Question 1

Which of the following sentences is an example of a mixed construction?

Accepted Answer

A)  Gary and Joan were both asked to attend "sensitivity" training. 
B)  Alex was ill with a fever, so he asked his manager if he could be excused from work. 
C)  Laura is busy preparing for tomorrow's big presentation. 
D)  Because my boss refuses to negotiate with clients resulted in us losing the deal. 
E)  She was asked to reduce the planned operating expenses in order for her budget to be approved. 
A)  Gary and Joan were both asked to attend "sensitivity" training. 
B)  Alex was ill with a fever, so he asked his manager if he could be excused from work. 
C)  Laura is busy preparing for tomorrow's big presentation. 
D)  Because my boss refuses to negotiate with clients resulted in us losing the deal. 
E)  She was asked to reduce the planned operating expenses in order for her budget to be approved.

Question 2

It is acceptable to begin a paragraph by discussing one topic and then switch to a new topic midway through as long as the topics are closely related.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

The use of specialized language can signal to other specialists that you are qualified to communicate on their level.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

Briefly explain the difference between concrete and abstract words and give at least two examples of each.

Accepted Answer

Concrete words refer to things that can

Question 5

Wording defined as "communication your audience can understand the first time they read or hear it" is known as

Accepted Answer

A)  plain language. 
B)  demonstrated language. 
C)  tailored language. 
D)  simplified words. 
E)  considered words. 
A)  plain language. 
B)  demonstrated language. 
C)  tailored language. 
D)  simplified words. 
E)  considered words.

Question 6

Paragraphs in a business document should have ______, meaning they stick to developing a single topic or idea.

Accepted Answer

A)  unity 
B)  subordination 
C)  a topic sentence 
D)  parallelism 
E)  coordination 
A)  unity 
B)  subordination 
C)  a topic sentence 
D)  parallelism 
E)  coordination

Question 7

For writing to be clear and effective, you should

Accepted Answer

A)  avoid using familiar words. 
B)  avoid using active verbs. 
C)  avoid using stiff words. 
D)  use complex words to exhibit your knowledge to your readers. 
E)  use passive voice instead of active voice. 
A)  avoid using familiar words. 
B)  avoid using active verbs. 
C)  avoid using stiff words. 
D)  use complex words to exhibit your knowledge to your readers. 
E)  use passive voice instead of active voice.

Question 8

A cluttering phrase can be replaced by shorter wording without affecting the meaning of the sentence in which it appears.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Which of the following is true about paragraph design?

Accepted Answer

A)  Paragraphs should usually be at least ten sentences long. 
B)  Most paragraphs feature a topic sentence. 
C)  One-line paragraphs fail to emphasize major points in business messages. 
D)  The most common paragraph arrangement puts the supporting material first, followed by the topic sentence. 
E)  The opening and closing paragraphs each need at least three sentences. 
A)  Paragraphs should usually be at least ten sentences long. 
B)  Most paragraphs feature a topic sentence. 
C)  One-line paragraphs fail to emphasize major points in business messages. 
D)  The most common paragraph arrangement puts the supporting material first, followed by the topic sentence. 
E)  The opening and closing paragraphs each need at least three sentences.

Question 10

A word may have several ______, or social and emotional associations.

Accepted Answer

A)  denotations 
B)  connotations 
C)  acronyms 
D)  idioms 
E)  dummy subjects 
A)  denotations 
B)  connotations 
C)  acronyms 
D)  idioms 
E)  dummy subjects

Question 11

Which of the following is true about clichés?

Accepted Answer

A)  All business people like business clichés. 
B)  The heavy use of clichésin formal cross-cultural communication is advised because it helps in breaking cultural barriers. 
C)  Business clichéscan sometimes increase your credibility with other business people. 
D)  Clichésdo not run the risk of sounding dated. 
E)  Clichéscatch on because they represent unpopular concepts. 
A)  All business people like business clichés. 
B)  The heavy use of clichésin formal cross-cultural communication is advised because it helps in breaking cultural barriers. 
C)  Business clichéscan sometimes increase your credibility with other business people. 
D)  Clichésdo not run the risk of sounding dated. 
E)  Clichéscatch on because they represent unpopular concepts.

Question 12

Lack of unity in sentences is usually caused by ______ or excessive detail.

Accepted Answer

A)  unrelated ideas 
B)  the use of active verbs 
C)  active voice 
D)  the elimination of two-word verbs 
E)  the elimination of cluttering phrases 
A)  unrelated ideas 
B)  the use of active verbs 
C)  active voice 
D)  the elimination of two-word verbs 
E)  the elimination of cluttering phrases

Question 13

This sentence uses a cliché:
"The project uses state-of-the-art technologies."

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Which of the following statements about managing emphasis in a sentence is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  Short sentences carry less emphasis than long, involved ones. 
B)  Beginnings and endings of business messages are particularly good places for using long sentences to emphasize your content. 
C)  A long closing should be used in business messages to ensure that the reader is left with an important final thought. 
D)  If a sentence contains two ideas that are equally important, the ideas should be joined with "and" to give them equal emphasis. 
E)  If a sentence contains two ideas that are equally important, one idea should be subordinated to the other. 
A)  Short sentences carry less emphasis than long, involved ones. 
B)  Beginnings and endings of business messages are particularly good places for using long sentences to emphasize your content. 
C)  A long closing should be used in business messages to ensure that the reader is left with an important final thought. 
D)  If a sentence contains two ideas that are equally important, the ideas should be joined with "and" to give them equal emphasis. 
E)  If a sentence contains two ideas that are equally important, one idea should be subordinated to the other.

Question 15

Which of the following sentences avoids the use of cluttering phrases?

Accepted Answer

A)  This account was created for the purpose of contacting the client. 
B)  We are talking about something in the neighborhood of $40 million for donations. 
C)  With reference to the article written yesterday, there was a huge outcry demanding its retraction. 
D)  They agreed to abide by the rules in accordance with the treaty. 
E)  Please fill out the forms and provide all relevant documents to speed up the application process. 
A)  This account was created for the purpose of contacting the client. 
B)  We are talking about something in the neighborhood of $40 million for donations. 
C)  With reference to the article written yesterday, there was a huge outcry demanding its retraction. 
D)  They agreed to abide by the rules in accordance with the treaty. 
E)  Please fill out the forms and provide all relevant documents to speed up the application process.

Question 16

When a writer mixes two different types of sentences into a single sentence, it is known as

Accepted Answer

A)  mixed construction. 
B)  incomplete construction. 
C)  dangling modification. 
D)  faulty parallelism. 
E)  subordination. 
A)  mixed construction. 
B)  incomplete construction. 
C)  dangling modification. 
D)  faulty parallelism. 
E)  subordination.

Question 17

If there is any question about whether readers will understand what a set of initials stands for, you should spell out the words and follow them with the initials.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

Choose the transitional word that best fits the following example: "Thom spent most of his working remotely and rarely spoke to his co-workers; _____, they did not immediately recognize his voice when he chimed in his opinion at the meeting."

Accepted Answer

A)  otherwise 
B)  however 
C)  moreover 
D)  therefore 
E)  likewise 
A)  otherwise 
B)  however 
C)  moreover 
D)  therefore 
E)  likewise

Question 19

Clichésshould be used sparingly because they

Accepted Answer

A)  signal to other specialists that you are qualified to communicate on their level. 
B)  create problems in cross-cultural communication. 
C)  represent unpopular concepts. 
D)  are short in length. 
E)  are familiar to most people. 
A)  signal to other specialists that you are qualified to communicate on their level. 
B)  create problems in cross-cultural communication. 
C)  represent unpopular concepts. 
D)  are short in length. 
E)  are familiar to most people.

Question 20

Overuse of the verb "to be" and passive voice can sap the energy from your sentences.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Which of the following sentences is an example of a mixed construction?

It is acceptable to begin a paragraph by discussing one topic and then switch to a new topic midway through as long as the topics are closely related.

The use of specialized language can signal to other specialists that you are qualified to communicate on their level.

Briefly explain the difference between concrete and abstract words and give at least two examples of each.

Wording defined as "communication your audience can understand the first time they read or hear it" is known as

Paragraphs in a business document should have ______, meaning they stick to developing a single topic or idea.

For writing to be clear and effective, you should

A cluttering phrase can be replaced by shorter wording without affecting the meaning of the sentence in which it appears.

Which of the following is true about paragraph design?

A word may have several ______, or social and emotional associations.

Which of the following is true about clichés?

Lack of unity in sentences is usually caused by ______ or excessive detail.

This sentence uses a cliché: "The project uses state-of-the-art technologies."

Which of the following statements about managing emphasis in a sentence is true?

Which of the following sentences avoids the use of cluttering phrases?

When a writer mixes two different types of sentences into a single sentence, it is known as

If there is any question about whether readers will understand what a set of initials stands for, you should spell out the words and follow them with the initials.

Choose the transitional word that best fits the following example: "Thom spent most of his working remotely and rarely spoke to his co-workers; _____, they did not immediately recognize his voice when he chimed in his opinion at the meeting."

Clichésshould be used sparingly because they

Overuse of the verb "to be" and passive voice can sap the energy from your sentences.

Communicating in the Workplace

Writing Effectively for Your Audience, Purpose, and Medium

Designing Documents With Visual Appeal

Communicating With Visuals

Building Positive Relationships Through Communication

Communicating Across Cultures

Writing Good-News and Neutral Messages

Writing Bad-News Messages

Writing Persuasive Messages and Proposals

Researching Writing Reports

Creating the Right Type of Report

Delivering Business Presentations and Speeches

Putting Interpersonal Communication Skills to Work in Conversations and Meetings

Communicating in the Job Search

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Exam 5: Crafting Effective Sentences and Paragraphs

Which of the following sentences is an example of a mixed construction?

It is acceptable to begin a paragraph by discussing one topic and then switch to a new topic midway through as long as the topics are closely related.

The use of specialized language can signal to other specialists that you are qualified to communicate on their level.

Briefly explain the difference between concrete and abstract words and give at least two examples of each.

Wording defined as "communication your audience can understand the first time they read or hear it" is known as

Paragraphs in a business document should have ______, meaning they stick to developing a single topic or idea.

For writing to be clear and effective, you should

A cluttering phrase can be replaced by shorter wording without affecting the meaning of the sentence in which it appears.

Which of the following is true about paragraph design?

A word may have several ______, or social and emotional associations.

Which of the following is true about clichés?

Lack of unity in sentences is usually caused by ______ or excessive detail.

This sentence uses a cliché: "The project uses state-of-the-art technologies."

Which of the following statements about managing emphasis in a sentence is true?

Which of the following sentences avoids the use of cluttering phrases?

When a writer mixes two different types of sentences into a single sentence, it is known as

If there is any question about whether readers will understand what a set of initials stands for, you should spell out the words and follow them with the initials.

Choose the transitional word that best fits the following example: "Thom spent most of his working remotely and rarely spoke to his co-workers; _____, they did not immediately recognize his voice when he chimed in his opinion at the meeting."

Clichésshould be used sparingly because they

Overuse of the verb "to be" and passive voice can sap the energy from your sentences.

Communicating in the Workplace

Writing Effectively for Your Audience, Purpose, and Medium

Designing Documents With Visual Appeal

Communicating With Visuals

Building Positive Relationships Through Communication

Communicating Across Cultures

Writing Good-News and Neutral Messages

Writing Bad-News Messages

Writing Persuasive Messages and Proposals

Researching Writing Reports

Creating the Right Type of Report

Delivering Business Presentations and Speeches

Putting Interpersonal Communication Skills to Work in Conversations and Meetings

Communicating in the Job Search

Filters