UNIT TEST 3 – CHAPTERS 9–14 ⚫ 717
EBC, 8e Unit Test 3, Chapters 9-14 Name
Write your answers in this booklet ONLY if your instructor directs.
True-False
Circle T or F on this sheet OR record your answers on a machine form.
1. Business reports have one common purpose: to answer questions
and to solve problems. 1. T F
2. Informative reports present data without analysis or recommendations. 2. T F
3. The first step in preparing a report is to begin writing immediately so that
you can quickly capture your best ideas. 3. T F
4. Good headings are helpful to both the report reader and the writer. 4. T F
5. The proposal section of a proposal should include just enough details to
persuade the reader that the plan can work for his or her organization. 5. T F
6. If you are worried about plagiarizing from your source, you can avoid the
problem if you retain the grammatical structure of the original but replace
words with synonyms. 6. T F
7. A proposal prepared in response to a request for proposal (RFP) is an
unsolicited proposal. 7. T F
8. Pie, or circle, charts enable readers to see a whole and the proportion of its
components, or wedges. 8. T F
9. Because today’s technologies provide many alternate communication
channels, face-to-face communication is no longer important in business and
professional transactions. 9. T F
10. Most constructive criticism is better delivered in person rather than in e-mail
messages or memos. 10. T F
11. Workers are advised to use meetings as golden opportunities to demonstrate
their leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills. 11. T F
12. The most important step in preparing for an oral presentation is deciding
what you’re going to wear. 12. T F
718 ⚫ UNIT TEST 3 – CHAPTERS 9–14
13. A presentation conclusion has one purpose: to summarize your key points. 13. T F
14. You can eliminate all stage fright if you are thoroughly prepared and well
rehearsed. 14. T F
15. Probably the best way to find a job online is at a company’s own Web site. 15. T F
16. Because competition is so stiff today, you cannot get by with a generic, all-
purpose résumé and should, therefore, prepare a customized résumé for
every position you want. 16. T F
17. Even if an advertisement doesn’t request one, include a persuasive cover
letter with your résumé. 17. T F
18. To respond effectively to behavioral questions, use the storytelling technique
to relate a success story about an educational or work situation or task that is
relatively current. 18. T F
19. Even if you have submitted a résumé and cover letter, some organizations
will require you to complete a job application form. 19. T F
20. If you discuss your resignation in person with your supervisor, following up
with a formal resignation letter is unnecessary. 20. T F
Multiple-Choice
Write the appropriate answer in the blank OR record your answers on your machine form.
21. The ultimate goal of a written business report is to
a. establish your place within the organization’s hierarchy.
b. get your ideas across to your readers.
c. comply with government regulations.
d. demonstrate your proficiency as a technical communicator. 21. ____
22. Chad has studied the effects of wellness programs on employee health and morale. He
must present his findings to his supervisor, who is opposed to wellness programs. How
should he organize the report?
a. Problem, facts, discussion, recommendation
b. Recommendation, facts, discussion
c. Purpose, findings, summary
d. Solution, findings, analysis, conclusion 22. ____
UNIT TEST 3 – CHAPTERS 9–14 ⚫ 719
23. Which of the following situations might require a progress report?
a. The work of a committee preparing for an open house when a new wing
of a hospital is completed
b. The reporting of monthly sales figures for all divisions
c. An announcement of a company’s plan to provide on-site child care
d. A one-page summary of a long article in The Wall Street Journal 23. ____
24. Which of the following uses the best writing style for an informal report?
a. James, Deloitte, and Wilts, Inc., after extensive review of references and
credentials of contractors, has elected to contract with Peck Builders for
the new office complex.
b. We are pleased to announce the selection of Peck Builders as general
contractor for our new office complex.
c. After conducting an exhaustive search of building design elements and
cost-efficiency data, the company has verified the qualifications of Peck
Builders.
d. The findings demonstrate the imperative of selecting a fully qualified and
bonded contractor for the new building project of James, Deloitte, and
Wilts, Inc.; that contractor is Peck Builders. 24. ____
25. If you decide to include a timetable for project completion in your informal proposal, in
which section would you most likely put it?
a. Staffing
b. Authorization
c. Budget
d. Proposal 25. ____
26. What is the first step in preparing to write a formal report?
a. Analyze your audience.
b. Research primary and secondary data.
c. Define the purpose of the project.
d. Decide how many pages the report will be. 26. ____
27. Information found on blogs, wikis, or social network sites is an example of
a. primary research.
b. secondary research.
c. traditional research.
d. unacceptable research. 27. ____
720 ⚫ UNIT TEST 3 – CHAPTERS 9–14
28. Which of the following statements about using cell phones for business is most
accurate?
a. Because cell phones can be so annoying to others, do not use them for
business purposes.
b. Leave your cell phone on at all times during the workday so that you
don’t miss important business-related calls.
c. Choose a unique and creative ring style, such as your college fight song,
to rapidly distinguish calls to your cell phone.
d. Don’t try to multitask while on a cell phone because doing so is rude and
possibly dangerous. 28. ____
29. Which of the following is the best advice for leading an effective meeting?
a. Don’t start the meeting until all those invited have arrived.
b. To foster creative thinking, allow team participants to deviate from the
agenda.
c. Cover ground rules at the beginning of the meeting.
d. An effective team leader should do all of the above. 29. ____
30. Which of the following is not a goal to accomplish during the introduction of an oral
presentation?
a. Capture your listeners’ attention and get them involved.
b. Preview your main points.
c. Cite your research sources.
d. Introduce yourself and establish your credibility. 30. ____
31. Which of the following statements about using visual aids in oral presentations is most
accurate?
a. Handouts should always be distributed at the beginning of a presentation.
b. An oral presentation that incorporates visual aids is more likely to be
understood and retained than one lacking visual enhancement.
c. To engage your audience, keep the lights in the room as low as possible
so that your PowerPoint slides will be easier to see.
d. All of these statements are accurate. 31. ____
32. Roxanne must give a presentation to her company’s board of directors. Which of these
is the best advice to give her?
a. Read the introduction to make sure you don’t omit anything.
b. To show that you’re human, apologize to the audience if you stumble or
forget something.
c. Pause as you transition from one point to another.
d. Stay behind the lectern for a more professional appearance. 32. ____
UNIT TEST 3 – CHAPTERS 9–14 ⚫ 721
33. Because they create dynamic, colorful presentations, the visual aids that are the business
standard for presenting, defending, and selling ideas are
a. overhead transparencies.
b. flipcharts.
c. multimedia slides.
d. handouts. 33. ____
34. Which of the following statements about the changing nature of jobs in today’s
workplace is most accurate?
a. Following the downsizing in recent years, companies are now employing
more people in permanent positions.
b. Work is typically outsourced to a group from or subsidiary of the same
company.
c. Jobs are becoming more flexible and less permanent.
d. Companies prefer to hire employees for jobs with narrow descriptions. 34. ____
35. Which of these is the best tip to follow when preparing a customized résumé?
a. Include your work e-mail address in the heading to make sure you don’t
miss any messages from potential employers.
b. Include personal data such as marital status and health to give potential
employers a more complete picture.
c. Make sure that your résumé is never longer than one page.
d. Include a summary of qualifications at the top of your résumé to make it
easier to read and to ensure that your most impressive qualifications are
not overlooked by a recruiter. 35. ____
36. Which of the following tips for sending your résumé via e-mail is most accurate?
a. Employers prefer embedded résumés because they are immediately
searchable.
b. Most employers prefer résumés as file attachments to e-mail.
c. Electronic résumés should be formatted in the same way as traditional
print-based résumés.
d. Résumés embedded in e-mail messages do not require cover letters. 36. ____
37. You should explain your qualifications in the body of your cover letter. Which of these
is the best statement to use?
a. I am a qualified and fully licensed pediatric nurse.
b. Recent seminars in dysfunctional family dynamics have provided me the
skills to interact effectively with families served by this position.
c. You need a licensed, registered nurse, and I meet those qualifications.
d. Having graduated summa cum laude from Southwest College, I am well-
prepared and eager to apply my knowledge in nursing. 37. ____
722 ⚫ UNIT TEST 3 – CHAPTERS 9–14
38. Having submitted several job applications, Thomas is an active job seeker. Which of the
following is the best advice for Thomas?
a. Inform your children or roommates that they must answer the phone
promptly to avoid missing any job calls.
b. Stop using voice mail to screen calls because employers are likely to find
voice mail unprofessional.
c. If you put your cell phone number on your application, answer the cell
phone only if your location is appropriate.
d. If you use an answering machine, have someone with a clear,
professional speaking voice record your outgoing message. 38. ____
39. If an interviewer says, Why do you want to work for us? you should
a. briefly summarize current employment problems that require you to
change employers.
b. show what you know about the interviewer’s company and demonstrate
how your goals match its point of view.
c. explain that as a recent graduate you want to work for any company that
needs a person with your skills and background.
d. simply tell the truth about your reasons for seeking this job; for example,
you are unemployed, you need more pay or better benefits, or you just
graduated. 39. ____
40. Which of the following statements about interview posture is most accurate?
a. Sit erect, leaning forward slightly to show interest and confidence.
b. Change positions often and gesture very frequently to convey high
energy.
c. Lean forward and rest your arms on the desk or table before you to
indicate control.
d. Relax back into your chair, slouching slightly, to demonstrate self-
assurance. 40. ____
UNIT TEST 3 – CHAPTERS 9–14 ⚫ 723
Short-Answer Questions
41. List and briefly describe two types of informal reports.
42. What is the difference between primary and secondary data? Give one example of each.
43. Name two advantages of properly documenting your research data.
44. List two tips for courteous and responsible use of cell phones in the workplace.
45. List two etiquette tips for being an effective participant in professional meetings.
46. Describe one effective technique for gaining audience rapport in a presentation.
47. What is a functional résumé and how is it advantageous to recent college graduates?
724 ⚫ UNIT TEST 3 – CHAPTERS 9–14
48. Distorting facts on a résumé is unethical; lying is illegal. Describe one unethical or
illegal practice in preparing a résumé.
49. List and describe two types of employment/placement interviews.
50. Define success story as it is used in an interview and provide an example of a success
story.
UNIT TEST 3 – CHAPTERS 9–14 ⚫ 725
Key, Unit Test 3, Chapters 9–14
726 ⚫ UNIT TEST 3 – CHAPTERS 9–14
UNIT TEST 3 – CHAPTERS 9–14 ⚫ 727