When you’re determining the approach and the software to use for a business
presentation, keep all of the following in mind EXCEPT
A) Match the task to the tool, not the other way around.
B) If they are used poorly, software features only get in the way.
C) Software features can help you tell your story, but it’s the story that matters.
D) PowerPoint and other slide programs aren’t limited to creating linear flows of
bullet-point slides.
Which of the following is the general purpose of any proposal?
A) To inform
B) To persuade
C) To seek approval
D) To solve a problem
E) To establish need
Any risks involved with your recommendations should
A) not be addressed, since they may discourage your audience.
B) be discussed in your report, but only in vague, general terms.
C) be addressed clearly in your report.
D) be outlined before you reveal the benefits that can be achieved.
E) be addressed in the summary and conclusion section of the report.
Which of the following is a key advantage of building a community of practice or a
community of interest within the organization?
A) The workforce is less integrated
B) Employees can “jell” after a merger or reorganization
C) Employees can connect with experts from other areas of the organization
D) Information is delivered in a timely manner
E) The formal communication channel can be bypassed
When you need to show processes, transformations, and other activities, the most
effective visual choice would be
A) infographics.
B) flowcharts and diagrams.
C) animations and videos.
D) data visualizations.
Researchers, who are analyzing numeric data, look for ________ to identify patterns
that tend to repeat over time.
A) trends
B) causations
C) correlations
D) cross-differentiations
E) means
Which type of question should be asked to get a better understanding of the daily life of
the organization?
A) Why is this job vacant?
B) How would you define the organization’s managerial philosophy?
C) What are the major responsibilities of the job?
D) What is a typical workday like for you?
E) How do you measure success for someone in this position?
Which of these is an important goal when you are evaluating the content of a message?
A) Verifying that it’s easy to identify sources of information
B) Making sure all ideas get the same amount of space
C) Ensuring a good balance of general and specific information
D) Verifying that the message is long enough for corporate guidelines
E) Showing an interesting use of color and contrast
Using video to enhance business messages
A) has become difficult and expensive, since audiences now have such high
expectations.
B) is generally a bad idea, since it takes away from the main idea.
C) is easier than ever, thanks to low-cost video cameras and video sharing sites such as
YouTube.
D) is effective for tech-savvy audiences, but a turn-off for most others.
E) has replaced almost all written documents
Which of the following can help when trying to store information in long-term
memory?
A) Use passive listening techniques
B) Categorize new information into logical groups
C) Overlook stylistic differences
D) Make distinctions between main points and supporting details
E) Look for opportunities to learn
Which of the following indicates the expected norms of behavior in a given situation?
A) Etiquette
B) Bias
C) Emotional intelligence
D) The “you” attitude
E) Ethics
Writing for social media should be approached in the same manner as writing for
traditional media.
Why is it important to build networks with people who have similar professions or are
currently working at organizations you are interested in working for?
A) Current employees will always give honest opinions about the organization
B) You are more likely to get a Tweetup invitation
C) Most companies ask employees for recommendations before using other search
techniques
D) You can use those connections to make even more connections through sites like
LinkedIn
E) You are more likely to be recommended for an opening so those in your network can
spend more time with you
In what way do informative headings help the reader save time?
A) The reader can gain knowledge of the topic from the headings and subheadings
without reading the entire document
B) The reader can identify keywords in the heading and read only sections of interest
C) The parallel construction used in the headings will allow for emphasis of key ideas
D) Informative headings are “mini paragraphs” about key topics
E) Informative headings will invite the audience to read further
Which of the following represents the idea of considering a long-term outlook for an
organization?
A) Attitude toward success
B) Role and status
C) Concept of time
D) Inclusiveness
E) Future orientation
Which of the following is an advantage to reviewing comments after the presentation is
over?
A) To see what confused the audience and what excited them
B) To immediately respond to each comment
C) To Tweet sections of the presentation to those who were especially interested
D) To gauge effectiveness when there are no comments or questions
E) To eliminate the need for questions during the presentation
One of the most effective ways to arouse interest in your presentation involves
A) beginning with humor.
B) apologizing about the shortcomings of the venue.
C) uniting the audience around a common goal.
D) dwelling on your personal feelings and idiosyncrasies.
E) asking the audience questions at the beginning of the presentation.
When the interviewer makes an offer to you
A) you need to decide whether to accept the offer immediately.
B) say yes immediately no matter how much she offers.
C) thank the interviewer and ask for some time to make your decision.
D) hold out for more money, no matter how much is offered.
E) tell the employer you will consider the offer after it is made in writing.
Replacing harsh, unpleasant terms with ________ can help you state your message
without using words that may hurt or offend your audience.
A) abstractions
B) euphemisms
C) redundancies
D) idiomatic expressions
________ data provides information about an individual’s personality, attitudes,
lifestyle, and other psychological characteristics.
A) Demographic
B) Ideographic
C) Psychographic
D) Lithographic
The business applications of blogging do NOT include
A) anchoring your social media presence.
B) recruiting potential employees.
C) enabling word-of-mouth marketing.
D) encouraging collaboration on writing projects.
Which of these is a potential benefit of making sure all your messages are well crafted
efforts that respect the audience’s time?
A) You will no longer be tasked with writing routine messages
B) You’ll be more popular with audience members
C) You will be able to proofread the work of others, gaining insight into organizational
activities.
D) If you earn a strong reputation as a writer, you will no longer need to provide
supporting evidence
E) People will pay more attention to your work in the future
All of the following EXCEPT ________ are elements in the planning phase of the
three-step writing process.
A) analyzing the situation
B) adapting to your audience
C) gathering information
D) selecting the right medium
An effective introduction to a presentation will accomplish all of the following
EXCEPT
A) arousing the audience’s interest in your topic.
B) establishing your credibility.
C) preparing the audience for the rest of the presentation.
D) telling the audience how to take action based on your recommendations.
Briefly explain the difference between the topic of a message and the main idea.
All of the following EXCEPT ________ are best practices that you can use to deliver
an effective presentation to an international audience.
A) using slang and cultural idioms
B) articulating words carefully and pausing frequently
C) avoiding abbreviations, acronyms, and metaphors
D) using clear, simple visuals to support your talk
As a contemporary approach to business communication, the ________ is interactive,
conversational, and usually open to all who wish to participate.
A) reflexive communication model
B) computer-assisted communication model
C) social communication model
D) give-and-take communication model
Which of the following best describes the key selling points of a product?
A) The practical advantages of purchasing a product
B) The emotional advantages of a product
C) The anticipation of using a product
D) The emotional attachment of the product
E) The product’s most attractive feature
Which of the following is the primary function of a marketing message?
A) Encouraging potential buyers to make immediate purchase decisions
B) Assessing the needs of the audience to gauge interest in a product or service
C) Identifying which combination of logical and emotional appeals is most productive
D) Moving potential buyers through the purchasing process without making an
immediate decision
E) Asking potential buyers to buy a specific product or service
Circular reasoning is a logical fallacy that involves
A) reducing a wide range of choices to a simple “either/or” scenario.
B) using irrelevant evidence to support your argument.
C) trying to support a claim by restating it in different words.
D) attacking an opponent’s character, rather than countering his or her argument.
E) identifying negative outcomes if your argument is not supported.
Unlike more traditional promotional messages, those written for social media
A) are less interactive.
B) enable companies to engage in conversations about their products and services.
C) allow for less transparency and openness with customers.
D) save money by allowing companies to rely on the news media to distribute
important messages.
E) are more likely to violate ethics policies.