Question 1

Write an example of a sentence that contains a passive verb.

Accepted Answer

An example of a sentence that contains a passive verb is:

"The cake was eaten by the children at the party."

In this sentence, "was eaten" is the passive verb, indicating that the action (eating) was performed on the subject (the cake) by an agent (the children). The focus is on the cake, which is the recipient of the action, rather than on the children who are performing the action.

Question 2

What should be done if a paragraph has more than one main idea?

Accepted Answer

Break the paragraph into multiple paragraphs

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT true of paragraph unity and coherence
A) Use transition words such as therefore, however, and but
B) All sentences within one paragraph should relate to the same idea
C) Sentences should all be about the same length.
D) If a paragraph has more than one main idea, it should be broken into multiple paragraphs

Accepted Answer

Paragraph unity and coherence focus on the logical flow and relevance of ideas rather than the uniform length of sentences. Sentence length can vary to enhance readability and interest.

Question 4

Jargon is
A) an expression that is worn out and has very little meaning
B) technical or specialized terminology
C) the same as slang
D) all of the above

Accepted Answer

Jargon refers to technical or specialized terminology used within a particular profession, group, or context, which may not be easily understood by outsiders.

Question 5

Even a one-paragraph memo can include redundant terms and unnecessary modifiers.

Accepted Answer

Even short texts like a one-paragraph memo can contain redundant terms and unnecessary modifiers, which do not contribute to the clarity or effectiveness of the message.

Question 6

What is the term for phrases that are worn-out expressions with little meaning?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the term for phrases that...

Question 7

Transitional words and phrases cannot be overused in business writing.

Accepted Answer

Transitional words and phrases, when overused, can make business writing seem cluttered and can distract from the main message. However, used appropriately, they help in making the text coherent and guide the reader through the argument or points being made.

Question 8

Which of the following statements uses language that would be considered sexist?
A) A doctor must be committed to his patients.
B) Doctors must be committed to their patients.
C) A doctor must be committed to their patients.
D) All of the above

Accepted Answer

Statement A uses language that would be considered sexist because it assumes that a doctor is male by using the pronoun "his," which excludes female doctors and those who may not identify within the gender binary.

Question 9

Business voice is
A) direct, controlled, and reasonable
B) filled with technical language
C) unemotional
D) all of the above

Accepted Answer

The answer of Business voice is
A) direct, controlled, and reasonable
B)...

Question 10

Which of the following is NOT an example of a passive verb?
A) The proposal was met with resistance
B) The company controls the market
C) The employee is being transferred to Winnipeg
D) Parking is prohibited after midnight

Accepted Answer

The sentence "The company controls the market" uses an active verb ("controls"), where the subject (the company) performs the action of the verb. The other options (A, C, D) all use passive constructions, where the subject is the recipient of the action.

Question 11

Jargon is terminology that is over-used, worn out, and has very little meaning.

Accepted Answer

Jargon is specialized terminology used within a particular field, profession, or group, not necessarily over-used or meaningless.

Question 12

Spelling and grammar checkers on word processing software
A) just find all spelling errors in a document
B) just check to see if a word is in their dictionary
C) just check for appropriate transitions
D) just identify overuse of modifiers

Accepted Answer

Spelling and grammar checkers primarily function by comparing words in a document to those in their internal dictionary to identify misspelled words or grammatical errors. They do not inherently understand context or stylistic elements like appropriate transitions or overuse of modifiers, making option B the correct choice.

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT true of active verbs?
A) Active verbs communicate action
B) Sentences using active verbs are easier to read than those with passive verbs
C) Active verbs should be used exclusively in business writing
D) Sentences with active verbs are typically shorter than those with passive verbs

Accepted Answer

Active verbs indeed communicate action, make sentences easier to read, and often result in shorter sentences compared to passive constructions. However, it's not accurate to say that active verbs should be used exclusively in business writing. Both active and passive voices have their place depending on the context and the message the writer wishes to convey.

Question 14

The emotional voice is preferred in business writing because it is direct, controlled, and reasonable.

Accepted Answer

Business writing often prioritizes a professional tone that is clear, concise, and objective rather than an emotional voice, to maintain professionalism and ensure the message is understood by a diverse audience.

Question 15

Reading out loud is an effective proofreading technique.

Accepted Answer

Reading out loud can help you catch errors that you might overlook when reading silently, as it forces you to go slower and pay more attention to each word.

Question 16

Overusing nouns increases ambiguity in business writing.

Accepted Answer

Overusing nouns typically leads to more formal and precise language, but it can make writing dense and harder to read. Ambiguity in writing is more often caused by unclear references, vague language, or insufficient detail, not merely by the use of nouns.

Question 17

Proofreading strategies include
A) reading backwards
B) checking names and figures
C) reading out loud
D) all of the above

Accepted Answer

All of the options listed are recognized proofreading strategies. Reading backwards helps catch spelling errors, checking names and figures ensures accuracy, and reading out loud can reveal grammatical errors or awkward phrasing.

Question 18

Each paragraph should contain no more that two or three distinct ideas.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Each paragraph should contain no more that...

Question 19

What is the type of voice in business writing that is stiff and unemotional, but often considered a "safe"
way to write?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the type of voice in...

Question 20

Name one proofreading strategy and describe why it is important.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Name one proofreading strategy and describe why...

Quiz 4: Composing and Revising Your Message

Write an example of a sentence that contains a passive verb.

What should be done if a paragraph has more than one main idea?

Which of the following is NOT true of paragraph unity and coherence

Jargon is

Even a one-paragraph memo can include redundant terms and unnecessary modifiers.

What is the term for phrases that are worn-out expressions with little meaning?

Transitional words and phrases cannot be overused in business writing.

Which of the following statements uses language that would be considered sexist?

Business voice is

Which of the following is NOT an example of a passive verb?

Jargon is terminology that is over-used, worn out, and has very little meaning.

Spelling and grammar checkers on word processing software

Which of the following is NOT true of active verbs?

The emotional voice is preferred in business writing because it is direct, controlled, and reasonable.

Reading out loud is an effective proofreading technique.

Overusing nouns increases ambiguity in business writing.

Proofreading strategies include

Each paragraph should contain no more that two or three distinct ideas.

What is the type of voice in business writing that is stiff and unemotional, but often considered a "safe" way to write?

Name one proofreading strategy and describe why it is important.