Business Communications Chapter 3

"Many voters used absentee ballots to vote, others chose to vote in person on election day" is an example of a: A. fused sentence B. run-on sentence C. comma splice D. complete sentence

comma splice

To emphasize a main idea through style, you should underline, italicize, or bold the main idea. True or False

False

You should strive to make your paragraphs coherent in all business writing. Paragraph coherence occurs when: A. Ideas are linked; that is, ideas in a paragraph hold together. B. each sentence includes dependent and independent clauses. C. the main idea is revealed immediately. D. all sentences are written in the active voice.

Ideas are linked; that is, ideas in a paragraph hold together.

The process of collecting information is called: A. Research B. Frontloading C. Data analysis D. Organization

Research

Which of the following sentences avoids dangling or misplaced modifiers? A. To apply for financial aid, send in your application by January 1. B. Skilled at graphic design, the contract went to Design Plus. C. The Park Hotel is just one of the Art Deco buildings you can see strolling about South Beach. D. To meet the deadline, your Excel figures must be received by May 1.

To apply for financial aid, send in your application by January 1.

Business writers should strive to keep sentences to fewer than 20 words. True or False

True

Consequently and therefore are examples of transitional expressions that may be used to demonstrate cause and effect. True or False

True

The following sentence is in the active voice: "The company rewarded its top performers by giving them a day off with pay." True or False

True

Using a hierarchy such as an outline can help you to organize your ideas and information. True or False

True

Which of the following is a compound sentence? A. Register by October 20 so that you can vote in the next election. B. If you want to vote in the next election, you must register by October 20. C. We know you'll want to vote in the next election; therefore, please register by October 20. D. Although the deadline is October 20, there is still time to register; however, you must show valid identification.

We know you'll want to vote in the next election; therefore, please register by October 20.

Effective paragraphs: A. include supporting sentences that expand and explain the main idea. B. usually present the main idea in the first sentence. C. all answer choices are correct D. are coherent

all answer choices are correct

Melissa is preparing a market analysis for her business plan and knows she will have to conduct formal research to gather the information she needs. To conduct formal research, she should: A. look in her company files B. brainstorm for ideas C. conduct interviews and surveys or organize a focus group D. talk with her boss

conduct interviews and surveys or organize a focus group

Business Manager Megan Caldwell expects her employees to be displeased or even hostile when she announces a new work schedule that will become effective next month. An effective organizational strategy for Megan is to: A. explain all background information first B. put any bad news first C. get to the main idea quickly by frontloading D. begin with the main idea

explain all background information first

As a business writer, you want to create readable messages. Which of the following is an effective technique to use? A. Avoid emphasizing important ideas so that readers may judge for themselves B. Proceed free from one idea to the next for maximum creative effect C. Use no specific pattern that might restrict the flow of your ideas D. group similar items together and emphasize important ideas

group similar items together and emphasize important ideas

What are the three main activities used in the second phase of the writing process?

researching, organizing, and composing

Business writers prefer the active voice for most business writing because in active-voice sentences: A. the subject is the doer of the action B. bad news is de-emphasized C. the subject is the recipient of an action D. the doer of an action is concealed

the subject is the doer of the action