To paraphrase effectively
A) avoid using any business language or jargon.
B) check your version against the original to make sure that you didn’t alter the
meaning.
C) make sure your version is the same length as or longer than the original.
D) use quotation marks.
E) use only the source material that supports your premise.
Which of the following is an advantage of free writing?
A) It helps you determine which information is ethical
B) It limits how much information you need to find
C) It helps you uncover the information needed by audience members
D) It helps you find your focus
E) It allows for more concise and accurate information
Which of the following should be incorporated in writing to emphasize the positive,
even in a negative situation?
A) The benefit for the audience
B) A way to hide the negative news
C) Persuasive techniques
D) Immediate feedback
E) An emphasis on etiquette
Plain language is a style of writing
A) used only for casual correspondence.
B) designed to make complex materials more understandable to the audience.
C) aimed primarily at readers for whom English is a second language.
D) inappropriate for business communication.
The direct approach and the indirect approach ________; therefore, businesspeople
________.
A) are unrelated; use them randomly
B) are both inadequate; never use them
C) both have merit; often combine them
D) both have merit; never combine them
How is information organized when using an inverted pyramid style?
A) Background information first
B) Most important information first
C) With linear organization
D) Least important information first
E) With strong transitions
Which of the following can help employees determine the right course of action to take
in an ethical dilemma?
A) An ethics audit
B) Promotional communication
C) A code of ethics
D) Contracts
E) A defamation policy
All of the following EXCEPT ________ can facilitate the communication process
through the effective use of communication technology.
A) using technological tools productively
B) staying connected around the clock
C) guarding against information overload
D) disengaging from computing devices to communicate in person
Which of the following is one of the conditions that must be met for a conclusion to be
valid?
A) It must appeal to the emotional needs of the reader.
B) It must be logical based on inductive or deductive reasoning.
C) It must include any unproven premises.
D) It must reflect your personal values as well as the organization’s values.
E) It must indicate logical fallacies.
Which of the following is an advantage to using an indirect approach for negative
messages?
A) The bad news will be obscured
B) The reader is more prepared for the bad news
C) The writer can limit their responsibility for the bad news
D) The bad news will be delayed, and therefore minimized
E) The reader is likely to overlook the bad news
Which of the following can help make decorative artwork helpful in supporting a
message?
A) Using artwork to minimize the message in the slide
B) Creating low-impact images so they don’t compete with the message from the
speaker
C) Creating images that will pull viewer attention away from the essential elements of
the slide
D) Finding and incorporating clipart
E) Using artwork to establish an appropriate emotional tone
Which of the following is an advantage of asking questions of the employer during an
interview?
A) The interviewer will know you spent time preparing
B) The interview will last longer
C) You can steer the discussion to topics that allow you to present your qualifications
D) You can impress the interviewer with your range of interests
E) You will appear more confident
Why is it important to have specific and informative headings for social media?
A) It will be easier to find your content using search engines
B) They cut down on time-consuming interaction with readers
C) They allow you to use a formal and impersonal writing style
D) They prevent unwanted transparency
E) Users will see the relationship to a corporate sponsor
Because responses to online posts can act as reference material, what should be kept in
mind when preparing such posts?
A) Your needs as a communicator
B) A long timeframe and a wider audience
C) Ability to transfer information to other types of technology
D) How to replace your posts with video and other materials
E) That you are writing to a group of experienced users
Instead of announcing the bad news up front, you can open with a(n) ________ to
establish common ground with the reader.
A) humorous anecdote
B) buffer statement
C) diversionary tactic
D) heartwarming story
E) expression of appreciation
Which of these is one key way visuals help the audience absorb and remember
information?
A) The audience doesn’t have to listen to the speaker
B) Humans process visuals faster than text
C) The audience can print a copy for future reference
D) Software that is used to create the visual can be more entertaining than the speaker
E) The message will be focused on the visuals, not the main idea of the presentation
Why is timing important to the success of the message?
A) It shows the sender has good business sense
B) It will reduce information overload
C) It will determine the merit of the message
D) It will help audience members determine how to best respond
E) If receivers are busy, they are less likely to pay attention to it
Which of the following best describes the information technology paradox?
A) Information tools can waste as much time as they save
B) Millennials are only attracted to firms with gamification
C) To improve performance on the job, it must feel like a game
D) Collaboration and brainstorming must be used to increase individual influence
E) Customer service ratings are increased when consumers connect with the company
through technology
Which of the following is difficult to convey in a lean medium such as email?
A) Informality
B) Number of messages
C) Ability to “tweetify”
D) Emotional nuances
E) Ease of deleting messages
The optimum amount of time and effort required for the revision step depends on
A) Whether you’ve chosen the direct or indirect approach
B) Whether you initiated the message or it was assigned to you
C) The medium you’ve chosen and the nature of your message
D) Your status in the organization
E) The action you are asking your readers to take
After ensuring a document accomplishes its goals, what should be looked at in the next
review of the document?
A) Readability, clarity, and conciseness
B) Proper channel
C) Audience analysis
D) Mechanics
E) Format
Do all of the following EXCEPT ________ if you must refuse a claim.
A) show that you understand the claim
B) argue heatedly for your point of view
C) explain your refusal
D) suggest alternative action
How should the message begin when using the indirect approach?
A) Main idea
B) Recommendations
C) Conclusion
D) Scope
E) Evidence
Social networks used by the business community consist of
A) private networks.
B) public, specialized networks.
C) public, general-purpose networks.
D) all of the above.
Which type of report offers data and facts without any analysis or recommendations?
A) Proposals
B) Informational
C) Internal
D) Analytical
E) Persuasive
A business should consider creating a blog or microblog account whenever it has
________ to share with an online audience.
A) a one-time sales opportunity
B) an advertising campaign
C) a continuing stream of information
D) a press release to announce something newsworthy
Which of the following is one way companies can use location-aware content in mobile
apps to enhance the user experience?
A) By alerting users when they are approaching a hazard
B) By eliminating the ability to text and walk at the same time
C) By creating maps and property information
D) By requiring all employees to use the same brand of device
E) By increasing the use of apps related to the work environment
How is the scope and organization of a solicited proposal usually determined?
A) Based only on content
B) Based only on the working relationship with the audience
C) Based only on the motivating action you wish to achieve
D) Based only on whether a direct or indirect format is used
E) Based only on the audience’s guidelines in the request for the proposal
If a presenter wants to incorporate small groups and breakout sessions during the
presentation, what type of seating arrangement would be most effective?
A) Classroom
B) Theater
C) Conference tables
D) Horseshoe
E) Caf
After analyzing the situations, which of the following should be the next step in
creating a compelling persuasive message?
A) Selecting the channel and medium
B) Organizing information
C) Limiting the scope of information
D) Writing the message
E) Gathering necessary information
What should be done if you find yourself in an awkward or embarrassing moment when
you are working with people from other cultures?
How should visuals be used to support a presentation without taking over the
presentation?
List two goals to achieve in the body of a business presentation.
Identify and discuss the four elements of the production stage for business videos.
What elements are normally included in the body of a formal proposal?
What are the characteristics of an effective email subject line?
Briefly describe the circumstances in which the yardstick approach would be
particularly useful for organizing your proposal and provide an example of a report that
would benefit from this organizational approach.
Which types of information should be included when writing a summary for a business
plan?
In responding favorably to a claim even though the customer was at fault, what should
you try to accomplish in the body of your message?
How should you respond to interview questions that are potentially illegal?
List at least three types of visuals commonly used in business presentations.
While working in a country with a high-context culture, you schedule a meeting with a
vendor who lives there. When he shows up 20 minutes after the meeting was supposed
to begin, should you take it as a sign of incompetence or disrespect? Explain.
How can a candidate use mobile technology in their job search?
Explain the importance of networking as part of your career search, and describe how to
go about finding helpful networks.
You are scheduled to discuss a negative performance evaluation with one of the
employees you supervise. How can you emphasize the positive during your
conversation?
What is the difference in the use of linear and nonlinear presentations?
