Deck 11: Reporting in the Digital-Age Workplace

Question 1

Which of the following statements about business reports is most accurate? 

A)The larger an organization, the more vital the exchange and flow of information becomes.
B)Reports are prepared for internal readers, not external readers.
C)To be considered a business report, a document must be in writing.
D)To be considered a business report, the document must be at least ten pages in length.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Which of the following reports is an example of an analytical report? 

A)A report giving the details about a training workshop attended 
B)A report showing that a public company is in compliance with SEC regulations 
C)A report describing the new company dress code 
D)A report recommending one of four building alarm systems

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Which of the following reports would most likely be written using a formal writing style? 

A)A routine report about the progress a task force is making 
B)A research report about consumer trends written by a consultant for his client 
C)A summary report written to your supervisor about a conference you attended 
D)A short summary written for your boss of an article you read

Answer 3

B

Question 4

What is the purpose of business reports? 

A)To convey information 
B)To answer questions 
C)To solve problems 
D)To do all of these

Question 5

Which of the following reports would most likely be written using an informal writing style? 

A)A thesis submitted by a PhD student 
B)A research report about economic trends written by a consultant for her client 
C)A summary report written to your supervisor about a conference you attended 
D)A business proposal written to secure a contract with a governmental agency

Question 6

Which of the following is an example of a digital report? 

A)A report prepared as a PDF document 
B)A PowerPoint slide deck that is posted online 
C)A presentation using a cloud-based software solution such as Prezi or SlideRocket 
D)All of these choices are examples of digital reports.

Question 7

Which of the following sentences uses the best writing style for a formal report? 

A)After checking several references, the company decided to hire the consulting firm of Anderson, Williams, and Pardee.
B)After considerable research, we've decided to order the Aptura computer from ISB for our office staff.
C)I conducted extensive research that shows companies are recognizing the benefits of telecommuting.
D)My personal opinion is that we should implement the new tracking system at once.

Question 8

Long formal reports are usually printed on plain paper in 

A)memo format.
B)manuscript format.
C)letter format.
D)handwritten format.

Question 9

In which of the following situations should the direct pattern of organization be used for a business report? 

A)When readers are familiar with the topic 
B)When readers must be educated about the topic 
C)When readers may be disappointed in or hostile toward the report's findings 
D)When readers must be persuaded

Question 10

In which of the following situations should the indirect pattern of organization be used for a business report? 

A)When readers are familiar with the topic 
B)When readers must be educated about the topic 
C)When readers are supportive of the topic 
D)The indirect method should be used in all these cases.

Question 11

Which of the following types of reports would not be sent to someone outside the organization? 

A)Manuscript format 
B)Digital format 
C)Letter format 
D)Memo format

Question 12

Short (eight or fewer pages) informal reports addressed outside an organization are usually presented in 

A)memo format.
B)manuscript format.
C)letter format.
D)handwritten format.

Question 13

When the conclusions and recommendations, appear at the end of the report, the organizational strategy is 

A)indirect.
B)spiral.
C)direct.
D)multifaceted.

Question 14

A report that provides data or findings, analyses, and conclusions is a(n) ____________ report.

A)analytical 
B)informational 
C)external 
D)digital

Question 15

You are writing a short, routine report for your supervisor and want to use an informal writing style. Which of the following should you do? 

A)Because you are writing to a superior, create a distance between yourself and the reader.
B)Avoid humor and figures of speech.
C)Use shorter sentences and familiar words.
D)Omit any colorful adjectives and adverbs.

Question 16

A report that presents data without analysis or recommendations is a(n) ___________ report.

A)analytical 
B)informational 
C)audit 
D)yardstick

Question 17

In which of the following situations should the direct pattern of organization be used for a business report? 

A)When readers must be persuaded 
B)When readers are unfamiliar with the problem 
C)When readers may be disappointed or hostile toward the report's findings 
D)When readers are familiar with the topic

Question 18

Reports written in a formal writing style tend to project 

A)objectivity.
B)authority.
C)impartiality.
D)all of these.

Question 19

Which of the following reports is an example of an informational report? 

A)A report that recommends one of six candidates for an executive assistant position 
B)A report that compares three sites for a new clothing boutique location and recommends one 
C)A report showing how a company has complied with IRS regulations 
D)A report that presents several alternatives for decreasing employee absenteeism, including recommendations for the best solution

Question 20

You must write a business report for a client and want to use a formal writing style. Which of the following should you do? 

A)Emphasize active-voice verbs.
B)Avoid including your own opinions and perceptions.
C)Use first-person pronouns.
D)Use contractions.

Question 21

An expanded statement of purpose for a study includes three additional factors. What are they? 

A)Scope, significance, and limitations 
B)Scope, conclusions, and recommendations 
C)Work plan, significance, and limitations 
D)Findings, conclusions, and recommendations

Question 22

Which of the following is the best advice for searching the Web? 

A)Choose your favorite search tool and use it exclusively so that you can master it.
B)Use just one or two keywords when conducting a search.
C)Use quotation marks to search for phrases.
D)Include articles and prepositions to make your searches more accurate.

Question 23

Dylan is anticipating the audience for a report he is writing. What question should he ask during this stage of the writing process? 

A)What do my readers need to know about this topic? 
B)How will my readers react to the information in my report? 
C)What is the educational level of my readers? 
D)Dylan should ask all these questions about her audience.

Question 24

What type of data result from reading what others have experienced or observed and written down? 

A)Primary data 
B)Secondary data 
C)Unreliable data 
D)Sketchy data

Question 25

ABI/INFORM Complete, Business Source Premier, JSTOR Business, Factiva, and LexisNexis Academic are 

A)card catalogs.
B)online catalogs.
C)websites.
D)research databases.

Question 26

Preparing a work plan for your report helps you 

A)set priorities.
B)outline a course of action.
C)establish a schedule.
D)with all of these.

Question 27

In planning his report, Byron breaks the major investigative problem into subproblems. This process is sometimes called 

A)visualizing the problem.
B)focusing the problem.
C)factoring the problem.
D)expanding the problem.

Question 28

Heidi is writing a report about ways to reduce the time it takes to process a customer return and is determining why the topic is worth investigating at this time. Heidi is looking at the 

A)scope.
B)limitations.
C)significance.
D)purpose.

Question 29

Pamela will be writing a complex report about a research study she's conducting. Which of the following should she do? 

A)Prepare a written purpose statement.
B)Prepare written problem statement.
C)Consider the needs of both primary and secondary readers.
D)All of these choices

Question 30

Which of the following is an effective statement of purpose for an informational report? 

A)To inform the reader of the many different features offered on the Apple iPad 
B)To analyze ways to offer our customers the best service possible 
C)To solve the problem of employee turnover at the company's Chamblee location 
D)To determine which of three smartphones to purchase for our Sales Department staff

Question 31

Google, Bing, Yahoo Search, and Ask are examples of 

A)search tools.
B)Web browsers.
C)electronic databases.
D)spiders.

Question 32

The first step in writing a report is to 

A)prepare a work plan.
B)determine your research strategy.
C)understand the problem or assignment clearly.
D)compose the first draft.

Question 33

The issues or elements to be investigated in a research project are defined in the 

A)significance of the study.
B)scope statement.
C)recommendations to be offered.
D)limitations of the study.

Question 34

A good work plan for a business research project includes 

A)a work schedule.
B)a research strategy.
C)a statement of the problem.
D)all of these choices.

Question 35

What is the most accurate statement about using books for business research? 

A)Because books are obsolete, they should never be used for business research.
B)Books provide excellent historical, in-depth data.
C)Books are best for finding current data about technical trends.
D)Most business reports are based on research found in books.

Question 36

Nadia is conducting research on the use of social networking sites by observing how her coworkers use these tools in the workplace. What type of data is she collecting? 

A)Primary data 
B)Secondary data 
C)Online data 
D)Questionable data

Question 37

To help you understand the problem or assignment clearly when writing a complex report, prepare a written ________________ to clarify the task.

A)statement of purpose 
B)executive summary 
C)problem statement 
D)audience analysis

Question 38

Select the most accurate statement about sources found on the Web.

A)Information posted at most sites has undergone the same editing and scrutiny given to articles in scholarly publications.
B)Researchers can safely assume that the information posted on websites by individuals and companies is reputable.
C)Wikis, blogs, and discussion forum entries are short-lived and change constantly.
D)Wikipedia is reliable and should be used when conducting any scholarly research.

Question 39

You should begin nearly every business report assignment by 

A)generating primary data.
B)asking your colleagues for help.
C)evaluating the available secondary data.
D)selecting the type of paper on which you'll print the report.

Question 40

A collection of information stored electronically so that it can be accessed and search by computer or mobile electronic device is a 

A)periodical.
B)book.
C)database.
D)card catalog.

Question 41

Tara, a student who is researching forensic accounting, is preparing to interview an experienced accountant. To conduct an effective interview, Tara should 

A)learn as much as possible about the forensic accounting field before conducting the interview.
B)try to do most of the talking during the interview to put the interviewee at ease.
C)ask as many yes-or-no questions as possible to make things easier for the interviewee.
D)engage the accountant in a debate to display her knowledge.

Question 42

Eugene is evaluating the information he found on a website before he includes it in his business report. He asks, "When was this Web site last updated?" What is Eugene evaluating? 

A)The currency of the website 
B)The authority of the website 
C)The content of the website 
D)The accuracy of the website

Question 43

Paraphrasing 

A)involves restating an original passage in your own words and in your own style.
B)involves presenting ideas from another source using the exact wording of the original source.
C)involves presenting ideas from another source without documentation.
D)requires the report writer to use the same grammatical structure as the original author when presenting another's ideas.

Question 44

Which of the following is an effective question to use in a survey? 

A)Don't you agree that teachers are extremely deserving of a 7 percent pay increase because of the valuable services they provide for our community? 
B)Do teachers deserve a 7 percent pay increase? 
C)Should teachers accept a 7 percent pay increase, or should they go on strike? 
D)Do teachers, one of the hardest-working and least-respected segments of American society, deserve a 7 percent pay increase?

Question 45

Virginia has a large amount of quantitative data made up of exact figures to present in a report. Virginia should present this data using a(n) 

A)pie chart.
B)line chart.
C)table.
D)organization chart.

Question 46

The best choice for showing changes in a company's monthly sales for Fiscal Year 2014 is a(n) 

A)pie chart.
B)line chart.
C)flow chart.
D)organization chart.

Question 47

Benjamin needs to illustrate the percentage each expense represents of total company expenses. His best choice is a(n) 

A)pie chart.
B)line chart.
C)illustration.
D)bar chart.

Question 48

What is the least accurate statement about infographics? 

A)Infographics are new form of visual aid that first appeared at the beginning of the 21st century.
B)Today even amateur designers can create captivating infographics.
C)Infographics are most appropriate online.
D)Good infographics tell a story and allow the reader to make sense of ever-growing amounts of data.

Question 49

James is evaluating the information he found on a website before he includes it in an analytical report for a client. He asks, "Do the fact that are presented seem reliable?" What is James evaluating? 

A)The currency of the website 
B)The authority of the website 
C)The content of the website 
D)The accuracy of the website

Question 50

When incorporating a graphic in the body of your report, you should 

A)use a good deal of color to improve readability.
B)manipulate the visual to make data look more dramatic.
C)include a reference to the graphic in the text.
D)assume that the reader will draw the same conclusions you did from the set of data.

Question 51

Courts of law use four factors as a test in deciding disputes over fair use of copyrighted material. Which of the following is not one of those factors? 

A)Purpose and character of the use, particularly whether for profit 
B)Amount and sustainability of portion used 
C)Amount of money paid to use the copyrighted information 
D)Nature of the copyrighted use

Question 52

Tracey will carefully document her sources in a report she must submit to her boss. Which of the following is a reason that Tracey should document her sources? 

A)To strengthen her argument 
B)To instruct her reader 
C)To protect herself against charges of plagiarism 
D)All of these choices are reasons for documenting report data.

Question 53

The best question to include in a survey is 

A)How do you feel about a flat-rate income tax? 
B)Do you approve of a flat-rate income tax? 
C)What benefits do you feel a flat-rate income tax will offer? 
D)Why are you in favor of a flat-rate income tax?

Question 54

Which of the following situations would most likely require observation or scientific experimentation? 

A)You want to find out what tools are available to protect your computer network from hackers.
B)You need to determine the average time it takes your line employees to produce a single piece of furniture.
C)You must find out which ten companies ranked highest for customer service in 2014.
D)You want to verify your supervisor's opinion on upgrading your department's accounting software.

Question 55

Blake wants to avoid copyright infringement for material he finds online. What should he do? 

A)Recognize that anything he finds on the Internet is in the public domain.
B)Ask for permission before using material he finds online.
C)Include a footnote for everything he uses from online sources, which will protect him from copyright infringement.
D)Blake should do all of these.

Question 56

Sources of primary information include 

A)research databases.
B)periodicals and newspapers.
C)surveys and interviews.
D)information on the Web.

Question 57

Which of the following statements would need to be documented in a report? 

A)The stock market can be volatile.
B)Many types of people invest in the stock market.
C)On May 6, 2010, the Dow Jones Industrial Average suffered a 998 point loss, which the media called the Flash Crash.
D)All of these choices

Question 58

Melinda is evaluating the information she found on a website before she includes it in a proposal she is writing. She asks, "Who publishes or sponsors this website?" What is Melinda evaluating? 

A)The currency of the website 
B)The authority of the website 
C)The content of the website 
D)The accuracy of the website

Question 59

Knowledgeable report writers use direct quotations to 

A)repeat identical phrasing of a source because of its precision, clarity, or aptness.
B)provide objective background data and establish the severity of a problem.
C)duplicate the exact wording of a source before criticizing.
D)All of these choices.

Question 60

Which of the following is a useful guideline for preparing effective surveys? 

A)Use questions that produce qualitative answers.
B)Include as many questions on your survey as necessary, even if you may not use the information in your final report.
C)Avoid leading or ambiguous questions.
D)Never offer survey participants compensation as this will skew the results.

Question 61

The smaller an organization is, the more vital the exchange and flow of information becomes.

Question 62

Yes-no questions produce the best results in an interview with an expert.

Question 63

Nearly every research project should begin with a search of primary data.

Question 64

Formal experimentation produces data suggesting causes and effects.

Question 65

An expanded statement of purpose includes three additional factors: the scope, significance, and limitations of the report.

Question 66

Are you in favor of banning texting while driving to save lives? is an example of a leading question.

Question 67

Everett's boss has asked him to research and to recommend a new insurance provider for employees' health insurance. Everett should write an analytical report.

Question 68

Business researchers can safely assume that the great majority of Web sources are reliable.

Question 69

Research reports prepared by consultants for their clients tend to be rather formal.

Question 70

Forms and templates are useful for presenting repetitive data, such as monthly sales reports, performance appraisals, merchandise inventories, and personnel and financial reports.

Question 71

The first step in the report-writing process is preparing a work plan.

Question 72

Brad started his report with a description of the problem. He followed this with his facts and findings. Finally, he ended his report with his conclusions and recommendations. Brad has used the indirect pattern to write his report.

Question 73

All business reports have one or more of the following purposes: to convey information, to answer questions, and to solve problems.

Question 74

Based on their function, most business reports fall into two broad categories: informational or analytical.

Question 75

Primary data can be generated through surveys, interviews, observation, and experimentation.

Question 76

Michelle attended a professional conference and must submit a report to her supervisor. She should write an analytical report.

Question 77

An example of a simple statement of purpose for a business report might be To recommend a new procedure for preparing quarterly financial statements.

Question 78

If readers are familiar with or supportive of the topic, the report should be organized indirectly.

Question 79

Properly documenting data presented in a research report strengthens your argument.

Question 80

You are reading an article in The Wall Street Journal that discusses the research findings of a Centers for Disease Control study on workplace hazards. This newspaper article is an example of primary data.