When attaching a digital document to an email message, which of these is often the best
file format to use if recipients are worried about viruses?
A) PDF
B) XML
C) MS Word
D) PDQ
E) DVD
Where should you highlight the benefits to your reader in a routine reply or positive
message?
A) At the beginning of the opening
B) At the end of the opening
C) In the close of the message
D) In the first line of the body
E) In the last line of the body
Why should biased language be avoided?
A) It makes the writer appear old
B) It might affect the honesty of the message
C) It overemphasizes the “you” attitude
D) It perpetuates stereotypes and prejudices
E) It eliminates the emotional burden on the audience
Which of the following is one way to make a document easier to skim and allow the
reader to quickly find key ideas?
A) Keep sentence length consistent
B) Use shorter paragraphs
C) Avoid lists and bullets
D) Build a strong narrative
E) Eliminate headings and subheadings
What is the first step in planning a presentation?
A) Gather information
B) Analyze the situation
C) Practice
D) Organize the information
E) Select the right medium
To find out your company’s average monthly utility bill over the last year, you would
need to calculate the ________ of the last twelve bills.
A) mean
B) median
C) mode
D) highest
If you choose to apologize in a negative message, you should
A) phrase the apology in a conditional manner (“If I have offended anyone …”).
B) imply that not all of the blame lies with you or your company.
C) be sincere and make it a true apology.
D) always demonstrate sincerity, but never accept blame.
E) explain what the reader should do to avoid similar issues in the future.
Which of the following is found in the close of a proposal, but NOT in the close of a
report?
A) An indication of what should happen next
B) A request for a decision
C) Key points you want to remind the reader of
D) A restatement of your conclusions
E) Recommendations
Which of the following procedures can be used to run and maintain order in a formal
meeting?
A) Clouding
B) Constructive
C) Unified
D) Parliamentary
E) Fixed-web
All of the following EXCEPT ________ are elements in the planning phase of the
three-step writing process.
A) gathering information
B) adapting to the audience
C) selecting the right medium
D) organizing the information
When applying ethical standards to communication between cultures, what can be done
to allow for the clearest exchange of information possible?
A) Work in terms of one culture or the other
B) Understand that values vary from culture to culture
C) Send messages that are honest
D) Understand the needs of the receiver
E) Be flexible and actively seek mutual ground
The ________ assesses the readability of a document by ranking it on a 100-point scale.
A) Plain Language manifesto
B) Carnegie Readability ratio
C) Flesch Reading Ease formula
D) Simplified Technical English equation
Differences in ________, such as hand gestures and eye contact, are a major source of
misunderstanding during intercultural communications.
A) contextual cues
B) nonverbal signals
C) situational enhancements
D) proverbial exchanges
Which of the following is one way to ensure you are supporting the company’s image in
your communication efforts?
A) Follow organizational communication guidelines
B) Use abbreviations and texting grammar
C) Have experienced colleagues review all communications you develop
D) Use the same medium and channel whenever possible
E) Allow personal preferences to have priority over corporate preferences
Which of the following is a key function of the close of a report?
A) It indicates why the subject matter is important
B) It interprets data
C) It supports your recommendations
D) It analyzes information gathered during research
E) It summarizes key points
What is the name of all the parties affected by the actions of an organization?
A) Employees
B) Managers
C) The community
D) Stakeholders
E) The government
To track your team’s progress toward completing an important project, you should use
A) an organizational chart.
B) a Gantt chart.
C) a pie chart.
D) a pictogram.
Which of the following is an important tool in projecting confidence during a
presentation?
A) Good posture
B) Not using notes
C) A colorful slide deck
D) Being as close to the audience as possible
E) Memorizing the opening statement
If your workplace writing contains grammar errors and word choice mistakes, your
readers will
A) suppose that you’re uninformed.
B) question your professionalism.
C) think that you don’t respect them.
D) all of the above.
The primary difference between a rsum and a CV is that the CV is likely to be
________ than the rsum.
A) shorter
B) less formal
C) more detailed
D) less detailed
Do all of the following EXCEPT ________ when you’re sending an email request for
information or action.
A) clarify what you’re asking for
B) expect the reader to respond with a request for details
C) explain why what you’re requesting is important
D) specify when you’ll need the information
Excluding important negative information about a candidate in a recommendation letter
A) is expected—otherwise no one would be able to get a good job.
B) has led some employers to sue after hiring the candidate and discovering problems.
C) is the only way to prevent the candidate from suing you.
D) is okay, as long as you explain to the candidate that you are doing it.
E) is rarely done because most employers are honest.
How can blogs be used to manage rumors within an organization?
A) By forcing everyone to pay attention to corporate management
B) By acting as the anchor for all social media communication
C) By keeping employees better informed, they can reduce the need for grapevines
D) When there are policy and issue discussions
E) By managing employee and market research
Which of the following is one of the advantages of using a slide sorter to do a final
review of presentation visuals?
A) To develop an alternative if equipment fails
B) To determine what items need to be made into handouts
C) To see slides in the same size and format as the audience
D) To view slides in detail, one at a time
E) To check slides for design consistency
What does poor grammar in a document suggest to the reader?
A) Unprofessionalism
B) Haste
C) Intimacy
D) Diplomacy
E) Passive voice
Writing in ________ is key to attracting and keeping blog readers.
A) a carefully scripted style
B) a personal, authentic voice
C) an impersonal corporate tone
D) an objective third-person style
An example of a specific purpose for a business message would be
A) to impart information to the audience.
B) to inform employees about the new vacation policy.
C) to persuade readers to take action.
D) to obtain audience participation and collaboration.
When composing collaborative messages, the best strategy is to
A) assign the writing task to one person or divide larger projects among multiple
writers.
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 software.
D) make the team as large as possible so that every possible area of expertise will be
covered.
When conducting an information interview, it is a good idea to
A) learn about the person you are interviewing ahead of time.
B) stick to using just one type of question.
C) save the most important questions for last.
D) avoid making an appointment, since you don’t want the subject to think ahead about
answers.
E) begin by asking for questions.
What is the difference between an orientation and a summary?
A) An orientation tells readers the key points of the information; a summary includes
reference materials
B) An orientation is a miniature version of the document; a summary tells the readers
where to find key points
C) An orientation tells readers where to find key points; a summary gives the readers
the key points
D) An orientation includes reference material; a summary offers teasers by withholding
key pieces of information
E) An orientation uses narratives; a summary reminds the readers of key points they just
read
Within the context of social media, ________ refers to a sense of openness, of giving
all participants access to the information they need to understand the messages they are
receiving.
A) transformation
B) transcendence
C) transparency
D) translucency
Which of the following is a good way to make a key point stand out when it is in a long
paragraph?
A) Start the paragraph with the conclusion
B) Add bullet points to the paragraph
C) Highlight the conclusion with a short sentence
D) Highlight or italicize the key evidence
E) Break the paragraph into several smaller paragraphs
Intercultural communication can challenge supervisors in all of the following ways
EXCEPT
A) connecting on an interpersonal level with diverse employees.
B) providing motivation to diverse employees.
C) getting a limited range of views and ideas from diverse employees.
D) fostering cooperation and harmony among diverse employees.
