Question 1

Which of the following options should NOT be included in an information report?
A)An introductory paragraph summarizing the problems or successes of the project
B)A discussion of alternate solutions to the problem, and the likelihood of their success
C)A chronological account of how the problem was discovered, what was done, and what the results were
D)A concluding paragraph with suggestions for later action

Accepted Answer

An information report should present factual information and not discuss alternate solutions or speculate on their likelihood of success. Its purpose is to inform the reader about a specific topic, not to provide opinions or recommendations. Therefore, option B should not be included in an information report.

Question 2

Billie is writing a proposal for a class project that focuses on maximizing click-through rates for online campus advertisements.Within her proposal, she notes that she needs additional information from the IT department in order to thoroughly investigate her problem.In which of the following proposal sections should she place this information?
A)The problem section
B)The feasibility section
C)The topics to investigate section
D)The qualifications/facilities/resources section

Accepted Answer

The qualifications/facilities/resources section is where the writer lists any additional resources or information needed to conduct the project. In this case, Billie needs information from the IT department, which falls under the resources category. Therefore, she should place this information in the qualifications/facilities/resources section.

Question 3

You're trying to decide whether to read a report that has been handed to you by a colleague, without its executive summary.You're principally interested in whether the report discusses the issues you think it should; you're willing to wait to find out about the specific content later.Which of the following kinds of executive summaries should you request from your colleague?
A)Just an executive summary
B)An informative executive summary
C)A descriptive executive summary
D)A mixed executive summary

Accepted Answer

A descriptive executive summary provides an overview of the main points and topics covered in the report without going into specific details, which is ideal for determining if the report discusses the issues of interest.

Question 4

Which of the following explanations BEST describes how you should use pronouns in reports?
A)As long as you have established your credibility, you should use "I" frequently to reinforce that credibility
B)You should frequently speak to "you," the reader, since this demonstrates you-attitude
C)You should avoid both "I" and "you," since the first lacks you-attitude, and since you don't actually know who your readers are, and thus cannot speak to "you"
D)You should use "we" and "you," since the first includes your reader in the solution to your problem, and the second is personal and therefore persuasive

Accepted Answer

In reports, it is best to avoid using "I" and "you" since the focus should be on the information and not on the individual writing it or the reader. Instead, use more objective language to present the information.

Question 5

Which of the following options describes a situation in which the title of the report should NOT omit recommendations?
A)The reader will find the recommendations hard to accept
B)Putting all the recommendations in the title will make it too long
C)The report does not offer recommendations
D)The report needs to build reader anticipation

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following options describes a...

Question 6

Which of the following options is NOT a good reason to discuss alternatives separately in a feasibility report?
A)Alternatives are themselves indivisible, so you can't pull them apart and discuss their components separately
B)One alternative is clearly superior
C)The criteria interact, so you need to keep alternatives separate in order to examine the interaction of criteria in each one
D)The choice depends on the weight given to each criterion, so the most logical structure is to discuss the best alternative first

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following options is NOT...

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT a purpose for a letter of transmittal?
A)To record the submission of the report
B)To orient the reader to the report
C)To summarize the body of the report
D)To build a good image of the report and its writer

Accepted Answer

A letter of transmittal is not meant to summarize the body of the report, as this should be done within the report itself. The purpose of a letter of transmittal is to provide contextual information and orient the reader to the report. It also serves to record the submission of the report and build a good image of both the report and its writer.

Question 8

Which of the following is the BEST summary of progress in progress report?
A)Our progress has been very fast
B)We have not stayed on schedule, but actually exceeded it
C)We are two weeks ahead of schedule
D)We are able to work with a tighter deadline than we had thought

Accepted Answer

Option C clearly states that the team is ahead of their planned schedule, which is a positive progress update. The other options either do not provide enough information or imply that there may have been some problems with meeting the schedule.

Question 9

Which of the following is NOT true of a heading?
A)It can be composed of single words, short phrases, or complete sentences
B)It can have as little as one paragraph under it, or as much as several pages
C)It should indicate the first idea covered immediately underneath it, but not necessarily all ideas covered underneath it
D)It can be topical/functional (in this case, it focuses on the structure of the report), or talking/informative (in this case, it tells the reader what to expect)

Accepted Answer

A heading should accurately reflect all the main ideas covered in the section that follows, not just the first idea. This ensures clarity and helps readers understand the scope of the content under each heading.

Question 10

Which of the following is NOT a political purpose for progress reports?
A)Complimenting your audience
B)Enhancing your image
C)Floating trial balloons: testing audience reception of new ideas
D)Minimizing potential problems

Accepted Answer

Complimenting your audience is not a political purpose for progress reports. It may be a way to build a positive relationship with your audience, but it does not serve a political goal. The other options listed - enhancing your image, floating trial balloons, and minimizing potential problems - all have a political purpose in the context of progress reports.

Question 11

You are writing a report that recommends that your company organize a fundraising campaign to aid several hundred people in your community whose homes have been destroyed by the worst flood your city has ever seen.You anticipate that readers will be very supportive of your recommendation.Which of the following is the BEST title for your report?
A)Creating a Campaign to Fund Flood Recovery Efforts
B)ABC Corporation and the Flood
C)Supporting Flood Victims
D)Money Required to Do Our Part

Accepted Answer

The title "Creating a Campaign to Fund Flood Recovery Efforts" clearly explains the purpose of the report and indicates that the recommendation is to create a fundraising campaign. It also highlights the specific focus of the campaign, which is to aid in flood recovery efforts. The other titles do not effectively communicate the purpose and focus of the report or use vague language.

Question 12

In a report on the grade inflation on your campus, you distributed a questionnaire to 250 students and interviewed students, faculty, and the dean for undergraduate studies.Where would you include this information?
A)Scope section
B)Limitations section
C)Assumptions section
D)Methods section

Accepted Answer

The information about distributing a questionnaire and conducting interviews with students, faculty, and the dean for undergraduate studies is relevant to the methods section of the report, as it explains the procedures used to gather data for the study.

Question 13

You are writing a report on a vegetarian restaurant on the north side of town, contrasting its success with the failure of a vegetarian restaurant on the south side of town that is owned by the same person.You believe that the most crucial area to examine is the traffic flow pattern, and plan to focus on it.Where would you explain this focus?
A)Scope section
B)Limitations section
C)Assumptions section
D)Methods section

Accepted Answer

The scope section defines the boundaries of the report and explains what aspects will be covered. Within this section, it would be appropriate to explain why the traffic flow pattern is the most crucial area to examine and how it will be analyzed.

Question 14

You think that, given your audience's interests, the executive summary for your report should comment on the kind of information provided in the report, and present the main thesis and its proof.Which of the following kinds of executive summaries should you write?
A)Just an executive summary
B)An informative executive summary
C)A descriptive executive summary
D)A mixed executive summary

Accepted Answer

The answer of You think that, given your audience's interests,...

Question 15

You have decided to include a source in your report because it is widely cited, although you think it has serious logical flaws.Which of the following is the BEST identification of how you should introduce this source, and the BEST explanation of why you should introduce it this way?
A)Use phrasing that distances you from the source ("Smith contends that......"), since this focuses your reader's attention on the reasoning in the source
B)Use phrasing that distances you from the source ("Smith contends that ...."), since this signals to your readers that you're going to disagree with him
C)Use neutral phrasing ("Smith says ...."), since this emphasizes your objectivity
D)Use neutral phrasing ("Smith says ...."), since this is a stylistic convention in reports

Accepted Answer

Using phrasing that distances you from the source signals to your readers that you are going to disagree with the source. This is important because it prepares the reader to be critical of the source and to expect that you will point out the logical flaws.

Question 16

Which of the following parts of the formal report would be the BEST place to include proof for the recommendations?
A)Conclusion
B)Executive Summary
C)Body
D)Introduction

Accepted Answer

The body of the formal report is where the evidence, data, and research to support the recommendations should be presented in detail. This section provides a logical flow of information and shows the reader the justification for the proposed recommendations. The conclusion and executive summary briefly summarize the key points of the report and should not contain new evidence or data. The introduction sets the tone for the report and provides background information but should not contain the proof for the recommendations.

Question 17

Which of the following report sections tends to draw the attention of experts?
A)The executive summary
B)The body of the report
C)The conclusions and recommendations of the report
D)The appendix

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following report sections tends...

Question 18

Amberlee is writing a proposal for a class project that focuses on improving the marketing success of the on-campus restaurant.She has decided that, while she will briefly discuss online advertising, she will focus mainly on advertising in the form of flyers, brochures, and ads in hard-copy student newspapers.In which of the following report sections should she mention this decision?
A)The problem section
B)The feasibility section
C)The topics to investigate section
D)The qualifications/facilities/resources section

Accepted Answer

The topics to investigate section is where Amberlee should mention her decision to focus on advertising in the form of flyers, brochures, and ads in hard-copy student newspapers. This section is meant to outline the specific areas or topics that will be explored in the proposal, and her decision regarding advertising belongs here. The other options (problem, feasibility, and qualifications/facilities/resources sections) do not pertain to this specific decision.

Question 19

Which of the following kinds of information should be included in the conclusion of a report?
A)A summary of the main points in the body of the report
B)A review of the report's recommendations
C)A discussion of additional information that cements the worth of the report
D)A list of sources consulted by the writer

Accepted Answer

A summary of the main points in the body of the report is typically included in the conclusion of a report.

Question 20

Manoj is writing a proposal for a class project that focuses on teaching students effective study skills.He believes ineffective study skills are artificially depressing students' final grades, and thinks it is important for the college's reputation to fix this problem.In which of the following report sections should he discuss this information?
A)The problem section
B)The feasibility section
C)The topics to investigate section
D)The qualifications/facilities/resources section

Accepted Answer

The problem section is where the proposal should discuss the issue that the project aims to solve. In this case, Manoj believes that ineffective study skills are negatively impacting students' grades and the college's reputation, so it is important to address this problem.

Quiz 11: Writing Proposals and Reports

Which of the following options should NOT be included in an information report?

Which of the following explanations BEST describes how you should use pronouns in reports?

Which of the following options describes a situation in which the title of the report should NOT omit recommendations?

Which of the following options is NOT a good reason to discuss alternatives separately in a feasibility report?

Which of the following is NOT a purpose for a letter of transmittal?

Which of the following is the BEST summary of progress in progress report?

Which of the following is NOT true of a heading?

Which of the following is NOT a political purpose for progress reports?

In a report on the grade inflation on your campus, you distributed a questionnaire to 250 students and interviewed students, faculty, and the dean for undergraduate studies.Where would you include this information?

You think that, given your audience's interests, the executive summary for your report should comment on the kind of information provided in the report, and present the main thesis and its proof.Which of the following kinds of executive summaries should you write?

You have decided to include a source in your report because it is widely cited, although you think it has serious logical flaws.Which of the following is the BEST identification of how you should introduce this source, and the BEST explanation of why you should introduce it this way?

Which of the following parts of the formal report would be the BEST place to include proof for the recommendations?

Which of the following report sections tends to draw the attention of experts?

Which of the following kinds of information should be included in the conclusion of a report?