Question 1

If an organization's communications department creates a press release, the inverted pyramid style of writing may be preferred since:
A)it provides readers with understanding even if they stop reading before learning all the details
B)it provides a clear presentation of each of the main points with all supporting details provided with the related point
C)it uses an easy to understand verbiage free from specialty or industry specific terminology that readers might not understand
D)offers a short synopsis of main points with little detail

Accepted Answer

The inverted pyramid style prioritizes the most newsworthy information at the beginning, allowing readers to understand the main points even if they don't read the entire text.

Question 2

When writing an optimized press release, a communications writer must focus on which of the following to obtain maximum viewing?
A)Easy to understand terminology
B)Submission to multiple news outlets
C)Keywords to obtain high rankings on search engines
D)Release with a short period to reach readers quickly

Accepted Answer

Using keywords strategically helps the press release rank higher on search engines, increasing its visibility and reach.

Question 3

When an audience is receiving a message they go through four stages: awareness, comprehension, conviction, and commitment. Which of these stages involves the audience matching their own interests and views with the information being offered?
A)awareness
B)comprehension
C)conviction
D)commitment

Accepted Answer

During the conviction stage, the audience evaluates the message against their own interests and views to decide if they agree or disagree with the information being presented. This is where they start forming a personal stance or conviction about the message.

Question 4

When communicating face-to-face, negativity is often apparent when a participant:
A)leans forward in his chair
B)crosses his legs
C)crosses his arms across his chest
D)rests his chin on his hand

Accepted Answer

Crossing arms across the chest is a common nonverbal cue that can indicate defensiveness, discomfort, or negativity, as it can be perceived as a physical barrier that a person puts up between themselves and others.

Question 5

When conducting a media interview or making a statement to a member of the media, the phrase "not for attribution" generally implies:
A)the reporter can use the information, but cannot quote the source directly
B)the reporter can use the information to help gain perspective, but cannot use the information in publication
C)the reporter has full use of the information, but must credit the source
D)the reporter may use the information and credit the source, but only if verified by a second, independent source

Accepted Answer

The phrase "not for attribution" means the reporter can use the information provided but cannot directly quote or name the source. This allows the source to share information without being directly linked to the statements made.

Question 6

When considering the exact wording of a speech that you are writing, the most important consideration given should be to:
A)using high level vocabulary that indicates your educational achievement
B)avoiding words that must be explained or defined
C)using effective vocabulary that clearly communicates your message
D)limit or avoid the use of highly technical terms

Accepted Answer

Using effective vocabulary that clearly communicates your message is crucial in speech writing because the primary goal is to ensure that the audience understands and engages with the content. High-level vocabulary or technical terms can sometimes alienate or confuse listeners if not used judiciously.

Question 7

If you have been asked to give a presentation to an audience of co-workers, a good strategy to keep the audience engaged is:
A)to avoid the use of related visuals such as charts or pictures which might distract from the presentation
B)provide handouts to guide the audience through the presentation
C)avoid contact with specific members of the audience, focusing on a point at the rear of the room
D)using all strategies stated above

Accepted Answer

Providing handouts can help guide the audience through the presentation, keeping them engaged by allowing them to follow along more easily and refer back to key points as needed. Visual aids, when used effectively, enhance understanding rather than distract, and making eye contact with audience members can make the presentation more engaging and personal.

Question 8

When communicating information, employers will most likely be successful in capturing employee attention by:
A)enclosing the information in paycheck or pay stub envelopes
B)printing the information in a company newsletter or regular publication
C)presenting information at brief staff meetings
D)posting information on break area bulletin boards

Accepted Answer

Presenting information at brief staff meetings is more likely to capture employee attention as it allows for direct communication and interaction, ensuring that employees are engaged and can ask questions or seek clarification immediately.

Question 9

In order to convince your audience to support your proposed changes to the organization's structure, any speech to them must be of what type?
A)informative
B)persuasive
C)entertaining
D)impromptu

Accepted Answer

Persuasive speeches are designed to convince the audience to adopt a particular viewpoint or take a specific action, which aligns with the goal of convincing the audience to support proposed organizational changes.

Question 10

You are giving a news brief to the media on your organization's response to a crisis situation that has emerged. One way to avoid miscommunication is to:
A)use as many words a possible
B)use abstract terms to avoid being committal
C)define relative words
D)use acronyms instead of entire organizational names

Accepted Answer

Defining relative words helps in avoiding miscommunication by ensuring that all parties have a clear understanding of the terms being used, thereby reducing the chances of misunderstandings.

Question 11

Considering that some experts believe more than one half of the emotional meaning of a message comes from non-verbal communication, an important consideration in delivering a speech to an audience is:
A)avoiding overdressing for the occasion
B)keeping your voice low to avoid the impression of yelling
C)choice of vocabulary
D)culturally significant gestures

Accepted Answer

Non-verbal communication, such as gestures, plays a significant role in conveying emotional meaning, and using culturally significant gestures can enhance the effectiveness of a speech.

Question 12

If your organization is hosting a charitable fundraising event and wants to increase attendance and participation, you might partner with local media to produce:
A)a press release
B)an advance story
C)a blind interview
D)a style guide

Accepted Answer

An advance story in local media can generate interest and awareness about the event, potentially increasing attendance and participation.

Question 13

If your organization's spokesperson announces media availability for the following day at 10:00 AM, that generally means:
A)the company will be holding a news conference at that time
B)a press release will be available at that time
C)the spokesperson will be available for questions at that time
D)the spokesperson will be appearing on television at that time

Accepted Answer

Announcing media availability typically means that the spokesperson will be available to answer questions from the press at the specified time, rather than holding a formal event or releasing specific materials.

Question 14

When considering potential sources of information to use in printed or verbal communication, you should consider FOI laws which:
A)give public access to government information
B)allow defamation lawsuits against individuals and entities
C)require verification of facts before publication
D)govern publication on the internet

Accepted Answer

FOI (Freedom of Information) laws are designed to give the public access to information held by government bodies, ensuring transparency and accountability.

Question 15

After communicating with an employee via email memo regarding project goals, you discover that the employee misinterpreted your expectations. You believe the channel was the problem and:
A)send a more detailed email to correct the miscommunication
B)schedule a meeting to discuss the miscommunication
C)reprimand the employee for disregarding your instructions
D)more closely supervise the project for the remaining duration

Accepted Answer

Scheduling a meeting allows for direct communication, enabling both parties to clarify misunderstandings, ask questions, and ensure mutual understanding, which is more effective than written communication for resolving misinterpretations.

Question 16

Non-verbal communication plays a large part in effectively sending a message. When speaking to a group be sure to consider paralanguage factors such as:
A)your hand and body gestures
B)throat clearing and sighs
C)temperature and light
D)proximity to your audience

Accepted Answer

Paralanguage refers to the non-verbal elements of communication used to convey emotion and modify meaning, such as tone, pitch, volume, and sounds like throat clearing and sighs.

Question 17

If you are speaking to an audience of professionals in a highly specialized field and are using the manuscript style of delivery, it is very likely that:
A)your speech is impromptu in nature
B)you are trying to persuade the audience to support a change
C)someone else prepared or assisted in the preparation of your speech
D)this is material with which you are very comfortable

Accepted Answer

Manuscript style of delivery often involves reading from a prepared text, which suggests that someone else may have prepared or assisted in the preparation of the speech, especially in contexts requiring specialized knowledge.

Question 18

As a group, a new project team at work has established several norms for the team. All of these might be examples of these except:
A)mandatory attendance at all meetings
B)a rotating chairperson role for meetings
C)regular email updates to all team members
D)management evaluation of group performance

Accepted Answer

Management evaluation of group performance is typically a function or decision made by the organization's management, not a norm established by the team itself. Team norms are agreed-upon guidelines or behaviors that the team decides to follow, such as attendance policies, communication methods, and leadership rotation, which are all examples of norms that a team can establish on its own.

Question 19

Understanding your target audience is a key to creating effective communication. We can better understand the target audience through demographics which identify primarily physical traits and psychographics which focus on people's:
A)group membership and affiliation
B)education and knowledge
C)beliefs and values
D)health

Accepted Answer

Psychographics focus on people's beliefs and values, which helps in understanding their attitudes, interests, and opinions, thereby enabling more effective communication tailored to the audience's preferences and motivations.

Question 20

A subordinate at work frequently demonstrates lack of professionalism in her clothing choices. What approach would be best for communicating the inappropriateness of her behavior?
A)Have a personal meeting and start with a soft entry, but then be straightforward
B)Sit her down and immediately explain the problem, mentioning other employees' comments
C)Send her an email with the company dress code attached
D)Request that a co-worker discuss the problem with her

Accepted Answer

Having a personal meeting allows for a respectful and direct approach to address the issue, starting softly helps ease into the conversation, making it more likely to be received positively.

Quiz 1: Communication

If an organization's communications department creates a press release, the inverted pyramid style of writing may be preferred since:

When writing an optimized press release, a communications writer must focus on which of the following to obtain maximum viewing?

When an audience is receiving a message they go through four stages: awareness, comprehension, conviction, and commitment. Which of these stages involves the audience matching their own interests and views with the information being offered?

When communicating face-to-face, negativity is often apparent when a participant:

When conducting a media interview or making a statement to a member of the media, the phrase "not for attribution" generally implies:

When considering the exact wording of a speech that you are writing, the most important consideration given should be to:

If you have been asked to give a presentation to an audience of co-workers, a good strategy to keep the audience engaged is:

When communicating information, employers will most likely be successful in capturing employee attention by:

In order to convince your audience to support your proposed changes to the organization's structure, any speech to them must be of what type?

You are giving a news brief to the media on your organization's response to a crisis situation that has emerged. One way to avoid miscommunication is to:

Considering that some experts believe more than one half of the emotional meaning of a message comes from non-verbal communication, an important consideration in delivering a speech to an audience is:

If your organization is hosting a charitable fundraising event and wants to increase attendance and participation, you might partner with local media to produce:

If your organization's spokesperson announces media availability for the following day at 10:00 AM, that generally means:

When considering potential sources of information to use in printed or verbal communication, you should consider FOI laws which:

After communicating with an employee via email memo regarding project goals, you discover that the employee misinterpreted your expectations. You believe the channel was the problem and:

Non-verbal communication plays a large part in effectively sending a message. When speaking to a group be sure to consider paralanguage factors such as:

If you are speaking to an audience of professionals in a highly specialized field and are using the manuscript style of delivery, it is very likely that:

As a group, a new project team at work has established several norms for the team. All of these might be examples of these except:

Understanding your target audience is a key to creating effective communication. We can better understand the target audience through demographics which identify primarily physical traits and psychographics which focus on people's:

A subordinate at work frequently demonstrates lack of professionalism in her clothing choices. What approach would be best for communicating the inappropriateness of her behavior?