Question 1

Taylor is writing to deny an employee's request to work from home three days a week.She should write the letter using the ________.
A)direct pattern
B)geographical pattern
C)indirect pattern
D)chronological pattern

Accepted Answer

The indirect pattern is used to deliver negative or unexpected news, where the writer prepares the reader for the news gradually and offers an explanation before delivering the negative aspect. In this case, Taylor is writing to deny a request, which would require an explanation and preparation of the reader for the negative news. Therefore, the indirect pattern is the most appropriate choice. The direct pattern is more suitable for positive news or situations where the writer wants to get straight to the point without giving too much background information. The geographical and chronological patterns are not relevant to this type of communication.

Question 2

Which of the following documents would most likely use an introduction,a proposed solution,staffing,a schedule and/or costs,and authorization organization?
A)E-mail message
B)Analytical report
C)Proposal
D)Informational report

Accepted Answer

A proposal document typically includes an introduction to introduce the proposal, a proposed solution or plan, staffing information to indicate who will be involved in executing the proposal, a schedule and/or costs to indicate the timeline and budget for executing the proposal, and authorization organization to show who has the authority to approve the proposal. An e-mail message would be too short to include all of these elements, an analytical report would focus more on data analysis rather than proposing a solution, and an informational report would not have a proposed solution, staffing, schedule/costs or authorization organization.

Question 3

Which of the following is a clause?
A)On Monday
B)Will be presenting
C)When you were on vacation
D)On our Facebook page​

Accepted Answer

A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a predicate. "When you were on vacation" is a dependent clause because it has a subject ("you") and a verb ("were"), but it cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.

Question 4

Suzanne has been told that freewriting may help her overcome writer's block.What does freewriting mean?
A)Getting your thoughts down quickly and refining them later
B)Avoiding getting bogged down with the perfect words
C)Imagining that you're talking to the reader
D)All of the above

Accepted Answer

Freewriting involves quickly getting your thoughts down on paper without worrying about them being perfect, refining them later, and imagining that you are talking to the reader. Therefore, option D, "All of the above," is the best choice.

Question 5

Which of the following documents would most likely use an introduction/problem,facts/findings,conclusions,and recommendations organization?
A)E-mail message
B)Analytical report
C)Proposal
D)Procedural document

Accepted Answer

Analytical reports typically present information in a structured manner, with an introduction outlining the problem or subject matter, followed by facts and findings to support analysis and conclusions, and ending with recommendations or proposals for a course of action. E-mail messages and procedural documents may have a different structure, while the organization of proposals may vary depending on the type of proposal and audience.

Question 6

Organizing information includes two processes: ________ and ________.
A)researching;listing
B)grouping;strategizing
C)brainstorming;composing
D)drafting;revising

Accepted Answer

The two processes mentioned in the question are "grouping" and "strategizing," which are both involved in organizing information. Option A is incorrect because researching and listing are only one part of the process. Option C is incorrect because brainstorming and composing are also only part of the process. Option D is incorrect because drafting and revising pertain more to the writing process rather than organizing information. Therefore, option B is the best choice.

Question 7

When dependent clauses precede independent clauses,they always are followed by a ________.
A)period
B)semicolon
C)comma
D)colon

Accepted Answer

When a dependent clause comes before an independent clause, it is considered a subordinate clause, and it should be separated from the independent clause with a comma. This is because the dependent clause cannot stand alone as a complete sentence, and the comma helps to indicate the relationship between the two clauses.

Question 8

One effective way to overcome writer's block is to ________.
A)stare at the page until you think of something to write
B)concentrate on finding the right words and perfect sentence structure before putting your ideas on paper
C)work in a quiet environment in which you can concentrate
D)check your Facebook page to see if anything inspires you

Accepted Answer

Working in a quiet environment that allows for concentration can help eliminate distractions and allow for focus on the writing task at hand.

Question 9

Clauses that begin with words like although,since,because,when,and if are usually ________.
A)independent
B)dependent
C)direct
D)indirect

Accepted Answer

Clauses that begin with words like although, since, because, when, and if are usually dependent clauses, which means they cannot stand alone as complete sentences and rely on an independent clause to form a complete sentence.

Question 10

Which of the following is a dependent clause?
A)On the 15th of this month
B)Except for our main competitor
C)Since the company began selling stock to the public
D)Your interview went well

Accepted Answer

A dependent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and verb, but does not express a complete thought. "Since the company began selling stock to the public" is a dependent clause because it cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.

Question 11

One of the most important tasks in preparing well-organized messages is ________.
A)using a direct organizational pattern
B)providing clear recommendations
C)including ample tables and charts
D)grouping similar ideas together

Accepted Answer

Grouping similar ideas together is crucial for creating well-organized messages. This approach helps in maintaining a logical flow and coherence in the message, making it easier for the audience to follow and understand the content.

Question 12

Elizabeth wants to avoid monotony and add spark to her business messages.What should she do?
A)Include at least one compound-complex sentence per paragraph.
B)Start each paragraph with a question to generate interest.
C)Avoid short sentences (four to six words)because they sound choppy.
D)Use a variety of sentence types.

Accepted Answer

Using a variety of sentence types can help Elizabeth avoid monotony in her business messages. Varying the length, structure, and tone of her sentences can make her writing more engaging and interesting for her audience. Option A and B are not necessary strategies for adding spark to business messages, and option C is not always true, as short sentences can be effective for emphasis or clarity.

Question 13

You are preparing an outline for your report on Web security in the workplace.Which of the following should be a major category for this outline?
A)Spam
B)Web Security Threats
C)Phishing
D)Adware and Spyware

Accepted Answer

"Web Security Threats" would be the best major category as it encompasses an overarching topic that can cover various subtopics including spam, phishing, adware, and spyware. It allows for a comprehensive discussion on the different types of web security threats in the workplace.

Question 14

Which of the following is an independent clause?
A)After he signed the contract
B)Of the two choices
C)Please call with any questions you have
D)If you have any questions

Accepted Answer

An independent clause is a complete sentence that can stand on its own, expressing a complete thought. "Please call with any questions you have" is an example of an independent clause because it can stand alone as a complete sentence. The other options are dependent clauses because they do not express a complete thought on their own.

Question 15

Peter is writing an e-mail message to his staff that the new computers promised to arrive on Monday will be delayed for two weeks.He knows that many people will be frustrated because their current computers are slow and outdated.Which organizational pattern should his message follow?
A)direct pattern
B)indirect pattern
C)chronological pattern
D)geographical pattern

Accepted Answer

Since Peter knows that his staff will be frustrated with the news, he should use the indirect pattern in his message. This way, he can cushion the bad news by stating something positive first, then providing a reason for the delay, and finally concluding with an apology or possible solution. This will help to lessen the impact of the delay and maintain positive relationships with his staff.

Question 16

Josh knows that his co-workers will be pleased by the creation of a new leave-reporting system that will save them time.Which organizational pattern should he use in writing the message about the new system?
A)indirect pattern.
B)geographical pattern.
C)chronological pattern.
D)direct pattern.

Accepted Answer

The direct pattern is the best choice as it presents the main idea upfront without beating around the bush. As Josh knows that his co-workers will be pleased with the new system, he can directly state the benefits and features of the system to them. This will save their time as well as his own. Therefore, the direct pattern will be the most effective way of communication.

Question 17

An organizational pattern that presents the main idea followed by details,explanation,and evidence is the ________.
A)indirect organizational pattern
B)direct organizational pattern
C)geographical organizational pattern
D)chronological organizational pattern

Accepted Answer

The direct organizational pattern presents the main idea upfront followed by supporting details, explanations, and evidence. This helps to keep the reader focused on the main topic and helps to make the information more understandable and persuasive.

Question 18

Which of the following should be organized in a direct pattern?
A)An online manual showing visitors how to download a software program
B)A proposal submitted to the board of directors to add a wellness program to the company's benefits package
C)An e-mail message to employees telling them that health benefits will be cut
D)A letter denying a customer's claim about a defective product

Accepted Answer

The organization of an online manual should be direct and straightforward, as users will want to quickly find the information they need. A direct pattern would work best in this case.

Question 19

Michelle is preparing an outline to help her write a report to her supervisor about her recent attendance at a technology symposium.Which of the following should she do?
A)Divide the main topic into at least ten major components.
B)Break each major component into at least two subpoints.
C)Ask her supervisor what the title of the report should be.
D)Don't worry if some of the components overlap in content.

Accepted Answer

Breaking each major component into at least two subpoints will help Michelle organize her thoughts and ensure she covers all necessary information in her report. Dividing the main topic into too many components (A) could make the outline too detailed and difficult to follow. Asking her supervisor for the title (C) may be helpful, but it is not necessary for creating an outline. Overlapping content (D) may lead to confusion and should be avoided.

Question 20

Chuck is part of a team identifying ideas to cut expenses.The team has decided to hold a brainstorming session.Which of the following strategies would likely produce the best results?
A)Discourage wild thinking;all ideas generated should be rational and feasible.
B)Critique and evaluate each idea as it is presented during the brainstorming session.
C)Set an established time limit.
D)To encourage the maximum number of ideas,avoid defining the problem at the beginning of a brainstorming session.

Accepted Answer

Setting an established time limit helps keep the brainstorming session focused and efficient, ensuring that the team remains on task and productive throughout the process.

Quiz 5: Organizing and Writing Business Messages

Taylor is writing to deny an employee's request to work from home three days a week.She should write the letter using the ________.

Which of the following documents would most likely use an introduction,a proposed solution,staffing,a schedule and/or costs,and authorization organization?

Which of the following is a clause?

Suzanne has been told that freewriting may help her overcome writer's block.What does freewriting mean?

Which of the following documents would most likely use an introduction/problem,facts/findings,conclusions,and recommendations organization?

Organizing information includes two processes: and .

When dependent clauses precede independent clauses,they always are followed by a ________.

One effective way to overcome writer's block is to ________.

Clauses that begin with words like although,since,because,when,and if are usually ________.

Which of the following is a dependent clause?

One of the most important tasks in preparing well-organized messages is ________.

Elizabeth wants to avoid monotony and add spark to her business messages.What should she do?

You are preparing an outline for your report on Web security in the workplace.Which of the following should be a major category for this outline?

Which of the following is an independent clause?

Peter is writing an e-mail message to his staff that the new computers promised to arrive on Monday will be delayed for two weeks.He knows that many people will be frustrated because their current computers are slow and outdated.Which organizational pattern should his message follow?

Josh knows that his co-workers will be pleased by the creation of a new leave-reporting system that will save them time.Which organizational pattern should he use in writing the message about the new system?

An organizational pattern that presents the main idea followed by details,explanation,and evidence is the ________.

Which of the following should be organized in a direct pattern?

Michelle is preparing an outline to help her write a report to her supervisor about her recent attendance at a technology symposium.Which of the following should she do?

Chuck is part of a team identifying ideas to cut expenses.The team has decided to hold a brainstorming session.Which of the following strategies would likely produce the best results?