Question 1

Tara, a student who is researching forensic accounting, is preparing to interview an experienced accountant. To conduct an effective interview, Tara should 
A)learn as much as possible about the forensic accounting field before conducting the interview.
B)try to do most of the talking during the interview to put the interviewee at ease.
C)ask as many yes-or-no questions as possible to make things easier for the interviewee.
D)engage the accountant in a debate to display her knowledge.

Accepted Answer

To conduct an effective interview, Tara should learn as much as possible about the forensic accounting field before conducting the interview. This will help her ask informed and insightful questions, as well as show the interviewee that she has done her homework and is serious about the field. Option B is incorrect because the purpose of the interview is to learn from the experienced accountant, not to showcase Tara's own knowledge. Option C is incorrect because it does not allow for open-ended, thought-provoking questions that may be necessary in a forensic accounting interview. Option D is incorrect because engaging in a debate may put the accountant on the defensive and may hinder the flow of the interview.

Question 2

Eugene is evaluating the information he found on a website before he includes it in his business report. He asks, "When was this Web site last updated?" What is Eugene evaluating? 
A)The currency of the website 
B)The authority of the website 
C)The content of the website 
D)The accuracy of the website

Accepted Answer

Eugene is evaluating the currency or timeliness of the website by asking when it was last updated. This is important to ensure that the information is still current and relevant.

Question 3

Paraphrasing 
A)involves restating an original passage in your own words and in your own style.
B)involves presenting ideas from another source using the exact wording of the original source.
C)involves presenting ideas from another source without documentation.
D)requires the report writer to use the same grammatical structure as the original author when presenting another's ideas.

Accepted Answer

Paraphrasing involves restating an original passage in your own words and in your own style, which means conveying the same meaning of the original text using different vocabulary, sentence structure, and phrasing. This ensures that the paraphrased content is not plagiarized and the writer is not accused of stealing other's ideas.

Question 4

Which of the following is an effective question to use in a survey? 
A)Don't you agree that teachers are extremely deserving of a 7 percent pay increase because of the valuable services they provide for our community? 
B)Do teachers deserve a 7 percent pay increase? 
C)Should teachers accept a 7 percent pay increase, or should they go on strike? 
D)Do teachers, one of the hardest-working and least-respected segments of American society, deserve a 7 percent pay increase?

Accepted Answer

Option B is a clear and unbiased question that does not lead the respondent towards a particular answer or contain any loaded language. Option A contains leading language and assumes that the respondents agree with the statement. Option C presents a false dilemma and may not accurately reflect the opinions of the respondents. Option D contains loaded language and is biased towards a particular viewpoint.

Question 5

Virginia has a large amount of quantitative data made up of exact figures to present in a report. Virginia should present this data using a(n) 
A)pie chart.
B)line chart.
C)table.
D)organization chart.

Accepted Answer

Tables are usually the best option when presenting a large amount of quantitative data that requires exact figures. It allows for easy comparison and analysis of the data. Pie charts are better when presenting a breakdown of percentages or proportions, while line charts are better for showing trends over time. Organization charts are used to show the hierarchy of an organization.

Question 6

The best choice for showing changes in a company's monthly sales for Fiscal Year 2014 is a(n) 
A)pie chart.
B)line chart.
C)flow chart.
D)organization chart.

Accepted Answer

A line chart would be the best choice to show changes in monthly sales for Fiscal Year 2014 because it effectively displays trends over time by connecting data points with lines. This allows for easy visualization of patterns and changes in the data. A pie chart would not be effective for this purpose as it is designed for showing proportions of a whole, and would not accurately show changes over time. Flow charts and organization charts are not relevant for displaying changes in sales data.

Question 7

Benjamin needs to illustrate the percentage each expense represents of total company expenses. His best choice is a(n) 
A)pie chart.
B)line chart.
C)illustration.
D)bar chart.

Accepted Answer

A pie chart is the best choice to illustrate the percentage each expense represents of total company expenses as it allows for easy visualization and comparison of the proportions of each expense.

Question 8

What is the least accurate statement about infographics? 
A)Infographics are new form of visual aid that first appeared at the beginning of the 21st century.
B)Today even amateur designers can create captivating infographics.
C)Infographics are most appropriate online.
D)Good infographics tell a story and allow the reader to make sense of ever-growing amounts of data.

Accepted Answer

Infographics have been around since before the 21st century, and their origins can be traced back to ancient civilizations.

Answer: B and D
 With the increase in access to tools and resources, even amateur designers can create visually appealing infographics. Good infographics also make use of storytelling techniques to make data more accessible and easy to understand.

Therefore, the answer is:
Answer: A
 Infographics have been around since before the 21st century, and their origins can be traced back to ancient civilizations.

Question 9

James is evaluating the information he found on a website before he includes it in an analytical report for a client. He asks, "Do the fact that are presented seem reliable?" What is James evaluating? 
A)The currency of the website 
B)The authority of the website 
C)The content of the website 
D)The accuracy of the website

Accepted Answer

James is evaluating the accuracy of the website's presented facts, which falls under the criteria for determining the credibility of a source.

Question 10

When incorporating a graphic in the body of your report, you should 
A)use a good deal of color to improve readability.
B)manipulate the visual to make data look more dramatic.
C)include a reference to the graphic in the text.
D)assume that the reader will draw the same conclusions you did from the set of data.

Accepted Answer

Including a reference to the graphic in the text helps to clearly connect the graphic with the information in the report and ensures that the reader understands its relevance. Using color excessively or manipulating the visual to make data look more dramatic can be misleading and distract from the actual information being presented. Additionally, it is important to avoid assuming that the reader will draw the same conclusions as the writer and instead provide clear explanations of the data presented.

Question 11

Courts of law use four factors as a test in deciding disputes over fair use of copyrighted material. Which of the following is not one of those factors? 
A)Purpose and character of the use, particularly whether for profit 
B)Amount and sustainability of portion used 
C)Amount of money paid to use the copyrighted information 
D)Nature of the copyrighted use

Accepted Answer

The amount of money paid to use the copyrighted information is not one of the four factors used in the fair use test. The four factors are:
A) Purpose and character of the use, particularly whether for profit
B) Amount and sustainability of portion used
D) Nature of the copyrighted use

Question 12

Tracey will carefully document her sources in a report she must submit to her boss. Which of the following is a reason that Tracey should document her sources? 
A)To strengthen her argument 
B)To instruct her reader 
C)To protect herself against charges of plagiarism 
D)All of these choices are reasons for documenting report data.

Accepted Answer

Documenting sources is important for all the given reasons. It strengthens the argument by providing evidence, instructs the reader by helping them find and verify information, and protects the writer against the serious charge of plagiarism. Therefore, all the given options are valid reasons for documenting report data.

Question 13

The best question to include in a survey is 
A)How do you feel about a flat-rate income tax? 
B)Do you approve of a flat-rate income tax? 
C)What benefits do you feel a flat-rate income tax will offer? 
D)Why are you in favor of a flat-rate income tax?

Accepted Answer

The best question to include in a survey is one that is clear, concise, and unbiased. Option B, "Do you approve of a flat-rate income tax?", is the most straightforward and unbiased question, as it simply asks for the respondent's opinion on the issue without providing any additional information or context that could influence their response.

Question 14

Which of the following situations would most likely require observation or scientific experimentation? 
A)You want to find out what tools are available to protect your computer network from hackers.
B)You need to determine the average time it takes your line employees to produce a single piece of furniture.
C)You must find out which ten companies ranked highest for customer service in 2014.
D)You want to verify your supervisor's opinion on upgrading your department's accounting software.

Accepted Answer

To determine the average time it takes line employees to produce a single piece of furniture, scientific experimentation and observation would be necessary to gather data and analyze it accurately. The other options involve research or analysis that may not require direct observation or experimentation.

Question 15

Blake wants to avoid copyright infringement for material he finds online. What should he do? 
A)Recognize that anything he finds on the Internet is in the public domain.
B)Ask for permission before using material he finds online.
C)Include a footnote for everything he uses from online sources, which will protect him from copyright infringement.
D)Blake should do all of these.

Accepted Answer

Asking for permission before using material he finds online is the best way for Blake to avoid copyright infringement. This ensures that he has the legal right to use the material and avoid any potential legal consequences. While including a footnote and recognizing that not all material on the internet is in the public domain are good practices, they do not necessarily protect Blake from copyright infringement.

Question 16

Sources of primary information include 
A)research databases.
B)periodicals and newspapers.
C)surveys and interviews.
D)information on the Web.

Accepted Answer

Surveys and interviews are considered primary sources of information because they involve gathering data directly from individuals or organizations. Research databases and periodicals/newspapers may contain primary sources, but they also contain secondary sources (i.e. analysis or commentary based on primary sources). Information on the web can be either primary or secondary, depending on the source and how the information was obtained.

Question 17

Which of the following statements would need to be documented in a report? 
A)The stock market can be volatile.
B)Many types of people invest in the stock market.
C)On May 6, 2010, the Dow Jones Industrial Average suffered a 998 point loss, which the media called the Flash Crash.
D)All of these choices

Accepted Answer

Statement C provides specific and verifiable information about a notable event in the stock market, which would need to be documented in a report. Statements A and B are general observations about the stock market that do not require documentation. Therefore, only statement C is the best choice.

Question 18

Melinda is evaluating the information she found on a website before she includes it in a proposal she is writing. She asks, "Who publishes or sponsors this website?" What is Melinda evaluating? 
A)The currency of the website 
B)The authority of the website 
C)The content of the website 
D)The accuracy of the website

Accepted Answer

Melinda is evaluating the authority of the website by asking who publishes or sponsors it. This helps her determine if the information is reliable and credible, as a website with a reputable publisher or sponsor is more likely to provide accurate information than one with an unknown or questionable source.

Question 19

Knowledgeable report writers use direct quotations to 
A)repeat identical phrasing of a source because of its precision, clarity, or aptness.
B)provide objective background data and establish the severity of a problem.
C)duplicate the exact wording of a source before criticizing.
D)All of these choices.

Accepted Answer

Knowledgeable report writers may use direct quotations for a variety of reasons, including repeating a source's precise, clear, or apt phrasing (option A), providing objective background data and emphasizing the severity of an issue (option B), and ensuring accurate reporting of a source's words prior to criticizing them (option C). As a result, all of the given options may apply, making choice D the correct selection.

Question 20

Which of the following is a useful guideline for preparing effective surveys? 
A)Use questions that produce qualitative answers.
B)Include as many questions on your survey as necessary, even if you may not use the information in your final report.
C)Avoid leading or ambiguous questions.
D)Never offer survey participants compensation as this will skew the results.

Accepted Answer

Avoiding leading or ambiguous questions is a useful guideline for preparing effective surveys. Qualitative answers may not provide the necessary data, including unnecessary questions can lead to survey fatigue, and offering compensation can skew the results.

Quiz 11: Reporting in the Digital-Age Workplace

Tara, a student who is researching forensic accounting, is preparing to interview an experienced accountant. To conduct an effective interview, Tara should

Eugene is evaluating the information he found on a website before he includes it in his business report. He asks, "When was this Web site last updated?" What is Eugene evaluating?

Paraphrasing

Which of the following is an effective question to use in a survey?

Virginia has a large amount of quantitative data made up of exact figures to present in a report. Virginia should present this data using a(n)

The best choice for showing changes in a company's monthly sales for Fiscal Year 2014 is a(n)

Benjamin needs to illustrate the percentage each expense represents of total company expenses. His best choice is a(n)

What is the least accurate statement about infographics?

James is evaluating the information he found on a website before he includes it in an analytical report for a client. He asks, "Do the fact that are presented seem reliable?" What is James evaluating?

When incorporating a graphic in the body of your report, you should

Courts of law use four factors as a test in deciding disputes over fair use of copyrighted material. Which of the following is not one of those factors?

Tracey will carefully document her sources in a report she must submit to her boss. Which of the following is a reason that Tracey should document her sources?

The best question to include in a survey is

Which of the following situations would most likely require observation or scientific experimentation?

Blake wants to avoid copyright infringement for material he finds online. What should he do?

Sources of primary information include

Which of the following statements would need to be documented in a report?

Melinda is evaluating the information she found on a website before she includes it in a proposal she is writing. She asks, "Who publishes or sponsors this website?" What is Melinda evaluating?

Knowledgeable report writers use direct quotations to

Which of the following is a useful guideline for preparing effective surveys?