Question 1

When sending your message as an email, the subject line ________.

Accepted Answer

D) A specific subject line that immediately alerts the reader to the purpose of the email will capture the reader's attention.

Question 2

Caroline knows that while her oral presentation skills are stellar, her writing style could use a bit of work. Which of the following would be the best medium for Caroline to communicate effectively?

Accepted Answer

A) A podcast is an oral communication method, while the other choices all involve the written word.

Question 3

Questions such as, "What is your goal?" and "How can you organize your message to state and support your main point?" are related to which characteristic of effective business communicators?

Accepted Answer

A) Strategic communicators are always making decisions and asking themselves questions such as these to ensure their messages are purposeful, audience-oriented, and (in many cases) persuasive.

Question 4

Melinda is talking to her supervisor, suggesting they implement a new process for their department. While Melinda is speaking, her boss is fidgeting in his seat and glances at his watch several times. When Melinda asks what he thinks he stands up and walks out the door saying, "Sure, sure. It sounds fine. Let's talk later." As an active listener Melinda ________.

Accepted Answer

C) An active listener will perceive emotional cues and body language, even when they are at odds with the words being spoken. Her boss clearly seems anxious to leave the conversation. While this doesn't necessarily indicate that he dislikes her idea and won't consider it, it seems to suggest that he might not have been focusing his full attention on it.

Question 5

Which of the following behaviours best expresses professionalism?

Accepted Answer

E) Professionalism is expressed by your actions, attire, wording of messages, body language during meetings, tone of voice, and attention to grammar in all of your messages. By allowing enough time to ensure arriving at your meeting on time, you express professionalism and a respect for the other people's time.

Question 6

Just as you're about to shut down your computer for the day, you remember that you need to send an update to your boss. You dash off a quick email and press send without spell checking or proofing it. Doing so ________.

Accepted Answer

C) Failing to proofread and pay proper attention to grammar in an email to your boss may result in mistakes and typos that will project an unprofessional image. Your attention to these details, especially when communicating to a superior or a client, is very important.

Question 7

According to the text, considering whether your message is appropriate to the situation is related to which characteristic of effective business communicators?

Accepted Answer

B) The professional aspect of effective communication deals with being appropriate to the situation, being ethical, and being clear and concise.

Question 8

Good business communicators understand that ________.

Accepted Answer

B) Messages must reach and influence the audience, the individual person or people for whom a message is intended. Being able to reach an audience requires that you be a good reader and listener to understand audience concerns and compose easy-to-read messages that address these concerns.

Question 9

You are organizing a charity event in which local high school students will participate in a two-day tennis tournament to raise funds for the renovation of the community tennis courts.  This will involve communicating with students, their parents, school administrators, coaches, local businesses, and the general public.
-One of your first tasks is to attract sponsors who will provide funding for the event in exchange for promotional considerations. When you draft the letter trying to secure this funding, your audience will be ________.

Accepted Answer

E) You would look to local businesses to sponsor your event in exchange for promotional considerations such as publicity and branding of the tournament.

Question 10

When communicating, being specific about your intended outcome is ________.

Accepted Answer

D) Successful business communicators plan their writing and speaking to achieve a specific purpose. For example, if you email a colleague asking for "help," he or she might be unwilling to commit without knowing exactly what you want and say no or need to ask for clarification before deciding to assist you. If you specify that you'd like your colleague to run some figures for you, he or she will be able to comply or decline more quickly and easily. The easier you make it for your recipient to do what you are asking, the more likely that they will comply.

Question 11

________ is the process of influencing your audience to agree with your point of view, recommendation, or request.

Accepted Answer

B) When you want to influence people's thoughts or actions, your message needs to be persuasive.

Question 12

Which of the following statements about professionalism is NOT true?

Accepted Answer

B) Professionalism does go beyond projecting a professional image. It also involves living up to the standards of your profession, including ethical standards.

Question 13

You are organizing a charity event in which local high school students will participate in a two-day tennis tournament to raise funds for the renovation of the community tennis courts.  This will involve communicating with students, their parents, school administrators, coaches, local businesses, and the general public.
-You are drafting a letter to high school tennis coaches looking for potential players for the tournament. In this letter, citing which benefit would likely have the LEAST impact on convincing the coaches to help you recruit players?

Accepted Answer

A) A persuasive communication emphasizes the benefits you are offering to your audience. A high school tennis coach would probably be very interested in helping his school's program and players, and, to a lesser degree, in helping the sport in general. Publicity for the sponsors would likely be of least interest to a high school coach.

Question 14

Oral communication methods are required for all of the following EXCEPT ________.

Accepted Answer

D) A wiki is a collaborative website created about a particular topic. As such, it uses the written word, not the spoken word.

Question 15

According to the text, which question is relevant to the strategic aspect of being an effective business communicator?

Accepted Answer

B) All of these questions are related to being an effective communicator, but only this choice is relevant to the strategic aspect. A strategic communicator is purposeful, audience-oriented, and (in many cases) persuasive.

Question 16

An active listener does all of the following EXCEPT ________.

Accepted Answer

C) An active listener engages in the behaviours described in all the other choices. Additionally, an active listener will perceive emotional cues.

Question 17

Active listening ________.

Accepted Answer

C) Active listening is a learned skill that requires you to focus on the speaker, make sense of the information that he or she presented, and, when possible, provide feedback about the information to ensure you understand it correctly.

Question 18

You are organizing a charity event in which local high school students will participate in a two-day tennis tournament to raise funds for the renovation of the community tennis courts.  This will involve communicating with students, their parents, school administrators, coaches, local businesses, and the general public.
-You're drafting a letter to send to the parents of interested high school tennis players to obtain permission for their children to participate in the tournament. In the context of this letter, which of the following statements would be an example of the persuasive technique of responding to an anticipated objection?

Accepted Answer

D) All of the other statements look at the topic from the parents' point of view, citing the benefits their child will receive by participating in the tournament. This statement is a response to the unstated objection that the tournament might interfere with the child's schoolwork.

Question 19

Which of the following behaviours most likely indicates that the listener disagrees with the idea she is hearing?

Accepted Answer

D) Rolling one's eyes is a gesture that indicates dislike or annoyance at what is being said. Most of the other behaviours indicate boredom or a lack of interest. Jotting down notes on a pad could indicate interest in the idea, but this could be in favour or against. The notes might even be about an entirely different subject, which would again demonstrate a lack of interest in the idea.

Question 20

According to the text, which consideration is relevant to the adaptable characteristic of effective business communicators?

Accepted Answer

C) The adaptable characteristic of effective communicators involves being current with technology, being able to work with other cultures, and being collaborative.

Quiz 1: Becoming a Successful Business Communicator