Chapter 5: Writing Business Messages

Identify the voice in the following sentence: "Based on negative client feedback, the marketing department abandoned the campaign." A) Active B) Passive C) Vocative D) State of being

A) Active

Which of the following is a compound sentence? A) Interest rates are low, and now is an excellent time to buy a home. B) Because interest rates are low, now is an excellent time to buy a home. C) Low interest rates make this an excellent time to buy a home. D) With interest rates low, now is an excellent time to buy a home.

A) Interest rates are low, and now is an excellent time to buy a home.

A typical paragraph contains the three basic elements of A) a topic sentence, support sentences, and transitional words and phrases. B) simple, compound, and complex sentences followed by compound-complex sentences. C) the main idea, supporting ideas, and evidence. D) a problem, discussion, and a solution.

A) a topic sentence, support sentences, and transitional words and phrases.

Most ________ express a concept, quality, or characteristic. Most ________ represent something you can see, touch, or visualize. A) abstract words, concrete words B) interpretive words, explanatory words C) incisive words, generalized words D) selective words, common words

A) abstract words, concrete words

When you are criticizing or correcting, it is best to A) focus on what the audience members can do to improve. B) emphasize the audience's mistakes so that they will not make the same ones again. C) be honest and call attention to the audience's failures or shortcomings. D) single out the guilty audience members as an example for everyone else to learn from.

A) focus on what the audience members can do to improve.

The acronyms and shortcuts used in texting and IM are A) incompatible with professional business writing. B) your ticket to the inside track in today's multinational corporations. C) a great way to show coworkers and managers that you're tech-savvy. D) commonly used to communicate with top management

A) incompatible with professional business writing.

In business messages, using terms such as "if," "hope," and "trust" is A) usually a bad idea since it takes away from the writer's credibility. B) a good way to show your modesty. C) common courtesy. D) acceptable for very formal contexts.

A) usually a bad idea since it takes away from the writer's credibility.

Using the passive voice makes sense when A) you want to be diplomatic in pointing out a problem or error. B) you want your sentence to be easier to understand. C) you need to make your sentences shorter. D) you want to emphasize the subject.

A) you want to be diplomatic in pointing out a problem or error.

Select the sentence with the most positive emphasis: A) We failed to complete the process audit on time. B) We hope to complete the process audit by Friday. C) We haven't completed the process audit. D) Because of Joan's inaccurate figures on the Haymen project, we are not finished

B) We hope to complete the process audit by Friday.

Which of the following sentences contains the strongest and most effective wording? A) Given the parameters of the situation, the most propitious choice would be to make adjustments in certain budget areas. B) We need to cut the operating budget by 12 percent or profits will decrease. C) Someone's going to need to do some budget cutting around here or heads will roll. D) Perusal of budgetary figures reveals that a 12 percent reduction in operations is called for if we are to stave off a negative impact on profits.

B) We need to cut the operating budget by 12 percent or profits will decrease.

Two common examples of ________ are the mission statements of companies and the biographies of executives. A) key frames B) boilerplate text C) pulled quotations D) automatic writing

B) boilerplate text

Some terms and phrases called ________ have become so common that they have lost some of their power to communicate, and ________ are newly coined terms often associated with technology, business, or cultural changes. A) euphemisms, idioms B) clichés, buzzwords C) colloquialisms, clichés D) pull quotes, derivations

B) clichés, buzzwords

"Insurance premiums have increased, and cost-of-living raises have not kept up" is a A) simple sentence. B) compound sentence. C) complex sentence. D) compound-complex sentence.

B) compound sentence.

When choosing words to convey a message, successful writers pay attention to A) convenience and mannerisms. B) correctness and effectiveness. C) metaphors and euphemisms. D) connotation and vocalization.

B) correctness and effectiveness.

The ________ of a word is its literal or dictionary meaning. A) figurative meaning B) denotative meaning C) connotative meaning D) contextual meaning

B) denotative meaning

Plain language is a style of writing A) used only for casual correspondence. B) designed to make complex materials more understandable to the audience. C) aimed primarily at readers for whom English is a second language. D) inappropriate for business communication.

B) designed to make complex materials more understandable to the audience.

In business writing, the topic sentence of a paragraph is A) usually implied and is rarely included in the paragraph. B) generally explicit and is often the first sentence in the paragraph. C) often vague and is usually placed in the middle of the paragraph. D) most often understated and normally is the last sentence in the paragraph.

B) generally explicit and is often the first sentence in the paragraph.

A piece of text copied from the main body of the document and formatted as a large, eye catching visual element is known as a A) boilerplate. B) pull quote. C) template. D) style sheet

B) pull quote.

Using humor in business messages is A) an effective way to build strong relationships with international clients you are not familiar with. B) usually not effective, and is always inappropriate for formal and intercultural messages. C) appropriate for external messages, but never for internal. D) none of the above.

B) usually not effective, and is always inappropriate for formal and intercultural messages.

Which type of software feature inserts a ready-made block of text when you type the first few characters? A) Machine translation B) Mail merge C) Autocompletion D) Autocorrection

C) Autocompletion

The preferred title for women in business is ________, unless the individual says otherwise. A) Mrs. B) Miss C) Ms. D) Madam

C) Ms.

What's the problem with phrases such as "attached please find" and "we are in receipt of"? A) They are rude. B) They are too intimate. C) They are stale and pompous. D) They involve preaching and bragging.

C) They are stale and pompous.

In ________ paragraph, a writer analyzes the reasons for and/or the consequences of an action, an event, or a decision. A) an illustration B) a comparison and contrast C) a cause and effect D) a problem and solution

C) a cause and effect

The connotative meaning of a word is A) its dictionary meaning. B) its literal meaning. C) all the associations and feelings the word evokes. D) its objective meaning.

C) all the associations and feelings the word evokes.

Use ________ to avoid categorizing or stigmatizing people based on their gender, race, ethnicity, age, level of ability, or other personal characteristics. A) abstract language B) descriptive language C) bias-free language D) denotative language

C) bias-free language

"Although our servers are stable, the telephone system is a serious concern" is a A) simple sentence. B) compound sentence. C) complex sentence. D) compound-complex sentence

C) complex sentence.

Most business communication should aim for a ________ tone. A) formal B) colloquial C) conversational D) confrontational

C) conversational

Using the term crippled in business communication is an example of A) the "you" attitude. B) emphasizing the positive. C) disability bias. D) none of the above.

C) disability bias.

In part because of limited opportunities for feedback, written and most forms of electronic communication require ________ than oral communication. A) less care B) fewer nouns C) more tact D) more informality

C) more tact

To downplay a dependent clause in a complex sentence, you should A) place it at the beginning of the sentence. B) place it at the end of the sentence. C) place it in the middle of the sentence. D) set it off with a semicolon.

C) place it in the middle of the sentence.

To establish credibility with your audience, you should A) impress them with a long list of your accomplishments. B) be modest and deferential. C) show that you are confident and that you believe in yourself and in your message. D) use hedge words ("maybe," "perhaps") to demonstrate your knowledge that no issue is fully cut and dried.

C) show that you are confident and that you believe in yourself and in your message.

When you want to develop a paragraph by showing how a general idea is broken into specific categories, which of these methods would you use? A) Illustration B) Comparison and contrast C) Cause and effect D) Classification

D) Classification

Select the sentence with the best "you" attitude: A) Because your report was poorly written, we cannot accept it. B) Your report failed to meet company requirements. C) When we receive a report that is professional, we can act on your recommendations. D) Once your application is complete, you should receive a response within two weeks.

D) Once your application is complete, you should receive a response within two weeks.

Which of the following words are the most abstract? A) Two, contract, performance comm B) Software, code, signal C) Kick, move, walk D) Productivity, excellence, motivation

D) Productivity, excellence, motivation

Which of the following statements that would appear in a business message best reflects the "you" attitude? A) You failed to enclose a check for $25. B) We need a check from you for $25 so that we can send the merchandise by May 15. C) We will send you the merchandise as soon as we receive your check for $25. D) You will have your merchandise by July 15 if you send us your check for $25 today.

D) You will have your merchandise by July 15 if you send us your check for $25 today.

A euphemism is a word or phrase that is A) possibly offensive. B) general or abstract in meaning. C) highly technical. D) a milder term for one with negative connotations.

D) a milder term for one with negative connotations.

If your workplace writing contains grammar errors and word choice mistakes, your readers will A) suppose that you're uninformed. B) question your professionalism. C) think that you don't respect them. D) all of the above.

D) all of the above

Words such as "nevertheless," "however," "but," and "therefore" A) are called pointer words. B) introduce modifiers. C) occur only in complex sentences. D) are useful for making transitions.

D) are useful for making transitions.

Skillful writers use transitional elements to A) automate text entry and correction. B) track footnotes and endnotes. C) ensure consistent formatting throughout a document. D) connect ideas and show the relationships between them

D) connect ideas and show the relationships between them

You can emphasize key points by A) using extra words to describe them. B) making important ideas the subject of the sentence. C) placing them at the beginning or end of a sentence. D) doing all of the above.

D) doing all of the above.

It is best to limit your use of the word "you" in business messages if A) you know your audience well. B) your organization prefers an informal, personal style. C) you are filling your audience's informational needs. D) it will make your message sound overly authoritative or accusing

D) it will make your message sound overly authoritative or accusing

As you create and refine your messages, evaluate your writing at all of the following levels except A) strong words. B) effective sentences. C) coherent paragraphs. D) multimedia enhancements.

D) multimedia enhancements.

A complex sentence consists of A) two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction. B) a single subject and a single predicate plus any modifying phrases. C) two or more independent clauses along with all modifying phrases. D) one main thought and one or more subordinate thoughts.

D) one main thought and one or more subordinate thoughts.

To ensure a consistent look for all company documents, many organizations provide employees with approved A) autocompletion software. B) spreadsheets. C) macros. D) style sheets.

D) style sheets.

The best way to convey the "you" attitude is to express your message in terms of A) the needs and interests of your organization. B) your own personal needs and interests. C) a universal set of needs and interests. D) the needs and interests of your audience.

D) the needs and interests of your audience.