Question 1

What is the most important principle of plain English?

Accepted Answer

A)  Ensure that your writing makes sense. 
B)  Have a purpose for your writing. 
C)  Approach the writing with vigour. 
D)  Put yourself in the place of the receiver(s) of the intended message. 
A)  Ensure that your writing makes sense. 
B)  Have a purpose for your writing. 
C)  Approach the writing with vigour. 
D)  Put yourself in the place of the receiver(s) of the intended message.

Question 2

Contrast a positive tone with a negative tone and give an example of each. Briefly describe the design elements that make up the layout of a document. Describe an order of information suited to a document that uses vertical channels of communication.

Accepted Answer

Contrasting a positive tone with a negat

Question 3

In coherent sentences and paragraphs, when a sentence is too long, it is often a problem of

Accepted Answer

A)  passive voice. 
B)  a compound sentence. 
C)  sentence sprawl. 
D)  a complex sentence. 
A)  passive voice. 
B)  a compound sentence. 
C)  sentence sprawl. 
D)  a complex sentence.

Question 4

Who said 'the reader is the judge' in writing?

Accepted Answer

A)  Dwyer (2008) 
B)  Murphy (2001) 
C)  Aristotle (320 B
C)  
D)  Jones (2003) 
A)  Dwyer (2008) 
B)  Murphy (2001) 
C)  Aristotle (320 B
C)  
D)  Jones (2003)

Question 5

The measured flow of sounds is known as tone.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Tone, rhythm and format are important for readers in business writing because

Accepted Answer

A)  they help the document to sound and look professional. 
B)  they make the writing readable and interesting. 
C)  they focus on creating a relationship with the reader. 
D)  all of the above. 
A)  they help the document to sound and look professional. 
B)  they make the writing readable and interesting. 
C)  they focus on creating a relationship with the reader. 
D)  all of the above.

Question 7

The purpose of punctuation in writing is to

Accepted Answer

A)  alert the reader to the appropriate speed when reading. 
B)  aid understanding and convey a clearer message by providing flow to the words. 
C)  help the reader to better understand the tone of the communication. 
D)  indicate where capital letters are needed. 
A)  alert the reader to the appropriate speed when reading. 
B)  aid understanding and convey a clearer message by providing flow to the words. 
C)  help the reader to better understand the tone of the communication. 
D)  indicate where capital letters are needed.

Question 8

The topic sentence identifies a course of action or a summary.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Which software feature should you use if you want to find typos and repeated words?

Accepted Answer

A)  Thesaurus 
B)  Spell check 
C)  Grammar check 
D)  Cut and paste 
A)  Thesaurus 
B)  Spell check 
C)  Grammar check 
D)  Cut and paste

Question 10

Inclusive language includes all readers regardless of gender or race.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

'The man and the lady' is an example of parallel language.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Plain English is a readable writing style that uses the 'you' approach, positive language, clear expression and an assertive, courteous tone.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Which of the following is a sentence fragment?

Accepted Answer

A)  The youth donned his helmet. 
B)  Riding towards the hills. 
C)  Galahs shrieked and wheeled overhead. 
D)  Up the street and down the road walked the man whose legs were bowed. 
A)  The youth donned his helmet. 
B)  Riding towards the hills. 
C)  Galahs shrieked and wheeled overhead. 
D)  Up the street and down the road walked the man whose legs were bowed.

Question 14

As advantages of a plain English writing style, equity, efficiency and effectiveness have a significant impact on your organisation and your audience.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Personal pronouns help writers to avoid abstractions and keep sentences short, and encourage them to use concrete language.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

What are the key skills used to group sentences together in business writing?

Accepted Answer

A)  Linking words, punctuation and parallel structure 
B)  Limiting sentence fragments 
C)  Balancing sentence sprawl 
D)  Avoiding paragraph unity 
A)  Linking words, punctuation and parallel structure 
B)  Limiting sentence fragments 
C)  Balancing sentence sprawl 
D)  Avoiding paragraph unity

Question 17

Concrete language uses specific words that are easy to understand.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

What Fog index is a reasonable average for business writing?

Accepted Answer

A)  4-5 
B)  6+ 
C)  2-3 
D)  None of the above 
A)  4-5 
B)  6+ 
C)  2-3 
D)  None of the above

Question 19

The use of a gender-specific reference, such as 'lady doctor' is inappropriate in business writing because

Accepted Answer

A)  it is potentially discriminatory. 
B)  it is non-representative. 
C)  it carries hidden meaning. 
D)  it is promoting a stereotype. 
A)  it is potentially discriminatory. 
B)  it is non-representative. 
C)  it carries hidden meaning. 
D)  it is promoting a stereotype.

Question 20

Which of the following is in the passive voice?

Accepted Answer

A)  The motorcycle engine was overhauled by Justine. 
B)  Justine has overhauled the motorcycle engine. 
C)  The carburettor was misfiring. 
D)  Justine is cleaning the carburettor. 
A)  The motorcycle engine was overhauled by Justine. 
B)  Justine has overhauled the motorcycle engine. 
C)  The carburettor was misfiring. 
D)  Justine is cleaning the carburettor.

Exam 18: Writing for the Professions

What is the most important principle of plain English?

Contrast a positive tone with a negative tone and give an example of each. Briefly describe the design elements that make up the layout of a document. Describe an order of information suited to a document that uses vertical channels of communication.

In coherent sentences and paragraphs, when a sentence is too long, it is often a problem of

Who said 'the reader is the judge' in writing?

The measured flow of sounds is known as tone.

Tone, rhythm and format are important for readers in business writing because

The purpose of punctuation in writing is to

The topic sentence identifies a course of action or a summary.

Which software feature should you use if you want to find typos and repeated words?

Inclusive language includes all readers regardless of gender or race.

'The man and the lady' is an example of parallel language.

Plain English is a readable writing style that uses the 'you' approach, positive language, clear expression and an assertive, courteous tone.

Which of the following is a sentence fragment?

As advantages of a plain English writing style, equity, efficiency and effectiveness have a significant impact on your organisation and your audience.

Personal pronouns help writers to avoid abstractions and keep sentences short, and encourage them to use concrete language.

What are the key skills used to group sentences together in business writing?

Concrete language uses specific words that are easy to understand.

What Fog index is a reasonable average for business writing?

The use of a gender-specific reference, such as 'lady doctor' is inappropriate in business writing because

Which of the following is in the passive voice?

Communication Foundations

Interpersonal Communication

Emotional Intelligence: Managing Self and Relationships

Negotiation and Conflict Management

Intercultural Communication

Communication Across the Organisation

Leadership

Team and Work Group Communication

Effective Meetings: Face-To-Face and Virtual

Customer Engagement

Public Relations

Managing Big Data and Knowledge

Researching and Processing Information

Conducting Surveys and Questionnaires

Critical Thinking, Argument, Logic and Persuasion

Communicating Through Visuals

Oral Presentations and Public Speaking

Writing Correspondence, Emails and Short Reports

Writing Long Reports

Writing Reflective Journals

Academic Writing

Social Media

Writing for the Web

The Job Search, Résumés and Interviews in the Digital Era

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