Question 1

To maintain positive emphasis, what is the best way to place negative information in a message?

Accepted Answer

The answer of To maintain positive emphasis, what is the...

Question 2

When a person writing a message knows neither the name nor the gender of the reader, the person should

Accepted Answer

Using a general group to which the reader belongs is the most inclusive and respectful approach when the writer does not know the reader's name or gender. This avoids assumptions about gender and maintains formality and respect in communication.

Question 3

Lei is going to write an email to the hiring manager of a publishing company, explaining why she would make a good candidate for an open internship position. Lei does not know the name or the gender of the manager. Which of the following salutations of polite communication is most appropriate for Lei to use in her letter?

Accepted Answer

"Dear Hiring Manager" is the most appropriate salutation because it is formal and gender-neutral, making it suitable for addressing someone whose name and gender are unknown.

Question 4

Chang is the new manager of Good Eats Inc. He is required to send an email to Alex Wales, whom he has never met. He is not sure whether Alex is male or female. Which of the following is the most nonsexist way to address Alex in the email?

Accepted Answer

Using "Dear Alex Wales" avoids making assumptions about Alex's gender or marital status, making it the most nonsexist and inclusive form of address.

Question 5

Which of the following statements about bias-free language is true?

Accepted Answer

Bias-free language helps to avoid lawsuits by promoting inclusivity and preventing discriminatory language that could lead to legal action.

Question 6

Which of the following job titles contains gendered language?

Accepted Answer

"Fireman" contains gendered language, implying the job is specifically for a man, whereas the other titles are neutral.

Question 7

Rita, the founder of a commercial real estate company, is planning to announce several renovations to make the company office building more accommodating to employees with visual, hearing, mobility, or cognitive impairments. Which of the following announcements made by Rita is bias-free?

Accepted Answer

Using "employees with disabilities" places the person first, avoiding defining individuals by their disability, which is considered a more respectful and bias-free approach.

Question 8

Regarding nonsexist language, which of the following statements about courtesy titles for women is true?

Accepted Answer

Using the title a woman designates for herself respects her personal preference and is considered nonsexist and courteous.

Question 9

Esteban is a sales manager. He is in charge of welcoming a new batch of sales executives to his organization and introducing them to the sales team. He is meeting the new employees for the first time. When he introduces them to the sales team, the new employees think he is being sexist. Which of the following did Esteban most likely say?

Accepted Answer

Esteban likely used "Mrs. West" for Melissa, indicating a marital status assumption based on gender, which could be perceived as sexist, unlike the neutral or equal treatment in the other options.

Question 10

To make language nonracist and nonageist,

Accepted Answer

Using the terms preferred by a group is a respectful and inclusive practice that acknowledges their identity and preferences, making language nonracist and nonageist.

Question 11

What are the three main guidelines to be followed while organizing information to build goodwill in a message?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are the three main guidelines to...

Question 12

Which of the following types of technology is most often used to resolve customer complaints quickly?

Accepted Answer

Twitter is widely used by companies for customer service because it allows for fast, public responses to customer complaints or inquiries, which can be resolved quickly and efficiently.

Question 13

What are the five techniques that help create positive emphasis in a message?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are the five techniques that help...

Question 14

Which of the following is an example of a nonsexist job title?

Accepted Answer

Flight attendant is a nonsexist job title because it is gender-neutral and does not imply the job is specific to one gender, unlike the other options which are gender-specific.

Question 15

A customer walks into a restaurant, sits at a table, and calls out, "Can a waitress please take our orders?" What makes his statement biased?

Accepted Answer

The statement is biased because it assumes that only a waitress (female server) can take orders, excluding male servers or servers who do not identify within the binary gender system, thus making it sexist.

Question 16

In official communication, when addressing a woman you don't know well, it is better to

Accepted Answer

Using "Ms." as the courtesy title is considered the most appropriate and respectful option when addressing a woman whose marital status is unknown or irrelevant in professional and formal contexts. It avoids assumptions about marital status and offers a neutral form of address.

Question 17

List the five techniques that you, as a writer, should use to convey you-attitude.

Accepted Answer

The answer of List the five techniques that you, as...

Question 18

Explain passive verbs and impersonal expressions, and describe when each should be used in a message.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain passive verbs and impersonal expressions, and...

Question 19

When talking about people with disabilities, use language that

Accepted Answer

Using person-first language (e.g., "person with a disability" rather than "disabled person") emphasizes the individuality of the person, not defining them by their condition.

Question 20

Which of the following is most effective when trying to eliminate sexist generic pronouns?

Accepted Answer

Using plural nouns or pronouns is most effective in eliminating sexist generic pronouns because it avoids assuming a specific gender and makes statements applicable to all genders.

Quiz 3: Building Goodwill