Question 1

When adapting your message to your audience,which of the following can be seen as trivializing an important issue?
A)Being overly informal
B)Using an indirect approach
C)Being overly formal
D)Using a direct approach
E)The use of slang and jargon

Accepted Answer

A)If you know your readers reasonably well and your report is likely to meet with their approval, you can generally adopt an informal tone. To make your tone less formal, speak to readers in the first person, refer to them as you, and refer to yourself as I (or we if there are multiple report authors).

Question 2

Which of the following is least likely to strengthen a proposal?
A)Research the competition
B)Relate the product or service to the reader's unique needs
C)Demonstrate that the proposal is appropriate and feasible for the audience
D)Identify key components of the Request for Proposal (RFP)
E)Body

Accepted Answer

D)Strategies to strengthen your argument include demonstrating your knowledge, providing concrete information and examples, researching the competition so you know what other proposals your audience is likely to read, demonstrating that your proposal is appropriate and feasible for your audience, and relating your product, service, or personnel to the reader's unique needs.

Question 3

Which of the following is accomplished in the introduction?
A)The presentation of information gathered during your investigation
B)A summary of key points
C)Benefits to the reader
D)It brings all the action items together in one place.
E)It helps the reader understand the context of the report by tying it to a problem or assignment.

Accepted Answer

E)At a minimum, an effective introduction accomplishes these four tasks: It helps the reader understand the context of the report by tying it to a problem or an assignment. It introduces the subject matter and indicates why it is important. It previews the main idea (if you're using the direct approach). It establishes the tone and the writer's relationship with the audience.

Question 4

Which of the following would you find in the introduction section of a report,but not in the introduction section of a proposal?
A)Background or statement of the problem
B)Solution
C)Scope
D)Purpose
E)Report organization

Accepted Answer

D)The introduction section of a proposal includes the background or statement of the problem, solution, scope, and report organization. A report contains those elements plus authorization, purpose, definitions if needed, and limitations.

Question 5

Which of the following would be the most appropriate approach when planning a proposal?
A)The direct approach
B)The cause and effect approach
C)The indirect approach
D)The formal/objective approach
E)The persuasive approach

Accepted Answer

E)The general purpose of any proposal is to persuade readers to do something, so your writing approach should be similar to that used for persuasive messages, perhaps including the use of the AIDA model to gain attention, build interest, create desire, and motivate action.

Question 6

Which section of a report explains why the subject matter is important?
A)The introduction
B)The body
C)The conclusions and recommendations
D)The close
E)The work plan

Accepted Answer

A)At a minimum, an effective introduction accomplishes these four tasks: It introduces the subject matter and indicates why it is important. It previews the main idea (if you're using the direct approach). It establishes the tone and the writer's relationship with the audience. It helps the reader understand the context of the report by tying it to a problem or an assignment.

Question 7

Focusing on the content of your longer business documents helps ensure complete,correct information.

Accepted Answer

Focusing on the content of your longer business documents is not only natural but necessary, because doing so helps ensure complete, correct information. However, once you have the technical content in place, you need to stand back and view the document from the perspective of your audience-the people you expect to read and act on the information.

Question 8

Which of the following allow(s)readers to follow the structure of the document and determine key points of your message?
A)Review sections
B)Preview sections
C)Transitions
D)Headings and subheadings
E)The introduction

Accepted Answer

D)Help today's time-pressed readers find what they're looking for and stay on track as they navigate through your documents. First, write clear headings and subheadings that let readers follow the structure of your document and help them pick up the key points of your message.

Question 9

Which of the following will make your writing more formal?
A)Using pronouns
B)Using objective writing
C)Using humor
D)Colorful adjectives
E)Including personal opinions

Accepted Answer

B)To make your tone more formal, use the impersonal journalism style: Emphasize objectivity, avoid personal opinions, and build your argument on provable facts. Eliminate all personal pronouns (including I, you, we, us, and our). Avoid humor, and be careful with your use of similes, metaphors, and particularly colorful adjectives or adverbs. However, you don't need to make the writing monotonous.

Question 10

What can be used to show how one thought is related to another?
A)Review sections
B)Preview sections
C)Transitions
D)Headings and subheadings
E)The introduction

Accepted Answer

C)To help today's time-pressed readers find what they're looking for and stay on track as they navigate through your documents, use plenty of transitions to tie together ideas and show how one thought is related to another.

Question 11

When communicating with other cultures,humor and casual language is usually most effective.

Accepted Answer

Take into account that communicating with people in other cultures often calls for more formality in reports, both to respect cultural preferences and to reduce the risk of miscommunication. Informal elements such as humor and casual language tend to translate poorly from one culture to another.

Question 12

Which of the following presents relevant information and support for your recommendations or conclusion?
A)Introduction
B)Report organization
C)Close
D)Body
E)Sources and methods

Accepted Answer

D)The body of the report presents relevant information and supports your recommendations or conclusions. The body of a proposal gives complete details on the proposed solution and describes anticipated results.

Question 13

Where in a business report would the writer spell out exactly what should happen next and provide a schedule with specific task assignments?
A)In the restatement of qualifications
B)In the motivating action section of the close
C)In the conclusions and recommendation sections of the body
D)In the review of arguments in the close
E)In the work plan section of the body

Accepted Answer

B)When closing a business report, the close can be organized in one of three ways: using a direct approach, an indirect approach, or motivating action approach. When using the motivating action approach, spell out exactly what should happen next and provide a schedule with specific task assignments.

Question 14

Which of the following established the tone and the writer's relationship with the audience?
A)The introduction
B)The body
C)The conclusions and recommendations
D)The close
E)The work plan

Accepted Answer

A)At a minimum, an effective introduction accomplishes these four tasks: It establishes the tone and the writer's relationship with the audience. It introduces the subject matter and indicates why it is important. It previews the main idea (if you're using the direct approach). It establishes the tone and the writer's relationship with the audience. It helps the reader understand the context of the report by tying it to a problem or an assignment.

Question 15

The most important factor in planning a proposal is what?
A)The tone
B)The approach
C)Whether the proposal was solicited
D)The organization
E)The content

Accepted Answer

C)All of the guidelines for writing reports apply to proposals as well, but these persuasive messages also have some unique considerations. The most important factor is whether the proposal is solicited or unsolicited, because this can affect your organization, content, and tone.

Question 16

Which of the following is a function of the closing section of a business report?
A)It helps the reader understand the context of the report.
B)It ties the report to a problem or assignment.
C)It summarizes your key points.
D)It ensures the needs of the reader have been met.
E)It ensures each section is accurate, complete and logical.

Accepted Answer

C)The close has three important functions: it summarizes your key points, it emphasizes the benefits to the reader and it brings all the action items together in one place.

Question 17

Which of the following would include a plan to describe how you will accomplish the work to be done?
A)Introduction to a report
B)Introduction to a proposal
C)Body of a report
D)Body of a proposal
E)Methods and approaches

Accepted Answer

D)The body of a proposal includes facts and evidence to support the conclusions, a proposed approach to the work and a work plan that describes how you'll accomplish what must be done (unless you're providing a standard, off-the-shelf item). Explain the steps you'll take, their timing, the methods or resources you'll use, and the person(s)responsible. State when work will begin, how it will be divided into stages, when you'll finish, along with a statement of qualifications and costs.

Question 18

Which of the following presents,and interprets the information gathered during the investigation and supports the recommendations or conclusions?
A)The introduction
B)The body
C)The tone
D)The close
E)The work plan

Accepted Answer

B)The body presents, analyzes, and interprets the information gathered during your investigation and supports your recommendations or conclusions. The length and content of the body can vary widely based on the subject matter.

Question 19

When drafting a proposal,which of the following will identify the problem you intend to solve or the opportunity you want to pursue?
A)Background or statement of the problem
B)Scope
C)Introduction
D)Problem/purpose
E)Body

Accepted Answer

C)The introduction of a proposal identifies the problem you intend to solve. The introduction of the report establishes the context.

Question 20

Which of the following is designed to help readers get ready for new information?
A)Review sections
B)Preview sections
C)Transitions
D)Headings and subheadings
E)The introduction

Accepted Answer

B)Include preview sections to help readers get ready for new information and review sections after a body of material to summarize key points.

Quiz 11: Writing and Completing Reports and Proposals

When adapting your message to your audience,which of the following can be seen as trivializing an important issue?

Which of the following is least likely to strengthen a proposal?

Which of the following is accomplished in the introduction?

Which of the following would you find in the introduction section of a report,but not in the introduction section of a proposal?

Which of the following would be the most appropriate approach when planning a proposal?

Which section of a report explains why the subject matter is important?

Focusing on the content of your longer business documents helps ensure complete,correct information.

Which of the following allow(s) readers to follow the structure of the document and determine key points of your message?

Which of the following will make your writing more formal?

What can be used to show how one thought is related to another?

When communicating with other cultures,humor and casual language is usually most effective.

Which of the following presents relevant information and support for your recommendations or conclusion?

Where in a business report would the writer spell out exactly what should happen next and provide a schedule with specific task assignments?

Which of the following established the tone and the writer's relationship with the audience?

The most important factor in planning a proposal is what?

Which of the following is a function of the closing section of a business report?

Which of the following would include a plan to describe how you will accomplish the work to be done?

Which of the following presents,and interprets the information gathered during the investigation and supports the recommendations or conclusions?

When drafting a proposal,which of the following will identify the problem you intend to solve or the opportunity you want to pursue?

Which of the following is designed to help readers get ready for new information?