Deck 21: Formal Analytical Reports

Question 1

Most readers of feasibility reports want the writer's bottom-line answer in the

A)in the opening paragraph or two.
B)in the assessment section.
C)in the conclusion and action closing.
D)either in the opening paragraph or in the conclusion/action closing.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

The purpose of a lab report in school is to

A)prepare students for the world of work.
B)help students learn material or prove a theory.
C)determine whether a particular product or application is practical and safe.
D)teach students the scientific method and help students learn material or prove a theory.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

The main difference between direct and indirect recommendations reports lies in

A)the length of the document.
B)where the document places its main recommendations.
C)how the argument is developed and supported in the report's main central section.
D)the tone of the phrasing - indirect recommendations reports must phrase their analysis in very careful, indirect language.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Pre-printed or electronic form reports

A)are used only by automotive and appliance service businesses.
B)are used only for incident reports.
C)are used by a wide variety of technical people for progress reports.
D)have no useful role in today's workplace.

Question 5

Incident reports

A)are written in present tense narrative, to give a sense of urgency and drama.
B)are always written in the objective third person, often in passive voice, to eliminate personal bias.
C)are written solely in past tense narrative to describe what happened.
D)are written primarily in past tense narrative, but part of the report might be in present tense to describe the current situation.

Question 6

Letter and memo reports should

A)never use subject headings.
B)use subject headings if the document exceeds one page.
C)use appropriate subject headings for the background, detailed analysis, and conclusion sections.
D)use subject headings only for components of the detailed data and analysis sections.

Question 7

The Action Structure

A)can be adapted to structure any type of correspondence or short report.
B)is suitable only for project completion and periodic activity reports.
C)is suitable only for progress reports and recommendations reports.
D)is suitable only for reports that recommend specific actions.

Question 8

Formal reports require

A)a cover page and title page.
B)a title page, summary, and glossary.
C)a cover page, title page, summary, and glossary.
D)a transmittal document, title page, summary, and table of contents.

Question 9

The following type of short technical report presents information, but focuses on analysis:

A)project completion report.
B)progress report.
C)incident report.
D)indirect recommendations report.

Question 10

The Harvard case study method is particularly useful for creating

A)direct recommendations reports.
B)indirect recommendations reports.
C)assessment reports.
D)incident reports.

Question 11

The "Action Structure" used for short reports stipulates that

A)every report requires a background section.
B)not all reports require a background section.
C)reports longer than three pages require a background section.
D)incident and causal analysis reports are the only types that require a background section.

Question 12

Periodic activity reports are similar to

A)progress reports in that both types summarize activities.
B)progress reports in that both types summarize activities, but progress reports focus on a specific project while periodic activity reports describe general activity in a given period.
C)project completion reports in that both types summarize activities that have already been completed.
D)incident reports in that both types summarize activities that occur on a regular basis.

Question 13

Compliance reports are

A)are required only by environmental watchdog agencies.
B)are written exclusively for government regulatory agencies.
C)are usually completed in forms provided by the regulatory agency.
D)may be completed in forms, but more often the reporting organization has to create its own format and report structure.

Question 14

Field trip reports usually use the following structure:

A)action opening/work accomplished/action closing.
B)action opening/background/work accomplished/action closing.
C)action opening/background/work accomplished/problems encountered/action closing.
D)action opening/work accomplished/liaison activities/action closing.

Question 15

In the Action Structure, the "action opening"

A)connects with the reader's needs and interests.
B)reviews previous actions and results.
C)promises to provide a description of an action that has been taken.
D)supplies useful background information.

Question 16

Documents of one to three pages should use

A)a correspondence format.
B)an email format.
C)a semi-formal report format.
D)a formal report format.

Question 17

Justification reports

A)are exactly the same as proposals
B)are exactly the same as causal analysis reports
C)respond to a reader's request for a solution to a problem
D)originate with the writer, who has recognized a problem or challenge and who has developed a solution or response

Question 18

Assessment reports are similar to feasibility reports, but

A)assessment reports are usually much longer.
B)assessment reports apply evaluation criteria, unlike feasibility reports.
C)assessment reports are written after a project has been conducted or after changes have been effected.
D)assessment reports are distributed within an organization, while feasibility reports are written for external clients.

Question 19

Causal analysis reports

A)explain what caused a problem, failure, or breakdown.
B)explain what has led to improved situations or positive trends.
C)either explore the cause of a problem, failure, or breakdown, or discuss the reasons or an improved situation or positive trend.
D)explore the legal basis for assigning blame for a problem, failure, or breakdown.

Question 20

In progress reports, problems and setbacks

A)should always be discussed in a Conclusions section.
B)should not be discussed if at all possible because the report should focus on progress.
C)can be discussed in a special category.
D)can be included, but cannot be easily integrated into a progress report.