Question 1

After three successful rounds of internal testing,the CEO of A7 Energy issued a statement to the press that the company had discovered a method to power homes using only ambient air.What kind of communication was the CEO engaging in?
A) horizontal communication
B) formal communication
C) informal communication
D) casual communication

Accepted Answer

The CEO is engaging in formal communication by issuing a statement to the press about the company's new discovery.

Question 2

Jae-Lynn is shift manager for a fast food restaurant.She usually speaks at a fairly rapid pace.Which of the following is NOT a reason for Jae-Lynn to slow down her speaking pace?
A) to make sure she is understood
B) to make sure she does not exceed the pace at which employees can understand spoken language
C) to give subordinates a chance to ask questions to ensure they understand
D) to emphasize the importance of what she is saying

Accepted Answer

The answer of Jae-Lynn is shift manager for a fast...

Question 3

Olivia's team selected her to inform the CEO,Bonnie,that they lost a big advertising account.Bonnie was so upset that she threatened to fire Olivia.What practice was Bonnie engaging in?
A) filtering
B) shooting the messenger
C) selecting the message
D) selective miscommunication

Accepted Answer

Bonnie is engaging in shooting the messenger, which is the act of blaming the bearer of bad news. Instead of addressing the issue at hand, she is threatening to fire Olivia for delivering the news.

Question 4

At lunch one day,a co-worker told Kyla that her communication style is traditionally female.This did not surprise Kyla because as a child she was warned not to sound ________.
A) unsure of herself
B) too sure of herself
C) hesitant
D) sympathetic

Accepted Answer

Traditional gender norms often discourage women from appearing too confident or assertive, which is why "too sure of herself" fits the context of being warned against a communication style that could be perceived as traditionally non-female.

Question 5

Sanjay told his manager Keith about some affordable office space that is coming on the market.Keith then shared this information with the company's CEO.What kind of communication are both Sanjay and Keith engaging in?
A) upward communication
B) downward communication
C) horizontal communication
D) external communication

Accepted Answer

Sanjay is reporting valuable information to his manager, Keith, who then shares it with the company's higher-ups, such as the CEO. This type of communication, where information is passed up the hierarchy within an organization, is known as upward communication.

Question 6

Trayvon was asked by his boss Linda to gather sales data for the last quarter.Sales were down.Profits were up.When she saw the report,Linda said,"This is terrible!" What practice was Linda engaging in?
A) filtering
B) selective filtering
C) selective perception
D) filtering the perception

Accepted Answer

Linda was engaging in selective perception, which is the tendency to only perceive and remember information that confirms one's pre-existing beliefs or attitudes. Despite profits being up, she focused only on the negative aspect of the report (sales being down) and reacted negatively.

Question 7

The 80,000-gallon water tank at the canning plant is slowly crumbling with age,and putting the village below at risk of a flood.If experts determine the tank will burst in several days,what would be the best path for the plant's CEO to take in such a crisis?
A) remain calm, clear and coherent while communicating to residents
B) sound the plant alarms and tell residents to move immediately
C) demand that the tank manufacturer hold a press conference
D) send out a press release emphasizing the plant's economic benefits to the village

Accepted Answer

The best path for the plant's CEO to take in this crisis would be to remain calm, clear and coherent while communicating with the residents of the village. This would involve informing them of the impending danger posed by the crumbling water tank and advising them to take precautions, such as evacuating the area if necessary. Sound the plant alarms may cause unnecessary panic and potentially lead to injuries while demanding the tank manufacturer to hold a press conference or sending out a press release emphasizing the plant's economic benefits would not address the immediate danger posed by the failing water tank. Therefore, option A is the most appropriate course of action for the CEO of the canning plant.

Question 8

A venture capital firm has heard good things about a small social media startup.One of the partners sets up a meeting with the company's founders to learn more about their strategic plan.What kind of communication is the partner engaging in?
A) internal communication
B) upward communication
C) downward communication
D) external communication

Accepted Answer

The partner is engaging in external communication by reaching out to the social media startup founders, who are not part of the venture capital firm.

Question 9

Women tend to use communication to ________ while men use it to ________.
A) define status; forge relationships
B) forge relationships; define status
C) assert independence; define status
D) seek connections; forge relationships

Accepted Answer

Studies show that women tend to use communication as a way to build and maintain relationships, whereas men use it to establish their status and dominance in social situations. Therefore, option B that states women use communication to forge relationships and men use it to define status is the most accurate.

Question 10

In a low-context situation,messages are understood by ________.
A) just about any listener
B) only the outsiders
C) only the insiders
D) only native speakers

Accepted Answer

In a low-context situation, messages have explicit meanings and are often clear and direct, making them easily understood by just about any listener regardless of their cultural background or language proficiency.

Question 11

At a recent Open House,Janet heard several parents of her students say the school assigns too much homework.The next day,Janet passed the information along to the school principal.Which of the following describes the path of this communication?
A) external communication followed by upward communication
B) horizontal communication followed by upward communication
C) horizontal communication followed by external communication
D) upward communication followed by internal communication

Accepted Answer

The communication started with external sources (parents) and then moved upward within the organization (to the principal).

Question 12

Eric has seen rumors on various social media sites that his small company is about to be sold to a multinational corporation.What was Eric using to get his information?
A) the grapevine
B) a hub-and-spoke network
C) a feedback loop
D) avatars

Accepted Answer

Eric was most likely using the grapevine, which refers to informal channels of communication through which rumors and gossip can spread rapidly throughout an organization or social group. Social media sites are often used as a way to disseminate information quickly through the grapevine.

Question 13

In a(n)________,one person completely controls the flow of information to all people in the system.
A) wheel network
B) chain network
C) all-channel network
D) external network

Accepted Answer

In a wheel network, one central figure (the hub) controls the flow of information to all other members (the spokes), making it a centralized communication structure. This setup is typical in hierarchical organizations where decisions and information dissemination are controlled by a single leader or a central command.

Question 14

Alan,the CEO of Boot and Bag,has decided to issue a company-wide directive for all employees to focus on raising sales.What kind of communication is Alan engaging in?
A) upward communication
B) downward communication
C) horizontal communication
D) vertical communication

Accepted Answer

Alan is engaging in downward communication because he is issuing a directive to all employees, indicating that he is communicating from a higher level of authority to a lower level.

Question 15

George has always spoken in a fairly soft voice.Now that he has been named department head,George feels he should ________.
A) speak louder to sound more authoritative
B) speak louder to sound less authoritative
C) continue to speak softly because his status automatically has authority
D) increase his pacing to sound more authoritative

Accepted Answer

The answer of George has always spoken in a fairly...

Question 16

Carmen's gift basket company has been struggling in the slow economy,so she decides to assess staff morale.What is the most effective way for her to accomplish this task?
A) issue a questionnaire
B) implement a Facebook page
C) do some "management by walking around"
D) enforce an all-channel communication network

Accepted Answer

"Management by walking around" is an effective method to assess staff morale as it involves interacting with employees in their workstations, observing their behavior and work environment, and talking to them about their concerns and ideas. This method helps the manager to establish a relationship with their employees and gain their trust, which allows employees to open up and provide honest feedback. It also demonstrates that the manager is interested in their employees' well-being and is willing to listen to their opinions. A questionnaire or all-channel communication network may be effective in gathering feedback, but it lacks the personal touch and interaction with employees that "management by walking around" offers. Implementing a Facebook page may also be useful for communication, but it may not be the most effective way to assess staff morale.

Question 17

Rosa has recently assumed a management position in her company.A colleague advises her to be more aggressive and assertive in her speech.How is this style likely to be received by the employees in Rosa's group?
A) Males will approve; females will disapprove.
B) Females will approve; males will disapprove.
C) Both males and females will approve.
D) Both males and females will disapprove.

Accepted Answer

Aggressiveness and assertiveness in speech, especially when newly adopted by a manager, can be perceived negatively by both males and females. It can create an environment of tension and discomfort, rather than fostering open communication and teamwork.

Question 18

After three quarters of dismal sales figures,Hector decides to focus on the company's expanding market share at the next quarterly meeting.What practice is Hector engaging in?
A) filtering
B) shooting the messenger
C) selecting the message
D) selective miscommunication

Accepted Answer

The answer of After three quarters of dismal sales figures,Hector...

Question 19

When an employee tells a co-worker about a new computer program that will improve productivity,this is an example of ________ communication.
A) downward
B) upward
C) horizontal
D) diagonal

Accepted Answer

This is an example of horizontal communication, as it involves communication between individuals who are at the same level within the organization.

Question 20

Which of the following is NOT a category of Grice's four maxims for effective communication?
A) quantity
B) manner
C) equity
D) relevance

Accepted Answer

Grice's four maxims are quantity, quality, manner, and relevance. "Equity" is not a category of Grice's maxims for effective communication.

Quiz 4: Communication: The Key to Resonant Relationships

After three successful rounds of internal testing,the CEO of A7 Energy issued a statement to the press that the company had discovered a method to power homes using only ambient air.What kind of communication was the CEO engaging in?

Jae-Lynn is shift manager for a fast food restaurant.She usually speaks at a fairly rapid pace.Which of the following is NOT a reason for Jae-Lynn to slow down her speaking pace?

Olivia's team selected her to inform the CEO,Bonnie,that they lost a big advertising account.Bonnie was so upset that she threatened to fire Olivia.What practice was Bonnie engaging in?

At lunch one day,a co-worker told Kyla that her communication style is traditionally female.This did not surprise Kyla because as a child she was warned not to sound ________.

Sanjay told his manager Keith about some affordable office space that is coming on the market.Keith then shared this information with the company's CEO.What kind of communication are both Sanjay and Keith engaging in?

Trayvon was asked by his boss Linda to gather sales data for the last quarter.Sales were down.Profits were up.When she saw the report,Linda said,"This is terrible!" What practice was Linda engaging in?

The 80,000-gallon water tank at the canning plant is slowly crumbling with age,and putting the village below at risk of a flood.If experts determine the tank will burst in several days,what would be the best path for the plant's CEO to take in such a crisis?

A venture capital firm has heard good things about a small social media startup.One of the partners sets up a meeting with the company's founders to learn more about their strategic plan.What kind of communication is the partner engaging in?

Women tend to use communication to while men use it to .

In a low-context situation,messages are understood by ________.

At a recent Open House,Janet heard several parents of her students say the school assigns too much homework.The next day,Janet passed the information along to the school principal.Which of the following describes the path of this communication?

Eric has seen rumors on various social media sites that his small company is about to be sold to a multinational corporation.What was Eric using to get his information?

In a(n) ________,one person completely controls the flow of information to all people in the system.

Alan,the CEO of Boot and Bag,has decided to issue a company-wide directive for all employees to focus on raising sales.What kind of communication is Alan engaging in?

George has always spoken in a fairly soft voice.Now that he has been named department head,George feels he should ________.

Carmen's gift basket company has been struggling in the slow economy,so she decides to assess staff morale.What is the most effective way for her to accomplish this task?

Rosa has recently assumed a management position in her company.A colleague advises her to be more aggressive and assertive in her speech.How is this style likely to be received by the employees in Rosa's group?

After three quarters of dismal sales figures,Hector decides to focus on the company's expanding market share at the next quarterly meeting.What practice is Hector engaging in?

When an employee tells a co-worker about a new computer program that will improve productivity,this is an example of ________ communication.

Which of the following is NOT a category of Grice's four maxims for effective communication?