Deck 10: Preparing Business Reports

Question 1

Which of the following can be done to keep your writing lean,thereby easier to understand?

A)Write for non-native English speakers.
B)Include only the information people need.
C)Use consistent terminology and phrases.
D)Use an appropriate tone.
E)Be objective.

Answer 1

B
Explanation: Keep your writing lean by providing only the information that people need and by eliminating extra details and words that serve no clear purpose.

Question 2

The section of the report that provides readers with a quick understanding of the purpose,structure,contents,and main idea of the report is considered to be ________.

A)identifying information
B)the preview
C)detailed discussion
D)supporting information
E)attachments

Answer 2

B
Explanation: Almost all business reports use a direct organization,beginning with one or more preview elements that provide readers with a quick understanding of the purpose,structure,content,and main ideas of the report.In reports written as emails,letters,or memos,the first paragraph provides the preview.

Question 3

What part of a report allows an audience to preview the material?

A)Body
B)Title page
C)Preliminary sections
D)Conclusion
E)Cover

Answer 3

C
Explanation: A formal report should include several ways to preview the report contents,including a table of contents,a list of figures and tables,an executive summary,and an introduction.

Question 4

When do experienced writers ask for feedback on their reports?

A)Before finalizing the content
B)Throughout the writing process
C)When the first draft is complete
D)Just before sending the report
E)After the reader has had time to consider the report

Question 5

A(n)________ is a separate,standalone mini-report inserted at the beginning of a formal analytical report that completely summarizes the report's main ideas and recommendations.

A)introduction
B)abstract
C)executive summary
D)glossary
E)appendix

Question 6

The first step in writing a report is to ________.

A)choose the best medium
B)identify the question you are answering
C)write the executive summary for the report
D)develop a glossary for your report
E)provide general background information about your topic

Question 7

Which type of report has a goal of providing the reader with facts that are easy to understand?

A)Informational
B)Analytical
C)Executive summary
D)Abstract
E)Narratives

Question 8

In what section of a formal report would a reader find content-specific headings?

A)Executive summary
B)Reference list
C)Title page
D)Detailed discussion
E)Introduction

Question 9

What should always be included in a feasibility report?

A)Costs associated with implementing the proposal
B)Deadlines
C)A detailed background on why the report was written
D)Criteria that decision makers can use to judge the proposal
E)Potential outcomes

Question 10

Being able to locate specific elements of a report is helped by including ________.

A)an abstract
B)identifying information
C)content preview
D)detailed discussion
E)supporting information

Question 11

What can a writer do to achieve a professional writing style that adds to the credibility of a report?

A)Use narratives.
B)Include personal opinions whenever possible.
C)Use informal language.
D)Make the report easy to skim.
E)Use an elaborate sentence structure.

Question 12

Which of the following help readers draw conclusions or support business decisions?

A)Recommendations
B)Progress reports
C)Meeting minutes
D)Report decks
E)Analytical reports

Question 13

What type of report determines whether a plan can be implemented as proposed?

A)Progress reports
B)Meeting minutes
C)Trip reports
D)Feasibility reports
E)Evaluation reports

Question 14

When choosing the best medium to use in transmitting a report,a writer should consider length,audience,and ________.

A)technology
B)location
C)formality
D)deadlines
E)subject matter

Question 15

Reports based on outcomes and decisions arrived at during meetings are called ________.

A)progress reports
B)meeting minutes
C)trip reports
D)feasibility reports
E)evaluation reports

Question 16

Almost 2 billion people speak English worldwide and ________ percent of those people speak it as a first language.

A)less than 15
B)only 25
C)nearly 50
D)less than 5
E)close to 75

Question 17

Conservative fields typically use ________ style reports.

A)manuscript
B)white papers
C)direct
D)infographic
E)indirect

Question 18

Which type of report would be used to help the reader to solve problems or support a business decision?

A)Informational
B)Analytical
C)Executive summary
D)Abstract
E)Narrative

Question 19

Which of the following reports is designed to quickly inform others about the work you have done and to provide documentation for future use?

A)Feasibility report
B)Progress report
C)Evaluation report
D)Recommendation report
E)Formal report

Question 20

Which of the following mediums for reports is appropriate for internal audiences?

A)Memo
B)Email
C)Letter
D)Formal
E)Presentation report deck

Question 21

Which of the following can be used to show readers you are well informed and have strong arguments?

A)Cite sources.
B)Include infographics.
C)Use identifying information.
D)Use an evaluation report.
E)Conclude with supporting details.

Question 22

If a report uses secondary research sources,a(n)________ should be included in the report to list the secondary sources.

A)glossary
B)executive summary
C)reference
D)title page
E)table of contents

Question 23

What is the most concise way to express an idea for discussion and decision making?

A)Meeting minutes
B)White papers
C)Slide decks
D)Manuscripts
E)Memos

Question 24

Reports that are PowerPoint based are referred to as ________.

A)report decks
B)infographics
C)white papers
D)manuscripts
E)native files

Question 25

PDF files are the most common format for distributing reports electronically because ________.

A)readers have limited access to the report without downloading it
B)the reports are more interactive
C)reports can be updated frequently
D)the reports can include links to multimedia content
E)companies can track people interested in the information

Question 26

To design report deck content that is easy to follow,what should be included?

A)A preview
B)An executive summary
C)An agenda
D)Slide numbers
E)Titles

Question 27

A stand-alone visual display of multiple representations of data is called a(n)________.

A)chart
B)table
C)native file
D)infographic
E)report deck

Question 28

According to information designer Edward Tufte,what can be done to help a graph or table better communicate a message?

A)Add gridlines.
B)Include a graphically strong border.
C)Add design elements for visual interest.
D)Combine similar types of data on one table or graph.
E)Eliminate all distracting content.

Question 29

The purpose of adding a graph in a report is to ________.

A)allow the reader to easily identify trends
B)determine exact values
C)arrange data in columns and rows
D)see relationships by reading down or across
E)replace the written word

Question 30

Which of the following sections of a formal report contains detailed discussion that is always organized with headings?

A)Executive summary of the report
B)Introduction to the report
C)Body of the report
D)Glossary of the report
E)Bibliography of the report

Question 31

A report that is designed to be read,as well as presented,should be created in the form of a(n)________.

A)memo
B)email
C)letter
D)formal report
E)presentation report deck

Question 32

When integrating a graph or table,what is the role of the text?

A)To repeat the data
B)To highlight key points
C)To replace the data
D)To act as a reference to the data
E)To identify what graph or table to look at

Question 33

Which of the following elements of a report contains information that would interrupt the flow of the report,but that readers may find useful?

A)Executive summary
B)Table of content
C)Glossary
D)Body of the report
E)Appendix

Question 34

________ assess the success of a project or a decision.

A)Meeting minutes
B)Feasibility reports
C)Recommendation reports
D)Evaluation reports
E)Trip reports

Question 35

What type of report is often used in a sales or marketing environment,indicating the writer is an expert in the field?

A)Manuscript
B)Indirect
C)Progress
D)White paper
E)Feasibility

Question 36

Why is it important to cite sources when writing reports?

A)Sources replace research and data needed to complete the report.
B)Sources can replace the synthesis of material.
C)Sources make the writers ideas seem original.
D)Sources allow you to present someone else's materials as your own.
E)Sources help your audience locate information used in the report.

Question 37

Extra information and documentation added to the end of the report is usually included as a(n)________.

A)preview
B)executive summary
C)conclusion
D)appendix
E)synopsis

Question 38

Which of the following is an advantage of creating and distributing a web-based report?

A)Reports are easier to design.
B)Reports can be printed and stored on the audience's computer.
C)Reports are durable and don't disappear when a web address changes.
D)Reports can be updated frequently.
E)Companies can track people interested in the information.

Question 39

A(n)________ is a mini-version of the report designed to communicate the most important ideas to an audience of decision makers.

A)glossary
B)reference list
C)table of contents
D)executive summary
E)bibliography

Question 40

When a report deck is long,what design element can be incorporated to help the reader?

A)Slide numbers
B)Bullets
C)Color
D)Larger font
E)Bold

Question 41

Inserting the author's last name,year of publication,and page number next to an exact quote is an example of ________.

A)a footnote
B)an endnote
C)accuracy
D)parenthetical citation
E)plagiarism

Question 42

When is the best time to use a quotation instead of paraphrasing information?

A)When you want to present someone else's point of view
B)When an authority's information can add credibility to your work
C)When you want to generalize what someone else has said
D)When you want to provide an overview before identifying specific arguments
E)When the exact wording is needed to allow you to be precise

Question 43

A "road sign" on the upper-left or upper-right corner of your slides that indicate the section of the deck is analogous to a ________ on a word-processed report.

A)title page
B)header
C)footer
D)page number
E)table of contents

Question 44

When you use someone else's original content,but put it in your own words,you are ________.

A)quoting
B)referencing
C)summarizing
D)paraphrasing
E)citing

Question 45

Report decks ________.

A)are never used to disseminate information internally
B)are poorly equipped for science-based reports
C)are not a viable medium for progress reports
D)can only be used for reporting analyses to external clients
E)can be used for any type of report.

Question 46

On average,how much of a report's content should consist of quotations?

A)10 percent
B)20 percent
C)30 percent
D)40 percent
E)50 percent

Question 47

If you want to represent the percentage of respondents in a survey who preferred your product to products from four of your competitors,the best graph to use would be a ________.

A)histograph
B)pie chart
C)line chart
D)histogram
E)scatter plot

Question 48

When you use any exact phrase,sentence,or distinctive words from another source,how do you note the use of someone's source in the text?

A)Use a citation.
B)Use a Works Cited page.
C)Use quotation marks.
D)Use a summary.
E)Paraphrase.

Question 49

The ________ lists all the headings in the report,along with the page numbers where the report sections begin.

A)reference list
B)glossary
C)bibliography
D)executive summary
E)table of contents

Question 50

A(n)________ has a hybrid status,which means that it is partly report and partly presentation.

A)formal report
B)report deck
C)analytical report
D)recommendation report
E)evaluation report

Question 51

How can a writer introduce cited material by explicitly referring to the source within the text?

A)Insert a text reference.
B)Use APA citations.
C)Summarize.
D)Paraphrase.
E)Include a bibliography.

Question 52

A ________ is a very brief version of another person's point of view.

A)quote
B)reference
C)summary
D)paraphrase
E)citation

Question 53

If you are using parenthetical citations,how should you title your list of sources?

A)Works Cited
B)Bibliography
C)Documentation
D)Appendix
E)References

Question 54

________ arrange data in columns and rows,allowing you to read down or across to see different relationships.

A)Pie charts
B)Tables
C)Infographics
D)Line graphs
E)Bar charts

Question 55

How do you use your own words to share someone else's opinion?

A)Summarize
B)Paraphrase
C)Use a parenthetical citation
D)Quote
E)Use a visual aid

Question 56

PowerPoint report decks ________.

A)are designed to be read,as well as presented
B)cannot be sent as email attachments
C)cannot be printed out for participants at a meeting
D)require the presence of a presenter
E)contain slides that are less detailed than those in traditional presentations

Question 57

When using a visual aid to illustrate the relationship among variable or sets of data,which would be most effective?

A)Paired bar chart
B)Histograph
C)Graph
D)Table
E)Pie chart

Question 58

Which of the following is recommended for effectively designing a slide deck?

A)Use background graphics for the slides.
B)Size your title box to accommodate only one-line headlines.
C)Leave space for "road signs" on the upper-left or upper-right corner of your slides.
D)Avoid using footers.
E)Do not include a copyright marking in the slides.

Question 59

A ________ is used to rank and compare items.

A)frequency polygon
B)line chart
C)horizontal bar chart
D)histograph
E)paired bar chart

Question 60

Slides in a report deck ________.

A)should be easy to follow
B)have less text on them than a traditional presentation slide
C)include headlines with periods at the end
D)should not use graphics
E)include headlines that are centered and have every word capitalized

Question 61

An appendix is designed to communicate the most important ideas to an audience of decision makers.

Question 62

A recommendation report is an example of an informational report.

Question 63

Charts and graphics can be unethical when they ________.

A)use a consistent scale regardless of result
B)are more than one year old
C)include design elements
D)show data out of context
E)use color to attract the audience's attention

Question 64

In business reports,verbal and visual elements should ________.

A)play unrelated roles
B)each strive to independently communicate the full message of the report
C)be integrated
D)compete for the audience's attention
E)be standalone aspects of the report that do not refer to each other

Question 65

A white paper is a report intended to educate the audience-often potential customers-on a topic that is central to a company's business.

Question 66

Presenting others' ideas as your own is known as ________.

A)summarizing
B)paraphrasing
C)plagiarism
D)quoting
E)citing

Question 67

A feasibility report will seldom include the criteria that decision makers can use to judge the proposal.

Question 68

The evaluating process ends when you have delivered the report.

Question 69

When using a visual from another source,where should the citation be placed?

A)In the text that describes the visual
B)In the caption
C)In the Works Cited page
D)At the bottom of the page where the visual is placed
E)In your List of Illustrations

Question 70

________ are any phrases,sentences,paragraphs-even single,distinctive words-that you take from any of your sources.

A)Paraphrases
B)Quotations
C)Summaries
D)Citations
E)Footnotes

Question 71

If a writer wants to include web links or a video in a report,what format should be used?

A)Email
B)Web file
C)PDF file
D)Facebook link
E)White papers

Question 72

Which of the following is FALSE about report decks?

A)A report deck is often sent as an email as an attachment.
B)Report decks cannot be printed as they're only intended to be read onscreen.
C)The audience of a report deck usually reads the report onscreen.
D)Report decks are usually read one slide at a time.
E)Slides of a report deck may or may not be projected.

Question 73

The main goal of an informational report is to help readers draw conclusions to solve problems or support business decisions.

Question 74

________,or citing your sources,is a key part of all writing in academia and most professional writing.

A)Paraphrasing
B)Plagiarizing
C)Abstracting
D)Quoting
E)Documenting

Question 75

When writing a report,information that is known to most people is considered to be ________.

A)paraphrasing
B)opinion
C)common knowledge
D)speculation
E)statistics

Question 76

Documenting or citing your sources ________.

A)undermines the audience's confidence in the strength of your data
B)demonstrates that you are creative
C)gives your audience the ability to find information mentioned in your report
D)makes your writing seem less impressive because it indicates that the ideas are not original
E)undermines the credibility of your writing

Question 77

Business reports rarely identify the author,but,instead,focus on the audience.

Question 78

Minutes are written reports of meetings.

Question 79

Dot leaders and page numbers should be created by inserting periods to ensure proper alignment.

Question 80

If you are writing a formal informational report,you should include an abstract.