Deck 1: Introducing Business Communications

Question 1

To include information without laying emphasis on it,put it at the bottom of the first page.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

An effective,reader-centred business message must be concise.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT a feature of business communication?

A)To be efficient,a message must get through the first time.
B)Different organizational patterns can confuse and mislead people.
C)Messages are becoming more complicated.
D)Effective business communication conforms to the writer's expectations.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Which of the following is true about business communication?

A)It is important to remember that buzzwords should be used in office conversation.
B)Careers do not depend upon skillful communication.
C)We cannot achieve success in communication unless and until we meet the other person's wants.
D)Idioms should be used while communicating with non-English speakers.

Question 5

When you communicate with non-English speakers,try to use idioms and buzzwords used in office conversation.

Question 6

Today's employers expect graduates to work well in small groups.

Question 7

Most messages have a single purpose.

Question 8

Engineers with excellent writing skills have a competitive advantage.

Question 9

More than any other type of communication,business communication puts particular emphasis on:

A)technical language.
B)efficiency.
C)extensive details.
D)complex topics.

Question 10

Which of the following is NOT a conventional style of the North American style of business communication?

A)Salutation
B)Short sentences and paragraphs
C)Abstract language
D)White space for emphasis

Question 11

Creative thinking is a genetic trait,like blue eyes,rather than something that can be learned.

Question 12

The "C" in the PAIBOC analysis refers to the challenges a writer faces while communicating with the audience.

Question 13

We communicate most successfully when we take the time to consider what results we want.

Question 14

Business correspondence does not cost money.

Question 15

Which of the following is NOT a conventional tone of the North American style of business communication?

A)Friendly
B)Presumptuous
C)Polite
D)Neutral

Question 16

In the North American style of business communication conventions,emails need to be polite but neutral.

Question 17

Business communication uses specific conventions for communication.

Question 18

To analyze a business communication situation,you need to know only your audience and your purpose.

Question 19

Successful communication usually includes persuasion.

Question 20

An entry-level professional job requires employees to write memos and email messages.

Question 21

The process of "cycling" a document back and forth between different people several times:

A)is a way of making sure that several people "own" the message.
B)is important to give approval for external documents.
C)increases the cost of correspondence.
D)speeds up communication because several people are made aware of the message before it is released.

Question 22

Good writing:

A)helps hide disagreements.
B)projects the image of the writer as an intelligent person.
C)increases the number of requests answered negatively.
D)presents the reader's point of view.

Question 23

Which of the following is a feature of the company grapevine?

A)It is always a good place to look for feedback.
B)Interpersonal communications skills connect you to the grapevine.
C)It is a formal source of organizational information.
D)It is crucial to developing positive relationships.

Question 24

Which of the following factors would you NOT consider as part of your analysis of a communication situation?

A)What you want to happen as a result of the communication
B)Your audience's wants and needs
C)Where and when the communication will take place
D)Your own feelings about the topic

Question 25

We know a message is correct when:

A)the reader has enough information to evaluate the message and act on it.
B)the style,organization,and visual impact of the message help the reader to read,understand,and act.
C)it is free of errors in punctuation,spelling,grammar,word order,and sentence structure.
D)the writer conveys maximum meaning using as few words as possible.

Question 26

Which of the following is NOT a feature of poor writing?

A)It requires more time for revisions.
B)It delays action.
C)It is always concise.
D)It irritates the reader.

Question 27

Which of the following would be an external audience for a corporate accountant working at a company's head office?

A)Vice-President,Sales
B)Clerk,Accounts Receivable
C)Stockholders
D)Manager,Branch Office

Question 28

The primary purpose of business messages is to:

A)always get a response
B)get exposure.
C)request.
D)create goodwill.

Question 29

Which of the following factors would you NOT consider as part of your analysis of a communication situation?

A)When the communication will take place
B)Your audience's wants and needs
C)The writer's needs and values
D)Where the communication will take place

Question 30

Which of the following is true about good writing?

A)It presents the reader's point of view.
B)It shows that the writer is capable.
C)It increases the number of requests answered negatively.
D)It helps hide disagreements.

Question 31

Employers do NOT expect graduates in entry-level positions to:

A)interpret comments from informal channels.
B)write well.
C)speak effectively to customers and colleagues.
D)be unable to work independently or as a team member.

Question 32

Analyzing the context of business communication:

A)takes a lot of time,and is therefore not justified.
B)helps us make a favourable impression.
C)should be left only to senior management.
D)means too many people will be involved in creating the communication.

Question 33

A message is comprehensive if the:

A)information in the message is accurate and is free of errors in punctuation,spelling,grammar,word order,and sentence structure.
B)writer conveys maximum meaning using as few words as possible.
C)style,organization,and visual impact of the message help the reader to read,understand,and act.
D)writer chooses the facts-and the organization and language to convey those facts-that enable the reader to get the meaning that the writer intended.

Question 34

Which of the following is NOT a convention of the North American style of business communication?

A)Format is decided by software application
B)Memos go to external audiences
C)Memos go to internal audiences
D)Format is decided by the organizational culture

Question 35

Which of the following is NOT essential for employment?

A)Working in groups
B)Comprehension
C)Advertising skills
D)Interpersonal skills

Question 36

Which of the following is true about lateral thinking?

A)It enables one to think creatively.
B)It provides the most obvious solution to a problem.
C)It prevents flexible thinking.
D)It cannot be learned with practice.

Question 37

Generating every possible idea on a topic,no matter how silly or far-fetched,is known as _.

A)Acculturation
B)Groupthink
C)Brainstorming
D)Paraphrasing

Question 38

Which of the following questions BEST answers if maximum privacy is ensured when a message is confidential?

A)Where will the communication happen?
B)Who's my audience?
C)When will the communication happen?
D)What's my purpose?

Question 39

Which of the following is an example of a company's internal audience?

A)Shareholder
B)Supplier
C)Office manager
D)Union leader

Question 40

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of good business communication?

A)Concise
B)Casual
C)Clear
D)Comprehensive

Question 41

What are IBM's tips for creativity?

Question 42

What are the features of successful messages?

Question 43

According to employers,what are the business basics that Canadian professionals need in order to be competitive in the global market?

Question 44

List the problems caused by poor writing.

Question 45

What is PAIBOC? Briefly explain each of its components.