Archives: Quiz

Causation and correlation A) are not the same, and confusing the two in persuasive messages can lead to faulty logic. B) are essentially the same. C) should not be addressed in persuasive business messages. D) are so complex that only […]

Which one of the following would be the most effective way to open an indirect message that delivers bad news to someone who applied for a summer internship? A) “Please accept my apology for having to deliver bad news.” B) […]

When a team that has never worked together collaborates on communication efforts, A) it’s important to give members time to bond before getting down to business. B) there isn’t time for team members get to know one anotherwork should begin […]

A spell checker A) cannot automatically correct misspelled words as you type. B) highlights words it doesn’t recognize. C) suggests synonyms. D) has eliminated the need for proofreading. E) is always more effective than a human editor. Answer: The best […]

Using technology for communication in the business world A) complicates the communication process for everyone who’s involved. B) can improve or worsen the communication’s quality, depending on how it is used. C) always improves the quality and effectiveness of business […]

Regarding grammar and spelling in written communication, today’s employers generally A) expect employees to follow accepted standards. B) take a laid-back approach as long as employees can get their point across. C) understand and accept that abbreviations (such as those […]

If you are listening mainly to understand the speaker’s message, you are engaging in ________ listening. A) content B) critical C) empathic D) active E) defensive Answer: What is the tense of the verb in this sentence? “We had given […]

The term ________ describes the practice of accepting multiple cultures on their own terms. A) ethnocentrism B) cultural pluralism C) ethnography D) stereotyping E) cultural dynamism Answer: In business communication, the ________ of a message usually have the greatest impact […]

When composing collaborative messages, the best strategy is to A) avoid composing as a group. B) begin by letting all members “do their own thing” and then seeing what they all produce. C) let all members use their own preferred […]

Unsolicited application letters to prospective employers A) require more research than solicited letters. B) irritate the personnel office staff. C) are never read. D) almost never result in a job offer. E) are none of the above. Answer: The quality […]

Communication is the process of A) transferring information and meaning. B) listening actively. C) writing messages. D) speaking to others. E) none of the above. Answer: When you’re introducing a presentation, include a ________ to help your audience understand the […]

Employees who engage in whistleblowing A) are disloyal and should be terminated. B) usually haven’t tried to resolve their problems through normal channels. C) are, in many cases, providing vital information to their employers. D) rarely provide information of any […]

One of the steps in analyzing your audience is to A) determine their likely emotional state. B) remember to keep your speech or oral presentation short. C) define your purpose. D) prepare a detailed, informative outline. E) none of the […]

The secret to a successful action phase in the AIDA model is A) getting readers to change their minds. B) increasing the audience’s awareness of your product or service. C) emphasizing how taking the action you propose will benefit the […]

In MS Word, the AutoCorrect feature can A) correct common typing errors. B) add or delete footnotes and endnotes. C) insert names and addresses from a database. D) promote consistency throughout your document. E) all of the above. Answer: Supplementing […]

Many companies are now using ________ to replace or supplement some conference calls, training courses, and other communication activities. A) blogs B) instant messaging C) email D) text messaging E) podcasts Answer: The term type style refers to A) the […]

In refusing a customer’s request for adjustment, you are concerned about possible defamation charges. You should A) make the refusal by phone instead of in writing. B) explain why you are making the refusal. C) consult your company’s legal department […]

The purpose of most business presentations is to inform or persuade. Answer: No. 10 envelopes used in U.S. businesses measure 8 1/2 inches in length to accommodate standard letters that are 8 1/2 inches wide. Answer: FALSE Explanation: No. 10 […]

If you’re unsure about your personal appearance in the workplace, it’s best to match your style to the expectations of your organization. Answer: If your report will be posted online, make the report easy to skim. Answer: TRUE Explanation: Revising […]

When making a direct request, you should state what you want in the first sentence or two and then follow with an explanation. Answer: The primary goal of empathic listening is to solve the speaker’s problem. Answer: FALSE Explanation: The […]

In some cultures, planning is regarded as a waste of time. Answer: When the bad news is a logical outcome of the reasons that come before it, the reader is more prepared to receive it. Answer: TRUE Explanation: An ideal […]

You should use the direct approach for negative messages when the message has a relatively minor impact on the audience. Answer: It’s best to back up all claims and requests for adjustments with invoices, sales receipts, and so on and […]

If you have a criminal record, you are required by law to disclose it on your résumé. Answer: When you’re applying for jobs, assume that potential employers will search online to learn more about you. Answer: TRUE Explanation: Today’s employers […]

Factors such as poor acoustics and uncomfortable meeting rooms can be annoying, but they don’t affect communication. Answer: Transitional words and phrases such as, “Now that we’ve covered…” are generally less important in oral presentations than in written reports. Answer: […]

Because the competition for most jobs is so great, even a seemingly minor mistake (such as a typo on a résumé) can eliminate your chances of success. Answer: A semicolon is used to separate independent clauses when the second clause […]

You should prepare for a video interview in much the same way you would prepare for an in-person interview. Answer: Recommendation letters have created so many legal problems that many companies no longer allow employees to write them. Answer: TRUE […]

All résumés should be organized chronologically. Answer: Most employers interview an applicant multiple times before deciding whether to offer a person a job. Answer: TRUE Explanation: Most employers interview an applicant multiple times before deciding to make a job offer. […]

The interactionist view of conflict actually encourages conflict. a. True b. False Answer: Which of the following can be a source of conflict? a. Values, goals, and priorities b. The need to succeed c. Change d. Limited resources e. All […]

Which of the following is a function of silence? a. To prevent communication b. To communicate feelings c. To communicate nothing d. To provide thinking time e. All of the above Answer: When receiving feedback, it is okay to ask […]

Business ethics deals exclusively with the relationships between business organizations and their external constituencies. a. True b. False Answer: Publishing a formal ethics statement will ensure the ethical behavior of all corporate employees. a. True b. False Answer: b It […]

The global structure does away with the separation between domestic and international operations. Answer: Organizations form teams in order to have better results for their strategies and goals than they would get from individuals. Answer: True Page: 336 The international […]

When communicating about problems, members of high-context cultures may refer to past experiences for assurance of correct solutions. Answer: The geographic global structure facilitates communication within regions but may hinder communication between regions. Answer: True Page 399 The formation of […]

One advantage of the national subsidiary structure is that managers from the subsidiaries have direct access to personnel in functional areas at headquarters. Answer: People in Latin America are loyal to an individual; in Japan people are loyal to a […]

Change is viewed positively in traditional cultures? Answer: The use of acronyms facilitates intercultural communication. Answer: False Page : 52 If you follow the adage, “When in Rome, do as the Romans,” you need to adopt local dress. Answer: True […]

With the spread of satellites and television, product modifications for other countries are no longer necessary. Answer: Some cultures hold that firsthand experience alone enables a person to “know” with certainty? Answer: True Page 106 Women in most cultures tend […]

Power distance in the United States is comparatively small. Answer: Since appropriate dress varies from culture to culture, dress has no impact on perceptions of respect and authority. Answer: False Page 236-237 Everyone, regardless of culture, learns by asking questions? […]

Members can be chosen for a negotiating team because they are relatives of someone of high status. Answer: Every culture is coherent and complete within itself. Answer: True Page 10 No decision-making style discussed in the textbook can be found […]

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 Answer: Professional writers develop a system of writing and revising that works for them; they […]

Most workplace messages should be organized a. indirectly. b. chronologically. c. directly. d. topically. Answer: Which of the following situations is most appropriate for sending an e-mail message? a. Matthew is angry with one of his colleagues and wants to […]

You can avoid one of the biggest problems with most oral presentations if you focus your speech on a few key ideas. a. True b. False Answer: When you deliver constructive criticism, you should use the word “we” instead of […]

Which of the following statements about work teams is most accurate? a. Teams should avoid conflict to prevent tension among group members. b. To be most effective, teams should be comprised of individuals with similar backgrounds, ethnicity, age, skills, and […]

Which of the following is an effective opening for a routine request message? a. Please answer the following questions about your Web services. b. My name is Jill Aubrey, and I am the office manager for Cape Consulting Inc. c. […]

Many researchers today begin by looking in electronic databases because a. they know that all data found in electronic databases are valid and reliable. b. electronic databases are always a free resource. c. it is easy to cite sources found […]

Which of the following is the best practice for a group when it begins a meeting? a. Wait until all participants arrive. b. Give a quick recap to anyone who arrives late. c. Establish ground rules. d. Start voting on […]

Businesses grant legitimate adjustments for two reasons: to protect themselves against future damages and to satisfy their customers and retain their business. a. True b. False Answer: In the education section of your résumé, you should a. list all college […]

Empathic writers a. use more first-person pronouns than second-person pronouns in their messages. b. try to give something to the receiver. c. think about their needs before the receiver’s needs. d. All answer choices reflect techniques used by empathic writers. […]

The best way to find a job online is at a company’s own website. a. True b. False Answer: Which of the following is a formal research method? a. Performing a scientific experiment b. Searching the Web c. Conducting an […]

What is the best advice when writing a statement of purpose for a formal report? a. Write a statement of purpose only for external formal reports. b. Omit limitations to avoid a negative tone. c. Use action verbs that tell […]

Before Melissa organizes and composes her message, she should ask two questions: (1) Why am I sending this message? and (2) a. Why did my boss give this task to me? b. What do I hope to achieve with this […]

Empty space on a page a. should be avoided on any business document. b. can be achieved by creating paragraphs of ten or more printed lines. c. makes it appear as if the writer has nothing to say. d. is […]