Business Communication Quiz - 23

1. If someone asks you which way the MD’s room is, you may simply point down the corridor. You may praise your friend’s new dress while your face shows absolute dismay or you may use your hands to indicate the monstrous proportion of your ego. Which aspect of communication is explained by your pointing down the corridor and contradiction in your praise and facial expression?
[A]Verbal expressions
[B]Nonverbal aspects of communication
[C]E-mail communications
[D]Telephone communications



2. The receiver is the individual to whom the message is directed. The extent to which this person comprehends the message will depend on a number of factors. There can always be difference in what the sender intended and what the receiver received. Hence, the meaning ascribed by the receiver to a message he receives determined by
[A]Dictionary definitions
[B]His imagination
[C]His senses (eyes, ears, and such)
[D]His experience, knowledge, biases, emotions



3. The channels are the means used to convey the message. To physically transmit your message you select a communication channel and a medium. The medium could be telephone, computer, fax, letter, memo, face-to-face, etc. Companies that use intranets
[A]Are engaging in e-commerce with their customers
[B]Facilitate communication among employees within a company
[C]Are behind the times technologically
[D]Facilitate communication between employees and the society



4. Business correspondence is one of the most common forms of communication. It is so common that people often neglect to write letters carefully, and as a result, inadvertently antagonize customers, business partners, and potential clients. How can one write an “effective” business letter?
[A]By conveying the subject to the intended audience in most concise way
[B]By conveying the subject to the intended audience in most emotional way
[C]By conveying the subject to the intended audience in such a way that the writer’s purpose is achieved
[D]By conveying the subject to the intended audience in a most economical way



5. Normally, using you-attitude pays in the business writing. Without empathy for the audience’s feelings, it is hard to gain their cooperation or persuade them to accept tough decisions. However, in which of the following situations is it advisable not to use you-attitude?
[A]When the message attacks or criticizes the reader
[B]When the message congratulates the reader
[C]When it points out something important for the reader
[D]When sympathizing with the reader



6. The ability to communicate bad news as delicately and clearly as possible is an essential business skill. A skillful manager will attempt to say “no” in such a way that the reader supports the decision and is willing to maintain and continue a positive relationship with the company. Using the passive voice makes sense when
[A]You want to be diplomatic in pointing out a problem or error
[B]You want your sentence to be easier to understand
[C]You need to make your sentences shorter
[D]You want to emphasize the subject



7. The content of a memo should depend on its objectives. These objectives will help determine the type of memo that should be used: request, confirmation, periodic report, ideas and suggestions or informal study results. Memos that convey bad news need to be written
[A]Inductively
[B]Apologetically
[C]Ambiguously
[D]Quickly



8. When business people speak of reports, they are, in general, thinking of written, factual accounts that objectively communicate information about some aspect of the business. Which of the following will not give the readers a sense of the overall structure of a report?
[A]The opening
[B]Headings and lists
[C]Transitions
[D]The final outline



9. When businesspeople speak of reports, they are, in general, thinking of written, factual accounts that objectively communicate information about some aspect of the business. Which of the following is a logical interpretation of what the facts in the report mean?
[A]Title fly
[B]Conclusion
[C]Abstract
[D]Executive summary



10. Visual aids will definitely help to present the information more attractively. Choosing the proper visual aids is very important. Which of the following questions is/are appropriate when checking visual aids?
I. Is it convenient?
II. Is it accurate?
III. Is it necessary?
IV. Is it colorful?
[A]Both (I) and (II) above
[B]Both (II) and (III) above
[C]Both (III) and (IV) above
[D](I), (II) and (III) above



11. The “elements” of a report refer to those components that are usually included in a formal business report. Which of the following is the element that introduces the purpose and content of the report to the principal reader?
[A]Title page and title fly
[B]Abstract
[C]Letter of transmittal
[D]Executive summary



12. Nonverbal communication signals can completely alter the message that you communicate. In response to an idea Srikanth states during a meeting, Vijay makes a "thumbs up" gesture. Vijay's action functions to
[A]Control and regulate the communication taking place
[B]Contradict Srikanth's expressed idea
[C]Substitute for saying "I like your idea"
[D]Indicate that the idea is offensive



13. “Passing the building, the vandalism was clearly visible” The sentence is burdened with dangling modifiers. Which of the following is/are true regarding dangling modifiers?
I. They are illogical.
II. They are confusing.
III. They are modifiers that do not clearly modify a specific word.
[A]Only (I) above
[B]Only (II) above
[C]Both (I) and (III) above
[D]All (I), (II) and (III) above



14. Listening on the job is not only frequent, it is very important as well. In fact, most managers agree that “active listening” is the most crucial skill for becoming a successful manager. To increase one’s listening involvement, one should
[A]Think about other tasks that one needs to complete only when the speaker is pausing between thoughts
[B]Lean forward and maintain eye contact with the speaker
[C]Take advantage of the lag time before the speaker's next idea by discussing key points with other team members
[D]Ask the speaker a question and then immediately offer an answer based on one’s own experience



15. When you are forced to listen to a quick succession of messages, after a point your receptivity dulls. You find it gets impossible to listen attentively. Coping with a deluge of information is like juggling - you can keep only a few things going at a time. This explanation signifies the following barrier(s) to listening
[A]Physical distractions
[B]Prejudices
[C]Preoccupation
[D]Message overload