Deck 5: Organizing and Writing Business Messages

Question 1

An organizational pattern that presents the main idea followed by details, explanation, and evidence represents the

A) indirect organizational pattern.
B) direct organizational pattern.
C) geographical organizational pattern.
D) chronological organizational pattern.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

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

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Which of the following should be organized in an indirect pattern?

A) An e-mail message to customers about a free shipping offer
B) An e-mail message to employees telling them that overtime will be eliminated
C) A letter offering a position to a job applicant
D) A letter to members of a professional organization telling them about an upcoming event

Answer 3

B

Question 4

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

A) using a direct organizational pattern.
B) creating a well-formatted title page.
C) including ample tables and charts.
D) grouping similar ideas together.

Question 5

Pamela is preparing an outline to help her write a report about her department's quarterly activities.She wants the outline to show major and minor ideas.What type of outline should she use?

A) Decimal outline
B) Alphanumeric outline
C) Scratch list
D) Web-based outline

Question 6

Which of the following is not an advantage of the direct pattern?

A) Reduces frustration
B) Saves the reader's time
C) Facilitates a fair hearing
D) Sets a proper frame of mind

Question 7

An organizational pattern that presents the main idea after the details, explanation, and evidence represents the

A) indirect organizational pattern.
B) direct organizational pattern.
C) geographical organizational pattern.
D) chronological organizational pattern.

Question 8

If an audience will be unwilling, uninterested, displeased, disappointed, or hostile, the most effective organizational pattern is the

A) indirect pattern.
B) geographical pattern.
C) chronological pattern.
D) direct pattern.

Question 9

Which of the following is done during Phase 2 of the writing process?

A) Adapting
B) Revising
C) Analyzing
D) Organizing

Question 10

Stephen wants to prepare an outline for a proposal he is writing.Which of the following is the best advice?

A) The ideal number of components or categories in an outline is eight to ten.
B) Divide every major category into at least five subcategories.
C) Define the main topic or purpose of the message in the outline title.
D) Prepare the outline manually rather than on a computer so that you can easily make revisions.

Question 11

Leon has been asked to learn how many pedestrians walk by a specific location that his company is considering for a new coffee shop.Probably the most useful way to research this information would be by

A) manually searching resources in his public library.
B) searching the Internet.
C) investigating primary sources.
D) conducting a scientific experiment with controlled variables.

Question 12

Terry is working on a business proposal for a prospective client.What is the primary question Terry should ask as he gathers information for his project?

A) How much money does the client have?
B) What does the client need to know about this topic?
C) Does the client have a good reputation in the community?
D) How can I make myself look good in the eyes of my client?

Question 13

Stephanie is working on a report and has reached Phase 2 of the 3-x-3 writing process.What should she do first in this second phase?

A) Write the rough draft of her report.
B) Decide how to organize the report.
C) Analyze her purpose and audience.
D) Gather any necessary information.

Question 14

Which of the following is an informal research method?

A) Searching the Internet
B) Looking in the company files for information
C) Conducting a scientific experiment to gather information under controlled circumstances
D) Searching for information in public and college libraries

Question 15

Chloe is part of a team identifying ideas to cut expenses.The team has decided to hold a brainstorming session.What is the best thing the team can do during this session?

A) Remember that the goal of a brainstorming session is quality, not quantity.
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.

Question 16

What type of outline shows how every item at every level relates to the whole?

A) Decimal outline
B) Alphanumeric outline
C) Scratch list
D) Web-based outline

Question 17

Which of the following scenarios would most likely require a scientific experiment?

A) A research firm wants to find out how many parents plan to send their children to private schools.
B) A company wants to measure reactions to the price of a new flavored water product to learn
How much consumers would be willing to pay.
C) A student wants to find out how a business leader got his start in the industry.
D) A development team has to decide which of four possible locations would be best for a new fast-food restaurant.

Question 18

Rebecca is writing a memo to her staff about an upcoming training session, and she is sure they'll be pleased with the news.Rebecca should use the

A) direct pattern.
B) indirect pattern.
C) chronological pattern.
D) geographical pattern.

Question 19

Which of the following statements about formal and informal research is least accurate?

A) Long reports and complex business problems generally require some use of formal research.
B) When you work on a business report, avoid using the Web for research because much of what is available on the Web isn't credible.
C) Most routine writing tasks require data that you can collect informally.
D) Some routine writing tasks will require no research at all.

Question 20

Which of the following is an example of using a formal research method?

A) Hank talks with his boss to decide what items to include on the meeting agenda.
B) Amy conducts a Web search to find information about a competitor's products.
C) Galen looks in the company files for copies of minutes from previous meetings.
D) Emily calls a few of her colleagues to learn how they feel about carpooling.

Question 21

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

A) direct pattern.
B) geographical pattern.
C) indirect pattern.
D) chronological pattern.

Question 22

Monica wants to make sure that her sentences are easily understood.How long should she make them?

A) An average of 20 words
B) At least 30 words
C) No more than 8 words
D) An average of 28 words

Question 23

Which of the following is a phrase?

A) On page three of the owner's manual
B) She applied for the scholarship
C) If you are available
D) Because you surpassed your sales goals

Question 24

Which of the following statements about phrases and clauses is false?

A) Phrases have subjects and verbs, but clauses do not.
B) Clauses and phrases are the key building blocks of sentences.
C) Clauses and phrases are related groups of words.
D) Clauses may be either independent or dependent.

Question 25

Which of the following is a clause?

A) On Friday
B) Will be arriving
C) On our Web site
D) When you were hired

Question 26

Which of the following is an independent clause?

A) As he signed the contract
B) Of the two choices
C) Please call with any questions you have
D) None of these choices

Question 27

Olga has just been hired as an executive assistant and will be doing a lot of writing on the job.What is the best advice you can give her about composing documents?

A) Set aside a given time for writing during which you will have no visitors, phone calls, or interruptions.
B) Create an outline only for long, complex documents.
C) To save time, begin working immediately on the final draft.
D) Avoid freewriting because it results in sloppy documents.

Question 28

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) A memo to employees telling them that health benefits will be cut
D) A letter denying a customer's claim about a defective product

Question 29

Sensitive messages that deliver bad news should usually be organized

A) in an indirect pattern.
B) by geographical area.
C) in a direct pattern.
D) in a pivoting pattern.

Question 30

Which of the following is a dependent clause?

A) On the 30th of this month
B) Except for our main competitor
C) Since the company began selling stock to the public
D) Your interview went well

Question 31

Clauses that begin with words like if, when, because, and as are usually

A) independent.
B) dependent.
C) direct.
D) indirect.

Question 32

Which of the following sentences contains a comma splice?

A) Brandon will write the document, but Alicia will proofread it.
B) Brandon will write the document, Alicia will proofread it.
C) Brandon will write the document; however, Alicia will proofread it.
D) None of these choices

Question 33

Which of the following is a run-on sentence?

A) Many companies use Facebook to connect with customers; some even use Twitter.
B) Many companies use Facebook to connect with customers, and some even use Twitter.
C) Many companies use Facebook to connect with customers some even use Twitter.
D) None of these choices

Question 34

Using a computer can help you create better written messages, oral presentations, and Web pages by helping you fight writer's block, develop an outline and organize ideas, make revisions, and

A) collect information manually.
B) determine the purpose of your message.
C) improve correctness and precision.
D) profile the audience for your message.

Question 35

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) take a creativity-enhancing vitamin supplement.

Question 36

Complete sentences

A) have subjects.
B) have verbs.
C) make sense.
D) All of these choices.

Question 37

Which of the following is a sentence fragment?

A) Because we expect sales to increase next quarter.
B) We expect sales to increase next quarter.
C) Because we expect sales to increase next quarter, we are hiring additional employees now.
D) None of these choices

Question 38

Andrew must deny a customer's application for credit.What organizational pattern should he use?

A) An indirect pattern
B) A geographical pattern
C) A direct pattern
D) A pivoting pattern

Question 39

If an audience will be pleased, mildly interested, or neutral, the most effective organizational pattern is the

A) indirect pattern.
B) geographical pattern.
C) chronological pattern.
D) direct pattern.

Question 40

Which of the following is not an advantage of the indirect pattern?

A) Reduces frustration
B) Respects the feelings of the audience
C) Facilitates a fair hearing
D) Minimizes a negative reaction

Question 41

To apply for a job, a résumé must be submitted contains

A) a misplaced modifier.
B) the active voice.
C) a dangling modifier.
D) a limiting clause.

Question 42

Which of the following statements about paragraphs is most accurate?

A) A paragraph is a group of sentences about one idea.
B) The primary idea always appears first in a paragraph.
C) Well-constructed paragraphs can discuss more than one topic.
D) All of these statements are accurate.

Question 43

The Web has made manual searching in libraries obsolete and unnecessary.

Question 44

Many communication experts regard poor organization as the greatest failing of business writers.

Question 45

Lydia is writing a document that will compare and contrast different health plans.She will most likely use the ____ paragraph plan.

A) indirect
B) pivoting
C) transitional
D) direct

Question 46

The first step of Phase 2 of the 3-x-3 writing process is to conduct research to collect all the needed information.

Question 47

Scientific experiments involve the use of controlled variables.

Question 48

Select the passive-voice sentence.

A) Michael Lewis wrote a book about the financial crisis.
B) The market closed over 14,000 points for the first time in July 2007.
C) Although he has no experience, Andrew applied for the position.
D) The Web site was redesigned by a team of professionals.

Question 49

The focus of a brainstorming session should be on the quality of ideas, not the quantity.

Question 50

Which sentence best emphasizes the attorney?

A) The closing arguments were delivered by the attorney.
B) Because the attorney is ready, she will give her closing arguments today.
C) Before the trial resumed, the attorney practiced for her closing arguments.
D) The attorney delivered the closing arguments.

Question 51

Select the active-voice sentence.

A) The sales meeting has been scheduled for Friday.
B) Many companies now offer wellness programs.
C) The contract must be signed by all parties.
D) The applicant was contacted by the hiring manager.

Question 52

You can build paragraph coherence by incorporating which of the following techniques?

A) Using pronouns
B) Using transitional expressions such as therefore, however, and then
C) Dovetailing sentences
D) All of these choices

Question 53

Looking in the company files is an example of an informal research method.

Question 54

Doing Web research is an example of an informal research method.

Question 55

Franco wants to emphasize the new features of a product he is selling.What should he do?

A) Use vivid words to describe the features.
B) Put the most important information in the middle of his sentences.
C) Use the passive voice to describe the features.
D) Put the most important information in a dependent clause.

Question 56

The best brainstorming sessions have time limits.

Question 57

Most business messages use the ____ paragraph plan because it clarifies the subject immediately.

A) dovetailing
B) pivoting
C) indirect
D) direct

Question 58

Research can be formal or informal, depending on the nature of the message.

Question 59

When should the passive voice be used?

A) For most business writing
B) To de-emphasize bad news
C) To emphasize the doer of the action
D) Never

Question 60

A well-organized message helps the reader understand relationships and accept the writer's view.

Question 61

The development team will meet Friday, August 7, at 10a.m.uses the direct pattern to inform team members of an upcoming meeting.

Question 62

Dependent clauses have subjects and verbs; independent clauses do not.

Question 63

Most experts recommend trying to produce error-free first drafts of your documents.

Question 64

What you need to do, therefore, is consult a specialist is a run-on sentence.

Question 65

The primary difference between the direct pattern and the indirect pattern is where the main idea is placed.

Question 66

The first ATM opened near London in 1967 is an example of an independent clause.

Question 67

The alphanumeric and the decimal outlining formats help business writers to focus on the topic, identify major ideas, and support those ideas with details, illustrations, or evidence.

Question 68

Molly is writing an e-mail message to ask about hotel availability and rates.She should use the direct pattern.

Question 69

Each major category in an outline should be divided into at least four subcategories.

Question 70

If you have any questions is an example of an independent clause.

Question 71

As you move from a major point to a subpoint in an outline, you are progressing from large, abstract concepts to small, concrete ideas.

Question 72

As long as a group of words has a subject and a verb, it is considered complete sentence.

Question 73

Trey is writing a memo to refuse an employee's vacation request.He should use the indirect pattern.

Question 74

Organizing one's ideas ahead of time is a good way to prevent writer's block.

Question 75

In our largest conference room is an example of a phrase.

Question 76

Caitlin is writing a sales letter to encourage customers to add features to their wireless data plans.She should use the direct approach.

Question 77

The direct organizational pattern should be used when writing to an audience that will be unwilling, uninterested, displeased, disappointed, or hostile.

Question 78

In the indirect pattern, the main idea comes first, followed by details, explanation, or evidence.In the direct pattern the main idea follows the details, explanation, and evidence.

Question 79

June is our busiest month, February is our slowest contains a comma splice.

Question 80

With a solid plan and careful planning is a sentence fragment.