Question 1

The main difference between solicited and unsolicited proposals is

Accepted Answer

A) who prepares the proposal. 
B) who requests the proposal. 
C) who initiates the proposal process. 
D) who evaluates the submitted proposals. 
A) who prepares the proposal. 
B) who requests the proposal. 
C) who initiates the proposal process. 
D) who evaluates the submitted proposals. C

Question 2

The main factor in writing successful sales proposals is

Accepted Answer

A) making a competitive bid that other firms will likely not match. 
B) looking at the situation from the reader's point of view. 
C) having a strong action plan. 
D) clearly stating the proposed actions and supporting arguments. 
A) making a competitive bid that other firms will likely not match. 
B) looking at the situation from the reader's point of view. 
C) having a strong action plan. 
D) clearly stating the proposed actions and supporting arguments. B

Question 3

A critical path diagram in a proposal sends the message that

Accepted Answer

A) "our system or equipment does the job." 
B) "our plan is logical." 
C) "we offer high performance at low costs." 
D) "we can meet the schedule." 
A) "our system or equipment does the job." 
B) "our plan is logical." 
C) "we offer high performance at low costs." 
D) "we can meet the schedule." D

Question 4

The Action Gradient discussed in Chapter 18

Accepted Answer

A) describes how to turn a theoretical proposal into action. 
B) equates emotional responses with productive behaviour. 
C) equates rational responses with productive behaviour. 
D) says that internal improvement proposals are often disruptive. 
A) describes how to turn a theoretical proposal into action. 
B) equates emotional responses with productive behaviour. 
C) equates rational responses with productive behaviour. 
D) says that internal improvement proposals are often disruptive.

Question 5

A formal proposal

Accepted Answer

A) seldom includes a transmittal message. 
B) is accompanied by a transmittal in the form of a letter, memo, or email. 
C) incorporates a transmittal message in the proposal's front matter. 
D) incorporates a transmittal message in the proposal's introduction section. 
A) seldom includes a transmittal message. 
B) is accompanied by a transmittal in the form of a letter, memo, or email. 
C) incorporates a transmittal message in the proposal's front matter. 
D) incorporates a transmittal message in the proposal's introduction section.

Question 6

Flowcharts in proposals send the message that

Accepted Answer

A) "our system or equipment does the job." 
B) "our plan is logical." 
C) "we offer high performance at low costs." 
D) "we can meet the schedule." 
A) "our system or equipment does the job." 
B) "our plan is logical." 
C) "we offer high performance at low costs." 
D) "we can meet the schedule."

Question 7

Which of the following criteria is generally not used to evaluate a proposal?

Accepted Answer

A) how well the proposal shows that it understands the client's needs 
B) the quality of the proposed project's organization and management 
C) the length of the proposal 
D) the qualifications of the staff assigned to the project 
A) how well the proposal shows that it understands the client's needs 
B) the quality of the proposed project's organization and management 
C) the length of the proposal 
D) the qualifications of the staff assigned to the project

Question 8

The following document type is not one of the main types of proposals:

Accepted Answer

A) improvement proposals. 
B) research proposals. 
C) recommendations. 
D) sales proposals. 
A) improvement proposals. 
B) research proposals. 
C) recommendations. 
D) sales proposals.

Question 9

Budgets presented in proposals are considered

Accepted Answer

A) the most important item in the proposal. 
B) legally binding. 
C) the starting point for negotiations. 
D) general guidelines that will be modified as a project progresses. 
A) the most important item in the proposal. 
B) legally binding. 
C) the starting point for negotiations. 
D) general guidelines that will be modified as a project progresses.

Question 10

A reader will likely react negatively to a proposal that

Accepted Answer

A) presents reams of supportive data. 
B) argues in favour of the proposed solution. 
C) provides just enough information to outline the general plan. 
D) treats contingencies and limitations realistically. 
A) presents reams of supportive data. 
B) argues in favour of the proposed solution. 
C) provides just enough information to outline the general plan. 
D) treats contingencies and limitations realistically.

Question 11

Grant proposals

Accepted Answer

A) differ very little from business sales proposals. 
B) must align with the stated mission statement and priorities of the government department or private foundation to which the proposal is directed. 
C) do not need to present cost estimates. 
D) should always be written in serious academic language. 
A) differ very little from business sales proposals. 
B) must align with the stated mission statement and priorities of the government department or private foundation to which the proposal is directed. 
C) do not need to present cost estimates. 
D) should always be written in serious academic language.

Question 12

Formal proposals differ from informal proposals primarily in

Accepted Answer

A) the formal proposal's formal writing style. 
B) the professional appearance of formal proposals. 
C) the use of additional photos, charts, and other visuals found in formal proposals. 
D) the length and complexity and additional sections found in formal proposals. 
A) the formal proposal's formal writing style. 
B) the professional appearance of formal proposals. 
C) the use of additional photos, charts, and other visuals found in formal proposals. 
D) the length and complexity and additional sections found in formal proposals.

Question 13

Few informal proposals contain the following section

Accepted Answer

A) a transmittal letter or memo. 
B) an introduction and background. 
C) a project description. 
D) supporting information and arguments. 
A) a transmittal letter or memo. 
B) an introduction and background. 
C) a project description. 
D) supporting information and arguments.

Question 14

RFPs usually provide

Accepted Answer

A) a complete list of criteria that will be used to evaluate submitted proposals. 
B) detailed specifications for a requested product or service. 
C) a basic overview of the requested product or service, together with contact information, deadline dates, and the source of detailed project requirements. 
D) the exact project cost that a proposal must meet. 
A) a complete list of criteria that will be used to evaluate submitted proposals. 
B) detailed specifications for a requested product or service. 
C) a basic overview of the requested product or service, together with contact information, deadline dates, and the source of detailed project requirements. 
D) the exact project cost that a proposal must meet.

Question 15

Proposal supplements are useful for

Accepted Answer

A) addressing the levels of technical knowledge possessed by diverse readers. 
B) presenting arguments and evidence that the reader will not likely accept. 
C) presenting cost estimates, which should never appear in the main body of a proposal. 
D) presenting graphs and other graphics, which should never appear in the main body of a proposal. 
A) addressing the levels of technical knowledge possessed by diverse readers. 
B) presenting arguments and evidence that the reader will not likely accept. 
C) presenting cost estimates, which should never appear in the main body of a proposal. 
D) presenting graphs and other graphics, which should never appear in the main body of a proposal.

Question 16

Proposal writers usually believe that an RFP provides

Accepted Answer

A) very little guidance for a proposal that responds to the RFP. 
B) general guidelines for creative solutions to problems or challenges. 
C) specific requirements of actions that must be carried out, exactly as described in the RFP or in documents that accompany the RFP. 
D) specific requirements that guide creative solutions to identified problems or challenges. 
A) very little guidance for a proposal that responds to the RFP. 
B) general guidelines for creative solutions to problems or challenges. 
C) specific requirements of actions that must be carried out, exactly as described in the RFP or in documents that accompany the RFP. 
D) specific requirements that guide creative solutions to identified problems or challenges.

Question 17

The authorization section of a proposal

Accepted Answer

A) lists the proposed items and actions that have already been authorized. 
B) always appears in a proposal's closing paragraph. 
C) always appears in the transmittal document. 
D) requests that the reader approve the proposal plan. 
A) lists the proposed items and actions that have already been authorized. 
B) always appears in a proposal's closing paragraph. 
C) always appears in the transmittal document. 
D) requests that the reader approve the proposal plan.

Question 18

Standard informal proposals usually include

Accepted Answer

A) only an introduction and a project description. 
B) an introduction, background section, project description, and supporting arguments and data. 
C) a transmittal document, a project description, and a proposal summary. 
D) an introduction, background section project description, supporting materials, supporting arguments, a budget, and an authorization request. 
A) only an introduction and a project description. 
B) an introduction, background section, project description, and supporting arguments and data. 
C) a transmittal document, a project description, and a proposal summary. 
D) an introduction, background section project description, supporting materials, supporting arguments, a budget, and an authorization request.

Question 19

Line graphs and bar graphs in proposals can send the message that

Accepted Answer

A) "our system or equipment does the job." 
B) "our plan is logical." 
C) "we offer high performance at low costs." 
D) "we can meet the schedule." 
A) "our system or equipment does the job." 
B) "our plan is logical." 
C) "we offer high performance at low costs." 
D) "we can meet the schedule."

Question 20

The acronym RFP stands for

Accepted Answer

A) regulated form proposals. 
B) request for proposal. 
C) reader friendly proposals. 
D) referred formal proposal. 
A) regulated form proposals. 
B) request for proposal. 
C) reader friendly proposals. 
D) referred formal proposal.

Exam 18: Technical Descriptions, Specifications, and Marketing Materials

The main difference between solicited and unsolicited proposals is

The main factor in writing successful sales proposals is

A critical path diagram in a proposal sends the message that

The Action Gradient discussed in Chapter 18

A formal proposal

Flowcharts in proposals send the message that

Which of the following criteria is generally not used to evaluate a proposal?

The following document type is not one of the main types of proposals:

Budgets presented in proposals are considered

A reader will likely react negatively to a proposal that

Grant proposals

Formal proposals differ from informal proposals primarily in

Few informal proposals contain the following section

RFPs usually provide

Proposal supplements are useful for

Proposal writers usually believe that an RFP provides

The authorization section of a proposal

Standard informal proposals usually include

Line graphs and bar graphs in proposals can send the message that

The acronym RFP stands for

Introduction to Technical Communication

Meeting the Needs of Specific Audiences

Persuading Your Audience

Weighing the Ethical Issues

Teamwork and Global Considerations

An Overview of the Technical Writing Process

Thinking Critically About the Research Process

Evaluating and Interpreting Information

Summarizing Research Findings and Other Information

Organizing for Readers

Editing for a Professional Style and Tone

Designing Visual Information

Designing Pages and Documents

Email

Workplace Memos and Letters

Résumés and Other Job-Search Materials

Technical Definitions

Instructions and Procedures

Informal Reports

Formal Analytical Reports

Proposals

Oral Presentations and Video Conferencing

Blogs, Wikis, and Web Pages

Social Media

Filters