Deck 12: Informal Business Reports

Question 1

When people say "average," or "arithmetic average," which of the following do they usually intend to indicate?

A)mean
B)mode
C)median
D)margin

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Drake has been assigned the task of researching and recommending security systems for a new branch office. Some features are more important than others, and Drake wants to be able to assign relative weights to each feature to make sure that he makes the best decision. Which of the following should he use?

A)organization chart
B)pie chart
C)flowchart
D)decision matrix

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Of the three Ms, which of the following is especially useful when extreme figures may warp the average?

A)mean
B)mode
C)median
D)margin

Answer 3

C

Question 4

During his research, Thomas notices that employees who dress professionally in the workplace have higher productivity figures. Which of the following has Thomas possibly identified?

A)correlation
B)standard deviation
C)average
D)tabulation

Question 5

Which of the following is most likely to be distorted by an extreme number at either end?

A)margin
B)median
C)mode
D)mean

Question 6

Of the three Ms, which of the following is generally the easiest to determine?

A)mean
B)mode
C)median
D)margin

Question 7

What is the mode of the numbers 30, 25, 25, 45, and 70?

A)25
B)30
C)39
D)195

Question 8

If daily sales are $89,000, $75,000, $98,000, $66,000, and $99,000, which of the following is the range for daily sales for the week?

A)$33,000
B)$85,400
C)$89,000
D)$427,000

Question 9

A total of 1,000 students responded to a survey about using student fees to build a new health care centre on campus. Of those responding, 700 students said they "strongly agree" with this proposal. What percentage of students strongly agree?

A)14.28 percent
B)30.00 percent
C)70.00 percent
D)impossible to determine with data provided

Question 10

Which of the following is NOT one of the three Ms that measure central tendency?

A)mean
B)mode
C)median
D)margin

Question 11

What is the mean of the numbers 30, 25, 25, 45, and 70?

A)25
B)30
C)39
D)195

Question 12

Which of the following sections are generally the most widely read portions of a report?

A)the table of contents and introduction
B)the conclusions and recommendations
C)the executive summary and letter of transmittal
D)the appendixes and bibliography

Question 13

Using columns and rows, which of the following helps researchers summarize and simplify data and make quantitative information easier to comprehend?

A)decision matrices
B)tables
C)correlations
D)pie charts

Question 14

In which of the following forms does much of the information that allows decision makers to run their organizations effectively in the digital age come to them?

A)Web searches
B)reports
C)Wikipedia entries
D)employees' comments during meetings

Question 15

What methodology can be used to contrast responses of employees with children against responses of employees without children from a survey on attitudes toward on-site child care?

A)cross-tabulation
B)the range of responses
C)the average response
D)the standard deviation

Question 16

Michelle will be including large amounts of data in a business report she is writing and wants to ensure that the data are meaningful to her readers. What should she do?

A)She should write the problem statement.
B)She should ask for help on a social media site.
C)She should organize the data into tables.
D)She should omit the data from her report to avoid confusing her readers.

Question 17

What is the median of the numbers 30, 25, 25, 45, and 70?

A)25
B)30
C)39
D)195

Question 18

What of the following statements best describes correlations?

A)Correlations between two or more variables suggest possible relationships that can help explain research findings.
B)Correlations prove cause-and-effect relationships.
C)Correlations are worthless as a statistical analysis tool.
D)Correlations make it easier to develop recommendations.

Question 19

Olivia has interviewed several of her colleagues to gather their ideas for improving productivity. She now has raw verbal data to analyze. What is the best tool to analyze raw verbal data?

A)pie chart
B)grid
C)line chart
D)bar chart

Question 20

In which of the following forms are numerical data from questionnaires or interviews usually summarized using systematic columns and rows?

A)pie chart
B)flowchart
C)bar chart
D)table

Question 21

Which of the following is a function of conclusions?

A)They should be written using command language.
B)They offer specific suggestions for actions that can solve a report problem.
C)They should analyze information logically and show how the data answer questions and solve problems.
D)They should be positioned after the recommendations.

Question 22

Liam is writing a report to his supervisor about using social media sites to improve communication with customers. His supervisor knows nothing about using social media for marketing. What organizational style should Liam use for his report?

A)direct strategy
B)spiral strategy
C)indirect strategy
D)inverted strategy

Question 23

Which of the following is the most accurate statement about organizing report data?

A)Poorly organized reports lead to reader frustration.
B)Analytical reports generally present data without interpretation.
C)Analytical reports should always follow an indirect method, placing the conclusions and recommendations last.
D)Informational reports present data with interpretation.

Question 24

How can you determine if conclusions are objective?

A)if consistent criteria are used in evaluating options
B)if the data are manipulated to support a predetermined outcome
C)if the researcher relies on personal experience related to the report problem
D)if you use strong language to sensationalize your findings

Question 25

Which of the following is an example of a recommendation?

A)Institute a wellness program to encourage employees to improve their health by adopting healthy habits.
B)Employees who take part in wellness programs have fewer absences.
C)A wellness program can be an effective recruiting tool.
D)Having a wellness program can lead to reduced employee absenteeism.

Question 26

Which of the following ways should a report that compares the services offered by three wireless companies be organized?

A)time
B)criteria
C)component
D)convention

Question 27

How would an informational report presenting quarterly sales data for a clothing boutique's four branches most likely be organized?

A)time
B)component
C)importance
D)criteria

Question 28

Which of the following sections do knowledgeable readers go straight to in order to see what the report writer thinks the data mean?

A)executive summary
B)introduction
C)appendix
D)conclusions

Question 29

Which of the following is a conclusion?

A)Offering a wide range of benefits is the best way to recruit high-quality applicants.
B)Offer a wide range of benefits to recruit high-quality applicants.
C)Change your computer passwords once every six weeks.
D)Let me know your hiring decision by Friday.

Question 30

For which of the following audiences is the indirect strategy of organization best?

A)one that must be educated or persuaded
B)one that is knowledgeable about the report topic
C)one that is supportive of the report content
D)one that is receptive to the information

Question 31

Eric must submit a weekly sales data report that contains headings established by his supervisor. By which of the following ways should this recurring report be organized?

A)criteria
B)time
C)component
D)convention

Question 32

Which of the following statements about conclusions is NOT accurate?

A)Any set of data can produce a variety of meaningful conclusions.
B)The best conclusions show the audience how the data relate to the problem being studied.
C)Report writers may choose to expand the conclusion section by explaining each item and citing supporting evidence.
D)Report writers should try to draw conclusions that are subjective.

Question 33

Which of the following statements most accurately describes recommendations?

A)Recommendations should be general to allow readers to apply them in a variety of ways.
B)Recommendations should begin with an action verb.
C)Recommendations should include words like maybe and perhaps to show that other solutions may exist.
D)Recommendations should be prepared before interpreting data.

Question 34

Isabella conducted research about ways to recruit high-quality job applicants and has developed a list of possible techniques. She has ranked these techniques, listing the three most effective techniques first. What organizational method is Isabella using?

A)time
B)importance
C)component
D)convention

Question 35

You are responsible for recording the minutes of an important executive board meeting. Which of the following is the best way to organize these minutes?

A)importance
B)time
C)convention
D)criteria

Question 36

Angelina is writing a report to her supervisor about implementing a new employee orientation process. Her supervisor is highly supportive of the idea and wants to learn the details quickly. What organizational style should Angelina use for her report?

A)direct strategy
B)spiral strategy
C)indirect strategy
D)inverted strategy

Question 37

Which statement does NOT apply to conclusions and recommendations?

A)Recommendations and conclusions may be combined.
B)Short reports may omit conclusions and move on to recommendations.
C)Recommendations should be general.
D)Recommendations should focus on solutions to the reader's problem.

Question 38

Which of these statements does NOT describe how to write a good introductory paragraph for a business report?

A)Preview the main points and the order in which they will be developed.
B)Tell the purpose of the report.
C)Describe the significance of the report topic.
D)Provide no information about the report's organization.

Question 39

Which of the following is the best wording for a recommendation?

A)Our college campus should extend café hours to meet the needs of evening students.
B)Extend the campus café hours to meet the needs of evening students.
C)Perhaps we should extend the campus café hours to meet the needs of evening students.
D)Busy students are taking more evening classes and should be able to use the campus café before class.

Question 40

For which of the following audiences would you use the direct strategy?

A)one that is eager to learn the results quickly
B)one that needs to be educated about the report subject
C)one that requires persuasion to agree with the report's conclusions and recommendations
D)one that has no prior knowledge about the subject of the report

Question 41

Lachlan wants to encourage his boss to allow him to telecommute. What type of report will he most likely prepare?

A)yardstick report
B)progress report
C)justification/recommendation report
D)investigative report

Question 42

Which of the following is an example of a talking heading?

A)Detailed Findings
B)Recommendations
C)Labour Costs
D)Employees Show Support for Stock Options

Question 43

Which of the following transitional expressions suggest cause and effect?

A)after, before, first, finally, now, previously, to conclude
B)for example, for instance, in other words
C)at the same time, but, however, though, yet
D)accordingly, as a result, consequently, therefore

Question 44

Which of the following is an analytical report?

A)a report to determine whether a company should outsource its customer support function
B)a report on quarterly sales at a restaurant location
C)a report on the progress of a task force investigating ways to decrease overtime costs
D)a report to stockholders showing the company's profits for the last quarter

Question 45

What is the purpose of progress and interim reports?

A)to discuss the day-to-day operations of a company
B)to describe the status of continuing projects
C)to provide conclusions based on the data provided
D)to explain the benefits of a recommendation

Question 46

Which of the following transitional expressions can be used to present additional thoughts?

A)after, before, first, finally, now, previously, to conclude
B)again, also, moreover, furthermore
C)at the same time, but, however, though, yet
D)accordingly, as a result, consequently, therefore

Question 47

What is the primary difference between informational and analytical reports?

A)Informational reports are prepared for internal audiences, and analytical reports are prepared for external audiences.
B)Informational reports emphasize facts, and analytical reports emphasize reasoning and conclusions.
C)Informational reports are always organized directly, and analytical reports are always organized indirectly.
D)Informational reports provide recommendations just like analytical reports.

Question 48

Which of the following is Preparing for a Successful Product Launch an example of?

A)informational heading
B)functional heading
C)talking heading
D)analytical heading

Question 49

Daisy will be preparing several business reports and has asked for your advice about designing the reports professionally. What is the best advice you can give her?

A)Use a font size that is 8 to 10 points for the body of the report so that you can fit more on the page.
B)Insert as many graphics and clip art images as possible to make your report more interesting.
C)Opt for ragged-right margins to add white space; slower readers find right-ragged text more legible.
D)Use a variety of fonts within the report to keep your reader interested.

Question 50

Which of the following is the primary reason that management often requires trip, convention, and conference reports?

A)to get a thorough chronological list of everything that occurred during a trip, convention, or conference
B)to determine whether the employee can be trusted to travel alone
C)to find out whether the organization's money was well spent in funding the travel
D)to gather material for press releases

Question 51

Benjamin is preparing headings for a report he is writing. What is the best advice you can give him as he creates his headings?

A)Include end punctuation in all headings for clarity.
B)Underline all report headings.
C)Include at least one heading per report page.
D)Capitalize all report headings.

Question 52

Which of the following transitional expressions can be used to contrast ideas?

A)after, before, first, finally, now, previously, to conclude
B)for example, for instance, in other words
C)at the same time, but, however, though, yet
D)accordingly, as a result, consequently, therefore

Question 53

Which of the following situations would require a yardstick report?

A)Christine reviews the company's financial records to verify the amount the expense for each departmental expense has changed during the quarter.
B)Aki gathers information on three cars to compare price, fuel economy, maintenance, and resale value before selecting a sales car.
C)Vivian presents data supporting the decision to open the company's newest restaurant in Kamloops.
D)Elijah conducts a study to determine whether customers prefer to dine in a restaurant or have food delivered to their homes.

Question 54

Which of the following headings is not grammatically balanced with the other headings?

A)Increasing Employee Productivity
B)Recruit High-Quality Job Applicants
C)Preventing Internal Theft
D)Improving Employee Morale

Question 55

When is the best time to write the introduction to a business report?

A)when you first start writing the report
B)after you have completed the report
C)about halfway through
D)any time/no preferred time

Question 56

Which of the following type of headings are Background, Findings, Staffing, and Budget examples of?

A)talking headings
B)functional headings
C)generic headings
D)transitional headings

Question 57

Which of the following is an example of a feasibility report?

A)a report to determine which of three firms to use for after-hours security
B)a report to determine whether a company should provide an on-site gym for its employees
C)a report about a firm's profitability to be sent to the company's shareholders
D)a report on a meeting held with members of the local chamber of commerce

Question 58

Which of the following are examples of periodic (activity) reports?

A)sales, accounts payable, and personnel reports
B)trip, convention, and conference reports
C)investigative reports
D)justification/recommendation reports

Question 59

Which of the following is an example of an informational report?

A)a report recommending that an organization begin offering on-site child care to employees
B)a report describing a new procedure for submitting expense claims
C)a report analyzing reasons for a company's high turnover rate
D)a report determining which wireless carrier to use for the sales staff's smartphones

Question 60

Lydia's report contains sensitive topics that may upset her readers. Which of the following types of heading should she use in her formal business report?

A)graphic headings
B)functional headings
C)talking headings
D)descriptive headings

Question 61

Transitional expressions such as moreover, therefore, however, to conclude, and for instance help report readers see the logical flow of ideas in a report.

Question 62

Conclusions and recommendations serve the same purpose.

Question 63

Another word for mode is average.

Question 64

The mode of the numbers 15, 38, 38, 25, 58, 62, and 30 is 40.

Question 65

Dylan wants to compare managers' opinions of the company's benefits package to the classified staff's opinions. Dylan should cross-tabulate his data.

Question 66

To be effective, conclusions should be as subjective as possible.

Question 67

Report recommendations should use command language such as Begin using social media sites to market our products and services to communicate with customers.

Question 68

The magazine Social Media Today is presenting the verbal opinions of technology experts on future business uses of social media. This information will be easiest to comprehend if presented in a pie chart.

Question 69

Leslie should use the component organization structure to organize an annual sales report covering the Medical Instruments Division, Computer Supplies Division, and Consumer Products Division.

Question 70

The median of the numbers 44, 16, 18, 51, and 24 is 24.

Question 71

Analytical reports should always be prepared using an indirect organizational pattern.

Question 72

Grace has noticed that employees working in offices with windows have lower absentee rates. This correlation proves that offices with natural light are healthier for employees.

Question 73

The detailed findings section of a report is the most widely read part of a business report.

Question 74

An example of a recommendation is Both managers and classified staff members report that employee absenteeism has increased since the company's relocation.

Question 75

Functional headings, such as Analysis of Findings or Discussion, are useful for sensitive topics that may upset the reader.

Question 76

Agendas, minutes of meetings, progress reports, and procedures are usually organized by importance.

Question 77

Capitalize all words in a heading, including articles, conjunctions, and short prepositions.

Question 78

Good report introductions let readers know the purpose of the report, the significance of the topic, and the main points to be covered.

Question 79

Examples of talking report headings include Introduction, Background, Findings, and Conclusions.

Question 80

A report comparing four resort facilities being considered for a firm's annual retreat would be most effective if organized by criteria.