Business letters are the preferred channel of communication for delivering messages
outside of an organization.
a. True
b. False
Answer:
Which of the following kinds of business messages typically use the indirect strategy?
a. Nonsensitive memos
b. Routine requests
c. Informational reports
d. Sensitive messages
Answer:
Which of the following statements regarding bulleted or numbered lists is most
accurate?
a. Lists decrease a reader’s comprehension of the main ideas.
b. Lists allow readers to review main ideas quickly.
c. Lists confuse readers because they are visually distracting.
d. Lists decrease the readability level of a document.
Answer:
Claim messages should appeal to the receiver’s sense of responsibility and pride in the
company’s good name.
a. True
b. False
Answer:
Which of the following is not a dimension of culture?
a. Power distance
b. Individualism
c. Tolerance
d. Time orientation
Answer:
The following sentence contains a dangling or misplaced modifier: Working all night,
the brief was filed with the court on time.
a. True
b. False
Answer:
Which of the following is the best advice to follow when writing a summary?
a. Include specific examples from the report, article, or book you are summarizing.
b. Copy passages word for word to ensure that you cover the main ideas.
c. Avoid headings or lists to prevent reader distraction.
d. State the main idea or purpose as well as the source of the document being
summarized.
Answer:
Things You Need to Know is an effective title for a blog.
a. True
b. False
Answer:
Which of the following communication channels is considered the richest medium?
a. Written proposal
b. E-mail message
c. Face-to-face conversation
d. Blog posting
Answer:
Adaptation is the process of
a. creating a message that suits the audience.
b. impressing your audience with high-level diction and long sentences.
c. sending feedback to the sender of a message.
d. proofreading and editing a written message.
Answer:
Laura values individualism and personal responsibility in herself and coworkers. These
values are typical of North American culture.
a. True
b. False
Answer:
Paul is explaining to upper-level management how converting to a four-day workweek
can solve their budget woes by decreasing expenses. How will he most likely organize
his presentation?
a. Geography/space
b. Chronological
c. Problem/solution
d. Value/size
Answer:
You are an inventory specialist for a retail store. Your boss has asked you to compile a
year-end report listing the merchandise sold each month through the company’s
website. In what format should you present this data?
a. Memo or e-mail format
b. Preprinted form
c. Letter format
d. Manuscript format
Answer:
Most routine business messages require formal research.
a. True
b. False
Answer:
What is a sentence fragment?
a. Two independent clauses connected without punctuation or a conjunction
b. Two independent clauses connected by a comma without a conjunction
c. A broken-off part of a sentence
d. The part of a sentence containing the verb
Answer:
A job opening has been announced. Which of these answer choices will be the best
opening sentence for the cover message?
a. You seek a master Web engineer, and I need a job; we are perfect for each other!
b. Dr. Matthew Skalski, IT director at Northwestern University, told me that you have
an opening for a Web engineer with experience in networking, data management, and
innovations.
c. Please consider this letter my application for your opening in the IT Department.
d. Do you need a Web engineer with over three years of experience?
Answer:
Which of the following statements best describes use of social networks by businesses
today?
a. All companies are comfortable with using social networking for brainstorming and
teamwork.
b. Companies struggle with finding the right balance between permitting access to the
Web and protecting security as well as ensuring productivity.
c. Companies must run their own social networks to capitalize effectively on the
benefits this medium offers.
d. Large companies create buzz and promote their brands via social networking, but
social networking offers no benefit to small businesses.
Answer:
A bad-news message, whether delivered in person or in writing, is usually better
received when you
a. give the reasons before the bad news.
b. immediately share the bad news.
c. provide the reasons and explanations but conceal the bad news.
d. combine the buffer and bad news.
Answer:
When you expect a reader of your message to be uninterested, unwilling, displeased, or
hostile, you should
a. put the bad news first.
b. begin with the main idea.
c. explain all background information first.
d. send the message via e-mail, text message, or IM.
Answer:
Although instant messaging and text messaging are popular among today’s youth, they
have not yet emerged as practical communication tools in the workplace.
a. True
b. False
Answer:
Please give consideration to our latest offer is an effectively written sentence for a
business message.
a. True
b. False
Answer:
Because today’s technologies provide many alternate communication channels,
face-to-face communication is no longer important in business and professional
transactions.
a. True
b. False
Answer:
Traditional direct-mail marketing is more effective than online marketing.
a. True
b. False
Answer:
Claim messages should include a blow-by-blow chronology of the details of the
problem to adequately inform the reader of the problem.
a. True
b. False
Answer:
Nonverbal communication includes
a. all unwritten and unspoken messages, intended or not.
b. only body language and gestures that accompany a spoken message.
c. only eye contact and facial expressions that support the meaning of the words.
d. only cues that reveal agreement with or contradiction of the verbal message.
Answer:
Every résumé should include a career objective.
a. True
b. False
Answer:
One of the best strategies to become a better listener is to question a speaker while he or
she is still talking to ensure your comprehension.
a. True
b. False
Answer:
When a manager writes a persuasive memo to employees using the indirect strategy, his
or her goals are to present a strong but honest argument and to avoid manipulation or
trickery.
a. True
b. False
Answer:
Which of the following is a form of nonverbal communication?
a. Facial expressions, such as frowning or raising the eyebrows
b. Eye contact, such as staring or avoiding looking someone in the eye
c. Time, such as showing up too late or too early
d. All answer choices are forms of nonverbal communication.
Answer:
Which of the following is most likely to be written as an informational report?
a. A recommendation from the Information Technology Department that your company
install a wireless network
b. A feasibility study addressing possible tuition reimbursement for employees
c. A comparison of five handheld communication devices that your company might
purchase
d. A summary of information presented at a recent conference for technical writers
Answer: