Q&A Hero

Q: One characteristic of a masculine style of communication is A. instrumentality. B. apology. C. building rapport. D. tentativeness.

Q: During Phase 3 of the 3-x-3 writing process, Donalyn is analyzing her message to make sure it will achieve its purpose. What is Donalyn doing? a. Proofreading b. Evaluating c. Editing d. Anticipating

Q: A masculine style often uses ______________ to maintain authority in a conversation. A. apologies B. tag questions C. topic control D. emotions

Q: To make your business messages more readable, you can do which of the following? a. Add footnotes. b. Incorporate numbered and bulleted lists. c. Include a bibliography at the end. d. Eliminate white space.

Q: Vivienne's interaction with others often includes assertive statements. Moreover, she frequently interrupts anyone who voices an opinion that is different than hers. According to the text, what communication style is Vivienne using? A. feminine B. neutral C. androgynous D. masculine

Q: Nouns ending in -tion, -ment, and -ance are sometimes called ________ nouns because they can suck the life out of active verbs. a. slang b. zombie c. dead d. buried

Q: Robert is an effective supervisor because he has the ability to interpret a number of spoken and unspoken conversational cues. His subordinates in his sales division respect him because he also has the ability to develop strong rapport with each coworker by showing constant support. Which type of communication style is Robert demonstrating when he is showing support? A. feminine B. neutral C. androgynous D. masculine

Q: Study the following sentence: Social media have created an enormous paradigm shift in what types of stories are considered breaking news. This sentence would be improved by eliminating a(n) ________. a. buzzword b. vague expression c. redundancy d. opening filler

Q: A feminine conversational style uses apologizing forms of speech A. to avoid sounding dogmatic. B. because the speaker has low self-esteem. C. because women are weak. D. All of these are typical reasons why a feminine style uses apologies.

Q: One characteristic of a feminine style of communication is A. instrumentality. B. rapport talk. C. report talk. D. assertiveness.

Q: The best way to evaluate your finished written message is by ________. a. determining the readability level b. running it through a grammar/style checker program c. receiving feedback d. asking someone to proofread it for you

Q: Which of the following sentences best demonstrates clarity? a. Every effort should be made to notify each and every employee without delay of next week's gathering. b. First and foremost, it is imperative that all employees be notified of next week's assembly. c. It is the duty of all supervisors to inform their subordinates of next week's congregation. d. Please let your employees know about next Friday's meeting.

Q: A feminine style often uses _________________ to initiate and maintain conversation. A. exclamations B. assertions C. advice D. questions

Q: In asking herself Does this message achieve my purpose?, Nicole is in the ________ stage of the writing process. a. proofreading b. composing c. evaluating d. submitting

Q: A feminine communication style is characterized by which of the following elements? A. focusing on facts B. attempting to dominate conversations C. listening supportively D. offering advice

Q: Alexis must proofread a complex business document. She should _______. a. proofread the document on her computer screen since the document will be submitted electronically b. anticipate that she will find errors c. read the document immediately after finishing the first draft d. read quickly to focus on main ideas rather than individual words

Q: Differences in language use between man and women A. are distinct and noticeable in the language patterns of every man and every woman. B. don't characterize all men and women. C. are biological traits that do not evolve over time. D. are a myth.

Q: Which of the following statements is most accurate about clichs and slang in business writing? a. They can add clarity to your writing. b. Using them frequently can help you keep your writing fresh and trendy. c. Avoiding them can help you maintain professionalism. d. They are universally understood.

Q: Filler words such as "like," "you know," "umm," and "yeah," A. reduce your credibility. B. are viewed negatively by older generations. C. can reduce your chances of getting hired. D. All of these are consequences of using filler words.

Q: To vs. too and then vs. than are examples of ________. a. formatting errors b. easily confused words c. typos d. clichs

Q: All of the following are examples of negative, rather than positive, language EXCEPT: A. When do I have to submit my paper? B. What is the due date for the paper? C. How many points will you dock me if I turn in my paper late? D. When is the latest I can turn in my paper?

Q: Proofreading your own writing is especially difficult because you are likely to _______. a. find your own content uninteresting b. rely on readers to find errors for you c. believe that correctness is unimportant d. see what you thought you wrote

Q: All of the following are examples of negative, rather than positive, language EXCEPT: A. You'd better give us until Tuesday to get that inspection done. B. The inspection won't be finished until Tuesday. C. We'll have to wait until Tuesday to schedule the inspection. D. We'll finish the inspection on Tuesday.

Q: Vanessa has written a marketing report for her boss. Before presenting it, she wants to make sure that the report does not contain too many words like extremely, totally, and very. She wants to sound emphatic but businesslike. What is Vanessa checking for? a. Conciseness b. Redundancy c. Clichs d. Intensifiers

Q: Which is a typical outcome of using "less powerful" speech? A. It sounds considerate and may help the speaker improve relationships. B. It creates the impression that the speaker highly competent. C. It demonstrates conviction. D. It tends to alienate co-workers.

Q: One way to evaluate a message effectively is to think of your writing as taking the place of ________. a. a telephone call b. your resum c. a social media post d. a personal appearance

Q: An advantage of "powerful" speech is that it A. sounds considerate. B. helps the speaker achieve relational goals. C. tends to create a sense of good will. D. creates an impression that you are a person with authority and conviction.

Q: Which of the following sentences avoids slang or buzzwords? a. I cant believe that I totally bombed my presentation. b. We need to work hard to meet the deadline. c. We hope to incentivize our employees to work hard to meet the project deadline. d. I hope we dont get burned, but we really need this paradigm shift.

Q: An example of a "more powerful" speech form is A. "This meeting is running late, isn't it?" B. "That was truly quite marvelous!" C. "We will submit our final report by 3 P.M. this afternoon." D. "What do you think should be considered next?"

Q: Which of the following is the best example of business writing? a. It would be advantageous for you to enlighten your employees regarding the company's new social media policy. b. Please tell your employees about the company's new social media policy. c. You are hereby advised to inform your employees about the new social media policy that has been adopted by the company. d. The individual referenced above must inform all subordinates in regard to the company's new social media policy.

Q: A coworker tells you: "It makes me really mad when my boss strolls past my desk and says, Okay, honey, let's get down to work." "I am not his honey!" In your coworker's view, the word "honey" is A. jargon. B. report talk. C. a trigger word. D. an equivocal term.

Q: Which of the following about using Twitter for business writing is accurate? a. Tweets should include long words to increase description and comprehension. b. You should avoid personalizing tweets so that you can remain anonymous. c. Conventional spelling, grammar, and punctuation are unimportant because tweets are usually informal. d. Tweets should include only main ideas related to useful information.

Q: Language that sets off an intense emotional reaction in a listener is referred to as A. jargon. B. trigger words. C. ambiguous words. D. equivocal speech.

Q: The vague expression in view of the fact that could be replaced by which of the following words? a. later b. although c. presently d. because

Q: Effectively editing, proofreading, and evaluating your writing demands objectivity and a willingness to ________. a. print every message b. cut words and sentences c. wait at least two days between drafting and sending a message d. concentrate on ideas rather than words or individual sentences

Q: Research suggests that swearing on the job A. is expected in some settings. B. should be avoided until you are familiar with the norms of the organization. C. has been identified as the leading cause of employee termination. D. All of these statements are supported by research.

Q: Biased language has all of the following characteristics EXCEPT A. paints a negative picture of its target B. generates negative feelings C. is concrete, measurable, and objective D. contains an evaluation

Q: Sans serif typefaces ________. a. are often preferred by Web designers for simple, pure pages b. have small features at the ends of strokes c. suggest tradition, maturity, and formality d. are frequently used for body text in business messages and longer documents

Q: Which of the following statements is most accurate about Phase 3 of the writing process? a. In this final phase, you should focus only on sentence-level editing. b. To save time, you should not focus on revising short messages. c. You should plan to spend about half of the total time on a message in the revision phase. d. Effective writers aim for a perfect message on the first try.

Q: All of the following are expressed in biased language EXCEPT A. Who are you trying to kid? B. Let's consider the consequences of this plan. C. Well, that idea is a real winner. D. What a hare-brained notion.

Q: The statement, "Omar has been nagging me about that job for two weeks" (as opposed to "Omar has inquired a few times about the status of that job.") is an example of A. biased language. B. low-level abstraction. C. denotative language. D. verbal precision.

Q: When it arrived, I cashed your check immediately is an example of ________. a. effective business writing b. reader orientation c. a long lead-in d. saying the obvious

Q: Do use strategic ambiguity A. when the receiver needs clarity. B. to prevent potential confusion. C. to deceive a competitor. D. when you need to deliver a difficult message, but you want to help the receiver save face.

Q: Which of the following statements about numbered and bulleted lists is most accurate? a. Use a bulleted list when the sequence of items is important. b. In a numbered or bulleted list, capitalize the first word only if the listed item is a complete sentence. c. Make the items in a numbered or bulleted list parallel. d. Add end punctuation to all items in a numbered or bulleted list.

Q: Fully justified text (when lines of text align on both the left and right) ________. a. requires margins of 1 to 1.5 inches b. is preferred for business documents because it increases white space and readability c. results in awkward and uneven spaces between words d. is easier to skim

Q: Don't use strategic ambiguity when your goal is to A. help the listener understand your precise meaning. B. promote harmony. C. soften the blow of difficult messages. D. communicate your ideas in a situation where it could possibly expose you to a lawsuit if you stated your point unambiguously.

Q: Strategic ambiguity refers to A. precise, low-level abstractions. B. the judicious use of slang. C. the purposeful use of indirect language. D. a common form of communication in low-context cultures.

Q: Which of the following sentences avoids the use of trite business phrases? a. The application will be sent under separate cover. b. Enclosed please find a coupon to use during your next visit. c. We have received your loan application. d. Please do not hesitate to call me if you have questions.

Q: Which of the following sentences avoids a clich? a. First and foremost, I would like to thank you for attending. b. We need to think outside the box in creating new products. c. His presentation was well received by the board of trustees. d. Meeting that early deadline is easier said than done.

Q: A specialized technical form of vocabulary that allows professionals to communicate about issues important to their field is referred to as A. ambiguous language. B. jargon. C. high-level language. D. equivocal terms.

Q: Manager Bland gave the following instructions to Jared: "I'd like you take on more responsibility. So far, you've only been dealing with minor tasks such as drawing up daily schedules and mailing out customer refunds. Starting with your shift on Tuesday, I'd like you to assist Kevin with brainstorming new means of customer outreach and with designing a sticky web site for our PRNG program." Manager Bland's instructions include all of the following types of language EXCEPT _________. A. low-level abstractions B. jargon C. high-level abstractions D. slang

Q: In making sure that subjects agree with their verbs in your message, you are checking for ________. a. spelling b. grammar c. tone d. format

Q: When you are trying to summarize a large amount of information, yet make your meaning clear, you can often achieve maximum clarity by using A. highly specific language. B. highly abstract language. C. a large amount of nonverbal amplification. D. an abstract overview followed by specific details.

Q: Some experts recommend devoting about ________ of the total writing time to the third phase of the writing process. a. 10 percent b. 30 percent c. 50 percent d. 75 percent

Q: Which of the following is an effective guideline for expressing messages clearly? A. State your main idea using high-level abstraction, then illustrate with low-level abstractions. B. In most cases, it is best to talk only in low-level abstractions. C. Use specialized jargon when you are talking with persons outside your profession. D. You can help others understand your meaning by using equivocal terms.

Q: Which of the following sentences does not contain any buried verbs? a. The health care industry is dependent on a highly trained staff. b. The task force reached a conclusion that the company should go public. c. In some parts of the world, business is not conducted over meals. d. We have made plans to create a reduction in our operating expenses.

Q: A good way to reduce equivocal misunderstandings is: A. If you are the receiver, double check the sender's meaning of equivocal terms. B. If you are the sender, use lower-level abstractions to clarify the meaning of equivocal terms. C. If you are in a multicultural context, ask the receiver to verify their understanding of your message, especially if their nonverbal suggest confusion. D. All of these are useful strategies for reducing equivocal misunderstandings.

Q: Which of the following sentences best controls exuberance? a. We totally understand that you really didn't mean to actually seem arrogant during the interview. b. Our customers are extremely pleased with our really excellent customer service. c. We are happy to learn that your banquet room is available on December 15. d. We definitely think that the company could actually reduce turnover by offering new benefits.

Q: Which of the following is NOT an equivocal phrase for expressing time? A. very soon B. every time I see you C. in two minutes D. after a long break

Q: What is the most accurate statement about slang and buzzwords? a. If you want to sound professional, avoid using slangy expressions and buzzwords in your writing. b. Buzzwords are informal words with arbitrary and extravagantly changed meanings that quickly go out of fashion. c. Buzzwords are technical terms that are meant to express rather than impress. d. Slang and buzzwords will help your writing sound hip and current.

Q: John is the leader of a small work team that is responsible for developing new safety standards for a small construction company. The group has been having difficulty developing new standards because John's instructions have been extremely unclear. He has stated a general goal, but he has not given the group any specific directions. John could probably improve this group's ability to complete its task if he would _______________. A. use only lower-level abstractions when he gives directions to the group. B. use more jargon from the construction field when he gives directions to the group. C. use higher-level abstraction to present the overall goal, followed by lower-level abstractions when he explains exactly how to complete the task. D. use terms that are more equivocal when he gives directions to the group.

Q: Which of the following statements represents the lowest-level of abstraction? A. "Send me a memo of your ideas." B. "Let me know what you think about the idea." C. "Send me a memo by the tenth of the month outlining your ideas." D. "By the tenth of this month, send me a memo listing the strengths and weaknesses of this project."

Q: Editing and proofreading are interchangeable terms for correcting a message's grammar, spelling, punctuation, format, and mechanics.a. Trueb. False

Q: Which of the following represents the lowest-level of abstraction? A. The proposal has mistakes in it. B. The proposal you sent to Mr. Brewer on Jan 8 has incorrect budget totals, misspelled words, and grammar mistakes. C. The proposal sucks. D. The proposal you sent to Mr. Brewer has mistakes in it.

Q: Bulleted lists are most effective for items representing a sequence or chronology. a. True b. False

Q: A "high-level abstraction" is A. a specific, concrete statement that refers to observable objects or events. B. Broussard's Law of Physics. C. a broad, general statement. D. an unequivocal message.

Q: One way to achieve clarity is to use passive-voice verbs in your messages. a. True b. False

Q: A "low level abstraction" is A. a specific, concrete statement that refers to observable objects or events. B. a mathematical concept. C. an element of equivocal speaking. D. a legal brief.

Q: The phrase create a reduction in costs contains an example of a buried verb. a. True b. False

Q: Equivocal misunderstandings occurs for all of the following reasons EXCEPT A. Different professions sometimes have varying specialized meanings for the same term. B. Various cultures interpret a term in different ways. C. Some communicators use lower-level abstractions to clarify their meaning. D. Regions within the U.S. may hold different meanings for a term.

Q: The following sentence is effectively phrased to express the importance of the message: It is absolutely essential that you turn your expense claim in by Friday. a. True b. False

Q: Which of the following terms represents words that have more than one common meaning? A. annotative B. judicious C. jargon D. equivocal

Q: In business writing, you should focus on impressing rather than expressing. a. True b. False

Q: Imagine that you have been asked to give a five minute speech in class about "Listening to Evaluate." Create an outline for the body of the speech, using "Analyze Speaker's Evidence" as your first main point and "Examine Emotional Appeals" as your second main point. Identify at least four elements of supporting data for each main point.

Q: Allan is writing instructions for filing an employee grievance. He should use a numbered list because the order of steps in the process is important. a. True b. False

Q: Two of the text's guidelines for effective listening are: "Withhold Judgment" and "Analyze the Speaker's Evidence." Compare and contrast these two guidelines, explaining when each one is appropriate and how to accomplish each one. Illustrate your answer with examples.

Q: The following sentence is an example of effective business writing: As per your request, further instructions will be sent to you under separate cover. a. True b. False

Q: Define paraphrasing, and explain its purpose. Describe three types of paraphrasing, and give an example of each.

Q: Serif typefaces are widely used for signs, headings, and material that does not require continuous reading. a. True b. False

Q: Answer the following about using questions in conversation: (a) Why are sincere questions an important element of listening? Write two examples of sincere questions a manager could ask a subordinate. How would these questions contribute to effective listening? (b) What are counterfeit questions and why should they be avoided? Write two examples of counterfeit questions a manager should avoid asking a subordinate. What might be the negative impact of each question?