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Q:
Informative headings ________.
A) give the reader some context and may point toward any conclusions or recommendations that is offered in the section
B) simply identify a topic without suggesting anything more
C) refer to spaces that are free of text or artwork
D) refer to the physical design of letters, numbers, and other text characters
E) are graphical elements that precede each item in a list
Q:
In which of the following cases would a list be the most effective way of organizing information?
A) You are describing your favorite TV show.
B) You have to write about a person who inspired you.
C) You are writing to a friend about your holiday plans.
D) You have to describe a recent victory by your home team.
E) You are documenting the steps in a process.
Q:
In a list, bullets are preferred over numbers, unless ________.
A) the list is briefless than five items long
B) specific list items will be referenced later
C) the list deals with complex concepts
D) the list uses parallelism
E) individual items in the list are long
Q:
Which of the following is true for creating readable lists?
A) Long sentences should be used to increase the likelihood that readers will find the key points.
B) Use one-sentence paragraphs for emphasis.
C) Skimming is more difficult with bulleted lists.
D) Introductions are avoided as lists enable skimming.
E) Using parallelism makes it easier for readers to skim through lists.
Q:
Which of the following statements about using paragraphs in business writing is true?
A) One-sentence paragraphs should be used rarely, and only for emphasis.
B) Using short paragraphs is preferred, as this makes the use of transitions unnecessary.
C) One-sentence paragraphs are not recommended and should never be used in business writing.
D) For complicated subjects, long paragraphs help readers maintain a train of thought and prevent distraction.
E) Long paragraphs are easier to read and can help to emphasize an idea or concept.
Q:
Which of the following statements about sentence length is true?
A) Medium sentences can lack the punch of short sentences and the informative power of longer sentences.
B) Medium-length sentences are often the best way to convey complex ideas, to list a number of related points, or to summarize or preview information.
C) Long sentences can be processed quickly and are easier for nonnative speakers and translators to interpret.
D) Too many long sentences in a row can make your writing feel choppy and disconnected.
E) Short sentences are often the best way to convey complex ideas or to summarize or preview information.
Q:
Which of the following is an advantage of long sentences?
A) Long sentences can be processed quickly.
B) Long sentences are the best way to list a number of related points.
C) Long sentences are easier for nonnative speakers to understand.
D) Long sentences are easier for readers to skim through.
E) Long sentences are useful when writing needs "punch" and a quick pace.
Q:
Robert is writing an instruction manual for a line of power tools. Though the manual is in English, it will be used by people from many different countries. What should Robert do to improve the readability of the document?
A) He should use mostly medium-length sentences to show relationships among ideas.
B) He should use only short sentences in order to explain the concepts clearly.
C) He should use only long or medium-length sentences as the processes are complex.
D) He should primarily use short sentences, but vary sentence length as required.
E) He should use mainly long sentences, as he is explaining complicated processes.
Q:
Short sentences ________.
A) are the best way to convey complex ideas
B) are harder to skim than medium-length sentences
C) are more difficult for nonnative speakers to interpret
D) have more informative power than medium-length sentences
E) are capable of making writing seem choppy and disconnected
Q:
In order to improve readability, one must avoid ________.
A) keeping sentences uniform in length
B) using bullets to organize information
C) writing short paragraphs
D) using lists to clarify points
E) adding headings and subheadings
Q:
Which of the following statements about the organization of a message is true?
A) Formal or academic messages do not need strong opening or closing sections, the audience only notices the middle portion.
B) The beginning and end of messages have the greatest impact on the audience and hence should receive the most attention during revision.
C) The subject and purpose of the message should be confined to the middle portion, while the conclusion should help readers understand how the message is organized.
D) The middle portion of the message contains the main idea and argument, and hence has the greatest impact on the audience.
E) The end of the message should convey the subject and purpose of the message, while the beginning of the message has the least impact on the audience.
Q:
Which of the following statements is true regarding the revision process?
A) The first draft should be put aside for some time before beginning the revision process.
B) Documents that use electronic media do not need revision as the messages are only stored for a short while.
C) A completed first draft must be revised only if there is a change in the message that needs to be communicated.
D) Communications using short-message tools such as IM and email require no revision at all.
E) Informal messages to internal audiences need as much revision as formal messages do.
Q:
Which of the following sets of activities are part of the final step of the three-step writing process?
A) gathering information; selecting a medium
B) revising; proofreading; distributing
C) adapting the message; analyzing the situation
D) writing; analyzing; researching
E) organizing information; composing the message
Q:
List four factors that influence the distribution of a message. Explain how each factor has an influence on the choice of medium.
Q:
Tamara is the editor of her company's newsletter. For years, the newsletter has used a drab style that is not very reader-friendly. How can Tamara change this into a style that is easier to read using typeface choices and margins? Explain Tamara's options in terms of typefaces and margins and explain which she should choose to achieve this.
Q:
List and explain the four principles of effective design.
Q:
Rachel's team handles the internal communication for Miranda Management Systems. Before any message is sent to the recipients, it must go through three levels of quality checks. Each reviewer adds his or her views and suggestions to the original document. The document is then sent back to the author for rework. The team previously used printed versions of the documents to make the changes, but Rachel has decided to move the process online. What software can the team use to follow its revision process online?
Q:
List and briefly describe the nine techniques for editing for clarity.
Q:
Explain the influence of sentence length on readability and keeping readers' interest.
Q:
Type style refers to any modification that lends contrast or emphasis to type, including boldface, italic, underlining, and color.
Q:
Word combinations that say the same thing twice, such as "round in shape," are known as redundancies.
Q:
The phrase "final outcome" is an example of a dangling modifier.
Q:
Varying sentence length is a good way to maintain reader interest.
Q:
Which of the following features of word processing software is used for captions, callouts, and margin notes?
A) tables
B) objects
C) headers
D) text boxes
E) footers
Q:
________ are suitable for displaying any information that lends itself to rows and columns.
A) Objects
B) Text boxes
C) Tables
D) Templates
E) Style sheets
Q:
Which of the following is true of creating multimedia documents?
A) In order to include various media elements in a document, you must first ensure that you have the legal rights to use them.
B) Multimedia documents follow a rigid linear structure from beginning to end and hence a conventional outline is suitable.
C) Developing multimedia documents require minimal creative and technical skills as tasks such as adding photographs and video clips to webpages have gotten much easier in recent years.
D) The costs associated with creating multimedia documents are practically negligible as consumer versions of several software tools are easily available.
E) Multimedia elements can run on all types of software and hence compatibility is not an issue.
Q:
________ is used for highlighting quotations and indicating foreign words, irony, humor, book and movie titles, and unconventional usage.
A) Superscript
B) Italics
C) Boldface
D) Underlining
E) Subscript
Q:
Which of the following is an element of type style?
A) revision tracking
B) parallelism
C) boldface
D) hedging
E) margin
Q:
________ refers to the physical design of letters, numbers, and other text characters.
A) Wiki
B) Revision tracking
C) White space
D) Typeface
E) Hedging
Q:
________ type is rarely used for text paragraphs, but is commonly used for headings and subheadings.
A) Flush left
B) Ragged-right
C) Centered
D) Flush right
E) Justified
Q:
Jacob is designing a page in the company newsletter that informs employees about a new company policy. The subject is fairly complex, and requires a lot of explanation, but Jacob cannot use more than one page. Which of the following alignments will help Jacob fit in the maximum number of words?
A) flush right with a ragged-left margin
B) centered
C) flush left with a ragged-right margin
D) justified
E) centered with a ragged-right margin
Q:
Magazines and newspapers generally use justified type because ________.
A) it produces large gaps between words in a column
B) it decreases the amount of white space along the right margin
C) it can accommodate more text in a given space
D) it produces hyphenation at the ends of lines
E) it produces a less formal, more contemporary look
Q:
Kaylee is formatting a document for her company. She isn't sure whether to opt for a justified, flush-left, flush-right, or centered format. Which of the following offers the best reason for her to pick a particular style?
A) A flush-right style is the most common for business documents.
B) A flush-left format gives a contemporary, less formal look.
C) A justified style is best as this is easy to format and read.
D) A centered format allows her to maximize the use of space.
E) A justified style produces large gaps between words, increasing white space.
Q:
Which of the following is the best example of using consistency in the design elements of a document?
A) Cathy changes margins and spacing from page to page to accommodate information.
B) Emma uses a different color for every paragraph in a document.
C) Becky uses the same typeface and type size for all her client messages.
D) Abby varies the fonts and colors in all her messages to express her creativity.
E) Della switches between left-aligned and justified text to make reading easier.
Q:
The ________ feature can highlight items you should consider changing, such as passive voice, long sentences, and words that tend to be misused.
A) grammar check
B) spell check
C) thesaurus
D) revision tracking
E) autosummary
Q:
A(n) ________ can monitor word and sentence choices and suggest alternatives that might produce more effective writing.
A) autosummary
B) spell checker
C) revision tracker
D) style checker
E) wiki
Q:
To shorten sentences, ________.
A) avoid redundancies
B) avoid using commas
C) use the passive voice instead of the active
D) use camouflaged verbs
E) use hedging sentences
Q:
"The children collected together shells, stones, and leaves for their art projects." Which of the following should be eliminated to make the sentence more concise?
A) for their art projects
B) shells
C) collected
D) together
E) leaves
Q:
Jacob's teacher asked him to rewrite his book report to make it clear and concise. He asks his friends for advice about editing his document. Which of the following recommendations is useful for Jacob?
A) Verbs should be changed into nouns or adjectives wherever possible.
B) Hedging can strengthen your argument if you are sure of your facts.
C) Avoid parallelism, it makes sentences more difficult to read.
D) Keep the subject and predicate of the sentence as close together as possible.
E) Nouns are useful modifiers, so stringing many nouns together increases clarity.
Q:
Which of the following includes a dangling modifier?
A) Situated in the break room, employees will find the vending machines.
B) The vending machines are situated in the break room.
C) Employees will find the vending machines situated in the break room.
D) The break room has several vending machines for employees to use.
E) The vending machines in the break room are for employees' use.
Q:
Identify the structure used in the following sentence: Traditional medicine emphasizes holistic healing, whereas modern medicine focuses on specialized areas.
A) dangling modifier
B) parallelism
C) camouflaged verbs
D) hedging
E) boosting
Q:
Which of the following will identify a hedging sentence?
A) "yes" and "no"
B) "may" and "seems"
C) "yesterday" and "today"
D) "absolutely" and "sincerely"
E) "confident" and "doubtful"
Q:
In any document, headings in a series should be ________.
A) detailed and long
B) informative
C) descriptive
D) grammatically parallel
E) self-contained
Q:
In which of the following cases would a numbered list be more appropriate than a bulleted list?
A) You are listing the benefits of a new software application that was installed for all employees.
B) You are listing the ten largest countries in the world in terms of area.
C) You are listing the advantages of globalization for Third World countries.
D) You are listing the items you need to take on holiday.
E) You are listing the causes of the Second World War.
Q:
Graphical elements that precede each item in a list are known as ________.
A) call-outs
B) wikis
C) buttons
D) bullets
E) captions
Q:
Which of the following statements about improving readability is true?
A) Grammatically parallel headings and bullets reduce readability and should not be used.
B) The greater the complexity of a document, the fewer headings and subheadings it should have.
C) Long sentences are the best way to convey complex ideas or list a number of related points.
D) One-sentence paragraphs are easy to understand and should be used widely in business writing.
E) Bulleted lists should only be used when items are ranked; numbered lists are preferred.
Q:
Which of the following is a disadvantage of long sentences?
A) They can be processed quickly and are easier for readers to skim through.
B) Too many long sentences in a row can make writing choppy and disconnected.
C) They lack the informative power of short sentences.
D) They are difficult for nonnative speakers to understand.
E) They have more informative power than short sentences.
Q:
Long sentences ________.
A) are easier for nonnative speakers to interpret
B) are the best way to convey complex ideas
C) can make writing choppy and disconnected
D) are easier to understand than short sentences
E) are easier to skim through than short sentences
Q:
Clare has been asked to edit and revise a document written by her colleague, Megan. Which of the following should Clare do?
A) She should rewrite the document according to her own impression of Megan's intent.
B) She should concentrate more on the style of writing than on the readability of the message.
C) She should rewrite the document to suit her own style of writing in order to make the piece more effective.
D) She should stick to Megan's style of writing unless absolutely necessary and ask Megan about the intention of the message.
E) She should avoid asking Megan about her intent so that she can revise the document from a fresh perspective.
Q:
Jamie has completed the first draft of a document for her company and must now revise it. What advice should you give Jamie about the revision process?
A) She should begin by checking the message for spelling and grammar errors and concentrate on increasing readability.
B) She should begin revising the first draft as soon as she completes it, so that the material is fresh in her mind.
C) She should check the message to see if all the points are in logical order and the content is organized correctly.
D) Grammar and spelling are not very important if the message uses electronic media, as modern audiences are pressed for time.
E) Messages using print media must first be checked for formatting to ensure that the document is visually pleasing.
Q:
When revising a document, you must ________.
A) first read it to evaluate its overall effectiveness and tone
B) first look carefully for grammatical errors
C) read it just once to finish quickly
D) pay closest attention to spelling
E) only skim through it to check formatting
Q:
Which of the following statements about writing technology and tools is true?
A) Style sets address the overall look and feel of the page, including color palettes and background images.
B) Both autocompletion and autocorrection refer to the same function.
C) Standard blocks of text that are reused in multiple documents are known as style sheets.
D) Templates set overall document parameters such as page size and provide a set of styles to use.
E) The autocompletion tool makes it easy to combine several files.
Q:
Sarah needs to send out an email to all the clients of her firm. The content of the mail will remain the same; all that needs to be changed is the names and addresses of the recipients. Which of the following should Sarah use?
A) file merge
B) templates
C) style sheets
D) themes
E) mail merge
Q:
A) theme
B) tagline
C) pull quote
D) boilerplate
E) template
Answer: C
Q:
The five members of Elena's team are working on five different parts of a report. Elena needs to make sure that the formatting for paragraphs and certain words remain consistent throughout, so that when it's ready, all five parts of the report can be integrated seamlessly. Which of the following tools can Elena's team use to achieve this consistency?
A) typescripts
B) themes
C) style sheets
D) boilerplate
E) mail merge
Q:
________ are collections of formatting choices for words, paragraphs, and other elements.
A) Typecasts
B) Style sheets
C) Boilerplates
D) Themes
E) Typescripts
Q:
All the employees of Magus Enterprises are required to have a block of text containing a few standard lines about the company at the bottom of all work emails. This is known as a ________.
A) template
B) boilerplate
C) theme
D) transcript
E) facsimile
Q:
When a paragraph is to be developed, by providing examples of a general idea, which of the following methods should be used?
A) contrast
B) comparison
C) cause and effect
D) illustration
E) repetition
Q:
Which of the following statements about the elements of a paragraph is true?
A) A topic sentence need not be related to the general idea of the paragraph.
B) Transitions tie together related points and ease the shift from one distinct thought to
another.
C) The topic sentence provides examples, evidence, and clarification of the general idea.
D) A support sentence need not be related to the general idea of the paragraph, but must be more specific than the topic sentence.
E) A transition provides examples, evidence, and clarification of the general idea.
Q:
"Jamie and Emma have been very busy recently, so we haven't met them for some time." The transitional element used in this sentence serves to ________.
A) intensify an idea or thought
B) contrast two thoughts
C) compare two ideas
D) provide additional detail
E) establish a cause-and-effect relationship
Q:
Which of the following methods is used when you want to use similarities or differences to develop the main idea in a paragraph?
A) illustration
B) comparison or contrast
C) cause and effect
D) classification
E) repetition
Q:
Transitions connect ideas by ________.
A) showing how one thought is related to another
B) extending the sentence with a support sentence
C) using clichs to establish familiarity with the subject
D) avoiding usage of words that are frequently or commonly paired
E) avoiding usage of connecting words such as and, therefore, although, etc
Q:
"Though fully electric cars are gaining popularity, their practicality for long-distance travelers remains in some doubt." Which of the following is the best support sentence to follow this topic sentence?
A) Fully electric cars could be the next big development in automotive history.
B) Most large auto manufacturers are concentrating on the development of electric vehicles.
C) A hybrid vehicle combines an internal combustion engine with an electric propulsion system.
D) Solar cars are primarily demonstration vehicles, while hybrid cars are quite common.
E) Electric cars can travel only a limited distance on a single charge and charging stations are rare.
Q:
In a paragraph, the support sentences ________.
A) need not be connected to the topic sentence
B) are usually the first sentence of the paragraph
C) are less specific than the topic sentence
D) provide examples or evidence for the topic
E) introduce the topic to be covered
Q:
________ sentences, usually the first one in the paragraph, give readers a summary of the general idea that will be covered in the rest of the paragraph.
A) Cause-and-effect
B) Transition
C) Topic
D) Support
E) Summary
Q:
If you want to downplay an idea, you must ________.
A) make it the subject of the sentence
B) place it at the end of the sentence
C) add more detail to the idea
D) place it in the middle of the sentence
E) devote more words to it
Q:
Which of the following is a complex sentence?
A) Madrid has many museums and art galleries.
B) The city is well known for its nightlife, and its cafes are popular with tourists and locals alike.
C) Though bullfighting is censured by some, its popularity in Madrid continues unabated.
D) Madrid is a historical and cultural center in Spain.
E) The nightlife of Madrid is deservedly famous, but classical music still finds firm followers.
Q:
"While you may disagree with Joan's recommendations, you must admit that her suggestions would save the company's money." This is an example of a ________.
A) simple sentence
B) compound sentence
C) complex sentence
D) compound-complex sentence
E) simple-compound sentence
Q:
"There have been many storms this year, and the agricultural yield has been poor." Which type of sentence is this?
A) compound-complex
B) compound
C) simple
D) complex
E) simple-compound
Q:
A sentence that expresses two or more independent but related thoughts of equal importance, usually joined by and, but, or or, is called a ________ sentence.
A) simple
B) compound-complex
C) complex
D) compound
E) simple-complex
Q:
Which of the following is a simple sentence?
A) Although John taught James the piano, James is the better player.
B) James plays both the piano and the violin excellently.
C) James plays the piano well, but is not as skilled at the violin.
D) Though he studied the piano with a tutor, James learned the violin on his own.
E) James plays the piano well, but not as well as John.
Q:
A sentence that has only a single subject and a single predicate is called a ________ sentence.
A) simple
B) compound
C) complex
D) compound-complex
E) simple-compound
Q:
A sentence that has two main clauses, at least one of which contains a subordinate clause, is called a ________.
A) simple sentence
B) compound sentence
C) complex sentence
D) compound-complex sentence
E) simple-compound sentence
Q:
Which of the following statements is true of a business message?
A) Clichs are often the quickest and best ways to communicate a simple message.
B) With the increasing informality in the business world, correct grammar has become unimportant.
C) Abstract terms are widely used in business writing as they are the most effective and correct choices for the subject.
D) Familiar, simple words do not set the right tone for business writing.
E) Jargon is an effective way of communicating with certain specialized groups.
Q:
Which of the following sentences uses abstract words?
A) The company database has personal information about all employees.
B) The new software has helped employees save time.
C) The organization values honesty and integrity.
D) The employees have requested a new coffee machine.
E) The organization acquired three other companies in April.
Q:
Words such as liberty, love, motivation, or happiness are examples of ________.
A) transitions
B) clichs
C) buzzwords
D) abstractions
E) jargon
Q:
Which of the following is true for abstract words?
A) They are often used to express qualities or philosophical concepts.
B) They are used to make a sentence more specific.
C) Their meaning is unambiguous; they cannot be misinterpreted.
D) They are used when giving detailed descriptions.
E) They refer to things that are tangible.
Q:
In which of the following cases is the active voice preferred over the passive voice?
A) when you want to point out mistakes without attributing blame
B) when you want to make a subject livelier and more direct
C) when you want to point out what's being done without taking credit
D) when you want to avoid personal pronouns in order to create an objective tone
E) when you want to be diplomatic about pointing out a problem or an error
Q:
Which of the following sentences is in the active voice?
A) An acknowledged success, the program to improve attendance was first implemented by the mayor.
B) The mayor, who is very popular in the area, has implemented a number of educational policies.
C) The program to make school lunches healthier was undertaken by the mayor.
D) Despite initial reluctance from schools, the school lunch program was undertaken by the mayor.
E) The school lunch program in the city was spearheaded by the mayor, who is very popular.
Q:
Which of the following statements about using the passive voice is true?
A) The passive voice is usually stronger than the active voice.
B) In a passive sentence, the subject performs the action.
C) The passive voice is grammatically incorrect.
D) The passive voice is used when the subject receives an action.
E) The passive voice can be used to personalize messages.