Post-test
How to Sharpen Your Business Writing Skills, Second Edition
Course Code 96020
INSTRUCTIONS: Record your answers on one of the scannable answer forms enclosed with this course. Please follow the directions on the form carefully . Be sure to keep a copy of the completed answer forms for your records. No photocopies will be graded. When completed, mail your answer form to:
American Management Association
Educational Services
P.O. Box 133
Florida, NY 10921
1. You should use active verbs when writing because they:
(a) add vividness and forcefulness to your writing.
(b) are indirect.
(c) make sentences more lyrical.
(d) help deflect blame.
2. Choose the revision that best eliminates the negative connotations of this sentence: You need not fear that this bank will turn down a qualified applicant for a loan.
(a) You should not be afraid that this bank will reject a qualified applicant for a loan.
(b) Don’t worry about being rejected by this bank for your loan.
(c) This bank will accept all qualified applicants for loans.
(d) This bank will accept all loan applicants except those who don’t qualify.
3. Choose the sentence with the correct punctuation.
(a) If we made a mistake when we hired him; and it’s not clear that we did. What are our options?
(b) If we made a mistake when we hired him, and it’s not clear that we did: what are our options?
(c) If we made a mistake when we hired him—and it’s not clear that we did, what are our options?
(d) If we made a mistake when we hired him—and it’s not clear that we did—what are our options?
4. The main purpose of written proposals is to:
(a) price a product or service.
(b) establish communication.
(c) persuade someone to pursue a course of action or plan.
(d) state a position for the record.
5. In which of the following would it be most appropriate to use a direct pattern of organization?
(a) a turn-down for a loan
(b) a rejection of a client’s son for a summer job
(c) an acknowledgment of an order
(d) a proposal for a reduction in the work force
6. Which kind of resource would probably lead you to the most current information about the economic impact of e-commerce on the travel industry?
(a) a database of government publications
(b) a book
(c) a company’s annual report
(d) a business database
7. Choose the right words to fill in the blanks in the following sentence: The mediator _________ that we would have to choose _________ the five options.
(a) inferred . . . among
(b) implied . . . among
(c) implied . . . between
(d) inferred . . . between
8. Open-ended questions:
(a) demand concise answers.
(b) start with journalists’ questions: why, how, and what.
(c) are particularly good at clarifying ambiguity.
(d) always imply respect for the answerer.
(a) refer to things that can be perceived by the senses.
(b) refer only to activities.
(c) refer to ideas.
(d) refer only to objects.
10. Which sentence uses parallel structure?
(a) From rent received, a landlord pays taxes, building upkeep, and making mortgage payments.
(b) From rent received, taxes, upkeeping of the building, and paying the mortgage all must come out.
(c) From rent received, a landlord must pay taxes, upkeep of the building, and making mortgage payments.
(d) From rent received, the landlord must pay taxes, keep up the building, and make mortgage payments.
11. Of the following items in an outline, select the one that includes the others and could serve as a main heading:
(a) video prepared by personnel department
(b) steps in orienting a new employee
(c) introductions to co-workers
(d) explanation of basic tasks to be accomplished
12. A memo always includes:
(a) a title or subject heading.
(b) a closing.
(c) a salutation.
(d) an executive summary.
13. Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
(a) The goals are threefold; to reduce turnover to instill a sense of loyalty and to enhance community relations.
(b) The goals are threefold; to reduce turnover; to instill a sense of loyalty; and to enhance community relations.
(c) The goals are threefold: to reduce turnover, to instill a sense of loyalty, and to enhance community relations.
(d) The goals are threefold. To reduce turnover. To instill a sense of loyalty. And to enhance community relations.
14. The denotation of a word is:
(a) the meanings it has accrued over time.
(b) its shortened form.
(c) its obscure meaning.
(d) its dictionary meaning.
15. The criteria for good writing include:
(a) extensive vocabulary.
(b) clearly stated main points.
(c) variety of punctuation.
(d) variety of styles.
16. You are most likely to use formal writing when writing:
(a) by computer.
(b) to someone higher up in your organization.
(c) to your peers within an organization.
(d) a memo.
17. Which sentence is correct?
(a) Having served as treasurer for 12 years, this new job opportunity looks exciting.
(b) After being treasurer for 12 years, this new job opportunity looks exciting.
(c) Having served as treasurer for 12 years, I’m excited about this new job opportunity.
(d) This is an exciting new job opportunity, having served as treasurer for 12 years.
18. Transitional words and phrases usually:
(a) come at the end of paragraphs and sentences.
(b) complete a thought.
(c) require colons.
(d) make for smoother writing.
19. The following is an example of what kind of faulty reasoning? No politician dares raise taxes because voters care only about their pocketbooks.
(a) oversimplification
(b) begging the question
(c) false analogy
(d) non sequitur
20. Which of these is irrelevant to an analysis of your readers?
(a) their relationships to you in the hierarchy
(b) their work schedule
(c) their knowledge of the topic
(d) how the topic relates to them
21. You must give credit to the author whenever:
(a) you consult a published source.
(b) you use someone else’s words or ideas in your writing.
(c) you download a piece of information from the Web.
(d) you quote a statistic.
22. When you have a research problem and don’t know where to begin, your best bet is to consult:
(a) an encyclopedia.
(b) an abstract.
(c) a reference librarian.
(d) co-workers.
23. The laws regulating e-mail:
(a) cover most common business practices.
(b) provide a high degree of privacy.
(c) are current and comprehensive.
(d) protect the privacy of e-mail on public networks only.
24. For the following sentence, select the verbs that agree with the subjects. Clarity in writing and in speaking _________ essential to business communication; the chairman, along with the CEO,_________ that’s true.
(a) are . . . insists
(b) is . . . insists
(c) are . . . insist
(d) is . . . insist
25. Synonyms are words that:
(a) are interchangeable.
(b) mean approximately the same thing.
(c) sound alike but are spelled differently.