Deck 4: Using an Appropriate Style

Question 1

"The majority of our customers are satisfied with our products." This sentence uses abstract words.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

"The project uses state-of-the-art technologies." This sentence uses a cliche.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

To communicate clearly, you must use words that your readers are familiar with.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

This example illustrates faulty parallelism.
Jake is good at creating and delivering presentations.

Question 5

Because the center parts of a message receive major attention, this part carries more emphasis than the other parts.

Question 6

The we-viewpoint is more effective in building goodwill than the you-viewpoint.

Question 7

The word "complement" refers to words of praise.

Question 8

Redundancies usually increase the effectiveness of business messages.

Question 9

"The students of the seventh grade scored well in their math test." This is an example of a discriminatory sentence.

Question 10

The use of rubber stamps in business messages signals that you have quit thinking about the reader's actual situation.

Question 11

The following sentence has one independent clause and one dependent clause:
Since the question was tough, I had trouble answering it.

Question 12

"We take pride in our work." This sentence uses a slang word.

Question 13

Overuse of the verb "to be" and passive voice can sap the energy from your sentences.

Question 14

You must be honest about your feelings and blame the reader when resolving a problem concerning him or her.

Question 15

The following sentence contains surplus words:
He was angry at everyone he came in contact with.

Question 16

The following sentence has a dangling/misplaced modifier:
Believing home prices would fall, people were asked not to invest in real estate.

Question 17

It is mandatory for every paragraph in a business report to have a topic sentence.

Question 18

Since positive words are the most effective for achieving desired effects, negative words should not be used in business messages.

Question 19

A see-saw sentence is one that goes back and forth between two points.

Question 20

The use of specialized language can signal to other specialists that you are qualified to communicate on their level.

Question 21

Which of the following sentences does NOT use a word appropriately?

A) The company's decision to pass him over for a promotion deeply affected him.
B) Please advise me on this matter.
C) This issue needs farther deliberation.
D) The management's decision had a far-reaching effect.
E) The company has fewer customers this year than it did the previous year.

Question 22

Which of the following sentences is an example of a discriminatory sentence?

A) Firefighters were immediately called after noticing a fire in the office lobby.
B) A repair technician was called to fix a broken machine.
C) The lawyers asked their clients to accept the deal.
D) The Hispanic manager at Arcadia Stores is always neatly dressed.
E) The secretary stops people from barging into the chairperson's chamber.

Question 23

Which of the following sentences is the best example of the use of specific words?

A) She is better fit for the new role.
B) She works for a great organization.
C) Please call me back soon.
D) Our products are better than that of our competitors'.
E) Could you please let me know by Friday?

Question 24

Which of the following is true about cliches?

A) All business people like business cliches.
B) The heavy use of cliches in formal cross-cultural communication is advised because it helps in breaking cultural barriers.
C) Business cliches can sometimes increase your credibility with other business people.
D) Cliches do not run the risk of sounding dated.
E) Cliches catch on because they represent unpopular concepts.

Question 25

Which of the following sentences is the best example of the use of abstract words?

A) He drives a 1950 Buick.
B) She has a good attendance record.
C) Her budget will be approved, provided she reduces her planned operating expenses by $2000.
D) She will be back in office by Thursday evening.
E) Every day he travels 50 miles to get to work.

Question 26

Which of the following sentences uses a correct idiom?

A) He was reprimanded for speaking out of turn.
B) Many employees did not turn out for the corporate outing.
C) He was asked to comply to the office norms.
D) He was careful with his reputation as a dependable employee.
E) He finally made of as a web developer.

Question 27

Which of the following sentences correctly uses the word "farther"?

A) The product needs farther testing.
B) I can't argue any farther.
C) How much farther do you intend to take this matter?
D) How much farther is the conference room from here?
E) I wish the committee had discussed this farther.

Question 28

Which of the following will most likely enhance the readability of your message?

A) Using complex sentence structures
B) Using see-saw sentences
C) Using cluttering phrases
D) Using mixed constructions
E) Using short sentences

Question 29

Which of the following sentences uses technical words?

A) The new business plan wasn't considered feasible.
B) We will deliver the goods by Friday.
C) We regret to inform you that the conference room is not available.
D) It is advisable to invest in an annuity.
E) Several employees attended the meeting.

Question 30

Which of the following sentences is in active voice?

A) These cars are manufactured in Japan.
B) The houses have been built.
C) She is reading the memorandum now.
D) A lot of property was destroyed by the earthquake.
E) German is spoken in Austria.

Question 31

Which of the following sentences does NOT have a camouflaged verb?

A) The broker was forced to make an appearance at the court.
B) The chairperson postponed the dinner until next week.
C) Dale gave her assistance to Dave during the procedure.
D) The committee decided to have a discussion regarding pay rise for the employees.
E) She was asked to make a commitment on behalf of the company.

Question 32

Cliches should be used sparingly because they _____.

A) signal to other specialists that you are qualified to communicate on their level
B) create problems in cross-cultural communication
C) represent unpopular concepts
D) are short in length
E) are familiar to most people

Question 33

For writing to be clear and effective, you should _____.

A) avoid using familiar words
B) avoid using active verbs
C) avoid using stiff words
D) use complex words to exhibit your knowledge to your readers
E) use passive voice instead of active voice

Question 34

Which of the following sentences is the best example of the use of familiar words?

A) We are buying new computers this week.
B) We have a platonic relationship.
C) Karen was livid with anger because Rob was late for the meeting.
D) Please try to expedite the process.
E) He wore an immaculate suit to office.

Question 35

Which of the following sentences uses a camouflaged verb?

A) Katie updated the company website.
B) She was assisted by Karen during the presentation.
C) The attorney recorded the conversations with his client.
D) The bank was forced to make an acquisition.
E) The company was forced to liquidate its assets.

Question 36

Which of the following is an example of a nondiscriminatory sentence?

A) For an American, Mike is pretty good at delivering presentations.
B) An employee must place the needs of his customers before his own.
C) Though Earl is confined to a wheelchair, he works efficiently.
D) Natalie belongs to the Millennial Generation, so it's only natural that she spends most of her time online.
E) Jeremy is developmentally disabled and is allowed to work from home.

Question 37

Which of the following sentences does NOT use slang or a cliche?

A) The company spent a fortune developing this cutting-edge technology.
B) This hotel has world-class amenities.
C) Are you for real?
D) Going forward, please ensure you direct all customer queries to me.
E) They decided to schedule the meeting at an earlier date.

Question 38

Which of the following sentences is the best example of the use of concrete words?

A) Sally scored poorly in her last exams.
B) Sally fared poorly in her last exams.
C) Sally's last exams did not go very well.
D) Sally did not fare well in her last exams.
E) Sally got 20 points out of 100 in her last exams.

Question 39

Which of the following sentences is gender-neutral?

A) A teacher is responsible for his students' behavior in class.
B) He was elected as the chairman of the committee.
C) All the freshmen assembled outside the dean's office.
D) You can call a policeman when in need.
E) Please ask the coordinator for directions.

Question 40

Which of the following sentences uses an incorrect idiom?

A) He knew the names of all his employees from heart.
B) It's hard to believe that we lost our jobs.
C) She built this company from scratch.
D) The salesperson made the deal more enticing by offering a huge discount.
E) When I bought my car, the dealer offered free auto maintenance for a year.

Question 41

Which of the following sentences avoids the use of cluttering phrases?

A) This account was created for the purpose of contacting the client.
B) We are talking about something in the neighborhood of $40 million for donations.
C) With reference to the article written yesterday, there was a huge outcry demanding its retraction.
D) They agreed to abide by the rules in accordance with the treaty.
E) Please fill out the forms and provide all relevant documents to speed up the application process.

Question 42

Which of the following is an example of a sentence in which one idea is subordinated to the other?

A) The company saw a huge increase in quarterly profits, and it invested large amounts of money in research and development.
B) The company saw a huge increase in quarterly profits, yet it did not invest in research and development.
C) The company did not invest in research and development.
D) The company, which saw a huge increase in quarterly profits, invested large amounts of money in research and development.
E) The company is yet to generate sufficient profits to invest in research and development.

Question 43

Given below is a list of rules to be followed while designing a logo. Which of the following items is NOT parallel with the other items?

A) Create a balanced design
B) Avoid commonly used fonts
C) Take risks
D) Keeping it simple
E) Spend time on preliminary work

Question 44

In which of the following examples illustrates coordination of ideas?

A) Mark, who is a morning person, always comes to office at 7 a.m. sharp.
B) Mark, who always comes to office at 7 a.m. sharp, is a morning person.
C) Mark is a morning person, and he always comes to work at 7 a.m. sharp.
D) Mark, who does not prefer working late, always comes to work at 7 a.m. sharp.
E) Marl, who prefers getting back home early, always comes to work at 7 a.m. sharp.

Question 45

Which of the following sentences uses a cluttering phrase?

A) Can you arrange these boxes in the loft?
B) The reason Victor skipped the meeting was because he had to go to the bank.
C) I will reschedule the meeting to an earlier date.
D) Could you call a computer technician to fix this machine?
E) Thank you for approving my leave request.

Question 46

Choose the transitional word that best fits the following sentence. Alice's grades have to be high; _____ she will not get the scholarship.

A) otherwise
B) however
C) moreover
D) therefore
E) likewise

Question 47

Choose the transitional word that best fits the following sentence. The people at the reunion had not seen each other for ten years. _____, they did not recognize each other immediately.

A) Otherwise
B) However
C) Moreover
D) Therefore
E) Likewise

Question 48

In which of the following cases will a less formal style of communication be most appropriate?

A) When communicating with someone at a higher level than you
B) When communicating with someone whom you know
C) When writing a ceremonial message, such as a commendation or inspirational announcement
D) When writing an official reprimand
E) When writing letters, long reports, or external proposals

Question 49

The various techniques that are needed to tie the information together in a paragraph are known as _____ devices.

A) roundabout
B) transitional
C) stringy
D) see-saw
E) surplus

Question 50

Which of the following is true about paragraph design?

A) Paragraphs should usually be longer than ten sentences.
B) The topic sentence expresses the main idea of a paragraph.
C) One-line paragraphs fail to emphasize major points in business messages.
D) The most common paragraph arrangement begins with the supporting material followed by the topic sentence.
E) The opening and closing paragraphs each need at least three sentences.

Question 51

Which of the following sentences uses a redundant word?

A) It is a true fact that the company is running a loss.
B) We can finish the report now.
C) Please sign this check.
D) We'll meet again tomorrow at noon.
E) This report is longer than the previous one.

Question 52

Which of the following is true about managing emphasis in a sentence?

A) Short sentences carry lesser emphasis than long, involved ones.
B) Beginnings and endings of business messages are particularly good places for using long sentences to emphasize your content.
C) A long closing should be used in business messages to ensure that the reader is left with an important final thought.
D) If a sentence contains two ideas that are equally important, the ideas should be joined with "and" to give them equal emphasis.
E) If a sentence contains two ideas that are equally important, one idea should be subordinated to the other.

Question 53

Which of the following sentences avoids the use of excess words?

A) The customer returned the phone back to the seller.
B) We should plan in advance for the future.
C) At the present time, we are conducting two surveys.
D) I am interested in learning more about this procedure.
E) This chapter discusses the basic fundamentals of clear writing.

Question 54

Which of the following statements has the least level of formality when compared to the other statements?

A) We have prepared a detailed analysis for the board.
B) Please confirm your attendance by replying to this message.
C) I'll double-check with Susan on the matter and keep you posted.
D) Please ensure that your payment reaches out office by 8 p.m. today.
E) Thank you; we will get back to you within three working days.

Question 55

Which of the following sentences has a dangling/misplaced modifier?

A) I was asked to report to work just after two weeks of returning home from the hospital.
B) Noticing Mark was on leave, Cody was asked not to assign the new task to him.
C) I was intimated about the unavailability of the auditorium a little too late.
D) He has the reputation of being a master of multitasking.
E) He has little patience for people who in his opinion are "slowpokes."

Question 56

Which of the following sentences is an example of an incomplete construction?

A) As far as time management, he is a master of multitasking.
B) The majority of the jury voted against the defendant.
C) A number of students were absent for the test.
D) The committee is meeting today to decide on a salary increase for the employees.
E) Neither of them likes to cook.

Question 57

Which of the following advices will help you use paragraphing to your best advantage?

A) Ensure the different bits of information are related to each other in terms of logic.
B) Keep paragraphs long-to make them appear sophisticated and business-like.
C) Avoid using topic sentences.
D) Include even the tiniest detail; even if it's unnecessary.
E) Ensure every paragraph introduces one new topic or idea.

Question 58

Which of the following sentences is an example of a mixed construction?

A) Gary and Joan were both asked to attend "sensitivity" training.
B) Alex was down with fever, so he asked his manager if he could be excused from work.
C) Laura is busy preparing for tomorrow's big presentation.
D) The manager graded the employment test, and the candidates were given the test scores.
E) She was asked to reduce the planned operating expenses in order for her budget to be approved.

Question 59

Lack of unity in sentences is usually caused by _____.

A) unrelated ideas
B) the use of active verbs
C) the use of active voice
D) the elimination of two-word verbs
E) the elimination of cluttering phrases

Question 60

Which of the following is true about topic sentences?

A) The most common paragraph arrangement is to begin with the topic sentence.
B) The most common paragraph arrangement is to end with the topic sentence.
C) The most common paragraph arrangement has the topic sentence in the middle of the paragraph.
D) The use of topic sentence is a must in every paragraph.
E) The topic sentence builds around and supports the main sentence.

Question 61

You can help give your documents a courteous effect by _____.

A) refraining from using conversational language
B) using the we-viewpoint instead of the you-viewpoint
C) refraining from blaming the reader
D) preaching to the reader
E) refraining from personalizing the message for the reader

Question 62

Rewrite the following sentences without slang and business cliches:
1) We will not be able to attend to you at this point in time.
2) I'm certainly not going to throw you under the bus.

Question 63

The you-viewpoint is also called the _____.

A) you-arrogance
B) you-attitude
C) you-experience
D) you-stamp
E) you-practice

Question 64

Consider the following statement: "We cannot exchange this item as you have not supplied us with the original purchase invoice." How can this statement be changed to avoid blaming the reader? List some strategies that help you avoid blaming the reader.

Question 65

The excessive use of positive emphasis can be unethical because it _____.

A) focuses on the self-centered view of the reader
B) focuses on the self-centered view of the writer
C) can cause the reader to overlook an important negative message
D) de-emphasizes the writer's importance
E) leads to different interpretations

Question 66

Which of the following is the most useful way of emphasizing the positive and de-emphasizing the negative in your message?

A) Putting more positive points in the beginning
B) Putting more positive points in the middle
C) Putting more negative points in the beginning
D) Putting more negative points in the ending
E) Randomly distributing positive and negative points

Question 67

Less important information can best be de-emphasized in a business message by including it _____.

A) in a short sentence
B) as a modifying phrase
C) in a simple sentence
D) as a main clause
E) at the start of an opening statement

Question 68

Correct the following sentences:
1) The company needs to improve its' website.
2) After we choose the winner, we celebrated.

Question 69

John is given the task of writing a review for a product and is required to include the positive and negative features of the product. In order to emphasize the pros and de-emphasize the cons of the product, he should _____.

A) include positive points at the beginning and middle and include negative points at the ending
B) start off with neutral statements and end with negative points
C) start and end paragraphs with positive points and place the negative points in the middle
D) start with the negative points and end with the positive points
E) dedicate separate paragraphs to the positive points and the negative points

Question 70

Which of the following statements best illustrates the conversational style?

A) With respect to your query dated 13^th November, please find the required details listed below.
B) Enclosed please find the product details about which you inquired.
C) This is in reply to your letter of December 8, requesting a replacement of our product.
D) This is to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 7^th July.
E) We received your package on Tuesday.

Question 71

What are the three major techniques of emphasizing the positive and de-emphasizing the negative in business messages?

Question 72

List at least five techniques that enhance courtesy in business messages.

Question 73

Which of the following statements best illustrates the you-viewpoint?

A) I see that your credit is weak, so we can sell to you on a cash-only basis.
B) We are delighted to announce our company's financial gain for the last fiscal year.
C) Your refund has been approved, and your account will be credited with the amount.
D) I am happy to report that your proposal was accepted.
E) We are writing to request your assistance.

Question 74

What are rubber stamps? Why is the use of rubber stamps detrimental to building goodwill with a reader?

Question 75

What are the three major transitional devices that make paragraphs coherent?

Question 76

What is a topic sentence?

Question 77

What is coherence?

Question 78

Rewrite the following sentences using short words:
1) The proposed enhancement is under consideration.
2) They acceded to the proposition to undertake a collaborative venture.

Question 79

Martina, an employee at a hotel, receives an email from a potential customer who wants to book one of the hotel's premiere suites for a weekend. Since all the suites have been booked for the date specified by the customer, Martina needs to turn down the customer's request. Which of the following delivers this message in the most positive manner?

A) This is in reply to your request for one of our premiere suites. I regret to inform you that all our premiere suites are booked for your specified dates. Would you like to be notified when the suites are available?
B) I have received your request for one of our premiere suites. As this is the peak season, we cannot comply with the request as all our premiere suites are booked for the date specified. We sincerely hope to be contacted at a later time.
C) I am sorry to inform you that the premiere suites you requested for are all booked. I have instead sent you a list of the other suites available and will additionally notify you when a premiere suite is available.
D) Thank you for choosing us. I'm sorry to inform you that the premiere suites are unavailable for the dates that you have mentioned. You can still choose from the various other suites that we have to offer.
E) Although all our premiere suites are booked for the specified date, some classic suites are still available. I have attached a document with the specifications and price listing for those suites.

Question 80

Which of the following sentences handles its subject most positively?

A) We regret to inform you that we cannot hire you at this time.
B) Although we cannot hire you now, we will let you know if there are vacancies in future.
C) Regretfully, we must turn down your request for employment.
D) Unfortunately, we have no job vacancy at this time.
E) Although all of our positions are filled, we will hold your application for a possible future opening.