Q&A Hero

Q: Some email users employ ________ to express emotional nuances in casual or informal email messages. A) emoticons B) monograms C) cyphers D) cryptograms E) capital letters

Q: A(n) ________ includes items such as your name, title, company, and contact information at the end of your email messages. A) epigram B) email signature C) subject line D) salutary close E) email letterhead

Q: Which one of the following is a planning step in creating effective email messages? A) following company email guidelines and policies B) double-checking your recipient list before sending your message C) creating informative subject lines that clarify the purpose of your message D) deciding whether to mark your message as "urgent" E) writing a concise statement of audience needs

Q: When you're writing email messages in the workplace, remember that business emails A) require a higher level of quality than personal emails. B) should never be shorter than one screen. C) aren't constrained by the rules of grammar, punctuation, and syntax. D) are the best medium for internal messages, regardless of their content. E) should be written in the same format as a personal email.

Q: Because many email programs display the first few words or lines of incoming messages, you should A) be vague in your first sentence, to entice the reader to open the message. B) leave several blank lines at the beginning of each message. C) treat the first sentence of the message as an extension of your subject line. D) use phrases such as "MUST READ" in your first sentence. E) include symbolism to get your readers interest.

Q: The subject line of an email message A) is rarely read by the recipient. B) helps recipients decide whether to read the message. C) should describe only the general topic of the message. D) must never extend beyond three words. E) can be left off if there is a personal relationship.

Q: Business writers use bulleted and numbered lists to A) simplify complex subjects. B) minimize negative key points. C) lighten the visual impact of the document. D) add decorative elements to their messages. E) extend the length of the work.

Q: Using short paragraphs will help you improve the readability of your business messages because A) they will make your writing look more daunting. B) they can help you emphasize key ideas. C) they are more time consuming to read than long paragraphs. D) they eliminate the need for transitional elements. E) they can be easily understood by a less educated audience.

Q: Readability indexes measure ________, so they offer a useful reference point for improving your writing. A) style and syntax B) sentence length C) tone of voice D) proper word usage E) correct spelling and grammar

Q: For general business messages, gear your writing toward A) technical experts. B) readers at the fifth-grade to sixth-grade level. C) readers at the eighth-grade to eleventh-grade level. D) readers at the twelfth-grade to fourteenth-grade level. E) college graduates.

Q: Briefly explain what the opening of a document should accomplish.

Q: Revising your message is important because readers are likely to equate the quality of your writing with the quality of your thinking.

Q: Describe five techniques you can use to compose effective messages for mobile devices.

Q: What are the five most common techniques for developing paragraphs?

Q: If you intend for your message to reach users of mobile devices, present the content in short paragraphs.

Q: When you're writing for mobile devices, using a linear organization will make your messages easier to read on small mobile screens.

Q: When a writer needs to send a long document that might be accessed by the receiver on a mobile device, the writer should A) send each major section in a separate email. B) send a short executive summary that can be read on a mobile device, with the longer document accessible on a PC. C) send the entire document at one time. D) send the entire document at one time, including with several imbedded links. E) incorporate specific headings and subheading that provide key pieces of information without the need to read the text.

Q: The following sentence uses all words correctly: She was disinterested in paying me a complement.

Q: Punctuation goes inside quotation marks if the whole sentence is quoted but outside the quotation marks if only the last part of the sentence is a quote.

Q: You should include a comma when a date consists only of the month and year.

Q: A semicolon is used to separate independent clauses when the second clause begins with a conjunctive adverb such as "however" or "therefore."

Q: A linking verb is always followed by a noun, pronoun, or adjective.

Q: Many adverbs are formed by adding "-ly" to adjectives.

Q: The difference between "lie" and "lay" is that "lie" is an intransitive verb and "lay" is a transitive verb.

Q: The verb "do" is an example of a regular verb.

Q: The pronoun "who" is in the nominative case; the pronoun "whom" is in the objective case.

Q: The plural of "son-in-law" is "sons-in-law," but the possessive is "son-in-law's."

Q: Which of the following words is misspelled? A) accomodate B) exaggerate C) occurrence D) receive E) forth

Q: In the following sentence, which word should not be capitalized? "After talking with President Hilda Bruckner, Morton decided that the Insurance industry would provide a suitable career for someone who was a graduate of the Department of Business at Gable University." A) Department B) President C) Gable D) Insurance E) University

Q: Which of the following terms should not be hyphenated? A) The relationship was long-term. B) We had a long-term relationship. C) That is one self-confident politician. D) I introduced her as my ex-wife. E) Please meet my mother-in-law.

Q: Which one of the following punctuation marks is used to separate a dependent clause at the beginning of a sentence from the rest of the sentence? A) semicolon B) colon C) comma D) dash E) hyphen

Q: What is the problem with this sentence? "We can give him a small raise, he deserves it." A) comma splice B) sentence fragment C) dangling modifier D) excessive infinitives E) incorrect participles

Q: Which of the following is a sentence fragment? A) The bigger they are, the harder they fall. B) He put the package in the mail right away. C) Come here. D) Moxie, depending on his friends for support. E) Try it.

Q: Which of the following italicized words is an adjective? A) too dark B) silent movie C) into the theater D) badly missed E) paid in full

Q: What is the tense of the verb in this sentence? "We had given Tim the money a week before he arrived." A) present B) past C) future D) past perfect E) auxiliary

Q: Which of the following possessive phrases is not correct? A) the team's contract with the players B) the teams' contract with the players C) its advantages to the players D) it's advantages to the players E) the plans for the team

Q: Which of the following is a demonstrative pronoun? A) he B) this C) who D) anyone E) either

Q: Interviews in which job candidates are asked how they would respond to various hypothetical situations on the job are known as ________ interviews. A) stress B) structured C) behavioral D) situational E) working

Q: ________ interviews allow one or more interviewers to meet with several candidates simultaneously and to observe how the candidates interact with potential peers. A) Panel B) Group C) Team D) Collaborative E) Stress

Q: In a(n) ________, the candidate meets with several interviewers at once. A) panel interview B) open-ended interview C) team interview D) collaborative interview E) behavioral interview

Q: Interviews in which the interviewer adapts his or her line of questioning based on the answers you give and any questions you ask are known as ________ interviews. A) free-flowing B) creative C) screening D) unhindered E) open-ended

Q: If you are asked back for a final job interview, you should expect the interviewer to focus on A) your previous job experience. B) selling you on the advantages of joining the organization. C) your educational background. D) checking your references. E) concerns with whether or not you will truly be a good fit for the organization.

Q: In the selection stage of an interview, your best approach is to A) stick to brief yes and no answers to the interview questions. B) relate your training and experience to the organization's needs. C) inquire about salary and benefits. D) press for an immediate decision on whether or not to hire you. E) call the employer to explain what the organization does and how you can help support those goals.

Q: The second stage of interviews (following screening) is the ________ stage. A) in-depth B) narrowing C) exploration D) elimination E) selection

Q: The employer's goal in the initial screening interview is to A) find your greatest strengths in depth. B) filter out applicants who are not a good fit for the position. C) make offers to the best candidates. D) learn as much detail as possible about candidates. E) determine how interested candidates really are in the position.

Q: During a screening interview, your best approach is to A) ask as many questions as possible. B) keep your answers short, but offer key points that set you apart from other candidates. C) expand on your answers as much as possible so that the interviewer knows you are at ease. D) keep as low a profile as you can; this is not the time to try to differentiate yourself from other candidates. E) ask for feedback on how you compare to other candidates.

Q: Employers use preliminary screening interviews to A) find out as much as possible about each job candidate. B) administer pre-employment profiles and drug tests. C) filter out applicants who're not a good fit for the job. D) make on-the-spot offers to the best candidates. E) determine what they can expect from potential job candidates.

Q: Most employers interview an applicant ________ before deciding to make a job offer. A) once B) multiple times C) via email D) at job fairs E) via Skype or other online method.

Q: Explain the function of each phase of an application letter written in the AIDA format.

Q: Briefly explain the primary differences between solicited application letters and unsolicited application letters.

Q: In the middle part of an application letter, you should indicate your salary range and potential benefits to your employer.

Q: An unsolicited job application letter should begin with a statement designed to get the reader's attention.

Q: When you're preparing an application letter, remember that ________ must clearly state your reason for writing and give the recipient a compelling reason to keep reading. A) the subject line B) the opening paragraph C) the closing paragraph D) the second paragraph E) the salutation

Q: Accompany your rsum with a ________ when you're responding to an advertised job opening. A) message of inquiry B) follow-up message C) message of intent D) solicited application message E) prospective application message

Q: After sending your application letter and rsum in response to a job posting that lists a close date, you should A) always call the employer prior to that date to see if your materials have been reviewed. B) email the employer on the morning of the close date to reiterate your interest in the job. C) avoid following up with the employer before that date. D) wait until the day after the close date and then call the employer to see where you stand. E) call the employer and do all you can to set up an interview prior to that date.

Q: If your application letter and rsum fail to bring a response within a week or so after the position close date, A) let the CEO of the company know that you're being mistreated. B) follow up by email or telephone. C) cross this particular job possibility off your list. D) send another copy of your application letter and rsum. E) assume that the employer has offered the job to someone else.

Q: In the final paragraph of your application letter you should A) show the reader that you're a contender and demand an interview. B) close with a quote from your favorite philosopher or poet. C) request an interview and provide contact information. D) include information about extracurricular activities to show how well-rounded you are. E) thank the reader in advance for interviewing you.

Q: In the Interest and Desire sections of a solicited application letter, discussing each requirement specified in the job ad A) will reduce your chances of getting an interview. B) is unnecessary as long as you refer to the ad in some specific way. C) is helpful as long as you clearly identify those that you do not meet. D) is harmful if the position requires creativity or innovation. E) helps demonstrate your understanding of the employer's needs.

Q: In the middle section of a job application letter, you should A) present your strongest selling points in terms of their potential benefit to the organization. B) give your entire work history, in case the employer doesn't review your rsum. C) address your shortcomings and stress that you're willing to learn. D) state your minimum salary requirements, even if the employer has not requested them. E) ask for an interview and include your contact information.

Q: In the opening paragraph of an application letter, it is vital to A) indicate what you are looking for in a dream job, and how the open position matches your goals. B) identify the position you are applying for and your salary range. C) explain how you can help the company meets its needs. D) let the employer know highlights from your rsum. E) make sure the employer understands that you need a response within 24 hours.

Q: Which of the following would be the best opening sentence for a solicited application letter? A) "I am clearly the best person for the job you've advertised." B) "I'm sure you get these letters all the time, but I hope you'll read mine carefully." C) "I want a job, and you've got one that I could do." D) "Based on your company's remarkable growth over the past three years, I can appreciate your need for highly qualified and experienced sales personnel." E) "My entire life I have dreamed about working in a job such as this."

Q: Because application letters are ________ messages, the AIDA approach is ideally suited for them. A) positive B) negative C) persuasive D) routine E) personal

Q: When it comes to length, an application letter should A) be at least two pages long, since it shows the prospective employer that you write well and are serious. B) be no more than a single paragraph. C) contain one paragraph for every 5 years of full-time employment. D) be shortno more than three paragraphs. E) be long enough to cover everything that appears on your rsum.

Q: The best salutation for an application letter is A) "Dear Hiring Manager." B) "To Whom It May Concern." C) one that addresses a specific individual by name. D) "Dear Sir or Madam." E) one that is very informal, such as, "Hi."

Q: You'll impress prospective employers with your application letter if you A) use a flashy, colorful layout. B) show that you know something about the company and its marketplace. C) use a personal, "chummy" tone. D) state up front that no other applicants could possibly compare to you. E) show the employer the value they will get when hiring you at a lower than average salary.

Q: Compared to writing a solicited application letter, composing an unsolicited application letter is A) much easier. B) much more difficult. C) equally challenging. D) most effective when you use passive verbs entirely. E) most effective when you use only complex sentences.

Q: Unsolicited application letters to prospective employers A) require more research than solicited letters. B) allow a clear target to focus on. C) should repeat key pieces of information from the rsum. D) identify what the organization is doing wrong and how you can contribute to its success. E) need to be more gimmicky than solicited application letters.

Q: When you're writing an application letter to accompany your rsum, A) use text-messaging jargon and emoticons to show that you're tech-savvy. B) remember that most employers won't bother to read it. C) use it as a free-form way to convey your career aspirations. D) treat it with same care that you took with your rsum. E) outline the job, benefits and salary range you are seeking.

Q: The best approach for an application letter depends on A) how much you need to stand out from other applicants. B) whether or not your rsum is up to date. C) how long you have been on the job market. D) whether you are sending a solicited letter or an unsolicited letter. E) your relationship with the person you are writing to.

Q: If a job candidate receives a job offer while other interviews are still pending, how should he or she ask the employer for a time extension?

Q: Why is it advantageous for candidates to stay in contact with prospective employers after an interview? Provide at least three reasons.

Q: You've just finished a job interview, and you know that you're not going to get the job. So, don't worry about following up with a "thank-you" message to the interviewer.

Q: When terminating the job with a current employer, your letter of resignation A) should include at least two weeks' notice. B) does not have to be in writing. C) should indicate what led you to look for a new position. D) should include ways to help the company do better in the future. E) should indicate where your new job is, what the responsibilities are, and what salary you were offered.

Q: If you write a letter to decline the offer of a job, A) use the direct format. B) use an indirect format. C) do not use email. D) follow the AIDA plan. E) explain why, in detail, you are not accepting the position.

Q: Job offers and the acceptance of the offer A) can be done over the phone. B) should be done via Skype. C) are legally binding contracts. D) can be backed out of if a better candidate or job comes along. E) are legally binding for the employer, but not the candidate.

Q: Writing a thank you note shortly after the interview, even an interview that went poorly, A) is an opportunity to tell them of additional research you conducted. B) is an opportunity to outshine other candidates. C) is unnecessary unless you interviewed with the hiring manager. D) provides a chance to modify an answer given during the interview. E) is a chance to press for a higher salary offer.

Q: Staying in contact with a prospective employer after an interview A) can be seen as troublesome by the employer. B) is not necessary for at least 4 weeks. C) should only be done by phone. D) might be construed as nagging. E) shows that you really want the job.

Q: Use the model for direct messages when you write a A) letter of resignation. B) letter of acceptance. C) letter declining a job offer. D) letter of application. E) letter to ask for an extension before making a final decision.

Q: You could send a ________ after an interview if you haven't received the interviewer's decision by the promised date or within two weeks. A) thank you note B) formal complaint C) message of inquiry D) message of intent E) prospecting message

Q: Within two days after an employment interview, you should A) have a friend call to see whether you got the job. B) write a follow-up letter (using the format for persuasive messages) and include another copy of your rsum. C) follow up with a short note of thanks, using a tone that's positive while reinforcing why you are a good fit. D) assume that you didn't get the job if you haven't heard anything. E) call the employer and say you have received some other job offers (even if you have not).