Business Comm Test 1 – Flashcards
131 test answers
Unlock all answers in this set
Unlock answers 131question
The purpose of a résumé is to
answer
get you an interview
Unlock the answer
question
In composing a résumé, it is best to avoid
answer
using the word I.
Unlock the answer
question
Using your résumé to tell employers you are detail oriented, a team player, and a hard worker
answer
is generally not helpful unless you also include concrete proof and evidence to support your claims.
Unlock the answer
question
When you describe your work experience on your résumé, you should
answer
start with your most recent job and work back chronologically.
Unlock the answer
question
Do not include on your résumé items that could encourage discrimination, such as
answer
marital status
Unlock the answer
question
Putting "References available upon request" at the end of your résumé is
answer
not necessary since the availability of references is usually assumed.
Unlock the answer
question
The most common problem with résumé design is
answer
using excessive and distracting design elements.
Unlock the answer
question
When you're preparing an introductory statement for your résumé, all of the following except a ________ can be a good choice
answer
personality profile
Unlock the answer
question
Potential employers view your résumé as
answer
evidence of your attention to quality and detail.
Unlock the answer
question
A good résumé is targeted for specific situations and prospective employers.
answer
true
Unlock the answer
question
The best approach for an application letter depends on
answer
whether you are sending a solicited letter or an unsolicited letter
Unlock the answer
question
When you're writing an application letter to accompany your résumé,
answer
treat it with same care that you took with your résumé.
Unlock the answer
question
You'll impress prospective employers with your application letter if you
answer
show that you know something about the company and its marketplace.
Unlock the answer
question
The best salutation for an application letter is
answer
one that addresses a specific individual by name.
Unlock the answer
question
When it comes to length, an application letter should
answer
be short no more than three paragraphs.
Unlock the answer
question
Which of the following would be the best opening sentence for a solicited application letter?
answer
Based on your company's remarkable growth over the past three years, I can appreciate your need for highly qualified and experienced sales personnel."
Unlock the answer
question
In the middle section of a job application letter, you should
answer
present your strongest selling points in terms of their potential benefit to the organization.
Unlock the answer
question
In the final paragraph of your application letter you should
answer
request an interview and provide contact information.
Unlock the answer
question
In general, employers are looking for two things: proof that a candidate can handle the responsibilities of the position and
answer
evidence that the person will fit in with the organization.
Unlock the answer
question
When going to a job interview
answer
take along samples of your work; recruiters are impressed by tangible evidence of job-related accomplishments.
Unlock the answer
question
The longest phase of a job interview is usually
answer
the question-and-answer stage.
Unlock the answer
question
When a job interviewer indicates the interview is coming to a close, you should
answer
prepare to leave but (if possible) try to pin down what will happen next.
Unlock the answer
question
Within two days after an employment interview, you should
answer
follow-up with a short note of thanks, using a tone that's positive but not overconfident.
Unlock the answer
question
An unsolicited job application letter should begin with a statement designed to get the reader's attention.
answer
true
Unlock the answer
question
The appropriate clothing for most job interviews is something conservative, such as a dark blue suit.
answer
true
Unlock the answer
question
The term groupthink refers to
answer
the willingness of individual group members to withhold contrary or unpopular opinions, even when those objections are legitimate, and to go along with majority opinion.
Unlock the answer
question
A hidden agenda refers to
answer
individuals' private, counterproductive motives.
Unlock the answer
question
The primary difference between constructive feedback and destructive feedback is
answer
destructive feedback delivers criticism with no guidance for improvement.
Unlock the answer
question
The best time to distribute an agenda for a meeting is
answer
before the meeting begins.
Unlock the answer
question
Parliamentary procedure.
answer
helps meetings run more smoothly.
Unlock the answer
question
If you are engaging in critical listening, your goal is to
answer
evaluate the logic and validity of the message.
Unlock the answer
question
Selective listening refers to
answer
letting one's mind wander until something personally relevant is said.
Unlock the answer
question
In part, poor listening occurs because listeners
answer
can think faster than speakers can speak.
Unlock the answer
question
Which of the following statements about nonverbal communication is false?
answer
Nonverbal signals will allow you to "read someone like a book."
Unlock the answer
question
When working in teams, getting your point across
answer
is easier when you wait until others are ready to hear your arguments.
Unlock the answer
question
Active listening involves
answer
making a conscious effort to truly hear and understand what the other party is saying.
Unlock the answer
question
Nonverbal signals play a vital role in communication because they can ________ a verbal message.
answer
all of the above
Unlock the answer
question
Cross-functional teams perform several roles, but contain employees from the same department or division.
answer
False
Unlock the answer
question
In the phenomenon of groupthink, the team may arrive at poor-quality decisions and even act unethically.
answer
True
Unlock the answer
question
Conflict between persons or groups in an organization is always destructive and must be avoided at all costs.
answer
False
Unlock the answer
question
Diversity in the workplace can be based on differences in
answer
All of these.
Unlock the answer
question
As it pertains to communication, culture influences
answer
all of these
Unlock the answer
question
Xenophobia is the fear of
answer
strangers and foreigners
Unlock the answer
question
The term ________ describes the practice of accepting multiple cultures on their own terms.
answer
cultural pluralism
Unlock the answer
question
To convey meaning in a low-context culture such as the one existing in Germany, people rely more on
answer
explicit verbal communication.
Unlock the answer
question
When adapting to other cultures, the "Golden Rule" is
answer
less effective than treating others the way they want to be treated.
Unlock the answer
question
When writing for multicultural audiences, it is often helpful to
answer
use simple sentences and short paragraphs
Unlock the answer
question
Which of the following sentences contains an idiomatic expression?
answer
Making our monthly sales quota will be a piece of cake.
Unlock the answer
question
During conversations with non-native English speakers, you should
answer
do none of these
Unlock the answer
question
Cultural competency refers to
answer
the ability to adjust one's communication style to accommodate cultural differences.
Unlock the answer
question
When it comes to core values,
answer
many cultures have very little (or nothing) in common with others.
Unlock the answer
question
Openness and inclusiveness
answer
are not characteristics of many cultures, whose members display a general unwillingness to accommodate outsiders.
Unlock the answer
question
Intercultural communication is the process of sending and receiving messages between people whose cultural backgrounds
answer
could lead them to interpret verbal and nonverbal signs differently.
Unlock the answer
question
The term ________ includes an appreciation for cultural differences that affect communication and the ability to adjust one's style when communicating across cultures.
answer
cultural competency
Unlock the answer
question
Most people belong to only one culture
answer
false
Unlock the answer
question
Culture is inborn, not learned.
answer
false
Unlock the answer
question
Evidence suggests that whatever the culture, men and women tend to have slightly different communication styles.
answer
true
Unlock the answer
question
In general, when writing to someone in another country, U.S. businesspeople should be a bit more formal than they would be otherwise.
answer
true
Unlock the answer
question
The three primary steps involved in preparing a business message are
answer
planning, writing, and completing.
Unlock the answer
question
The primary audience for your message consists of
answer
the key decision makers in the audience.
Unlock the answer
question
Forecasting your audience's probable reaction to your message is
answer
vital, because potential audience reaction affects message organization.
Unlock the answer
question
A good way to test the thoroughness of your business message is to check it for
answer
the who, what, when, where, why, and how.
Unlock the answer
question
Using oral media for business communication
answer
can lead to awkward conversations, but also help you earn a reputation as an honest, caring manager.
Unlock the answer
question
In general, traditional business messages rely
answer
primarily on text, with occasional support from graphical elements. (such as charts and diagrams).
Unlock the answer
question
Which of the following media would be best for sending a brief internal message (requiring no response from your audience) about an upcoming software update?
answer
email
Unlock the answer
question
A key advantage of oral communication is
answer
the opportunity to get immediate feedback.
Unlock the answer
question
Organizing messages effectively helps readers by
answer
all of these
Unlock the answer
question
Planning is essential when writing business messages because it
answer
all of these
Unlock the answer
question
Use ________ to organize a message if you believe your audience will be receptive to what you have to say.
answer
the direct approach
Unlock the answer
question
No one has time to plan messages anymore, so when you need to create one it is best to simply dive right in and begin writing.
answer
False
Unlock the answer
question
Social media empower stakeholders to participate in the communication process by allowing them to
answer
All of these
Unlock the answer
question
Even though you've sent numerous emails and left voicemail messages, a normally dependable vendor has not responded to your important question. Which of the following would be a sensible next step?
answer
consider sending a printed message
Unlock the answer
question
When selecting the appropriate compositional mode for a communication task using electronic media, the central factor to consider is
answer
what kind of information audience members are likely to need.
Unlock the answer
question
Thanks to Facebook, you've recently connected with an old friend who lives in another state. She emails you frequently at work, often sharing racially charged jokes that you find offensive. Concerned about what would happen if your boss or coworkers saw her emails, you should
answer
politely ask her to stop sending the jokes, and then speak privately with your boss about the problem and how you have addressed it.
Unlock the answer
question
You should plan for important business exchanges via IM by viewing them as
answer
conversations with specific goals in mind.
Unlock the answer
question
When you're applying the three-step writing process to blogging, the planning step will include
answer
all of these
Unlock the answer
question
Business people can use text messaging for
answer
all of these
Unlock the answer
question
In the social media landscape, companies that ________ are likely to be ignored.
answer
take a "we talk, you listen" approach
Unlock the answer
question
Each social network is a unique environment with its own communication norms. As you're adapting to the expectations of each network, be sure to Question options:
answer
maintain a consistent personality across all networks in which you're active.
Unlock the answer
question
Twitter is one example of a microblogging system.
answer
true
Unlock the answer
question
Creating effective social media content in business means taking every opportunity to promote your company's products.
answer
False
Unlock the answer
question
It is illegal for your company to open and read email you send and receive at work.
answer
False
Unlock the answer
question
Spelling, punctuation, and grammar do not matter in email; getting your message out quickly should be your only concern.
answer
False
Unlock the answer
question
Blogs are useful tools for crisis communication
answer
True
Unlock the answer
question
When making a routine request, you should begin with
answer
a clear statement of the main idea or request.
Unlock the answer
question
When making a routine request, you should
answer
assume the audience will comply
Unlock the answer
question
When asking multiple questions in a request message,
answer
begin with the most important question
Unlock the answer
question
When closing a direct request, you should
answer
request a specific response and mention the time limits.
Unlock the answer
question
When responding to a customer's request for an adjustment, it is usually reasonable to assume that
answer
If you handle the situation well, the customer will be even more loyal than before.
Unlock the answer
question
When responding to a claim when your company is at fault, it is best to
answer
take (or assign) personal responsibility for setting matters straight.
Unlock the answer
question
For serious problems that go beyond routine errors, your company should have ________ that outlines communication, both inside and outside the organization.
answer
a crisis management plan
Unlock the answer
question
In today's electronic media environment, handwritten thank-you notes
answer
are often particularly appreciated by the recipient.
Unlock the answer
question
When making an unusual or complex request, it is best to
answer
break it down into specific, individual questions.
Unlock the answer
question
When asking for information and action, explaining why you're making the request
answer
is part of an effective strategy for getting what you want.
Unlock the answer
question
Most simple requests can be handled by explaining
answer
all of these
Unlock the answer
question
In business communication, good etiquette
answer
indicates respect for the audience and minimizes negative emotional reaction.
Unlock the answer
question
In part because of limited opportunities for feedback, written communication and most forms of electronic communication require ________ than oral communication.
answer
more tact
Unlock the answer
question
Select the sentence with the most positive emphasis.
answer
We will complete the process audit by Friday.
Unlock the answer
question
When you are criticizing or correcting, it is best to
answer
focus on what the audience members can do to improve.
Unlock the answer
question
A euphemism is a word or phrase that is
answer
a milder term for one with negative connotations.
Unlock the answer
question
Using the term crippled in business communication is an example of
answer
disability bias.
Unlock the answer
question
The best tone for most business messages is
answer
conversational
Unlock the answer
question
Plain language is a style of writing
answer
designed to make information more understandable to the audience.
Unlock the answer
question
Which of the following sentences contains the strongest and most effective wording?
answer
We need to cut the operating budget by 12 percent or profits will plummet.
Unlock the answer
question
You can emphasize key points by
answer
doing all of these
Unlock the answer
question
A typical paragraph contains the three basic elements of
answer
a topic sentence, support sentences, and transitional words and phrases.
Unlock the answer
question
Words such as nevertheless, however, but, and therefore
answer
are useful for making transitions
Unlock the answer
question
Most business communication should aim for a ________ tone.
answer
conversational
Unlock the answer
question
As you create and refine your messages, evaluate your writing at all of the following levels except
answer
multimedia enhancements
Unlock the answer
question
If you must deliver a negative message, ask ________ to help you choose the direct or indirect approach for delivering the message.
answer
all of these
Unlock the answer
question
Consider the following statements. Which one of them is phrased in a negative way?
answer
your payment is late
Unlock the answer
question
When using the direct approach to deliver negative messages, you
answer
should end the message on a respectful note.
Unlock the answer
question
One important goal of a buffer is to
answer
establish common ground with your reader.
Unlock the answer
question
In a negative message organized using the indirect approach, the reasons for the decision should
answer
come directly after the buffer and follow naturally from it.
Unlock the answer
question
As a rule, managers should use ________ to deliver bad news to employees.
answer
the indirect approach
Unlock the answer
question
In general, the best persuasive messages ________ the audience's potential resistance.
answer
anticipate and address
Unlock the answer
question
Which of the following is not an example of demographic information?
answer
lifestyle
Unlock the answer
question
Regarding the three-step writing process, all of the following except ________ are important elements of the completing step.
answer
forecasting the message
Unlock the answer
question
Which one of the following questions will not help you evaluate the way a business message is organized?
answer
Have you achieved the right tone for your audience?
Unlock the answer
question
All of the following except ________ will make a business message easier to read or skim
answer
presenting ideas in lengthy paragraphs
Unlock the answer
question
Skilled business writers
answer
vary the length of their sentences to maintain reader interest and convey information effectively.
Unlock the answer
question
Informative headings and subheadings
answer
guide readers to think a certain way about the topics covered.
Unlock the answer
question
Which of the following is an example of a hedging sentence?
answer
The employee's performance appears to be less than satisfactory.
Unlock the answer
question
As you're in the process of editing your document for clarity, remember to
answer
keep the subject and predicate of a sentence as close together as possible.
Unlock the answer
question
For effective document design, you should
answer
balance the space devoted to text, artwork, and white space.
Unlock the answer
question
When using graphics, photos, video clips and other online content in multimedia documents,
answer
it is vital to make sure you can legally use them.
Unlock the answer
question
When you're writing a business message, use headings and subheadings to
answer
all of these
Unlock the answer
