Deck 15: Correction Symbols and Proofreading Marks

Question 1

Well-designed documents increase readability and audience comprehension.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Most people are good listeners.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

Please give consideration to our latest offer is an effectively written sentence for a business message.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Skilled business communicators use an abundance of first-person pronouns such as I, we, and our to connect with an audience.

Question 5

Ethnocentrism is inherent in all cultures.

Question 6

Many routine tasks, such as drafting e-mails, memos, letters, informational reports, and oral presentations, require the writer to collect formal research.

Question 7

The central objective of communication is the transmission of meaning.

Question 8

Communicators in high-context cultures (such as those in China, Japan, and Arab countries) tend to be intuitive, contemplative, and group oriented.

Question 9

Highly developed technical or "hard" skills are the most sought-after employment skills demanded by employers.

Question 10

Good writers spend most of their time on the revising phase of the 3-x-3 writing process.

Question 11

Active-voice verbs are preferred in business writing.

Question 12

The best way to judge the success of your communication is through feedback.

Question 13

You should strive to write paragraphs with eight or fewer printed lines.

Question 14

Although writing a résumé is part of the job-search process, you should begin the process by analyzing your interests and goals and evaluating your qualifications is an example of a compound sentence.

Question 15

Every mechanic must submit his timesheet by Friday is a well-written sentence.

Question 16

I am sending this message to let you know that Tuesday's meeting has been cancelled is a concise and direct message.

Question 17

The richest communication channel is e-mail.

Question 18

Use the indirect strategy when your audience may be uninterested, unwilling, hostile, or displeased.

Question 19

To save time, you should thoroughly proofread a document as you write it.

Question 20

Nonverbal communication includes only those behaviors that are intended.

Question 21

The most important dimension of culture is

A) time orientation.
B) context.
C) individualism.
D) power distance.

Question 22

Several barriers may cause poor listening. Which of the following is a psychological barrier to effective listening?

A) Focusing on a speaker's unusual voice
B) Concentrating on a speaker's unfamiliar words
C) Having noisy surroundings
D) Tuning out speakers whose ideas do not match our own

Question 23

Which of the following is a formal research method?

A) Performing a scientific experiment
B) Searching the Web
C) Conducting an interview
D) All answer choices are examples of formal research methods.

Question 24

Which of the following sentences demonstrates parallel structure?

A) Marian will interview all candidates, Dale will train new employees, and annual reviews will be conducted by Paul.
B) The proposal affected all students, educators, and administrators.
C) The committee plans to review all proposals, interview contractors, and then it must select a certified vendor.
D) Successful job candidates must demonstrate leadership, teamwork, and they must possess strong communication skills.

Question 25

Which of the following sentences uses positive language?

A) Your order cannot be shipped before June 1.
B) Your August 15 letter claims that your new computer is malfunctioning.
C) We can't provide a free printer with your purchase of a computer.
D) We look forward to completing your order when we receive your credit card information.

Question 26

What kind of sentence reveals the main idea of a paragraph?

A) Pivoting
B) Supporting
C) Topic
D) Transitional

Question 27

Which of the following is the best advice for proofreading long, complex documents?

A) Proofread complex documents immediately after writing while your thoughts are still fresh.
B) Thoroughly proofread your document only once.
C) Expect to find mistakes.
D) Rely completely on a spell-checking program to find any errors.

Question 28

Which of the following sentences demonstrates the best writing?

A) Enclosed please find my résumé.
B) Our committee will analyze the proposals on Monday.
C) Finding an acceptable solution will be easier said than done.
D) This new paradigm shift will impact all employees.

Question 29

Ethan wrote the proposal for MPEX Associates and submitted it on May 1 is an example of a

A) simple sentence.
B) compound sentence.
C) complex sentence.
D) compound-complex sentence.

Question 30

Communication begins when

A) an idea is put into words or conveyed through gestures.
B) the idea is sent through a communication channel.
C) the sender has an idea.
D) the receiver decodes the message.

Question 31

Business messages should be

A) writer oriented.
B) purposeful.
C) complex.
D) lengthy.

Question 32

Before you write a message, your first step should be to

A) conduct research.
B) prepare an outline of your ideas.
C) analyze the audience and anticipate its reaction to the message.
D) select an appropriate organizational pattern.

Question 33

Melissa completed her undergraduate studies in May, she is now pursuing a master's degree in business administration is an example of a

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

Question 34

Which of the following statements about writing skills in today's business world is most accurate?

A) Because of today's emphasis on technology, the need for good writing skills is not important.
B) Employees today can expect to write fewer messages than in previous years.
C) Today's employees must use a variety of media to communicate with others.
D) Only employees in fields such as communications and public relations must be able to write effective business messages.

Question 35

Which of the following statements best demonstrates concise writing?

A) There are several things that every employee must know about workplace hazards.
B) The directors believe that HAZMAT training is absolutely essential.
C) Although this training is a company requirement, it must be completed at the employee's expense.
D) This is to inform you that HAZMAT training will be scheduled in the near future.

Question 36

When you have a conversation with someone from another culture, you can reduce misunderstandings if you

A) speak in short sentences.
B) accept a yes or a nod to affirm comprehension.
C) wait until you finish a long explanation to request feedback.
D) use lots of slang to demonstrate your knowledge of your culture's language.

Question 37

Which statement regarding headings is most accurate?

A) Headings provide visual distraction for readers; thus they should be avoided.
B) Headings appear most often in business letters.
C) Headings highlight information and improve readability.
D) Headings should be written in complete sentences.

Question 38

To improve your nonverbal communication, which of the following tips should you practice?

A) Establish and maintain eye contact with others.
B) Minimize any distracting or competing background sounds.
C) Associate with people from diverse cultures.
D) All answer choices are effective ways to improve your nonverbal communication.

Question 39

Shipping Clerk Christina included this sentence in her message to a customer: Pertaining to your returns, we must verify the shipping numbers and lot codes of all outstanding merchandise prior to issuance of a refund. This sentence is an example of

A) an unprofessional tone.
B) overly formal language.
C) a conversational style.
D) plain English.

Question 40

All of the following are advantages of the direct strategy except

A) saving the reader's time.
B) respecting the feelings of the audience.
C) setting a proper frame of mind.
D) reducing frustration.

Question 41

Revise the following sentence to use positive language:
Because you neglected to include a copy of your cash register receipt, we can't process your rebate.

Question 42

Revise the following sentence to use bias-free language:
Every manager must review his employees annually.

Question 43

Revise the following sentence to avoid misplaced modifiers:
Waiting for the interview, sweat formed on Rich.

Question 44

Revise the following sentence to express the idea using the "you" view:
All applicants must complete the attached form by December 1.

Question 45

List and describe two techniques to improve your chance of being understood when writing to someone from a different culture.

Question 46

List two techniques that could help you become an active and effective listener.

Question 47

Revise the following sentence to avoid trite business phrases:
Pursuant to your request, enclosed please find a copy of our current catalog.

Question 48

Revise the following sentence to demonstrate direct, concise language:
This is to inform you that due to the fact that health care costs are rising, there is a new employee wellness program that will be offered starting on May 1.