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Q:
The list of secondary sources at the end of a report is labeled "Works Cited" when it contains
A) all the secondary sources consulted in preparing the report.
B) more than ten entries.
C) only those secondary works that were mentioned in the report.
D) anonymous sources.
E) sources that you feel uncertain about.
Q:
All appendixes should be
A) listed in the table of contents, but not mentioned in the text of the report.
B) mentioned in the text of the report, but not listed in the table of contents.
C) mentioned in the text of the report and listed in the table of contents.
D) included in the index, but not listed in the table of contents.
E) printed in a font that is different than that of the report text.
Q:
Placing detailed supporting materials online instead of in a traditional appendix
A) can make it much more convenient for readers to access.
B) suggests that you are lazy and unprofessional.
C) is not acceptable unless your report is highly technical.
D) is a great inconvenience for your audience.
E) often leads to legal problems.
Q:
Materials in an appendix are not incorporated into the text because
A) they are controversial.
B) they include bad news.
C) they are too long, or not relevant to everyone in the audience.
D) they are boring.
E) they are completely unrelated to the report.
Q:
The authors of an informational report have referred to a multitude of data on the spending habits of 18- to 25-year-old Americans. They want to provide readers with access to this information, but realize it's too lengthy to include in the body of the report. Where should they place it?
A) Nowhereit should simply be left out.
B) In an appendix.
C) After the letter of transmittal.
D) Between the prefatory parts and the introduction.
E) At the very end of the report, in a section labeled "Extras."
Q:
Which of the following is the best heading for the close of a formal report?
A) Ending
B) Take-Aways
C) Final Thoughts
D) The Point
E) Summary
Q:
In a proposal designed to persuade clients to order surge protection equipment from your company, the close should
A) outline the report's key findings.
B) include your analysis of the data you've presented.
C) describe the action(s) you would like readers to take.
D) answer the questions that led to the report.
E) tell readers they can choose not to make a purchase, but they will regret it.
Q:
You're preparing a report on how to reduce network problems at your company's home office. Since the report is organized in the direct approach, the close should
A) present the conclusions and recommendations for the first time.
B) be relatively long.
C) be relatively brief.
D) end by asking readers what they think is the best course of action.
E) make it clear that it would be foolish and irresponsible to ignore your recommendations.
Q:
Which of the following is not a typical function of the introduction to a report?
A) Telling the audience what the report is about
B) Explaining to readers why they should be concerned about the topic
C) Outlining how the report is organized
D) Documenting sources
E) All of the above are typical functions.
Q:
The best way to decide what to include in an introduction is to
A) consult with more-experienced report writers.
B) figure out what kinds of information will most help your readers follow and comprehend the report.
C) put in as many standard topics as you can cover in 10 pages or less.
D) do a quick survey of potential readers.
E) skim the report quickly, and list what you remember.
Q:
You've prepared a 7-page report for a local government official outlining the potential for your company's involvement with downtown revitalization. In this short report it would be reasonable to
A) not include an executive summary.
B) not include a synopsis.
C) combine the executive summary with the letter of transmittal.
D) do any of the above.
E) none of the above.
Q:
An executive summary
A) is never longer than a few paragraphs.
B) may contain headings and visual aids.
C) comes before the synopsis in the prefatory section of a report.
D) is always included with reports longer than 10 pages.
E) is the same thing as a synopsis.
Q:
An executive summary
A) is shorter than a synopsis.
B) gives a fully developed "mini" version of the report.
C) provides additional information (not covered in the report) that executives will need.
D) is unnecessary if the report is not intended for executives.
E) should be written in a tone that is much less formal than the report itself.
Q:
The primary difference between an informative synopsis and a descriptive synopsis is
A) the descriptive synopsis is more detailed.
B) the informative synopsis is more detailed.
C) the informative synopsis omits the report findings.
D) the descriptive synopsis is preferable if your report is organized using the direct approach.
E) none of the abovethere are no significant differences.
Q:
The synopsis of a formal report may also be called a(n)
A) abstract.
B) thesis.
C) snapshot.
D) quick view.
E) outline.
Q:
The synopsis of a formal report is
A) a concise overview of the report's most important points.
B) a short summary containing subheadings and visual aids.
C) usually anywhere from two to five pages.
D) never more than five lines in length.
E) never longer than a single sentence.
Q:
If you will create a PDF file of a business report for electronic distribution, each entry in the table of contents should be
A) italicized.
B) in boldface type.
C) in all caps.
D) a clickable link that takes readers to the appropriate place in the report.
E) underlined.
Q:
To help ensure accuracy, the table of contents for a formal report should be prepared
A) before the text is written.
B) as you are drafting the text.
C) as you prepare the list of references.
D) along with the footnotes or endnotes.
E) after the report is complete, thoroughly edited, and proofed.
Q:
In a complex formal report, it is often helpful to include
A) a table of contents that lists every level of heading in the report plus all illustration and table titles.
B) two tables of contents: a high-level table that shows only major headings, followed by a detailed table that includes all headings and subheadings.
C) everything but prefatory parts in the table of contents.
D) everything but supplementary parts in the table of contents.
E) asterisks beside the titles of all key parts in the table of contents.
Q:
One of the headings in your report is, "Unexpected Price Increases." In the table of contents, the heading should
A) be worded exactly the same way.
B) not be included.
C) be paraphrased.
D) be in boldface type.
E) be in all caps.
Q:
For printed reports, the letter of transmittal is most often positioned
A) right before the table of contents.
B) just after the table of contents.
D) on the outside of the report cover, usually fastened with a paper clip or staple.
E) Any of the above locations are acceptable.
Answer: A
Q:
The letter of transmittal should
A) discuss the scope and methods of the project.
B) highlight important sections of the report.
C) thank the reader for the assignment, if appropriate.
D) do all of the above.
E) do nothing more than thank readers for their interest in your report.
Q:
The letter of transmittal
A) may follow the direct or indirect plan.
B) has a more formal style than the report itself.
C) is usually included as an appendix.
D) should be written in an informal, chummy tone.
E) is never written as a memo.
Q:
A letter of ________ is a specialized cover letter that introduces your report to the audience.
A) authorization
B) acceptance
C) transmittal
D) introduction
E) appreciation
Q:
You should include a title fly with business reports when you want to
A) give the name of the company for which the report has been prepared.
B) add a touch of formality to the report.
C) protect the report from dirt and careless handling.
D) provide a page for the reader to make notes on.
E) make it easier for readers to get straight to the text of your report.
Q:
What would be the most concise and compelling title for a formal report analyzing your company's proposed acquisition of Freedman's Nuts & Bolts?
A) "To Acquire or Not to Acquire"
B) "A Study of the Feasibility of Angstrom Hardware Inc. Acquiring the Concern Currently Operating as Freedman Fasteners"
C) "The Pros and Cons of Acquiring Freedman Fasteners"
D) "Why Angstrom Should Forget About Acquiring Freedman"
E) "An Easy Decision"
Q:
Which of the following is not included in the prefatory parts of a formal report?
A) Cover
B) Letter of authorization
C) Introduction
D) Table of contents
E) Title page
Q:
The prefatory parts of a report should
A) help readers decide whether and how they need to read the report.
B) be prepared and written before the text of the report.
C) include an introduction to the report.
D) not require any revision once they are written.
E) do all of the above.
Q:
The revision process for business reports is essentially the same as it is for other messages, except that it
A) requires far less effort.
B) takes much less time.
C) may take considerably more time.
D) can be accomplished entirely by common word processing software.
E) is only rarely required.
Q:
The four tasks involved in completing business reports and proposals include all of the following except
A) distributing.
B) revising.
C) producing.
D) illustrating.
E) proofreading
Q:
In preparing a solicited proposal, how should you handle the RFP?
Q:
In a formal proposal, how do you determine the organizational approach to use in the letter of transmittal?
Q:
In preparing a formal report, how can you ensure the accuracy of your table of contents?
Q:
Explain the difference between a title fly and a title page.
Q:
Explain why it is generally best to prepare the prefatory parts of your report after you've written the text.
Q:
Why is it often helpful to enlist the help of two people when proofreading reports and proposals?
Q:
How does proofreading reports and proposals differ from proofreading other business messages?
Q:
In preparing a formal proposal, how should you determine whether to treat the letter of transmittal as a positive, negative, or persuasive message?
Q:
List at least three elements normally included in the body of a formal proposal.
Q:
Briefly explain how the components of a formal proposal often differ from those of other formal reports.
Q:
List at least three types of materials commonly included in appendixes.
Q:
What is normally included in the body of a business report?
Q:
What three main parts make up the text of a report?
Q:
Briefly explain the difference between an informative synopsis and a descriptive synopsis.
Q:
Briefly explain the difference between a synopsis and an executive summary.
Q:
When should you include a separate list of illustrations with your report?
Q:
Describe the primary function of the letter of transmittal.
Q:
When distributing reports and proposals electronically, why is it preferable to send documents as PDF files instead of word-processor files?
Q:
List at least three factors that can help you decide what parts to include in a business report.
Q:
What are the three categories of report components?
Q:
After sending your report, you should wait at least three weeks before contacting the audience if you don't receive a response.
Q:
By the time you are ready to check visual aids in the completing step for formal reports, you can normally assume that all the data are correct.
Q:
When you proofread the text part of a report, you should essentially look for the same types of mistakes as you would look for in any business message.
Q:
The close of a formal proposal emphasizes the benefits that readers will realize from your solution.
Q:
If a proposal is unsolicited, the letter of transmittal should follow the format for persuasive messages.
Q:
A synopsis or executive summary is usually less useful in a formal proposal than in other types of formal reports.
Q:
Most proposals have few supplementary parts.
Q:
The components of a formal proposal are entirely different from those of other formal reports.
Q:
Proposals addressed to external audiences, including potential customers and investors, are nearly always formal.
Q:
An index is necessary only if your report is going to be published.
Q:
Acknowledging sources in the body of a report is appropriate for academic work, but never in business.
Q:
The most common supplementary parts to include in a formal report are the appendix, the bibliography, and the index.
Q:
In reports that are intended to lead to action, the recommendations section may be fairly extensive because it spells out exactly what should happen next.
Q:
Briefly explain how a wiki can help teams and other groups, and describe at least three points wiki contributors should keep in mind to increase their effectiveness.
Q:
In a formal proposal, where does the Work Plan section normally appear, and what information does it contain? Can it be changed later?
Q:
What four topics are commonly covered in the introduction to a business proposal? Briefly explain each one.
Q:
Discuss six principles to keep in mind when designing visuals regarding the aesthetic and symbolic aspects of graphic art.
Q:
Describe six strategies (in addition to using the AIDA format) for strengthening your argument in business proposals.
Q:
List and briefly explain five characteristics of effective report content.
Q:
Briefly explain the difference between descriptive titles and informative titles for visuals, and provide an example of each.
Q:
In preparing a presentation for a local community group, you need to describe the process your plant uses to manufacture home appliances. What type of visual aid should you use to describe the process, and why?
Q:
In designing visuals for business reports, what tasks are best suited for bar charts? List at least two.
Q:
In a line chart, what do the vertical and horizontal axes normally illustrate?
Q:
List at least five types of visual aids commonly used to present data in business documents. Provide an example of a specific task for which one type would be especially useful.
Q:
Describe the characteristics of effective links in online content.
Q:
In what forms can transitions be written in a business report?
Q:
In a business report, where should you define terms that might be unfamiliar to your audience?
Q:
In researching a proposal to expand your division, you find evidence that does not support your line of reasoning. Should you include it in your report? Why or why not?
Q:
List three functions of the close in a business report.
Q:
What are the three main sections of a business report?