Jacquelyn wants to attach a memo to the report that her supervisor requested concerning
a new employee health care plan. She is generally in favor of the new plan. Select the
best opening sentence for that memo.
a. I am writing to let you know that the report you requested is now completed.
b. May I take this opportunity to let you know that I favor the new plan.
c. The attached report on the new health care plan offers some definite advantages.
d. I wish to inform you that the report you requested has been completed.
Answer:
A report on market comparisons of tuition at state universities should follow which of
the following sequences of problem-solving steps?
a. Form the hypothesis, collect data, state the problem, identify the answer.
b. Identify the probable answer, state the problem, organize data, select method of
solution.
c. Define the problem, select method of solution, collect and organize data, arrive at
answer.
d. Select method of solution, collect data, define the problem, present answer.
Answer:
All of the following statements are true concerning benefits of the team interview
process EXCEPT
a. the team is a collective group of people who know the attributes of the job.
b. the team interview members can review résumés individually and collaboratively to
identify the ideal candidate.
c. the team interview can be used to fairly assess all candidates’ qualifications.
d. the team interview results in a quicker hiring decision than does a traditional
interview.
Answer:
Which of the following is correct concerning the executive summary (abstract) in the
preliminary pages and the summary that appears as a final section of the report body?
a. Only one or the other is necessary, since they would contain the same information.
b. Both are necessary because the executive summary summarizes the essential
elements of the entire report and the summary reviews the main points presented in the
report’s findings.
c. Both are essential because they are prescribed sections in the APA style.
d. Neither is necessary in a well-written, concise report.
Answer:
Jessica, an architect with experience in designing jails for rural areas, is making a
presentation to the Nixon County Board of Supervisors to convince them to hire
Peterson & Melton Architects to design and manage the building of their 200-bed jail in
rural Alabama. What would be an effective closing to her presentation?
a. Thank you for your time.
b. Hire Peterson & Melton to design and oversee construction for the Nixon County jail
because we have designed 20 others jails in the rural South with similar design issues.
We can make our experience work for you.
c. Let Peterson & Melton design your jail, and we will do the best job we can.
d. Hire Peterson & Melton Architects to design and oversee your jail because you need
our experience.
Answer:
Which of the following would NOT be a goal of a diversity initiative program?
a. Increase cultural awareness
b. Increase appreciation for cultural differences
c. Build rapport by finding areas of commonality
d. Improve communication by minimizing cultural factors
Answer:
Which of the following is FALSE concerning personal delivery of bad news?
a. Personal delivery of the bad news signals the importance of the news.
b. Personal delivery eliminates any potential escalation of emotion.
c. Personal delivery shows empathy for the recipient.
d. Personal delivery provides the benefits of nonverbal cues.
Answer:
Which of the following is NOT correct concerning the chronological résumé?
a. It is the traditional organization format for résumés.
b. Reverse chronological order for dates is typical in this type of résumé, although it is
not always effective.
c. It is especially effective for applicants who have gaps in employment or who have
held various types of jobs.
d. It can emphasize either education or experience.
Answer:
When report writers present quantitative data, it is their ethical responsibility to provide
all of the data rather than just a graphic representation of the data.
Answer:
Which of the following is FALSE concerning the Purdue OWL site?
a. The site contains examples for citing references in APA style only.
b. The site contains examples for citing printed sources.
c. The site contains examples for citing electronic sources.
d. All of the above are true.
Answer:
Writer’s pride of ownership refers to
a. the writer’s desire to assure the total accuracy of each document created.
b. the reluctance many writers have in sharing their writing with others and accepting
constructive criticism about it.
c. the writer’s reluctance to share privileged information with the reader.
d. the fact that documents belong solely to the author, not the organization.
Answer:
Which of the following is NOT an example of a behavioral question?
a. Would you describe a major project you organized at Anycompany, Inc.?
b. How did your experiences at Anycompany, Inc. prepare you to work for our
company?
c. What was the most difficult thing you faced in your job at Anycompany, Inc.? How
did you deal with it?
d. What are your major strengths and weaknesses?
Answer:
Which of the following is FALSE concerning readability level?
a. A readability level of 10 means that a person would need to be able to read at the
10-grade level to understand the material.
b. The two factors affecting the readability level are the number of words in the passage
and the complexity of the sentences.
c. Many word processing programs calculate readability levels automatically.
d. The writer should use feedback on readability level to revise appropriately.
Answer:
When explaining “limitations,” the researcher is noting
a. his or her own weaknesses and those of the team.
b. why there is not enough time to do a thorough job.
c. constraints which the researcher has chosen to place on the research.
d. normal constraints placed on the research which are beyond the control of the
researcher.
Answer:
Which of the following is an example of effective use of an enumerated list?
a. Three supervisors will travel to Orlando. They are:
1) Bob,
2) Larry, and
3) John.
b. Our company should provide access to the security system to all managers because:
1) Most managers have keys and will be entering the building during times when no
one from the security office is available to disarm the system.
2) Managers should be able to allow other employees into the building.
3) Managers would see the trust our company has in them and that would help boost
employee morale.
c. When you are ready to log into the network, you should:
1) Double-click the network icon located in your desktop.
2) Type in your user ID and password in the boxes indicated.
3) Click OK.
4) Select the network drive you wish to access (e.g. X: Personnel).
5) Click OK.
d. None of the above is an effective example.
Answer:
Letters differ from email and memos in that they are
a. written to customers and others outside the company.
b. less formal in tone and formatting.
c. subject to less grammatical scrutiny.
d. shorter and more condensed.
Answer:
Which of the following is NOT a benefit of e-mail?
a. E-mail reaches people more quickly than letters or memorandums.
b. E-mail can be easily discarded when the message does not have to be kept.
c. E-mail relieves the recipient from playing “telephone tag.”
d. E-mail is private because it requires the use of a password to access it.
Answer:
Documentation of the work of others in a report accomplishes which of the following?
a. It detracts from the original ideas presented by the writer.
b. It can give the impression that plagiarism has occurred.
c. It strengthens weak research methods.
d. It adds credibility to the writer’s ideas and conclusions.
Answer:
Which of the following is NOT correct concerning the use of pronouns?
a. Use a singular pronoun with each, everyone, andno.
b. Use pronouns that agree in number with the intended meaning of collective nouns.
c. Use a singular pronoun when it represents two or more singular antecedents
connected by and.
d. Use a singular pronoun when two or more singular antecedents are connected by or
or nor.
Answer:
Which of the following is NOT true concerning the table of contents of a report?
a. The contents page includes the beginning and ending page numbers for report parts.
b. Leaders are used between the report part and the page numbers to assist the reader’s
eyes in moving across the page.
c. Word processing software programs can generate a table of contents automatically.
d. The list includes the name and location of every report part except those that precede
the contents page.
Answer:
You have just returned from an interview with a company and are considering the
appropriateness of a thank-you letter or note. The thank you message is
a. not necessary if you thanked the interviewer in person before leaving the
appointment.
b. appropriate and beneficial and should be written immediately.
c. appropriate and beneficial and should be written about two weeks from now if you
haven’t received a response from the company about the job.
d. not appropriate because it can be perceived as “pushy.”
Answer:
Studies show that managers spend up to 80 percent of their work time
a. making critical decisions.
b. communicating.
c. hiring, firing, and assessing employee performance.
d. planning, goal setting, and assessing organizational performance.
Answer:
The executive summary in a formal report should
a. briefly introduce the report and preview the major divisions.
b. summarize the major sections of the report.
c. summarize the report summary and any conclusions and recommendations.
d. accomplish all of the above.
Answer:
Derek is writing a long, formal report for submission to the company’s board of
directors on how to increase market share. Which of the following is NOT a guideline
he should follow in preparing his report?
a. Avoid emotional terms.
b. Identify any assumptions made.
c. Eliminate his own opinion and the opinion of others
d. Use documentation, including citations and references.
Answer:
Which of the following is the BEST advice for including objectives in a proposal?
a. List only enough measurable and attainable objectives to accomplish the purpose of
selling your proposal.
b. Include a generous list of objectives, even though you know that you may not totally
achieve all of them.
c. Omit an objectives section; a problem statement is sufficient for defining your goals.
d. Your proposal has only one objective: to convince the reader that the benefit from
your product or service will outweigh the cost.
Answer:
Which of the following is a sound recommendation for designing a research
questionnaire?
a. Include all needed items, while keeping the questionnaire as short as possible.
b. Use a logical item sequence of difficult to easy.
c. Use more items that require essay-type answers and less short response questions.
d. All of the above are recommended for questionnaire design.
Answer:
Which of the following represents the correct sequence of steps in the problem-solving
process?
a. Recognize and define the problem; collect and organize the data; select a method of
solution; arrive at an answer.
b. Select a method of solution; recognize and define the problem; collect and organize
the data; arrive at an answer.
c. Recognize and define the problem; select a method of solution; collect and organize
the data; arrive at an answer.
d. Select a method of solution; collect and organize the data; recognize and define the
problem; arrive at an answer.
Answer:
Seeking to move up to a middle management position at his company, Seth has decided
to network with coworkers, former teachers, and a former supervisor. His networking
may help him to
a. break the glass ceiling or concrete ceiling.
b. learn about possible management openings in his firm.
c. overcome discrimination related to his race, gender, or physical appearance.
d. accomplish all of the above.
Answer:
Melanie is writing a persuasive message asking his employees to complete an online
company survey. Which of the following should he do when writing his message?
a. Use long, descriptive paragraphs.
b. Use abstract nouns and passive verbs.
c. Focus repeated attention on the benefits to the company.
d. Use a deductive outline.
Answer:
Which of the following is NOT a recommended format for writing a date in an
international business document?
a. 2/10/08
b. 10.2.2008
c. 10 February 2008
d. All are recommended formats.
Answer:
You are a U.S. businessperson who has just completed a successful agreement with a
Japanese client. As a gesture of friendship, you pat the back of your Japanese client.
How is he likely to react?
a. Move in closer and “invade” your personal space.
b. Stiffen his body, as he considers such touching improper.
c. Smile, looking directly into your eyes.
d. Take both your hands in a warm handshake.
Answer:
An interviewer who follows a predetermined agenda, including a series of questions
and statements designed to elicit necessary information is conducting which type of
interview?
a. Stress interview
b. Planned interview
c. Structured interview
d. Group interview
Answer:
Which of the following is NOT an accurate statement concerning the use of primary
and secondary research methods?
a. Secondary research helps to establish a starting point for primary research.
b. A researcher typically considers both secondary and primary research methods when
deciding how to best obtain information to solve a particular problem.
c. Primary research refers to the predominant research method selected for a study, with
secondary research available as an option, if needed.
d. Primary research includes observation, experimentation, and normative surveys.
Answer:
An attempt at resale or sales promotion is inappropriate in a favorable response to a
claim message.
Answer:
Which report parts are the primary focus of short reports? List some report features that
may be incorporated into short reports.
Answer:
Describe the standard parts of a business letter.
Answer:
In APA style, the reference list is typed in alphabetic order by last names with only
initials used for first names.
Answer:
Text messaging is a social communication tool and not applicable for business
communication.
Answer:
A line chart is an effective graphic for comparing housing prices in a particular state or
region with housing prices in the United States over a five-year period.
Answer:
Language translation software is an effective means for translating Internet pages for
viewers that speak various languages.
Answer:
Bonita wants to sell her consulting abilities to a potential client. She should use
principles that are similar to those used in selling products and services.
Answer:
People communicate to satisfy needs in both their work lives and private lives.
Answer:
In general, companies using video interviews agree that video interviews are excellent
for screening applicants, while live interviews are appropriate for final interviews.
Answer:
An Internet user may at times want to conduct transactions anonymously. List and
explain three methods for preserving your anonymity in cyberspace.
Answer:
Effective Communication with Telecommuter
Sue has worked from home for four years, taking phone orders for a national catalog
retailer. Sue feels unappreciated for her efforts and detached from management and
coworkers. In times past, Sue’s performance had been very efficient, responsible,
on-time, and reliable. Lately, however, her performance has faltered. Monitors listening
in to her calls find she is not selling the new additional offers, as now is required. Using
the theories discussed in the chapter as a basis for comment, how would you as Sue’s
supervisor motivate her to higher productivity and satisfaction?
Answer:
Extension of Credit to InfoSearch
You have received a request for credit from a company called InfoSearch for online
databases available from your company. You are a vendor for information databases,
and subscribers to your services may contract for 12-month access to this information.
You offer various service packages that provide access to specific databases. InfoSearch
wants the Standard Package which allows access to a selection of your company’s
available databases. The extension of credit will allow InfoSearch to order additional
levels of service as needed and pay for them on a monthly basis.
Required:
Send a letter, stating that credit is granted, to Olena Androgenski at InfoSearch.
Answer:
It is unnecessary for a pronoun to agree in number with the noun for which it stands.
Answer:
Discuss several advantages and disadvantages of locating employment opportunities
online.
Answer:
Organizing a message begins with considering your purpose and the receiver’s likely
reaction to the message.
Answer:
Baby boomers are also known as “latchkey kids” and are typically skeptical of
authority.
Answer:
Using passive voice and complex sentences are effective ways to de-emphasize bad
news.
Answer: