A compound sentence is really two or more simple sentences that are related.
In order to increase the chances of successful message delivery, communicators should
consider audience expectations.
When you’re writing for mobile devices, using a linear organization will make your
messages easier to read on small mobile screens.
The first line of an email message can be viewed as an extension of your subject line.
Disgruntled customers can turn a company’s hashtags into bashtags if they want to use
Twitter to ridicule or criticize that company.
The indirect approach is best when your audience is likely to be skeptical.
Part of your preparation for job interviews is an evaluation of your vocal tone and
speaking habits.
Few smartphone users get shopping-related information on their devices.
Part of preparing for a job interview involves anticipating the questions that will be
asked and rehearsing answers to each one.
When creating questions for a survey, include leading questions that suggest the answer
or contain the information you’re looking to have confirmed.
As the differences between cultures increase, the chances for misunderstandings when
communicating decrease.
Legends and titles serve the same purpose in a visual aid.
Successful professionals understand that persuasion is the attempt to get your audience
to make the choices you want them to make—even if those choices are not in their best
interest.
When creating text or graphics slides, it is important to keep content and graphics as
simple and readable as possible.
Communities of practice consist of people who share enthusiasm for a particular
product or activity.
When you’re composing a business report, only include the information that supports
your line of reasoning.
An analytical report always ends by presenting recommendations.
Data traffic on mobile devices exceeds voice traffic significantly.
You should assume everyone who examines the evidence you present in your report
will arrive at the same conclusion.
Networking involves more than contacting powerful people and asking them for a job.
It is appropriate to ask a speaker to repeat a comment if you do not understand it.
Employee blogs can expose confidential information about a firm and damage the
firm’s reputation.
To make a message more effective, incorporate humor whenever possible.
The most sophisticated web-based meeting systems incorporate elements of real-time
communication, shared workspaces, and videoconferencing.
In the close to a negative message, you should repeat the bad news.
An unsolicited proposal has more latitude in the scope of the document than a solicited
proposal.
The concepts of planning, writing, and completing are not all relevant when creating
digital messages.
If your audience will be receptive to what you have to say, use the direct approach to
focus attention on conclusions and recommendations.
If you intend for your message to reach users of mobile devices, present the content in
short paragraphs.
You can use “moving blueprint slides” at several points in your presentation, but not at
the end.
Successful social network groups can be defined fairly narrowly, such as owners of a
specific product.
The yardstick approach is best for organizing reports when you and your audience do
not agree on the criteria you’re using in your analysis.
Most persuasive messages take the direct approach.
The buffer for a negative message should be positive.
Following the “Golden Rule” is not an effective strategy for adapting to other cultures.
Your writing approach for a proposal should be similar to that used for persuasive
messages.
The only thing a person needs to receive a message is technical compatibility with the
person who’s sending the message.
Marketers are still waiting for mobile advertising and mobile commerce to gain traction
with smartphone users.
Skillful writers use informative headings and subheadings to
A) conceal the basic structure of the document.
B) guide readers to think a certain way about the topics covered.
C) add a decorative flair to mundane documents.
D) take up space so the document doesn’t look too short.
Why should you pay attention to spelling, grammar, and mechanics when blogging?
A) Tweets with errors cannot be retweeted
B) They get sent to a flog file, similar to spam
C) Journalist and governments cannot use information with errors in it
D) Errors undermine your credibility
E) Creative spelling and grammar will add interest to your posts.
When you need to inform employees that a benefit or privilege will be eliminated
A) the best approach is to leak the news as a rumor rather than make a public
announcement.
B) minimize the impact of the bad news by presenting it in as positive a light as
possible.
C) use the direct approach.
D) use as many hedging words as possible.
E) develop a strong persuasive message highlighting the benefits of the change.
Performance reviews in the workplace are designed to
A) clarify job requirements.
B) give employees feedback on their performance.
C) promote personal action plans for improving performance.
D) all of the above.
A ________ is the richest communication medium.
A) telephone conversation
B) retweet with a comment
C) video podcast
D) face-to-face conversation
Which of the following are quantifiable characteristics about audience members?
A) Psychographics
B) Affiliation
C) Self-actualization
D) Demographics
E) Physiological requirements
What can communicators do to ensure facts, rather than vague impressions, are shared?
A) Provide practical information
B) Present information in a concise manner
C) Offer compelling arguments and recommendations
D) Identify areas of responsibility
E) Use concrete language with specific detail
A social media release includes ________ that’s suitable for use in blog posts, tweets,
and other social media formats.
A) share-ready content
B) newsroom chatter
C) virtual verbiage
D) unfiltered data
E) infographic material
Which of the following career planning activities will help you define where you want
to go and how to present yourself to a targeted employer?
A) Writing the story of you
B) Getting organized
C) Crafting a personal strategy
D) Starting at least a year away from graduation
E) Creating stepping-stone opportunities
What will a message’s formality and media choice signal to the audience?
A) Sense of urgency
B) Style and tone
C) Channel limitations
D) Richness
E) Complexity
Which of the following is found in the body of a report but NOT the body of a
proposal?
A) Analysis of action
B) Facts and evidence to support conclusions
C) Proposed approaches to problem solving
D) Work plan
E) Costs
Formal meetings are conducted according to ________, a time-tested method for
planning and running meetings effectively.
A) business etiquette
B) parochial protocols
C) Emily Post’s Rules of Order
D) parliamentary procedure
How can you determine which part of a message needs a visual to improve it?
A) Consider which parts of the message could be made more complex
B) Identify which sections include lively words and phrases
C) Identify which key ideas you want to minimize
D) Consider the message from the audience’s perspective
E) Consider if there is time to create more visuals
Which of these communication tools is best for conversational exchanges?
A) Email
B) Memos
C) Letters
D) Wikis
E) Messaging
Which of these skills is used to evaluate evidence completely and objectively in order
to make sound recommendations?
A) Decoding skills
B) Professionalism
C) Critical thinking
D) Persuasive arguments
E) A formal communication network
Breaking down a problem into a series of specific questions is called
A) problem factoring.
B) solution development.
C) deconstruction.
D) systematic inquiry.
E) hypothesis testing.
When you’re writing a persuasive message, you can encourage a positive response by
A) using polite and positive language.
B) taking steps to establish your credibility.
C) understanding and respecting cultural differences.
D) all of the above.
All of the following guidelines EXCEPT ________ will help you avoid ethical lapses
when you’re creating visual support for a business message.
A) aggregating data carefully
B) oversimplifying complex situations
C) providing background information
D) avoiding emotional manipulation
When might a writer want to avoid using the word “you” in a message?
A) When the name of the audience member is known
B) When it is culturally inappropriate
C) When it will sound accusatory
D) When it is against company policy
E) When there is a need to foster respect and good will
Which of the following should be encouraged in a collaborative wiki environment?
A) Complete agreement
B) Respectful discussion and disagreement
C) Limited discussion before decision making
D) Removal from group if there is disagreement
E) Constant revisions and updates
Which of the following is an important consideration when using digital media?
A) Choosing the best tool for the specific task
B) Incorporating offline social behavior
C) Incompatible hardware
D) Differences in crafting the message
E) Response time
The most important aspect of any presentation is
A) enveloping your message within a cloak of technology.
B) impressing the audience with your knowledge, skills, and abilities.
C) getting the audience to receive, understand, and embrace your message.
D) regarding your audience as passive recipients rather than trying to engage them.
E) engaging the audience by asking questions and increasing their involvement.
Which of the following is an effective way to offer praise in a message?
A) Share your credentials before offering specific praise
B) Ensure the audience understands your expertise in making the statement
C) Identify a specific quality that deserves praise
D) Add an endorsement to the positive statement
E) Incorporate hyperbole whenever possible
What is your primary communication challenge when you are unable to comply with a
routine request?
A) Minimizing time spent on the working relationship
B) Turning the request into an unsolicited request
C) Fully and carefully explaining reasons
D) Giving a clear negative response without generating negative feelings
E) Offering alternatives, if available
Which section of an RFP includes information on what the proposal should look like,
how it should be submitted, and how many copies should be included?
A) Decision criteria
B) Proposal requirements
C) Submission information
D) Contact information
E) Project description
Which of the following is a key consideration when planning podcasts?
A) Who the audience is most likely to be
B) If an inverted pyramid should be used
C) Whether the podcasts will have limited use or be an ongoing channel
D) How the audience will access the podcast
E) How much time is available to develop the message
When making a claim or requesting an adjustment, what should be included in the
opening of the message?
A) Complete and specific details of the issue
B) Information needed to verify your complaint
C) A statement expressing your desire to resolve the issue
D) Information from sales receipts, cancelled checks, and other data
E) A clear statement of the problem and your request
Which type of team member role is most likely to work to help a team reach its goals?
A) Team maintenance
B) Performing
C) Self-oriented
D) Diverting
E) Task-oriented
Which of the following is one way to be sure you get the video footage you will need?
A) Develop a shot list
B) Use the zoom feature to capture a variety of ranges
C) Allow the speaker to manage the scene composition
D) Follow framing guidelines
E) Collect B-roll material
Many interviewers begin making a decision about the applicant
A) within the first 20 seconds of the interview.
B) during the question-and-answer stage.
C) during the final minutes of the interview.
D) after the candidate has left.
E) after interviewing all candidates.
Which of the following represents specialized language used by a specific profession or
industry?
A) Buzzwords
B) Connotative
C) Clichs
D) Jargon
E) Denotative
Describe each of the four phases of the AIDA model for persuasive messages.
Describe the role and skill set of a community manager in an organization.
How can you be sure your message is ethical, and how can you correct mistakes that
might affect the ethics of the message?
How do examples and evidence improve a message, and how should they be
incorporated?
Discuss etiquette rules that should always be followed when doing business online.
Describe six strategies (in addition to using the AIDA format) for strengthening your
argument in business proposals.
Explain what’s meant by the phrase, “constant connectivity is a mixed blessing.”
Discuss ways to develop a conversational but businesslike tone in written
communication.
Why is it important to research carefully and use accurate information during the
planning phase?
A new employee who speaks English as a second language has just joined the design
team you lead. You notice that she often looks confused during conversations. Describe
at least three useful strategies for this situation.
What should be your focus when you evaluate the content and organization of your
message?
Discuss user considerations that are important when drafting website content.
Explain the concept of media richness.
Discuss five techniques that can be used to make mobile messages more effective.
Why must you revise your rsum for clarity and conciseness?
What can be done to make a large corporate website more user-friendly?
Describe each of the three stages of a successful employment interview.
What is the difference between a reliable survey and a valid survey?
Identify six of the critical communication skills that employers expect you to have.
List and describe the seven elements that usually are part of a formal work plan.