Professional Writing Test
Bank
Course Introduction
Professional Writing is designed to equip students with the essential skills needed to communicate effectively in various professional contexts. The course covers the principles of clear, concise, and purposeful written communication, with an emphasis on audience analysis, organization, style, and tone. Students learn to craft a range of documents such as emails, reports, proposals, memos, and résumés, while honing editing and proofreading skills. Through practical assignments and peer feedback, students develop the ability to adapt their writing for diverse workplace situations, ensuring their messages are accurate, professional, and impactful.
Recommended Textbook
Excellence in Business Communication 5th Canadian Edition by John V. Thill
Available Study Resources on Quizplus
16 Chapters
1500 Verified Questions
1500 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/study-set/2976 Page 2
Chapter 1: Achieving Success Through Effective Business Communication
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
99 Verified Questions
99 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/59166
Sample Questions
Q1) The informal communication network within an organization is referred to as the grapevine .
Answer: grapevine
Q2) Unclear communication not only results in errors and missed deadlines,but also lies at the root of many other serious workplace issues.
A)True
B)False
Answer: True
Q3) One example of a deceptive tactic is _________________
A)texting at a meeting.
B)not making eye contact.
C)stating opinions as facts.
D)have opposing political views.
Answer: C
Q4) Work on your communication skills ___________________________
A)when you have been with the company for a while.
B)When you get a promotion.
C)before starting your business career.
D)when you are assigned to a team.
Answer: C
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 3
Chapter 2: Communicating in Teams and Mastering
Listening and Nonverbal Communication Skills
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
104 Verified Questions
104 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/59167
Sample Questions
Q1) Proper introductions are an important part of business etiquette.Describe the introduction you would use in each of the following cases:
1.Introducing yourself to a stranger Introducing someone younger to someone older Introducing a junior executive to a senior executive Introducing a fellow executive to a client or customer
Answer: 1.When you are introducing yourself to a stranger,include a short,matter-of-fact description of your role,followed by a question about your new acquaintance.Mr.Older Executive,I would like you to meet Mr.Younger Executive.Ms.Senior Executive,I would like to introduce Mr.Junior Executive.Claire Waters,I'd like you to meet Kelly Martin,our head of engineering.Kelly,this is Mrs.Walters,one of our newest clients.
Q2) Teams usually achieve greater performance levels than what would have been accomplished by the members working independently.
A)True
B)False Answer: True
Q3) A(n)team is a unit of two or more people who work together to achieve a goal. Answer: team
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Page 4
Chapter 3: Communicating Interculturally
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
89 Verified Questions
89 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/59168
Sample Questions
Q1) To be more effective in intercultural conversations,speak slowly and overenunciate your words.
A)True
B)False
Answer: False
Q2) A more extreme reaction than ethnocentrisim to people in groups is ___________
A)idiomism.
B)xenophobia.
C)claustrophobia.
D)stereotyping.
Answer: B
Q3) In China,it is considered polite to pour tea for yourself and then offer the rest of the table some.
A)True
B)False
Answer: False
Q4) Japan is an example of a country with a homogeneous population.
A)True
B)False
Answer: True
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 5
Chapter 4: Planning Business Messages
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
111 Verified Questions
111 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/59169
Sample Questions
Q1) Routine messages call for the direct approach.
A)True
B)False
Q2) In preparing a letter to a vendor regarding a missing part of your order,would the direct or indirect approach be preferable? Briefly explain your choice.
Q3) Organizing ideas using a graphic method is called a "storyteller's tour."
A)True
B)False
Q4) The availability of electronic media increases your communications options in both oral and written channels.
Q5) The main advantage of written communication is that the writer has an opportunity to plan and control the message.
A)True
B)False
Q6) How can your audience's level of understanding help you determine the appropriate amount of information to include in a business message?
Q7) Electronic written media have largely replaced traditional written media in many companies.Explain.
Page 6
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Chapter 5: Writing Business Messages
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
79 Verified Questions
79 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/59170
Sample Questions
Q1) A euphemism is a word or phrase that is ______________
A)possibly offensive.
B)general or abstract in meaning.
C)highly technical.
D)a milder term for one with negative connotations.
Q2) When you are criticizing or correcting,it is best to ______________
A)focus on what the person can do to improve.
B)emphasize a person's mistakes so that he or she will not make the same mistakes again.
C)be blunt and call attention to the person's failures or shortcomings.
D)make the person an example for everyone else to learn from.
Q3) Which of the following is a compound sentence?
A)"David is a good worker,and he deserves a raise."
B)"Because David is a good worker,he deserves a raise."
C)"David,a good worker,deserves a raise."
D)"Having been a good worker,David will no doubt receive a raise."
Q4) In business writing,the topic sentence of each paragraph is usually implied rather than explicit.
A)True
B)False
Page 7
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Chapter 6: Completing Business Messages
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
83 Verified Questions
83 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/59171
Sample Questions
Q1) With parallel construction,two or more similar ideas are expressed with the same grammatical pattern.
Q2) The details given in the middle section of a message have the greatest impact on the audience.
A)True
B)False
Q3) If you start a sentence with an indefinite pronoun,chances are the sentence can be shortened.
A)True
B)False
Q4) To make your message more interesting and accessible,use as many design elements and decorative touches as possible.
A)True
B)False
Q5) Although readability indexes are easy to apply,they ignore some factors that contribute to reading ease.
A)True
B)False
Q6) Word combinations that are needlessly repetitive are called redundancies .
Page 8
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Chapter 7: Crafting Messages for Electronic Media
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
96 Verified Questions
96 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/59172
Sample Questions
Q1) Compared to email,instant messaging _____________
A)is slower and more complicated to use.
B)has not caught on in the business community.
C)is much faster,but more costly as well.
D)offers greater speed and is able to mimic conversation more closely.
Q2) Which of the following is an example of an effective email subject line?
A)Website redesign is falling behind schedule
B)Status Report
C)Employee Parking
D)Please read
Q3) Compared to email and phone calls,IM is seen as less costly.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Status updates and announcements [one of nine 'compositional modes'] are frequently used in social media.
A)True
B)False
Q5) Video podcasts are often called 'vidcasts' or 'vodcasts'.
A)True
B)False
9
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Chapter 8: Writing Routine and Positive Messages
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
94 Verified Questions
94 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/59173
Sample Questions
Q1) Requests sent to people outside the organization usually _____________
A)use the indirect approach.
B)are in memo or email form.
C)adopt a more formal tone.
D)are more complex requests.
Q2) Use a direct approach for positive messages.
Q3) Interestingly,news releases differ from other means of communicating with your ultimate audience,because news releases are written to interest an editor or a reporter to write the material that will be read by your larger audience.
A)True
B)False
Q4) In situations when your company was at fault,it is always best to be honest and tell the complainant the name of the person in your company who is to blame.Customers are always happy to know who specifically is to blame and always appreciate honesty.
A)True
B)False
Q5) The closing of a routine request makes a request for a specific action and expresses appreciation or goodwill.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 10
Chapter 9: Writing Negative Messages
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
91 Verified Questions
91 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/59174
Sample Questions
Q1) Use the indirect approach in most cases of refusing a claim.
A)True
B)False
Q2) An advantage of the direct approach for communicating bad news is that it keeps the message shorter.
A)True
B)False
Q3) In the close to a bad-news message,you repeat the bad news.
A)True
B)False
Q4) When refusing a routine request,it's a good idea to imply that other assistance or information might be available,even if it isn't,in an attempt to calm the customer.
A)True
B)False
Q5) Avoid hiding behind company policy to cushion bad news.
Q6) Briefly describe four guidelines to follow in writing effective conclusions to negative messages.
Q7) What are five guidelines to observe when making negative organizational announcements?
Page 11
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Chapter 10: Writing Persuasive Messages
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
99 Verified Questions
99 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/59175
Sample Questions
Q1) When is it a good idea to use the direct approach for persuasive messages?
Q2) A sales letter begins with some sort of attention-getting device.
Q3) List five guidelines that will help you avoid logical flaws (faulty logic).
Q4) Abstract concepts such as freedom,prestige,or success can be used to enhance the emotional content of persuasive messages.
A)True
B)False
Q5) Which of the following is not an example of demographic information?
A)Age
B)Occupation
C)Lifestyle
D)Income
Q6) AIDA can also be used in the direct approach - after using your main idea as the 'attention-getter'.
A)True
B)False
Q7) Describe how an effective persuasive claim letter should be written.
Q8) Describe two legal aspects of marketing and sales communication a writer should pay close attention to.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 12
Chapter 11: Planning Reports and Proposals
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
105 Verified Questions
105 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/59176
Sample Questions
Q1) Although it is persuasive,the 2 + 2 = 4 approach is not an efficient way to organize an analytical report.
A)True
B)False
Q2) When taking notes on your research material ______________
A)bookmark,download,or print out pages from library databases.
B)avoid trying to use computer programs for this task,as they get in the way more than they help.
C)leave out subject headings.
D)avoid highlighting or marking up your notes because they may be difficult to read later.
Q3) To paraphrase effectively,______________
A)give a brief summary of what the writer meant to say,but from your point of view.
B)use the word "paraphrase."
C)use quotation marks to identify any phrases you have borrowed from the source.
D)draw a conclusion of the facts and report it.
Q4) What is the primary difference between a feasibility report and a justification report?
Q5) Describe the ways that analytical and informational reports differ.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 13
Chapter 12: Writing Reports and Proposals
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
74 Verified Questions
74 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/59177
Sample Questions
Q1) To illustrate the positions,units,or functions of an organization and the way they interrelate,use a(n)organization chart.
Q2) The best way to illustrate a sequence of events from start to finish is by using a flowchart.
A)True
B)False
Q3) Tables are ideal when your audience needs information that would be either difficult or tedious to handle in the main text.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Consistent use of colour,shape,size,texture and position helps to enhance the visual parallelism of your information and design
A)True
B)False
Q5) Pie charts are a good way of illustrating the parts of a whole. A)True
B)False
Q6) A(n)flow chart illustrates a sequence of events.
Q7) A line chart illustrates trends over time.
Page 14
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Chapter 13: Completing Reports and Proposals
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
84 Verified Questions
84 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/59178
Sample Questions
Q1) In a formal proposal,how do you determine what organizational approach to use in the letter of transmittal?
Q2) What is one advantage of starting each section of your report on a separate page?
Q3) A formal report ______________
A)must be at least 10 pages long.
B)is always for outsiders;internal reports are always informal.
C)is informational as opposed to analytical.
D)uses a conversational tone,yet is still businesslike and respectful.
Q4) The letter of transmittal should use the indirect approach,especially if the report is an analytical one.
A)True
B)False
Q5) A good introduction will often invite the reader to continue reading by telling them what the report is about,why they should be concerned,and how the report is organized.
A)True
B)False
Q6) A(n)bibliography is a list of sources consulted when preparing a report.
Q7) A(n)executive summary is a fully developed "mini" version of the report itself.
Page 15
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Chapter 14: Designing and Delivering Oral and Online Presentations
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
89 Verified Questions
89 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/59179
Sample Questions
Q1) When preparing a detailed planning outline for your speech,keep in mind that
A)you may want to prepare a simpler speaking outline.
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."
Q2) Even if parts of your speech have been downbeat,you should always try to close on a positive note.
A)True
B)False
Q3) Using electronic presentation software ___________________
A)is too difficult for most speakers.
B)allows you to incorporate photos,sound,video,and animation into your presentations.
C)allows you to make each slide much more complicated than you would a visual for a printed report.
D)is all of the above.
Q4) For a large audience and an important event,your tone will usually be formal .
Q5) List 5 guidelines for creating effective slides.
Page 16
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Chapter 15: Building Careers and Writing Résumés
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
85 Verified Questions
85 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/59180
Sample Questions
Q1) An e-portfolio or print portfolio are school assignments and have no value.
A)True
B)False
Q2) List at least seven of the 10 most common mistakes recruiters see on résumés.
Q3) When considering your ideal job,you should think about what kind of corporate culture you'd find most desirable.
A)True
B)False
Q4) To prepare an online résumé,you need to include links to projects,publications,and screencasts.The online résumé is also called a personal webpage or e-portfolio.
Q5) When you describe your work experience on your résumé ___________
A)start with your most recent job and work back chronologically.
B)describe one or two jobs in detail so that employers get an idea of your work ethic.
C)list only full-time positions.
D)try to come up with fancier titles for the jobs you've held.
Q6) The introductory statement of a résumé can include highlights your strongest points in a brief summary of qualifications.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Page 17
Chapter 16: Applying and Interviewing for Employment
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
118 Verified Questions
118 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/59181
Sample Questions
Q1) When going to a job interview,__________________
A)take along samples of your work.
B)don't bring copies of your résumé;you can assume the interviewer already has one.
C)try not to be more than five or ten minutes late.
D)do all of the above.
Q2) In a(n)group interview,several candidates are interviewed simultaneously to see how they interact with potential peers.
Q3) During a screening interview,your best approach is to __________________
A)ask as many questions as possible.
B)provide key points that differentiate you 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.
Q4) List at least five items you should take to every interview.
Q5) In a(n)open-ended interview,the interviewer poses broad questions and encourages the applicant to talk freely.
Q6) Describe each of the three stages of a successful employment interview.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 18