answer:
Which of the following words are the most abstract?
A) Two, contract, performance
B) Software, code, signal
C) Kick, move, walk
D) Productivity, quality, motivation
E) Building, machine, template
Answer:
When you’re editing a document for conciseness, do not
A) eliminate redundancies.
B) reduce the number of words in the message.
C) shorten long words and phrases.
D) delete unnecessary words and phrases.
E) build sentences on “it is” or “there are” structures.
Answer:
The primary value of a wiki stems from
A) the recognition it offers to individual authors.
B) its focus on a single, expert perspective.
C) the collective insight of all its contributors.
D) a patented algorithm that expedites global product shipments.
E) its ability to deliver short messages to diverse groups in real time.
Answer:
A computer thesaurus
A) catches punctuation as well as grammar errors.
B) highlights phrases in passive voice.
C) suggests correct spelling.
D) can help you find just the right word for a given situation.
E) is not included with common word processing software
Answer: