Deck 13: Completing Business Proposals and Business Reports

Question 1

Nearly all reports, especially those that are more than a few pages long, contain a bibliography at the beginning.

Answer 1

False
Explanation: Nearly all reports, especially those that are more than a few pages long, contain an executive summary at the beginning.

Question 2

Preview statements allow readers to create a mental map of your key takeaway messages in a report.

Answer 2

True
Explanation: Reports are often lengthy and dense, so preview statements can help decision makers follow the direction of your text. Also, preview statements frame the message, allowing readers to create a mental map of your key takeaway messages.

Question 3

You can raise the credibility of your report by providing supporting details for your conclusions.

Answer 3

True
Explanation: You can raise the credibility of your report by (a) supplying the facts with precision; (b) providing supporting details for your conclusions; (c) carefully dealing with predictions and cause-effect statements and (d) responsibly citing your research sources.

Question 4

You should project objectivity more than positivity in business reports.

Question 5

When too much of the report is in bullet points, it can create a choppy, staccato-like effect.

Question 6

In the context of business reports, projecting positivity is more important than projecting objectivity.

Question 7

Documenting your sources for secondary research helps decision makers judge the quality of your data.

Question 8

The purpose of tables and charts is first and foremost to fit into the story line you have established for your report.

Question 9

While creating a business report, projecting objectivity involves providing information, analysis, and advice that is sound, reliable, and unbiased.

Question 10

Reports without a problem statement at the beginning are perceived as unimportant and lacking direction.

Question 11

Generally, the formal reports that are submitted to external decision makers do not include a cover page.

Question 12

Achieving a positive, can-do tone in your communications is appropriate in nearly all business situations.

Question 13

The table of contents in a report must contain only second-level headings.

Question 14

Generally, an executive summary should be about one page long for every 10 to 20 pages in the report.

Question 15

The cover page is generally the least emphasized aspect of the design of a report document.

Question 16

The best way to avoid plagiarism on a documentwide level is to base your report on just one or two sources.

Question 17

In a business report, the foundation for facts, conclusions, and recommendations must be a well-stated business problem or challenge.

Question 18

You need not give credit to the original speaker or writer for an idea that is paraphrased.

Question 19

In most situations, you should use direct quotations rather than paraphrase.

Question 20

Problem statements in business reports are most effective when they conceal the urgency of the problems.

Question 21

If your report is not the result of a collaborative effort, then you should review it yourself rather than getting it reviewed by others.

Question 22

Which of the following raises the credibility of a report?

A)Stating the business problem at the end of the report
B)Presenting arguments that are open to interpretation
C)Dealing with predictions and cause-effect statements carefully
D)Shielding the urgency of the problem
E)Applying the

Question 23

A report must be reviewed at least once for typos or mechanical errors.

Question 24

A(n) _____ that contains all your research sources should be provided at the end of the report.

A)table of contents
B)executive summary
C)citation
D)footnote

Question 25

To develop original reports, make sure that you avoid _____.

A)all forms of plagiarism
B)including a reference list
C)the use of cause-effect statements
D)excessive use of bar charts
E)stating the problem statement at the beginning of the report

Question 26

Which of the following is an advantage of documenting your research sources?

A)It makes your report easy to navigate.
B)It allows decision makers to judge the quality of your data.
C)It decreases the size of your report.
D)It helps establish the purpose and value of the report.
E)It provides the unique context of the problem for the organization.

Question 27

Reviewing a report in multiple sittings has a negative impact on the review process and is ideally not recommended.

Question 28

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, to steal and pass off the ideas of another as one's own and to commit literary theft is referred to as _____.

A)ethnocentrism
B)quoting
C)plagiarism
D)paraphrasing
E)compilation

Question 29

When are problem statements most effective?

A)When the contextual details in these statements shield the urgency of the problem
B)When they provide the unique context of the problem for the organization
C)When they are provided at the end of the report
D)When they avoid using predictions and cause-effect statements
E)When they apply the

Question 30

Precision in reports relies on:

A)documentation systems.
B)conclusions.
C)recommendations.
D)problem definitions.
E)facts.

Question 31

Which of the following raises the credibility of a report?

A)Avoiding the use of cause-effect statements
B)Providing supporting details for your conclusions
C)Stating the business problem at the end of the report
D)Shielding the urgency of the problem
E)Applying the

Question 32

Reports should be reviewed over several sittings and several days if possible, since you are unlikely to catch all of the changes you would ideally make in just one sitting.

Question 33

Which of the following demonstrates originality in thought when using secondary research to develop reports?

A)Citing all your research sources
B)Generating your own conclusions and recommendations
C)Using the most current documentation guidelines
D)Adopting a methodical and skeptical approach to decision making
E)Dealing carefully with predictions and cause-effect statements

Question 34

An executive summary tells the story of the report so the busy reader can get the gist of the content.

Question 35

If you've developed the report by yourself, there is no need to get other perspectives before you officially submit it.

Question 36

Where should you place the statement of the business problem?

A)Along with recommendations
B)Along with facts
C)Along with the conclusions
D)At the beginning of the report
E)At the end of the report

Question 37

What does it mean to demonstrate originality in thought when using secondary research to develop reports?

A)To combine information from your various sources in novel and insightful ways
B)To use indirect quotations when the quotation contains a particularly compelling combination of words
C)To raise the credibility of your report by carefully dealing with cause-effect statements
D)To provide citations to indicate the information you have drawn from other sources
E)To avoid using your own words to express the meaning of the original speaker or writer

Question 38

Research-based reports are generally commissioned for high-stakes decisions.

Question 39

Most business reports are routine and do not have to be reviewed.

Question 40

APA and MLA are types of _____.

A)indices
B)tone choices
C)documentation systems
D)bibliographies
E)research guidelines

Question 41

Which of the following is most likely to make your report easy to navigate?

A)Including a SWOT analysis in your report
B)Including cause-effect statements in your report
C)Providing a structure that decision makers are familiar with
D)Using paraphrasing instead of direct quotation
E)Using the MLA documentation system instead of the

Question 42

Generally, an executive summary should be about _____ long for every 10 to 20 pages in the report.

A)two pages
B)five pages
C)one page
D)three pages
E)four pages

Question 43

Which of the following statements is true about headings?

A)A report should include headings only if it contains attachments.
B)Reports that are two or more pages long require third-level headings.
C)At a minimum, you should include first-level headings.
D)If a report contains appendices, then headings must not be used.
E)Headings should not be descriptive.

Question 44

_____ involves using your own words to express the meaning of the original speaker or writer.

A)Paraphrasing
B)Social referencing
C)Satisficing
D)Direct quotation
E)Social loafing

Question 45

You should use direct quotations:

A)when you want to express the idea of another speaker in your own words.
B)when you want to avoid documenting references to others' ideas.
C)when you have derived the quotations with the help of a primary research.
D)when the quotation flows effectively with your paper.
E)when you want to use the MLA documentation system to create a reference list.

Question 46

When are decision makers unlikely to take your report seriously and feel comfortable acting on it?

A)When you combine information from various sources in novel and insightful ways
B)When you use direct quotations or verbatim restatements from another source
C)When you do not provide clear connections between facts, conclusions, and recommendations
D)When you express in your own words the idea of the original speaker
E)When you weave together information from less than three sources

Question 47

Which of the following accurately explains the purpose of using tables and charts in reports?

A)To make your report easy to navigate
B)To help the readers create a mental map of your key takeaway messages
C)To summarize the most important contents, including key findings and conclusions
D)To place a clear problem statement at the beginning of the report
E)To simplify or clarify complicated numerical information

Question 48

Which of the following components of a formal report falls under the category of "front matter"?

A)Memo of transmittal
B)Introduction
C)Appendix
D)Executive Summary
E)Bibliography

Question 49

Nearly all reports, especially those that are more than a few pages long, contain a(n) _____ at the beginning.

A)market research section
B)executive summary
C)mission statement
D)budget section
E)reference list

Question 50

Nearly all reports contain _____ to help readers quickly navigate.

A)copyright notices
B)headings
C)cover letters
D)appendices
E)memos

Question 51

Which of the following is true of documenting secondary research sources?

A)Statements that are paraphrased do not require documentation.
B)Documenting secondary research sources leads to plagiarism.
C)Documenting secondary research sources involves placing the list of the sources on the title page of the report.

Question 52

Which of the following components of a formal report falls under the category of "back matter"?

A)Executive summary
B)Bibliography
C)Table of contents
D)Title page
E)Memo of transmittal

Question 53

When should you use direct quotations?

A)When you have derived the quotations with the help of a primary research
B)When you want to avoid documenting references to others' ideas
C)When the quotation contains a particularly compelling combination of words
D)When you want to express the idea of another speaker in your own words
E)When the quotation does not emphasize the credibility of the original speaker

Question 54

Which of the following reports is most likely to include a section on accomplishments?

A)A trend report
B)A business proposal
C)A progress report
D)A SWOT analysis report
E)A marketing plan

Question 55

In addition to being based on facts and conclusions in the report, recommendations must be:

A)simple and plagiarized.
B)methodical and skeptical.
C)sufficiently sketchy and extravagant.
D)specific and actionable.
E)equivocal and shifty.

Question 56

Why should the important contents of a report be summarized?

A)To signal that you have been methodical in collecting, analyzing, and reporting
B)To help establish the purpose and value of the report
C)To provide supporting details for your conclusions
D)To allow decision makers to judge the quality of your data
E)To enable decision makers to quickly understand and act on the report findings

Question 57

To avoid plagiarism on a sentence and paragraph level, _____.

A)include the problem statement at the end of the report
B)include a table of contents at the beginning of the report
C)avoid including any attachments in the report
D)document all references to the ideas of others
E)include an executive summary in the report

Question 58

Which of the following is most likely to be true of paraphrasing?

A)Paraphrasing involves using your own words to express the meaning of the original speaker.
B)In most situations, you should use direct quotations rather than paraphrasing.
C)Paraphrasing helps you document references to others' ideas.
D)You must paraphrase when the original quotation contains a particularly compelling combination of words.
E)Paraphrasing is used to emphasize the credibility of the original speaker or writer.

Question 59

Which of the following is most likely to be true of including headings in reports?

A)If a report contains an appendix, then headings must not be used in that report.
B)At a minimum, you should include third-level headings.
C)Except survey reports, all other forms of reports should include headings.
D)Reports over five pages are likely to require second-level headings.
E)Avoid using headings in a report if it contains a memo of transmittal.

Question 60

Which of the following is an advantage of preview statements?

A)They allow decision makers to judge the quality of your data.
B)They can help decision makers follow the direction of your text.
C)They decrease the length of your report.
D)They help establish the purpose and value of the report.
E)They provide supporting details for your conclusions.

Question 61

Which of the following is generally the most emphasized aspect of the design of a formal report?

A)Glossary
B)Cover page
C)Bibliography
D)Memo of transmittal
E)Reference list

Question 62

In a business report, recommendations:

A)address difficult-to-find secondary information.
B)allow readers to know exactly where the information came from. .are based on needs and opportunities described in the body of the paper.
D)allow decision makers to examine the data themselves.
E)concludes with a review of report contents.

Question 63

Which of the following is true of business reports?

A)Precision in most business reports relies on documentation systems.
B)It is important to strike a balance between objectivity and positivity in a report.
C)A business report should always use the

Question 64

Which of the following statements is true about creating business reports?

A)It is unnecessary to project positivity in business reports..
B)Creativity should be projected over objectivity.
C)Information in a report should be sound, reliable, and biased.
D)Positive emotion should be allowed to cloud your judgment.
E)Objectivity should be projected over positivity.

Question 65

Which of the following is most likely to be true about using too many bullet points in a report?

A)It makes the report seem like it lacks direction and tends to be perceived as unimportant.
B)It can create a choppy, staccato-like effect.
C)It makes the report difficult to navigate.
D)It casts a shadow of doubt on the quality of data used in the report.
E)It demonstrates your lack of originality in thought.

Question 66

How can you project objectivity in a report?

A)By using tables and charts in your report to represent numerical information
B)By providing a well-designed table of contents
C)By using bulleting and enumerated lists to help readers rapidly process and group information
D)By providing information, analysis, and advice that is sound, reliable, and unbiased
E)By allowing readers to create a mental map of your key takeaway messages

Question 67

What does the table of contents in a report contain?

A)Brochures, references, résumés, and biographies
B)A title, names of those who wrote and/or are submitting the report, and a date
C)All first-level headings and sometimes all second-level headings
D)Key findings, conclusions, and recommendations
E)A clear statement of the central business problem

Question 68

To project objectivity in a report, you should _____.

A)ensure that your enthusiasm and strong positive emotion do not appear to cloud your judgment
B)use indirect quotations when the quotation contains a particularly compelling combination of words
C)use bulleting and enumerated lists to help readers rapidly process and group information
D)provide a memo of transmittal with the report
E)combine information from your various sources in novel and insightful ways

Question 69

Detailed data tables, brochures, references, résumés, and biographies are typically included in a report as a part of the _____.

A)cover page
B)table of contents
C)title page
D)appendix
E)glossary

Question 70

In a business report, the _____ concludes with a review of report contents.
B)executive summary
C)headings
D)footnotes
E)in-text citations

Question 71

In order to ensure effectiveness and fairness of your report, you should:

A)ensure that you review the entire report in just one sitting.
B)review the entire document several times for accuracy and precision in logic.
C)avoid using any charts and tables in your report.
D)state the business problem at the end of the report rather than at the beginning.
E)avoid discussing the report with the ultimate decision makers.

Question 72

Which of the following is a guideline for reviewing business reports?

A)While reviewing a business report, make sure that your report projects more positivity than objectivity.
B)Avoid discussing the report with the ultimate decision makers.
C)As you review the report, run through it numerous times, each time considering a different perspective.
D)Avoid getting others' perspective on your report because different people will have different opinions.
E)Review your report only if it deals with marketing strategies.

Question 73

Why do reports frequently include appendixes?

A)To help decision makers in judging the quality of report data
B)To help readers in processing and grouping dense information
C)To help the readers in navigating the report
D)To establish the purpose and value of the report
E)To provide reference materials

Question 74

Which of the following is most likely to be included in the cover page of a report?

A)List of secondary sources
B)Glossary
C)Date of submission
D)Mission statement
E)Appendix

Question 75

Which of the following statements is true about cover pages?

A)You should use cover pages to summarize the most important contents of a report.
B)Cover pages consist of graphs and charts that help understand complex numerical information.
C)Regardless of length, formal reports always include a cover page.
D)The cover page is generally the least emphasized aspect of document design.
E)Cover pages are typically included at the end of the report.

Question 76

Which of the following best describes the format of a business report?

A)The introduction tells the story of the report so the busy reader can get the gist of the content.
B)The introduction concludes with recommendations.
C)The executive summary begins with statement of and brief background to the problem.
D)Footnotes allow rapid comprehension of key supporting points.
E)In-text citations allow readers to know exactly where the information comes from.

Question 77

The key features to strive for in all reports: value to decision makers, precision, documentation, easy navigation, and _____.

A)sensitivity .objectivity
C)positivity
D)productivity
E)creativity

Question 78

Regardless of length, formal reports-especially those submitted to external decision makers-always include a _____.

A)memorandum
B)cover page
C)white paper
D)codicil
E)memo of transmittal

Question 79

Which of the following is most likely to help readers rapidly process and group information in a report?

A)Including a title page in the report
B)Using the MLA instead of the

Question 80

Which of the following statements is true about a table of contents?

A)A table of contents demonstrates the basic logic of a report.
B)A table of contents is expected for nearly any report over ten pages long.
C)A table of contents is typically used to summarize the most important contents of a report.
D)A table of contents helps establish the purpose and value of the report.
E)A table of contents is typically included in a report as a part of the glossary.