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1. The second phase of the 3-x-3 writing process begins with
a.
analyzing the audience.
b.
composing the message.
c.
researching the topic.
d.
organizing the message.
2. Before composing a business document, you should gather information that will answer which of these questions?
a.
Will I have enough time to complete thorough research?
b.
What is the receiver to do?
c.
What information will be the easiest to locate?
d.
How will I use this information?
3. All of the following would probably require informal research methods except
a.
routine e-mail messages.
b.
business letters.
c.
long reports and complex business problems.
d.
oral presentations.
4. All of the following are informal research methods except
a.
interviewing the target audience.
b.
conducting a scientific experiment.
c.
looking in company files.
d.
brainstorming for ideas.
5. When brainstorming to generate ideas, you should
a.
critique each idea as it is suggested.
b.
record ideas without judging them.
c.
always work alone for greater efficiency.
d.
allow no more than five ideas to be discussed.
6. Which of the following is a formal research method?
a.
Talking with your boss
b.
Investigating primary sources
c.
Brainstorming
d.
Looking in company files
7. Which formal research source is best to obtain firsthand information?
a.
Internet websites and articles
b.
Reference books
c.
Electronic databases
d.
Interviews
8. As interns in human resource management, Brad and his team are administering a professionally developed employee
questionnaire to collect information on workplace violence. This type of research produces data that is considered
a.
firsthand information.
b.
informal documentation.
c.
supplementary, secondary information.
d.
scientific experimentation.
9. Quality Building Materials Inc. has developed a new whole-house weather blanket and needs to determine the price
point at which builders would switch to this new product. The best research method for this is a(n)
a.
manual search of other companies' price lists.
b.
interview with a local builder.
c.
Internet search of insulation values for weather blankets.
d.
scientific experiment that presents price choices with controlled variables.
10. Ahna is sending a persuasive memo to her staff asking them to participate in the new wellness program. Which of the
following sources of information would be most appropriate to help Ahna shape an effective persuasive message for her
staff?
a.
Tightly controlled scientific experimentation
b.
Library research
c.
Questionnaires and surveys of employees
d.
Research in company files
11. According to communication experts, what is the greatest failing of business writers?
a.
Poor spelling
b.
Unclear sentence structure
c.
Ambiguous wording
d.
Poor organization
12. The direct strategy would be most appropriate when
a.
delivering bad news.
b.
presenting ideas requiring persuasion.
c.
expecting the audience to be pleased, mildly interested, or neutral.
d.
revealing sensitive news.
13. All of the following are effective tips for creating an outline except
a.
use a single item under a major component.
b.
divide the topic into three to five major components or classifications.
c.
break the components into subpoints.
d.
use details, illustrations, and evidence to support subpoints.
14. Which of the following is an advantage of the direct strategy?
a.
Minimizes a negative reaction
b.
Respects the feelings of the reader
c.
Saves the reader's time
d.
Encourages a fair hearing
15. Which of the following business messages would not use the direct strategy?
a.
An e-mail message to a staff introducing a new employee
b.
An oral presentation detailing the specifics of a new company wellness initiative
c.
A letter to a coworker congratulating him or her on a recent promotion
d.
A letter to a customer denying his or her request for credit
16. Which of the following message openings is the most direct opening for an e-mail message announcing a new
telecommuting plan?
a.
A number of employees have asked about telecommuting options.
b.
Many businesses have been implementing telecommuting programs, and we have studied their programs
extensively.
c.
Rising gas prices have led many companies to allow telecommuting, and we think this might be a good idea
for our company.
d.
Our new telecommuting program will begin on August 1.
17. Which of the following is an advantage of the indirect strategy?
a.
Saves the reader's time
b.
Respects the feelings of the audience
c.
Reduces frustration
d.
Sets a proper frame of mind
18. 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.
19. The indirect strategy is most appropriate for what kind of messages?
a.
Bad-news messages
b.
Sensitive messages
c.
Persuasive messages
d.
The indirect strategy is appropriate for all answer choices.
20. 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
21. What kind of sentence contains only one independent clause?
a.
Simple sentence
b.
Compound sentence
c.
Complex sentence
d.
Compound-complex sentence
22. What kind of sentence contains two independent clauses?
a.
Simple sentence
b.
Compound sentence
c.
Complex sentence
d.
Compound-complex sentence
23. What kind of sentence contains an independent clause and a dependent clause?
a.
Simple sentence
b.
Compound sentence
c.
Complex sentence
d.
Compound-complex sentence
24. Which of the following is a complex sentence?
a.
Visit our website to learn more about our newest product line.
b.
The conference will be held on Monday, but few managers will be able to attend.
c.
Employers are now using social media sites to screen applicants; therefore, job seekers are advised to clean
up their digital presence.
d.
Because of rising insurance premiums, many companies are offering employee-wellness incentives.
25. Which of the following is a simple sentence?
a.
If health insurance costs continue to rise, employee copays may increase.
b.
Having healthy employees decreases the cost of monthly premiums; therefore, we will be implementing a
wellness program.
c.
HMO and PPO insurance plans offer additional cost savings.
d.
Because we will be reducing employee health insurance benefits, some employees may be unhappy; however,
we must make sure that they understand the reason for the change.
26. 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
27. What is a comma splice?
a.
Two independent clauses run together without punctuation or a conjunction
b.
Two independent clauses joined by a comma without a conjunction
c.
A broken-off part of a sentence
d.
Two dependent clauses
28. What is a run-on sentence?
a.
Two independent clauses run together without punctuation or a conjunction
b.
Two independent clauses joined by a comma without a conjunction
c.
A broken-off part of a sentence
d.
An independent clause containing two dependent clauses
29. Technology has changed the working environments of employees, that is why employees are telecommuting more than
ever is an example of a
a.
complete sentence.
b.
fragment.
c.
fused or run-on sentence.
d.
comma splice.
30. What is the recommended maximum number of words for a sentence?
a.
10
b.
20
c.
25
d.
30
31. To emphasize an idea through mechanics, place it in
a.
boldface.
b.
a different font style.
c.
italics.
d.
Any of these techniques would emphasize the idea.
32. Which of the following sentences emphasizes an idea through style?
a.
Consider adding a statement of qualifications section on your résumé; but, most important, include specific
and relevant previous employment information.
b.
Add a statement of qualifications section on your résumé, but also include specific and relevant previous
employment information.
c.
A résumé should include a statement of qualifications section and specific and relevant previous employment
information.
d.
You should include a statement of qualifications section and specific and relevant previous employment
information on your résumé.
33. Which of the following sentences is most effective in de-emphasizing the bad news?
a.
Although cash refunds are not offered, you can exchange resalable merchandise.
b.
Although you can exchange returned merchandise, cash refunds are not available.
c.
Because we only exchange merchandise, it is impossible for you to receive a cash refund.
d.
Because of our exchange policy, you may not receive a cash refund.
34. Active-voice sentences
a.
direct the action of the verb toward the subject.
b.
place the subject of the sentence as the doer of the action.
c.
generally use a to be helping verb.
d.
should always be avoided.
35. Which of the following uses only active voice in a complete sentence?
a.
The company's rigid return policy was criticized by a few unhappy customers.
b.
Because a few unhappy customers criticized the company's rigid return policy.
c.
Managers were told about the unhappy customers who criticized the company's rigid return policy.
d.
A few unhappy customers criticized the company's rigid return policy.
36. When should passive voice be used in business writing?
a.
When you want to de-emphasize the action or the recipient of the action
b.
When you want to emphasize the bad news
c.
When you want to conceal the doer of the action
d.
Never
37. Parallel writing
a.
uses similar structures to express similar words.
b.
places modifiers close to the words being described.
c.
uses mechanical techniques such as underlining and bolding to emphasize ideas.
d.
de-emphasizes ideas by placing the ideas in dependent clauses.
38. Which of the following uses parallel structure?
a.
Our new paralegal must be smart, efficient, and have flexibility.
b.
The accident shattered her pelvis, dislocated her foot, and her spinal column was broken in three places.
c.
Big business demands superior forecasting, reporting, and analyzing.
d.
A good financial planner must be certified, competent, and must possess ethical standards.
39. Modifiers
a.
must be placed close to the words they describe or limit.
b.
are always used in active-voice sentences.
c.
should be avoided in business writing.
d.
are always used in passive-voice sentences.
40. Which of the following sentences uses modifiers correctly?
a.
Competent in computer graphics, our website was designed by Gloria.
b.
To take advantage of the discounted pricing, place your order immediately.
c.
To meet customers' orders, production must be increased.
d.
Placing the proposal on the desk, the office was left by John.
41. Effective paragraphs
a.
usually present the main idea in the first sentence.
b.
are coherent.
c.
include supporting sentences that expand and explain the main idea.
d.
All answer choices are correct.
42. How many ideas should be developed in a paragraph?
a.
Two
b.
Three to five
c.
One
d.
As many as needed to convey effective meaning
43. What do most business writers use as the first sentence in a paragraph?
a.
Supporting sentence
b.
Transitional sentence
c.
Topic sentence
d.
Pivoting sentence
44. A topic sentence
a.
provides specific details, explanations, and evidence that support the main idea of a paragraph.
b.
links sentences within a paragraph.
c.
is unnecessary in a paragraph.
d.
states the main idea of the paragraph.
45. A supporting sentence
a.
must relate to the topic sentence.
b.
reveals the main idea of a paragraph.
c.
is usually the first sentence of a paragraph.
d.
is usually the last sentence of a paragraph.
46. Paragraphs are coherent when
a.
all sentences are written in the active voice.
b.
each sentence includes dependent and independent clauses.
c.
ideas are linked; that is, one idea leads logically to the next.
d.
All answer choices are correct.
47. To build paragraph coherence, a writer should
a.
repeat a key idea by using the same expression or a similar one.
b.
use pronouns to refer to previous nouns.
