Accounting
Anthropology
Archaeology
Art History
Banking
Biology & Life Science
Business
Business Communication
Business Development
Business Ethics
Business Law
Chemistry
Communication
Computer Science
Counseling
Criminal Law
Curriculum & Instruction
Design
Earth Science
Economic
Education
Engineering
Finance
History & Theory
Humanities
Human Resource
International Business
Investments & Securities
Journalism
Law
Management
Marketing
Medicine
Medicine & Health Science
Nursing
Philosophy
Physic
Psychology
Real Estate
Science
Social Science
Sociology
Special Education
Speech
Visual Arts
Business Communication
Q:
The slide master feature in presentation software
A) should be avoided, since it is viewed as a crutch for unskilled presenters.
B) gives your slides a cartoonish look.
C) helps create a consistent design for your entire slide show.
D) is too complicated for most presenters to use effectively.
E) is helpful only if you have fewer than 10 slides.
Q:
When preparing a background design for slides,
A) you will need to consult a professional graphic artist.
B) be careful when using the design templates that come with your software.
C) any of the designs that come with your software program will do.
D) choose the most exciting colors and graphics you can find.
E) none of the above are advised.
Q:
Four important design elements to consider when creating slides include all of the following except
A) choosing color.
B) selecting background designs.
C) writing content.
D) selecting fonts and type styles.
E) choosing artwork.
Q:
A slideument is
A) a particularly useful electronic slide that provides lots of information.
B) a slide that is sent ahead of time to introduce the audience to your topic.
C) an electronic slide that tries to function as both a presentation visual and a printed document.
D) a slide that is also printed and distributed to the audience as a handout.
E) a helpful summary of your presentation, distributed to the audience just as you begin.
Q:
Unlike structured slides, free-form slides
A) are completely random and have no design consistency.
B) don't follow a rigid structure, but are still unified by design elements such as color and font selection.
C) use the same color for background and text.
D) contain extra-large fonts.
E) contain no text at all.
Q:
Overhead transparencies are
A) no longer used.
B) old-fashioned, but offer some advantages compared to electronic slides.
C) appropriate only for highly technical presentations.
D) much easier to edit than electronic slides.
E) none of the above.
Q:
The most popular type of visual aid for business presentations is
A) flip charts.
B) whiteboards.
C) electronic slides.
D) overhead transparencies.
E) All of the above are equally popular.
Q:
An advantage of electronic presentation slides is
A) they are relatively inexpensive to prepare and display.
B) they are relatively easy to create and edit.
C) the equipment is easy to use.
D) they can be projected in full daylight.
E) you can pack lots of words onto each slide.
Q:
Sending preview materials to the audience prior to an online presentation
A) will cause most audience members to ignore what you present later.
B) suggests that you are not confident.
C) can be helpful, especially if you do not include your entire slide set.
D) is an example of the backchannel in action.
E) is necessary only if you are inexperienced.
Q:
In business presentations, the backchannel is
A) the "notes" portion of an electronic slide, which only the presenter can see.
B) subtle, nonverbal cues the presenter sends during the presentation.
C) electronic communication among audience members during the presentation.
D) password-protected electronic slides that only certain audience members are allowed to view.
E) none of the above.
Q:
Which of the following is not a good way to deal with speaking anxiety?
A) Prepare more material than necessary.
B) Concentrate on your nervousness.
C) Take a few deep breaths before speaking.
D) Have your first sentence memorized and on the tip of your tongue.
E) Visualize success.
Q:
When checking the location of your presentation in advance, you should
A) not worry about seating arrangementsthey have no effect on how you deliver your remarks.
B) always request a whiteboard, even if you aren't sure you will need it.
C) think carefully about the seating of the audience.
D) do none of the above, since it is a waste of time.
E) do all of the above.
Q:
Rehearsing your presentation will
A) help you check your voice, timing, phrasing, and equipment.
B) increase your nervousness.
C) most likely ruin your ability to make an effective presentation.
D) rob you of the confidence you need.
E) waste valuable time, since most presentations are delivered in person.
Q:
Speaking from notes or an outline is often effective because
A) you can look at the notes instead of at your audience.
B) you can maintain a natural speaking flow.
C) it reduces the likelihood that you will improvise.
D) it enables you to read the presentation word-for-word.
E) it takes far less time to prepare than writing out the entire presentation.
Q:
The most effective and easiest mode of delivering presentations in nearly all situations is
A) memorization.
B) reading from a prepared script.
C) speaking from an outline or notes.
D) impromptu speaking.
E) from a seated position.
Q:
Delivering your presentation by reading it word-for-word is usually a bad idea except when
A) your presentation is very lengthy.
B) you're covering policy statements or legal documents that must be presented verbatim.
C) the presentation is humorous.
D) the audience is hostile.
E) you are nervous.
Q:
Disadvantages of delivering a presentation from memory include all of the following except
A) sounding stilted.
B) possibly forgetting your lines.
C) sounding too informal.
D) none of the abovememorization is the best method.
E) all of the above are disadvantages.
Q:
You should always close your speech
A) on a memorable note.
B) by leaving the audience with a feeling of incompleteness, which you can resolve in the question-and-answer period.
C) with something dramatic or flamboyant.
D) by introducing some new ideas for the audience to think about.
E) with a humorous statement.
Q:
If your speech or presentation requires the audience to participate in an upcoming project, you should
A) go directly to the question-and-answer session after you cover the main points of your speech.
B) close your speech on a note of uncertainty.
C) close your speech by explaining who is responsible for doing what.
D) lead people to believe that the decision will be easy to carry out.
E) do none of the above.
Q:
If there is a lack of consensus among the audience at the end of your presentation, you should
A) gloss over it as quickly as possible.
B) make the disagreement clear and be ready to suggest a method for resolving the differences.
C) identify the individuals causing the disagreement and ask them pointed questions.
D) calmly explain that no one is leaving until the disagreements are worked out.
E) do all of the above.
Q:
When you have covered all the main points in your speech, you should
A) make sure your concluding remarks are memorable and expressed in a tone that is appropriate to the situation.
B) wrap up as quickly as possible.
C) avoid using such phrases as "To sum it all up" and "In conclusion."
D) keep it simple with a statement such as, "Well, I guess that's it."
E) be careful not to repeat any of them.
Q:
At the close of a business presentation,
A) audience attention tends to reach its lowest point.
B) be clear about what you want the audience to do next.
C) you should avoid making it obvious that you're about to finish.
D) audiences resent being reminded of the presentation's main ideas.
E) it is always best to avoid having to answer any questions.
Q:
To hold your audience's attention during the body of your speech, you should
A) make at least seven or eight main points.
B) include numerous abstract ideas.
C) relate your subject to your audience's needs.
D) periodically ask, "Is everyone still paying attention?"
E) do all of the above.
Q:
"Now that we've reviewed the problem, let's take a look at some solutions" is an example of
A) a poor transition.
B) a good transition between major sections of a speech.
C) a small link between sentences or paragraphs in a speech.
D) the kind of wording that should never appear in a speech.
E) a redundancy.
Q:
As a speaker, how you go about establishing credibility depends in part on
A) what time of day you deliver your remarks.
B) whether or not you are known to the audience as an expert in the subject matter.
C) how you are dressed.
D) the size of your audience.
E) the length of your presentation.
Q:
One effective way to arouse interest at the start of a speech is to
A) always start things off with a joke.
B) unite the audience around a common goal.
C) tease the audience by not mentioning specifically what you'll be talking about.
D) say something outrageous, such as an insulting comment about an audience member.
E) do none of the above.
Q:
In the introduction to your presentation, it is important to
A) discuss the three or four main points on your outline.
B) establish credibility.
C) ask for audience input.
D) boast about your qualifications.
E) make it clear that you won't have time for questions.
Q:
Formal presentations differ from informal ones in that
A) formal presentations always include obscure, unfamiliar vocabulary.
B) formal presentations are always much longer.
C) formal presentations are often delivered from a stage or platform.
D) when delivering a formal presentation, you should speak more rapidly.
E) formal presentations are much easier to prepare and deliver.
Q:
To reduce the formality of an oral presentation,
A) deliver your remarks in a conversational tone.
B) use a large room.
C) seat the audience in rows.
D) use only the passive voice.
E) do all of the above.
Q:
When preparing an outline for your speech, keep in mind that
A) it can include delivery cues, such as where you plan to pause for emphasis or use visuals.
B) you should keep each item to two- to three-word descriptions of what you will say.
C) you can leave out all transitions.
D) this is not the place to include "stage directions."
E) the best presentations are almost entirely spontaneous.
Q:
When organizing a speech, use the indirect approach if your purpose is to ________ and the audience is ________.
A) entertain, resistant
B) motivate, receptive
C) persuade, resistant
D) inform, receptive
E) deceive, uninformed
Q:
Longer speeches and presentations are organized like
A) reports.
B) memos.
C) letters.
D) email messages.
E) none of the above.
Q:
If you have 10 minutes or less to deliver a presentation, you should
A) speak as quickly as you possibly can.
B) limit yourself to four or five main points.
C) assume your audience is already interested.
D) organize your presentation as you would a brief written message.
E) not waste time on an introduction; instead, jump straight to the body of your message.
Q:
If you are not given a time limit for your presentation, you should
A) make it as long as possible to ensure the audience understands the message.
B) keep the presentation as short as possible while accomplishing your purpose.
C) ask the audience how long they would like the presentation to take.
D) make sure it takes no less than 30 minutes, not including the question-and-answer session.
E) deliver the presentation impromptu, and end it whenever the audience appears to be losing interest.
Q:
When using conventional structured slides, try to average one slide for every ________ minute(s) you speak.
A) 1
B) 3
C) 7
D) 10
E) 20
Q:
For business presentations, time restraints are usually
A) rigid, permitting little or no flexibility.
B) meaninglessaudiences expect presenters to take a little more time than they're allotted.
C) imposed only on lower-level employees.
D) not important if you are presenting to your colleagues.
E) only a suggestion.
Q:
The best way to clarify your main idea in a presentation is to
A) provide a lengthy handout for your audience to review during your presentation.
B) describe it using jargon and complicated language to emphasize its importance.
C) develop a single sentence that links your subject and purpose to your audience's frame of reference.
D) allow your audience to gradually figure it out on their own.
E) restate it in three identical sentences, one right after the other.
Q:
When organizing a speech or presentation, your first step is to
A) develop an outline.
B) define the main idea.
C) write the introduction.
D) decide on the delivery style.
E) complete all of your visuals.
Q:
Selecting the right medium for your presentation is
A) easyyou're simply giving a speech.
B) an important decision since technology offers a number of choices.
C) only an issue when addressing audiences from other cultures.
D) not something you need to think about early on.
E) unimportant, as long as your content is good.
Q:
One of the steps in analyzing your audience is to
A) determine their likely emotional state.
B) remember to keep your speech or oral presentation short.
C) define your purpose.
D) prepare a detailed, informative outline.
E) none of the above.
Q:
The two most common purposes of business presentations are to
A) analyze and synthesize.
B) regulate and validate.
C) inform and persuade.
D) illustrate and entertain.
E) observe and comment.
Q:
When you prepare a speech or presentation, your first step involves
A) analyzing the situation.
B) choosing the right words.
C) planning the content, length, and style of your speech or presentation.
D) deciding on the right mix of visuals and text for your slides.
E) doing all of the above.
Q:
Speeches and oral presentations are much like any other messages in that
A) all require similar planning.
B) the size of the groups to which they are delivered is similar.
C) the interaction between the audience and speaker is similar.
D) they deal with emotional or personal issues to a similar extent.
E) they require little planning.
Q:
The close of a report may be called the "Summary" or "Conclusions and Recommendations."
Q:
Reports do not need an introduction if they have a synopsis and a letter of transmittal.
Q:
The introduction is a good place to tell readers why they should be concerned with your topic.
Q:
The introduction to a formal business report should never be longer than a paragraph or two.
Q:
Many reports, especially short ones, require neither a synopsis nor an executive summary.
Q:
Unlike a synopsis, an executive summary may contain headings and visual aids.
Q:
For reports organized in the indirect approach, you should use an informative synopsis instead of a descriptive one.
Q:
A synopsis of a 15-page report should usually be at least two pages long.
Q:
The table of contents should always include all levels of headings for the report.
Q:
If a report does not have a synopsis, the letter of transmittal can be used to summarize the major findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
Q:
The letter of transmittal should always use the indirect approach, especially if the report is an analytical one.
Q:
If you received written authorization to prepare a business report, you should respond with a letter of acceptance.
Q:
It is sometimes acceptable for the title page to serve as the report cover.
Q:
It is never appropriate to submit a business report without a title fly.
Q:
Because they fall at the beginning of a report, the prefatory parts are usually written first.
Q:
Lengthy, complex reports often include two tables of contents: one that is very detailed and another that lists only major headings.
Q:
If your report will be posted online, you should be especially careful to make the report easy to skim.
Q:
Three weeks ago you sent a proposal to a client who had asked for information on upgrading his company's security system. You've heard nothing in response. You should
A) inquire politely as to whether the report arrived or offer to answer any questions regarding its subject.
B) take it as a sign that the client agrees with what you had to say.
C) assume that the report has not been read.
D) call the client and demand to know why you haven't received a response yet.
E) call the client's office, give a fictional reason for calling, and then casually ask about the report as if you had forgotten about it, as well.
Q:
Distributing reports and proposals via a web-based content management system, intranet, or extranet
A) has become completely obsolete now that email is so widespread and easy to use.
B) is impossible without special training and expensive software.
C) requires verifying that your document displays correctly after you have uploaded it.
D) is far more expensive than delivering printed copies.
E) should be avoided at all costseven when the audience requests it.
Q:
Sending reports and proposals as PDF files
A) reduces the likelihood of inadvertently spreading macro viruses and other contaminations.
B) increases the chances of inadvertently spreading macro viruses and other contaminations.
C) gives you less control over how the document is displayed on the audience's computer.
D) is likely to frustrate audiences, since they require expensive software to open.
E) makes it especially difficult to gather comments and other input on the document from reviewers.
Q:
For electronic distribution of reports and proposals, you should
A) always send documents as word-processor files, unless the audience requests otherwise.
B) always send documents as PDF files, unless the audience requests otherwise.
C) send the documents multiple times as email attachments, just to make sure they get there.
D) send WordPerfect files, rather than Microsoft Word or PDF.
E) do none of the above.
Q:
Using FedEx or UPS to deliver a formal report or proposal
A) is a waste of moneyfirst-class mail is almost always preferable.
B) is necessary only when sending the document overseas.
C) will, in most cases, make you appear desperate.
D) will not provide the kind of online tracking service offered by the U.S. Postal Service.
E) allows you to track the report and ensure that it is delivered on time.
Q:
An ideal approach to proofreading a formal report or proposal is to
A) skim it quickly as soon as you finish drafting it, and then send it as soon as possible.
B) have two people review itone who is an expert on the topic and one who is not.
C) never rely on anyone other than yourself.
D) completely avoid using spell checkers, grammar checkers and other software tools.
E) send the draft to a competing company, and ask for their feedback.
Q:
Proofreading reports is different from proofreading other kinds of business messages in that
A) reports usually have more typographical errors.
B) the visual aids in reports don't usually need proofing.
C) reports often have elements that aren't included in other business messages.
D) audience expectations are usually lower when it comes to reports.
E) none of the abovereports do not differ significantly from other business messages.
Q:
One important step in proofreading formal reports and proposals is to
A) go back and use the most impressive words you can find to describe key concepts.
B) proof your visuals thoroughly and make sure they are positioned correctly.
C) not worry about typosonly content.
D) simply rely on your software's spelling and grammar checkers to find any errors.
E) keep in mind that speed is often more important than accuracy.
Q:
Urging readers to act in the close of a proposal
A) is considered a hard-sell tactic, and should be avoided.
B) is acceptable if you know the audience well, but inappropriate for new clients.
C) is an effective and reasonable strategy.
D) generally works well, but never when responding to government RFP's.
E) is effective only when your text is organized in the direct approach.
Q:
The body of a proposal should
A) capture the reader's attention.
B) explain the complete details of the solution.
C) make whatever promises it takes to win the contract.
D) aggressively attack any other companies competing for the audience's business.
E) do all of the above.
Q:
The text of a proposal
A) must always follow the AIDA plan.
B) is usually presented in outline form.
C) consists of the introduction, body, and close.
D) should be italicized.
E) is always organized using the direct approach.
Q:
You're sending an unsolicited proposal to a local restaurant in an effort to become its primary food vendor. The letter of transmittal to accompany the proposal should follow the format for
A) persuasive messages.
B) bad-news messages.
C) good-news messages.
D) routine messages.
E) operational reports.
Q:
In a formal proposal, a synopsis or executive summary may be
A) essential for highlighting your competitive advantage.
B) useful if the proposal is fairly short.
C) placed in an appendix.
D) unnecessary.
E) most effective if it does not mention the RFP to which you are responding.
Q:
An RFP usually includes
A) detailed instructions on referring to the RFP itself in your proposal.
B) a list of companies that have submitted failed proposals in the past.
C) any negative information about the company that might affect the project.
D) a standard disclaimer that any costs mentioned in the report may increase after the proposal is accepted.
E) all of the above.
Q:
The prefatory parts of a formal proposal may include
A) a letter of authorization.
B) a copy of the RFP.
C) an index.
D) visual aids.
E) an appendix.
Q:
Unlike reports, most proposals
A) contain many supplementary parts.
B) contain few supplementary parts.
C) never contain an appendix.
D) are never analytical.
E) are written in an informal tone.
Q:
Proposals addressed to potential customers and investors
A) are nearly always formal.
B) rarely include a copy of the RFP.
C) are less formal than those addressed to internal audiences.
D) should never include visuals.
E) should always be single-spaced.
Q:
An index
A) may include the names of important persons mentioned in your report.
B) lists only the names of authors cited in the report.
C) is never necessary in business reports.
D) should always be prepared by someone other than the author of the report.
E) All of the above are true.
Q:
You've used information from several websites to support your argument in a formal report. You should
A) not worry about documenting the sources since that's only necessary in schoolnot in business.
B) provide information on your sources only if the audience requests it.
C) clearly document the sources in the report.
E) do none of the above.
Answer: C
Q:
The list of secondary sources at the end of a report can be labeled "References" when
A) it contains fewer than 10 items.
B) it contains more than 50 items.
C) it is incomplete.
D) you want the tone of your report to be conversational.
E) you include works consulted but not mentioned in your report.