BUS-X205 Ch 5
Select all that apply In the following paragraph, which sentences should be reworded because they fail to provide a specific subject? There are many people who want to purchase our merchandise. There are several reasons for this, including having a large budget for advertising. Advertising is very effective in bringing in shoppers looking for bargains. Consequently, it is our plan to increase sales volume by 10% this year.
- There are many people who want to purchase our merchandise. - There are several reasons for this, including having a large budget for advertising. - Consequently, it is our plan to increase sales volume by 10% this year.
Select all that apply In terms of tone, which two of the following do readers respond to most positively?
-Concern for others -The projection of positivity
Which of the following statements are true?
-Double-spaced documents are seldom used in business communications. -Documents look best when text is balanced with white space. -The amount of white space helps readers form their first impression of a document.
Select all that apply Which of the following sentences contain redundant words or phrases?
-Each year we sponsor an annual family retreat that includes friends and family members. -We will be happy to aid and assist you with your project. -We base our evaluations on a company's past history.
Select all that apply Which of the following statements about the goals and stages of writing effective business messages are true?
-Effective business writing is divided into three stages. -The stages of business writing often overlap each other. -The three stages of effective business writing are planning, writing, and reviewing.
Select all that apply Which of the following sentences should be rephrased to eliminate buzzwords?
-If all team members get on the same page, we believe we can do more with less. -We hire change agents who are agile and believe in synergistic solutions. -We expect our team to think outside the box and find a win-win solution.
Select all that apply Which sentences contain wordy prepositional phrases?
-In the future, we will address these issues with due diligence in hopes of arriving at a solution. -On occasion we have lunch at our place of business. -In order to increase the number of successful sales, take out advertisements in a newspaper.
Select all that apply Why is accuracy an essential element of business communication?
-Inaccuracy causes readers to lose trust in the writer. -People will make important decisions based on the communication.
Select all that apply The framing of the primary business message is important for which of the following reasons?
-It gives focus to an important argument. -It emphasizes the message's premises. -It highlights support for the message's key ideas.
Select all that apply Which of the following sentences should be rephrased to use parallel language?
-Many entrepreneurs are adventurous and create jobs for others. -A real estate agent will help you search for property, understand the procedures, and paperwork. -Our success will depend on anticipating market demand, tailoring our product to customer needs, and a cost-effective advertising strategy.
Select all that apply Which of the following are recommended steps in proofreading?
-Read each sentence more than once. -Read sentences from the viewpoint of the audience. -Correct problems with the writing style, spelling, and grammar.
Select all that apply Which of the following statements about the framework of a deductive business message are accurate?
-The concluding paragraph has a call to action. -It should be possible to scan the message to readily understand its main ideas. -There are supporting paragraphs for each key point.
Select all that apply Using an outline or diagram to form the logic of a business message typically leads to which two results?
-Thinking about the issues becomes tighter. -Issues can be written about more effectively.
Select all that apply Which of the following are good principles for determining the amount of information to include in a business communication?
-Too much information is distracting and makes the message harder to comprehend. -The reader might not know how to respond to a message that has too little information.
Select all that apply What are some of the benefits of using the active voice?
-Usually the sentence will be shorter. -The reader can understand it more quickly. -It emphasizes action, which is a key element in business.
Select all that apply For the purpose of business communication, which of the following sentences should be rewritten to replace overblown or stuffy words?
-We offer commodious lodgings and ambrosial cuisine. -To facilitate the learning experience, our educators maintain a compendium of each student's accomplishments.
Select all that apply Which of the following sentences contain empty phrases?
-With all due respect, your sales projections are incorrect. -Needless to say, we made no profit last year. -With that said, let me summarize our recent accomplishments.
Select all that apply The use of specific facts in your business communication will typically help convince the reader about which of the following?
-You know what you are talking about. -You care about the reader.
Select all that apply In business communication, long paragraphs are generally associated with
-a writer who expects to claim too much of the reader's time. -writing that will be confusing to read. -a writer who is disorganized.
Select all that apply Which of the following qualities are likely to be attached to a business message that continually uses the I-voice?
-aggressive -egotistical
Select all that apply Which of the following are basic components of the review process in business communication?
-applying the FAIR test to the document -proofreading -seeking feedback
Select all that apply When sentences begin with "it is" or "there are," they usually
-are longer than necessary. -do not specify the subject of the sentence.
Which of the following are part of planning the basic message structure?
-arranging the logic of the primary message -finding and framing the primary message
Select all that apply Bold type, italics, and underlining are used in page design to
-attract the reader's attention. -hold the reader's attention.
Select all that apply Writing effective messages in business helps
-boost productivity. -drive collaboration.
When you proofread a document, you
-check for accuracy. -evaluate whether the document is likely to influence readers.
Select all that apply To form a business message with confident claims and predictions, you should do which of the following? (Choose all that apply.)
-choose your language carefully -be careful in your reasoning
Select all that apply When framing the primary message, authors of a business message should complete which of the following? (Choose all that apply.)
-compose a brief, vivid message statement -define the primary message
Select all that apply In business communication it is best to use words that are
-conversational. -short and familiar.
Select all that apply Which of the following are aspects of the analysis step of business idea development?
-discovering related facts -adopting a position -drawing conclusions
Select all that apply Which of the following are ways an inexperienced newcomer can improve a professional reputation?
-dress in a manner that reflects the company's corporate culture -ask to take on projects with greater responsibilities -be in attendance at numerous meetings
Select all that apply Paragraphs that discuss only one idea or topic tend to be
-easy to understand. -shorter.
Select all that apply The professional reputation of entry-level business people can be improved relatively quickly through which of the following?
-offering something of value to the work environment -being conscious of strengths and weaknesses
Select all that apply In business messages, a can-do attitude has which of the following qualities?
-optimism -enthusiasm -confidence
Select all that apply Which of the following words should be avoided in business communication in favor of more familiar expressions?
-opulent -bestow -loquacious
Select all that apply Which of the following are likely effects of slanting the facts in business messages?
-reader doubt about message logic -potential loss of author credibility
Select all that apply When a document is complex or full of information, headings help readers do which of the following?
-recognize what is in each section -find their way through the document and locate areas of interest -identify key concepts
Select all that apply When reviewing a business communication, it is best to seek feedback from
-respected colleagues. -people who have demonstrated good judgment.
Select all that apply Which of the following actions will contribute to receiving a timely, desired response to a business message?
-respecting the time of others -recognizing others' individualism
Select all that apply Using exaggeration in a business message can affect the credibility of which of the following?
-the message itself -the author
Select all that apply Which two of the following kinds of lists would benefit most from being formatted with bullets or numbering?
-the seven steps a person can take to overcome shyness at work -the various forms required to apply for a business loan
Select all that apply Reviewing a business communication before sending it is important because the review helps
-the writer improve the message. -prevent costly mistakes. -eliminate embarrassing errors.
Select all that apply Templates are used to create a business message for which of the following reasons?
-to define its structure -to organize its appearance
Select all that apply When deciding how much white space to leave on a page, it is important to consider that
-too little white space makes the text look cluttered. -too much white space makes the text look sparse.
Select all that apply When highlighting words or phrases, it is best to
-use one type of formatting at a time. -use this formatting sparingly.
Select all that apply Which of the following are parts of the process of crafting effective business messages?
-writing -planning -reviewing
Click and drag on elements in order Order from first to last, with the first step at the top, the following steps as they typically occur in developing sound business ideas.
1. identification of questions and problem2. research to gather information3. making conclusions or finding solutions The
For an effective frame, the primary business message should be approximately ______ words in length.
10 to 15
For routine business communications, how many words per sentence should writers aim for
15 words
In general, for complex or analytical business communications, the average written sentence length should be ______ or fewer words.
20
How many words should be in the typical paragraph of a business communication?
40 to 80
Which sentence demonstrates the most effective use of action verbs?
At our learning center, teachers nurture each child and monitor individual progress.
Which of the following would best serve as a heading?
Choosing a Good Store Location
Crystal believes that outsourcing the bookkeeping needs of her firm would save money. She researches various companies and runs the numbers for various scenarios to gather evidence of the potential savings that would result from using outside bookkeepers. Which of the following best defines Crystal's message structure?
Crystal is identifying causes and effects.
True or false: If sentences in a business statement are composed in a nonassertive tone, they will always be read as nonassertive by readers.
False
True or false: The use of templates is required for creating business messages.
False
What is the most important reason business communication should be complete?
It allows people to effectively act on the message right away.
What is the key to ensuring that a message will include the right amount of information?
Keep asking yourself what information will be necessary to achieve the purpose of the message.
Which sentence is written in active voice?
Mary hired three new employees the week after she approved the new budget.
AIM is a process for ______ the writing of useful business messages.
Planning
Which of the following statements about workplace priorities is not true?
Priorities are more constant than values.
True or false: A business message may contain content that, despite sound logic and well-argued points, will displease some of its audience.
True
True or false: Business messages can be strengthened to counteract issues concerning low credibility.
True
What question should the writer ask when deciding whether to reword a sentence that begins with "it is"?
What does "it" refer to?
For which of these situations would the use of the passive voice be preferable?
When presenting a problem situation to your manager and avoiding placing the blame on anyone.
When focusing on complex business problems, ______ is generally an essential part of the idea-development process.
Writing down ideas
A sentence written in active voice specifies the doer of the action. This is important because
accountability and coordination are vital in business.
Workplace terms that are used too often are called
buzzwords.
Business messages usually conclude with a
call to action
The best thing to do with wordy prepositional phrases is usually to
change them into single-word verbs.
Statements that are deduced based on fact are _____________
conclusion
Most business messages are crafted using a(n) ______ approach.
deductive
Framing the primary message involves presenting the message
from an overall theme
Select all that apply During the planning stage of business-message formation, anticipating a reader's reaction is tied to
how the message will affect workplace relationships. the ways a reader will think and feel.
Writers sometimes finalize their work without reviewing it because
human nature prompts people to finish a project and move on to the next one.
In a business message, slanting the facts means to
include only favorable information.
When writing a business message, a key component of credibility comes from demonstrating
interest in others.
Your goal in framing a business message is to
make it compelling while using rational and emotional appeal.
Business writing should be concise in order to
make the message easier to comprehend.
The underlying, overall message that people get from a business communication is called the ____________message of the communication.
meta
Entry-level business professionals have low credibility primarily because they are
newcomers
In business communication, how many ideas or topics should a paragraph usually address?
one
Business-message readers generally have a better reaction to an author who is seen as
open to a variety of options and ideas.
Strong analogies are important to the writing of business messages because they
reinforce arguments.
Redundant words and phrases
repeat the meaning of previously used words and phrases.
A sentence that begins with "there are" can often be improved by
rewording the sentence to avoid using this phrase.
In effective business messages, any analogies should be rooted in
similarities
As a rule of thumb, what is the minimum time needed to change a professional reputation?
six months
When readers receive a business message that consists of long paragraphs, they typically will
skim the text instead of reading each word.
When writing a business message with an indirect approach, which of the following are presented first?
supporting reasons
Readers will usually interpret a business message containing the repeated use of the we-voice as
team-focused.
For many business messages, the most important step in the planning stage of business communication writing is identifying
the benefits to be gained by the reader
Parallel language is important when
the writing contains a series or list.
Select all that apply During the review process the writer should apply the FAIR test to ensure that the message it conforms to standards for
-facts. -access. -respect. -impacts.
Select all that apply In response to a business communication that is vague, people tend to
-feel impatient. -feel that their questions have not been answered. -start skimming to find the information they want.
Select all that apply Which two of the following can often be changed into action verbs in an effort to make your writing more dynamic?
-forms of the verb to be -nouns
During the reviewing stage of composing a business communication, feedback is usually not needed for which of the following types of business communication?
an everyday message
Writers should avoid buzzwords because they
- can cause negative feelings - are trite.
Which of the following are generally considered to be overused workplace terms?
- do more with less - think outside the box - at the end of the day
Select all that apply The frame of a primary business message should be which of the following?
-memorable -short
Select all that apply To keep writing precise, business writers should avoid using
-metaphors. -idioms.
Select all that apply When applying the FAIR test to a document, the writer should make sure that
-the message is considerate of people's value and feelings. -the message includes accurate facts that have not been slanted. -the message demonstrates respect for the inherent worth of others.
What is the effect of action verbs on a business communication?
They give a confident, positive tone.
When a writer chooses big words that are not common, the reader will most likely
be distracted from the message.
In general, business communications should
be specific in order to answer the reader's questions.
Select all that apply Which of the following are aspects of setting up the logic of a business message? (Choose all that apply.)
defining a call to action identifying supporting points arranging message logic
Headings and subheadings within a document should
describe the contents of each section.
when designing a document
do not format it in a way that will distract from the main message.
Short sentences are best for business communication because
they are easier to understand.
When composing a document, expert business writers spend most of their time
thinking about how the message will affect readers.
An indirect approach is often used for which of the following types of business messages?
to give negative news
What is the main purpose of navigational design?
to make the message easy to navigate.
The important principle in business writing is
to say what needs to be said in as few words as possible.
Select all that apply Certain figures of speech, such as idioms and metaphors, are generally not used in business writing because
- they have been overused. - their meaning is not precise.
Select all that apply Which of the following statements about the advantages of action verbs in business writing are true?
-Action verbs make the writing seem more lively. -Action verbs spur the reader to action. -Action verbs reduce the length of sentences.
Reviewing a business communication before sending it is important because the review helps
-eliminate embarrassing errors. -prevent costly mistakes. -the writer improve the message.
Select all that apply Readers have a difficult time navigating through paragraphs that are
-full of numerals. -wordy. -one long block of text.
The purpose of the FAIR test is to ensure that
business communication is conducted ethically.
When designing a document,
business communication is conducted ethically.
Understanding the constraints of the audience of a business message means that the message should be crafted to
provide value to the audience
To demonstrate a can-do attitude in a business message, the writer should use
realistic assertions.
When the tone of a business message is ______, there is an implied interest in the opinions and needs of the audience.
welcoming
To make business writing easier to read and comprehend, you should
write the way the reader thinks and talks.
select all that apply Which of the following statements about the advantages of action verbs in business writing are true?
-Action verbs make the writing seem more lively. -Action verbs spur the reader to action. -Action verbs reduce the length of sentences.
Select all that apply Which of the following are accurate descriptions of the meta message of a business communication?
-It is conveyed as a combination of content and tone. -It is the overall message conveyed by the communication.
Select all that apply Which of the following are characteristics of effective and compelling business message frames?
-They are memorable. -They use rational and emotional appeal.
Select all that apply Which of the following are characteristics held by outstanding business thinkers?
-They can solve complex problems. -They have the ability to state important questions.
Select all that apply Which of the following are characteristics of effective and compelling business message frames?
-They use rational and emotional appeal. -They are memorable.
Select all that apply Which of the following are means that business professionals employ to draw out superior ideas?
-They write out notes. -They draw diagrams. -They brainstorm with team members.
Select all that apply To be complete, a business communication should
-be accurate. -be specific. -provide all relevant information.
Select all that apply To be complete, a business communication should
-be accurate. -provide all relevant information. -be specific.
Headings in navigational design should
-be concise. -accurately describe what is in each section.
Select all that apply Headings in navigational design should
-be concise. -accurately describe what is in each section.
Select all that apply Passive voice is sometimes the best choice when the writer wants to
-be perceived as neutral. -avoid sounding bossy. -avoid blaming anyone.-
Select all that apply Which of the following are identified to help create solid business ideas?
-gathering relevant information and facts -determining the business issues and objectives -making sense out of often complex and confusing pieces of information
Select all that apply Setting up the logic of the message consists of
-identifying the call to action. -identifying supporting points in the message.
Select all that apply Feedback is helpful because readers who provide feedback can
-imagine how the intended reader will respond to the text. -offer suggestions for improving the text.
Select all that apply A sentence written in active voice does which of the following?
-includes a strong verb -often includes a direct object -identifies the doer (the subject noun)
Select all that apply The AIM process includes which of the following steps?
-information gathering -message development -audience analysis
When writing an effective business message, being flexible can involve which of the following?
-listening to the ideas of others -being open to alternative ways to address an issue
Select all that apply Empty phrases in business communication
-make sentences unnecessarily long. -fill space without adding meaning.
Select all that apply Bullets and numbering
-makes items easier to remember. -help readers notice each item on a list.
Select all that apply Which of the following are common sources of inaccurate information in business communication?
-misinformation -miscalculations -errors in typing
Usually the length of a paragraph in business communication should be
-no more than 150 words. -at least 20 words. -40 to 80 words on average.
Select all that apply A study concerning reader comprehension found that
-sentences longer than 20 words were harder for people to understand. -the sentences that people understood most easily had no more than 10 words.
Select all that apply The frame of a primary business message should be which of the following?
-short -memorable
Select all that apply Navigational design can be improved using
-simplicity. -white space. -headings.
Select all that apply Which of the following are helpful ways of organizing the logic of a business message?
-sketching out the logic -diagramming the logic
Which of the following are typical perceptions that readers have of a business message that includes exaggeration?
-that the message is overly grandiose -that the message is unbelievable -that the message lacks realism
Select all that apply In a deductive business argument, the essence of the message can be gleaned from which three of the following?
-the last paragraph -the first sentences of supporting paragraphs -the first paragraph
Readers interpret the tone of a business message primarily as a reflection of the writer's attitude toward which two of the following?
-the message content -the readers of the message
Business writers should avoid using buzzwords because
-they can be annoying to readers. -they can indicate that the writer is out of touch. -they are so overused that they have lost their meaning.
Select all that apply When your writing style is similar to the way your readers think and talk,
-they will process the information more easily. -they will understand the message despite the many distractions in a work environment.
Select all that apply Compared to average business writers, expert business writers spend more time doing which three of the following?
-thinking about the effect of the message. -reviewing the text. -planning the document.
In writing business messages, the planning stage focuses on ensuring excellent
content
The most important consideration for written business communication is
conveying a message that is easy to read.
An audience's assessment of a business communication message is largely based on the author's
credibility
A brochure that is vague will give the impression that the writer lacks
credibility.
In business communications, which of the following generally enhances the writer's beneficial influence over others?
optimism
AIM is a process for ______ the writing of useful business messages.
planning
For someone in business, what does it mean to make a recommendation?
to take a position
When business thinkers are mentally flexible, they possess the ability to
understand contrasting views.
In the context of business messages, workplace ______ are the core beliefs about suitable ways of handling issues and problems.
values
