Deck 5: Organizing and Drafting Business Messages

Question 1

Lawrence has been asked to learn how many cars drive by a specific location that his company is considering for a new restaurant. What would be the most useful way to research this information?

A)searching manually
B)searching electronically
C)investigating primary sources
D)experimenting scientifically

Answer 1

C

Question 2

What is an organizational pattern that presents the main idea after the details, explanation, and evidence called?

A)an indirect organizational pattern
B)a direct organizational pattern
C)a geographical organizational pattern
D)a chronological organizational pattern.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

What is one of the most important tasks in preparing well-organized messages?

A)using a direct organizational pattern
B)creating a well-formatted title page
C)including ample tables and charts
D)grouping similar ideas together

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Which of the following documents would most likely be organized using an introduction/problem, facts/findings, conclusions, and recommendations?

A)e-mail message
B)analytical report
C)proposal
D)procedural document

Question 5

Chase is part of a team identifying new marketing ideas. The team has decided to hold a brainstorming session. What is the best strategy the team can use during this session?

A)Discourage wild thinking; all ideas generated should be rational and feasible.
B)Critique and evaluate each idea as it is presented during the brainstorming session.
C)Set an established time limit and stick to it.
D)To encourage the maximum number of ideas, avoid defining the problem at the beginning of a brainstorming session.

Question 6

What is the most effective organizational pattern if an audience will be unwilling, uninterested, displeased, disappointed, or hostile?

A)the indirect pattern
B)the geographical pattern
C)the chronological pattern
D)the direct pattern

Question 7

What is an organizational pattern that presents the main idea followed by details, explanation, and evidence called?

A)an indirect organizational pattern
B)a direct organizational pattern
C)a geographical organizational pattern
D)a chronological organizational pattern

Question 8

Which of the following is an example of using a formal research method?

A)Luis talks with his boss to decide what items to include on the meeting agenda.
B)Amy conducts a Web search to find information about a competitor's products.
C)Galen looks in the company files for copies of minutes from previous meetings.
D)Makayla calls a few of her colleagues to learn how they feel about carpooling.

Question 9

Melanie is working on a report and has reached Phase 2 of the 3-x-3 writing process. What should she do first in this second phase?

A)She should write the rough draft of her report.
B)She should decide how to conclude her report.
C)She should analyze her purpose and audience.
D)She should gather any necessary information.

Question 10

Which of the following documents would most likely be organized using an introduction, a proposed solution, staffing, a schedule and/or costs, and authorization?

A)e-mail message
B)analytical report
C)proposal
D)informational report

Question 11

You are preparing an outline for your report on Web security in the workplace. Which of the following should be a major category for this outline?

A)spam
B)Web security threats
C)phishing
D)adware and spyware

Question 12

Which of the following statements about formal and informal research is NOT accurate?

A)Long reports and complex business problems generally require some use of formal research.
B)When you work on a business report, avoid using the Web for research because much of what is available on the Web isn't credible.
C)Most routine writing tasks require data that you can collect informally.
D)Some routine writing tasks will require no research at all.

Question 13

What do communication experts regard as the greatest failing of business writers?

A)poor organization
B)bad spelling
C)limited education
D)overconfidence

Question 14

Angelica has been asked to learn how many pedestrians walk by a specific location that her company is considering for a new sporting goods retail shop. What would be the most useful way to research this information?

A)manually searching resources in her public library
B)searching the Web
C)investigating primary sources
D)conducting a scientific experiment with controlled variables

Question 15

Which of the following is done during Phase 2 of the writing process?

A)adapting
B)proofreading
C)analyzing
D)organizing

Question 16

Samuel is working on a report and has reached Phase 2 of the 3-x-3 writing process. What question should he ask while collecting information during this second phase?

A)What is the purpose of the report?
B)What does the receiver need to know?
C)What does the reader already know?
D)How will the receiver react?

Question 17

Michelle is preparing an outline to help her write a report about her recent attendance at a technology symposium. What advice would you give her?

A)Divide the main topic into at least ten major components.
B)Break each major component into subpoints, realizing that it's okay if a major component has just one subpoint.
C)Define the main topic in the outline title.
D)Don't worry if some of the components overlap in content.

Question 18

Faizel is working on a business proposal for a prospective client. What is the primary question Faizel should ask as he gathers information for his project?

A)How much money does the client have?
B)What does the client need to know about this topic?
C)Does the client have a good reputation in the community?
D)How can I make myself look good in the eyes of my client?

Question 19

Which of the following is an informal research method?

A)searching the Web
B)looking in the company's files for information
C)conducting a scientific experiment to gather information under controlled circumstances
D)searching for information in public and college libraries

Question 20

Which is the most effective organizational pattern if you expect the reader to be pleased, mildly interested, or neutral?

A)the indirect pattern
B)the geographical pattern
C)the chronological pattern
D)the direct pattern

Question 21

Which of the following is a dependent clause?

A)on Friday
B)will be presenting
C)on our Facebook page
D)when you were on vacation

Question 22

Elizabeth wants to avoid monotony and add spark to her business messages. Which of the following should she do?

A)Elizabeth should make sure that every sentence is compound-complex because this is the most complicated type of sentence.
B)Elizabeth should use a brightly coloured font when she prints her documents.
C)Elizabeth should spritz her printed messages with an exciting fragrance.
D)Elizabeth should use a variety of sentence types.

Question 23

Which of the following is an independent clause?

A)after he signed the contract
B)of the two choices
C)please call with any questions you have
D)if you have any questions

Question 24

What type of sentence fault results when a writer punctuates a broken-off part of a complex sentence as if it were a complete sentence?

A)run-on sentence
B)comma splice
C)fragment
D)compound sentence

Question 25

Ashleigh has been told that freewriting may help her with her writer's block. What does freewriting mean?

A)It means using a special software program called Freewriting.
B)It means writing quickly without getting bogged down with the perfect words.
C)It means writing without getting paid for it.
D)It means using a pen or pencil to record your ideas rather than a computer.

Question 26

Which of the following should be organized in a direct pattern?

A)an online manual showing visitors how to download a software program
B)a proposal submitted to the board of directors to add a wellness program to the company's benefits package
C)an e-mail message to employees telling them that health benefits will be cut
D)a letter denying a customer's claim about a defective product

Question 27

Which of the following is a dependent clause?

A)on the 15th of this month
B)except for our main competitor
C)since the company began selling stock to the public
D)your interview went well

Question 28

Which of the following is a compound sentence?

A)If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.
B)Before the meeting ended, Sofia shared her marketing idea; consequently, her idea was included in the meeting minutes.
C)Nicholas applied for the position, and he was called for an interview two days later.
D)It's highly likely that your request for leave will be approved.

Question 29

Andrew must deny a customer's application for credit. What organizational pattern should he use?

A)a direct pattern
B)a geographical pattern
C)an indirect pattern
D)a pivoting pattern

Question 30

Which of the following is NOT an advantage of using the direct pattern?

A)reduces frustration
B)saves the reader's time
C)facilitates a fair hearing
D)sets a proper frame of mind

Question 31

How should sensitive messages that deliver bad news usually be organized?

A)in an indirect pattern
B)by geographical area
C)in a direct pattern
D)in a pivoting pattern

Question 32

Which of the following is NOT an advantage of using the indirect pattern?

A)reduces frustration
B)respects the feelings of the audience
C)facilitates a fair hearing
D)minimizes a negative reaction

Question 33

What type of sentence fault results when a writer joins two independent clauses with a comma?

A)run-on sentence
B)comma splice
C)fragment
D)fused sentence

Question 34

Madison is writing to an employee to deny the employee's request to work from home three days a week. Which pattern should Madison use to write the letter?

A)the indirect pattern
B)the geographical pattern
C)the direct pattern
D)the chronological pattern

Question 35

What type of sentence fault results when a writer joins two independent clauses without using a conjunction or semicolon?

A)run-on sentence
B)comma splice
C)compound sentence
D)fragment

Question 36

When dependent clauses precede independent clauses, what are the dependent clauses always followed by?

A)a period
B)a semicolon
C)a comma
D)a colon

Question 37

Which of the following should be organized in an indirect pattern?

A)an e-mail message to customers about a free shipping offer
B)an e-mail message to employees telling them that overtime will be eliminated
C)a letter offering a position to a job applicant
D)a letter to members of a professional organization telling them about an upcoming event

Question 38

Natalya is writing a message to persuade her supervisor to reimburse her for the cost of a business class she took. What organizational pattern should she use?

A)an indirect pattern
B)a geographical pattern
C)a direct pattern
D)a pivoting pattern

Question 39

What type of clause begins with a word like although, since, because, when, or if?

A)dependent
B)independent
C)direct
D)indirect

Question 40

Jacob is writing an e-mail message to his staff about an upcoming training session, and he is sure they'll be pleased with the news. Which pattern should Jacob use?

A)the direct pattern
B)the indirect pattern
C)the chronological pattern
D)the geographical pattern

Question 41

Which of the following is an active-voice sentence?

A)The sales meeting has been scheduled for Friday.
B)Many companies now offer wellness programs.
C)The contract must be signed by all parties.
D)The applicant was contacted by the hiring manager.

Question 42

Which of the following statements best describes the function of a paragraph?

A)A paragraph is a group of sentences about one idea.
B)The primary idea always appears first in a paragraph.
C)Well-constructed paragraphs can discuss more than one topic.
D)Polished paragraphs need no transitions.

Question 43

Which of the following sentences contains a comma splice?

A)Theo will write the document, but Alicia will proofread it.
B)Theo will write the document, Alicia will proofread it.
C)Theo will write the document; however, Alicia will proofread it.
D)Theo will write the document. Alicia will proofread it.

Question 44

Which of the following is a run-on sentence?

A)Many companies use Facebook to connect with customers; some even use Twitter.
B)Many companies use Facebook to connect with customers, and some even use Twitter.
C)Many companies use Facebook to connect with customers some even use Twitter.
D)Many companies use Facebook to connect with customers. Some even use Twitter.

Question 45

Hannah wants to make sure that her sentences are easily understood. How long should she make them?

A)an average of 20 words
B)at least 30 words
C)no more than 8 words
D)an average of 28 words

Question 46

Franco wants to emphasize the new features of a product he is selling. What should he do?

A)He should use vivid words to describe the features.
B)He should put the most important information in the middle of his sentences.
C)He should use the passive voice to describe the features.
D)He should put the most important information in a dependent clause.

Question 47

To apply for a job, a résumé must be submitted contains what type of sentence structure error?

A)a misplaced modifier
B)the active voice
C)a dangling modifier
D)a limiting clause

Question 48

When should the passive voice be used?

A)for most business writing
B)to de-emphasize bad news
C)to emphasize the doer of the action
D)never

Question 49

Which paragraph plan is most often used in business messages because it clarifies the subject immediately?

A)dovetailing
B)pivoting
C)indirect
D)direct

Question 50

Which sentence best emphasizes the attorney?

A)The closing arguments were delivered by the attorney.
B)Because the attorney is ready, she will give her closing arguments today.
C)Before the trial resumed, the attorney practised her closing arguments.
D)The attorney delivered the closing arguments.

Question 51

When should the active voice be used?

A)for most business writing
B)to emphasize an action rather than a person
C)to de-emphasize negative news
D)to conceal the doer of the action

Question 52

You are formatting a business document and want to make the best use of margins. What should you do?

A)Change all margins to 5 cm.
B)Left and right justify your text (make it even at the left and right margin).
C)Use ragged-right margins without justification.
D)Change only the left margin to 5 cm for longer documents.

Question 53

Brianna is writing a document that will compare and contrast different retirement plans. Which paragraph plan will she most likely use?

A)indirect
B)pivoting
C)transitional
D)direct

Question 54

You can build paragraph coherence by incorporating which of the following techniques?

A)Avoid using pronouns.
B)Use transitional expressions such as therefore, however, and then.
C)Mention the key idea only twice in the paragraph.
D)Avoid using repetition of key ideas.

Question 55

Which of the following sentences demonstrates parallelism?

A)In my current position, I interact with customers, input orders, and am responsible for updating the company's Facebook page.
B)Our new CEO's objectives are to improve employee morale, to boost revenues, and to enhance community relations.
C)Collecting, organizing, and documentation⎯these are important steps in researching a problem.
D)The person we hire for this position should be flexible, reliable, and have good organizational skills.

Question 56

Which of the following statements best describes the proper use of white space in a business document?

A)Use as little white space as possible to ensure that all space on your page is being put to good use.
B)Strive for paragraphs of nine or more printed lines to make your document more readable.
C)Use headings, bulleted or numbered lists, and effective margins to create the desired amount of white space.
D)Headings, bullets, and lists make your page look confusing and lacking in information.

Question 57

What is an advantage of creating well-designed documents?

A)Well-designed documents require no revision.
B)Well-designed documents are harder to comprehend.
C)Well-designed documents make the writer look well-organized and intelligent.
D)Well-designed documents can make it hard for readers to grasp the main idea.

Question 58

Which of the following is NOT a mechanical technique for stressing important ideas?

A)underscoring
B)boldfacing
C)using vivid words
D)italicizing

Question 59

Which of the following is a passive-voice sentence?

A)Michael Lewis wrote a book about the financial crisis.
B)The market closed over 14,000 points for the first time in July 2007.
C)Although he has no experience, Andrew applied for the position.
D)The website was redesigned by a team of professionals.

Question 60

Which of the following is a sentence fragment?

A)Although we expect sales to increase next quarter.
B)We expect sales to increase next quarter.
C)Although we expect sales to increase next quarter, we can't afford to hire any additional employees right now.
D)We can't afford to hire any additional employees right now.

Question 61

A well-organized message helps the reader understand relationships and accept the writer's view.

Question 62

Talking with your boss to gather information is an example of an informal research method.

Question 63

Searching blogs, Twitter, wikis, and Facebook pages for information is an example of an informal research method.

Question 64

Most experts recommend trying to produce error-free first drafts of your documents.

Question 65

The focus of a brainstorming session should be on the quality of ideas, not the quantity.

Question 66

The direct organizational pattern should be used when writing to an audience that will be unwilling, uninterested, displeased, disappointed, or hostile.

Question 67

To make your business messages more readable, which of the following can you do?

A)Add footnotes.
B)Incorporate numbered and bulleted lists.
C)Append a bibliography.
D)Eliminate white space.

Question 68

Which of the following is NOT true for business writers choosing typefaces and fonts?

A)A typeface defines the shape of text characters, and a font refers to a specific style (such as boldface) within a typeface family.
B)Serif typefaces have small features at the ends of strokes, and sans serif typefaces do not.
C)Sans serif typefaces are best for business messages and longer documents.
D)Readers are generally most comfortable with 10- to 12-point type for body text.

Question 69

Madeline is writing an e-mail message to ask about conference facility availability and rates. She should use the direct pattern.

Question 70

You have created a bulleted list showing features that you are including on your company's Facebook page. Which of the following list items is NOT parallel with the other options?

A)Links to important pages on our company's website
B)Photos showing customers using our products
C)We will hold a weekly prize giveaway
D)Information about upcoming events

Question 71

Crowdstorming is the same as Crowdsourcing.

Question 72

Which of the following can you do to make your business messages more readable?

A)Add footnotes.
B)Incorporate numbered and bulleted lists.
C)Include a bibliography at the end.
D)Eliminate white space.

Question 73

Which of the following statements reflects the proper use of numbered and bulleted lists?

A)Use a bulleted list when the sequence of items is important.
B)In a numbered or bulleted list, capitalize the first word only if the listed item is a complete sentence.
C)Make the items in a numbered or bulleted list parallel.
D)Add end punctuation to all items in a numbered or bulleted list.

Question 74

Which statement about how headings are used is accurate?

A)Headings are ineffective in providing a quick preview of report ideas.
B)Headings are used only in reports.
C)Headings are ineffective for highlighting information and improving readability.
D)Headings can be used in memos, letters, and e-mails.

Question 75

Many communication experts regard poor organization as the greatest failing of business writers.

Question 76

In the direct pattern, the main idea comes first, followed by details, explanation, or evidence. In the indirect pattern, the main idea follows the details, explanation, and evidence.

Question 77

Caitlin is writing a sales letter to encourage customers to add features to their wireless data plans. She should use the direct approach.

Question 78

The first step of Phase 2 of the 3-x-3 writing process is to conduct research to collect all of the needed information.

Question 79

Brainwriting is becoming a popular alternative to brainstorming.

Question 80

Jack is writing a memo to refuse an employee's vacation request. He should use the indirect pattern.