Deck 13: Proposals, Business Plans, and Formal Business Reports

Question 1

Sarah has decided to include a timetable in a proposal she is writing. Where will this timetable most likely be located? 

A)In the proposal section 
B)In the introduction 
C)In the budget section 
D)In the authorization section

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Which of the following is the most accurate statement about the executive summary? 

A)An executive summary is written for specialists or technical readers.
B)An executive summary is generally shorter than an abstract.
C)The content of an executive summary should be more technically oriented than an abstract.
D)A formal proposal may contain both an executive summary and an abstract.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

An executive summary included with a formal proposal is typically 

A)one page long.
B)three to four pages long.
C)five to six pages long.
D)up to 10 percent of the original text.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Which section of a proposal typically identifies the problem and discusses the goals or purposes of the project? 

A)Background 
B)Staffing 
C)Budget 
D)Authorization Request

Question 5

Formal proposals differ from informal proposals in 

A)style.
B)size and format.
C)emotional and rational appeals.
D)the use of persuasive techniques.

Question 6

The actual proposal section of a proposal must 

A)describe the credentials and expertise of the project leaders.
B)identify the resources you will use, including computer facilities.
C)tell what you propose to do and how it will benefit the reader.
D)All of these choices

Question 7

The staffing section of an informal proposal may 

A)identify the size and qualifications of the support staff.
B)describe the credentials and expertise of the project leaders.
C)identify resources such as computer facilities that will be used during the project.
D)All of these choices.

Question 8

Which of the following components is typically included in a formal proposal but is optional in an informal proposal? 

A)Budget 
B)Staffing 
C)Authorization Request 
D)Abstract or summary

Question 9

Proposals are 

A)written offers to solve problems, provide services, or sell equipment.
B)a critical means of selling equipment and services for many companies.
C)solicited by both government agencies and private businesses.
D)all of these choices.

Question 10

William is writing a solicited proposal in response to an RFP and is working on the background section. What is his goal in this section? 

A)To convince the reader that a problem exists 
B)To make himself look professional 
C)To show the reader how much accepting the proposal will cost 
D)To persuade the reader that he understands the problem completely

Question 11

The introduction to a proposal typically 

A)lists the proposed project costs.
B)highlights the writer's qualifications.
C)asks for approval or authorization.
D)All of these choices.

Question 12

Unsolicited proposals should 

A)not present a complete budget until after the proposal has been accepted.
B)convince the reader that a problem exists.
C)use the language of the RFP or other announcement.
D)reveal every detail of your proposal.

Question 13

Select the most accurate statement about proposals.

A)Most internal proposals are written in response to Requests for Proposals (RFPs).
B)Most proposals are unsolicited.
C)Proposals can mean life or death for an organization.
D)Most proposals are internal.

Question 14

A letter of transmittal submitted with a formal proposal should 

A)provide ancillary (supplemental) materials of interest to readers.
B)include a list of the costs for the entire project.
C)briefly present the major features and benefits of the proposal.
D)describe the credentials and expertise of the project leaders.

Question 15

In the introduction section of a proposal, which of the following would be the best way to persuade the receiver to read the rest of the proposal? 

A)Mention a remarkable resource available exclusively to you.
B)Present a detailed budget that shows a low overall cost.
C)Give the background and credentials of everyone who will be working on the project.
D)Provide a timetable for all activities.

Question 16

What type of organization is dependent on proposals? 

A)Large profit-making organizations 
B)Smaller profit-making organizations 
C)Nonprofit organizations 
D)All of these

Question 17

The title page of a formal proposal should include 

A)the name of the client organization.
B)the RFP number or other announcement.
C)the title of the proposal.
D)all of these choices.

Question 18

The budget included in a proposal 

A)is tentative and may be modified later.
B)represents a contract.
C)should be open-ended for acceptance.
D)should not include a deadline for acceptance because doing so might seem too pushy.

Question 19

What is the least accurate statement about formal proposals? 

A)To be considered a formal proposal, it must be at least 100 pages long.
B)Larger businesses may employ specialists who do nothing but write proposals.
C)Proposals use standard components that enable companies receiving bids to compare "apples with apples." .
D)Smaller firms rely on in-house staff to develop proposals.

Question 20

The authorization request section of an informal proposal may include 

A)a request for approval.
B)a reminder of key benefits.
C)a deadline beyond which the offer is invalid.
D)all of these choices.

Question 21

Which of the following is most likely to appear in the appendix section of a formal proposal? 

A)A copy of the RFP 
B)A list of tables and figures that appear in the proposal 
C)The résumés of principal investigators or testimonial letters 
D)An executive summary of the proposal

Question 22

The company description in a business plan should 

A)identify the form of your business and its business type.
B)discuss market characteristics, trends, projected growth, and barriers to entry.
C)explain how the product or service you are providing will benefit customers.
D)explain specifically how you will run your business.

Question 23

Which of the following components is typically included in a formal report but is optional in an informal report? 

A)Body 
B)Conclusion 
C)Introduction 
D)Table of contents

Question 24

The financial analysis section of a business plan should 

A)be included only if you have an existing company.
B)omit exact dollar figures.
C)explain how much money you already have.
D)omit one-time expenses.

Question 25

Which of the following would not appear in the operations and management section of a business plan? 

A)How you will run your business 
B)Who your competitors will be 
C)The personnel and management of your business 
D)The location of your business and the equipment you will use

Question 26

Which of the following statements about formal business reports is least accurate? 

A)Formal reports are similar to formal proposals in length, organization, and serious tone.
B)Formal reports are written for internal audiences only.
C)Formal reports present the end product of thorough investigation and analyses.
D)Breaking a long formal report into small segments makes it easier to understand.

Question 27

The executive summary of a business plan 

A)can be as long as needed to get your message across.
B)should be written first to get your thoughts in order.
C)can be combined with the mission statement 
D)All of these statements about a business plan's executive summary are correct.

Question 28

What is the most accurate statement about grant proposals? 

A)Grant money received must be repaid.
B)Funds received through a grant proposal can be used for any purpose, not just those outlined in the proposal.
C)Grants are often made to the U.S. government, private foundations, and public corporations.
D)Skilled grant writers are among the most in-demand professionals today.

Question 29

Which of the following would not be included in the appendixes of a business plan? 

A)Managers' résumés 
B)Sales forecasts and anticipated cash flow 
C)Promotional materials and product photos 
D)A realistic start-up budget

Question 30

A grant proposal includes 

A)a needs statement that explains a problem or situation that the grant project proposes to address.
B)an action plan that tells what will be done by whom and when.
C)a plan for measuring progress toward completion of the grant proposal's goal.
D)all of these components.

Question 31

Which of the following appears in the market analysis section of a business plan? 

A)A discussion of barriers to entry 
B)An overview of complementary products and services 
C)A summary of the strengths and weaknesses of your direct and indirect competitors 
D)All of these choices

Question 32

A potential angel investor is reading your business plan for a new start-up company. What will this investor most likely consider to be the most important factor in assessing your business potential? 

A)Whether you're aware of all of your direct and indirect competitors 
B)Whether you've come up with a realistic start-up budget 
C)Whether your management team can implement the business plan 
D)Whether your start-up company will use social media for marketing and communication

Question 33

What is the purpose of a traditional report cover? 

A)To give the report a professional, finished appearance 
B)To hide the title of the report so that you can build suspense 
C)To take the place of the title page 
D)All of these choices

Question 34

The letter of transmittal of a business plan that is seeking venture capital or an angel investor should 

A)include a clear statement of what's in it for the investor.
B)provide contact information for all principals.
C)explain why your business plan is worthy of investment.
D)include all of these components.

Question 35

Which of the following statements about business plans is least accurate? 

A)For existing companies, the company description section should describe the company's founding, growth, sales, and profits.
B)Investors are looking only for unique products or services.
C)Start-up companies should explain in the product/service description section why the business will be profitable.
D)The product/service description section should explain why your product or service is better than existing products or services.

Question 36

Which part of a formal business report contains the report title, the name of the person receiving the report, the author's name, and the date of submission? 

A)Report cover 
B)Title page 
C)Table of contents 
D)Executive summary

Question 37

Which of the following statements about business plans is least accurate? 

A)Business plans are generally written in response to RFPs.
B)A business plan is another form of proposal.
C)A business plan is critical for securing financial support of any kind.
D)The reader of a business plan is typically a bank loan officer, a venture capitalist, or an investor.

Question 38

A business plan mission statement 

A)is optional.
B)must be written in eight or fewer words.
C)explains the purpose of your business and why it will succeed.
D)All of these statements about a business plan mission statement are correct.

Question 39

Jill wants to write a persuasive business plan. What government agency will give her the most useful advice for writing the plan? 

A)Internal Revenue Service 
B)Small Business Administration 
C)Securities and Exchange Commission 
D)Department of Homeland Security

Question 40

Which of the following statements is most accurate? 

A)Formal proposals generally contain both a table of contents and an index.
B)Tables of contents should include all headings and their beginning page numbers.
C)Items that appear before the table of contents (copy of RFP, letter of transmittal, abstract/executive summary, and title page) should also be included in the table of contents for clarity.
D)Do not list any appendixes in the table of contents.

Question 41

To avoid sounding repetitious in a formal business report, 

A)present the data slightly differently.
B)do not include information that has been presented elsewhere.
C)skip the introduction if it contains information that has been presented elsewhere.
D)word the information in exactly the same way you did in a previous section of the report.

Question 42

Lydia's report contains sensitive topics that may upset her readers. What type of heading should she use in her formal business report? 

A)Graphic headings 
B)Functional headings 
C)Talking headings 
D)She should omit headings altogether.

Question 43

Preparing for a Successful Product Launch is an example of a(n) 

A)informational heading.
B)functional heading.
C)talking heading.
D)analytical heading.

Question 44

In an introduction to a formal business report, the section that clarifies the boundaries of the report and defines what will be included or excluded is the 

A)scope.
B)significance.
C)background.
D)authorization.

Question 45

The best advice for preparing a formal business report is to 

A)collect data and write the report at the same time.
B)proofread the final copy three times.
C)complete the hardest sections first to gain a sense of accomplishment.
D)use the same verb tense throughout the report for consistency.

Question 46

Which of the following statements would not be appropriate for a letter or memo of transmittal? 

A)I would be glad to do follow-up research if required.
B)I appreciate the opportunity to have completed this research project.
C)This report investigating the need to relocate the corporate offices was authorized by Doug Peters.
D)The questionnaire shown here was used to collect data for this report.

Question 47

The section of a formal business report that makes precise suggestions for actions to solve the report problem is the 

A)recommendations.
B)introduction.
C)conclusion.
D)body.

Question 48

Writers often include additional information in the introduction to a formal report. Which of the following would not be appropriate to include in the introduction? 

A)Describing your secondary sources and explaining how you collected primary data 
B)Summarizing what other authors and researchers have published on the report topic 
C)Providing a detailed analysis of the problem 
D)Defining key terms

Question 49

Tamara must send the same formal report to several readers. What should she do? 

A)Send the same letter of transmittal to all readers.
B)Omit the letter of transmittal.
C)Prepare a special letter of transmittal for each, anticipating how each reader will use the report.
D)Include a letter of transmittal for only the primary reader.

Question 50

The section in the introduction to a formal business report that tells why the report topic is important is the 

A)scope.
B)significance.
C)authorization.
D)background.

Question 51

The part of a formal report that highlights the important points for people who may not have time to read the entire document is the 

A)budget.
B)executive summary.
C)authorization.
D)table of contents.

Question 52

In an introduction to a formal report, what section identifies who commissioned the report? 

A)Scope 
B)Significance 
C)Background 
D)Authorization

Question 53

The longest and most substantive section of a formal business report is the 

A)executive summary.
B)introduction.
C)conclusion.
D)body.

Question 54

Which of the following is a useful guideline for citing sources in a formal business report? 

A)If you use the Modern Language Association (MLA) referencing format, title this section References.
B)If you borrow words or ideas from unpublished sources, you do not have to include corresponding in-text citations in your report.
C)Include the Internet address or URL leading to the citation when citing an electronic reference.
D)All of these choices are useful guidelines for citing sources in a formal business report.

Question 55

The table of contents for a short formal business report should 

A)include all headings.
B)include only first- and second-level headings.
C)be prepared before you start writing the report.
D)be omitted.

Question 56

What is the most accurate statement about the title page of a formal report? 

A)All items on a title page are typed in uppercase letters.
B)The title is enclosed in quotation marks to make it stand out.
C)The last item on a title page is the name of the author.
D)The name of the person receiving the report comes before the author of the report.

Question 57

In a formal report, the letter or memo of transmittal usually 

A)follows the indirect plan.
B)uses no contractions or first-person pronouns.
C)highlights the report's findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
D)is as formal as the report itself.

Question 58

Which statement does not describe the body of a formal business report? 

A)Clear headings are used to explain each major section.
B)Evidence that justifies the conclusions is presented.
C)Research findings are discussed, analyzed, interpreted, and evaluated.
D)Incidental and supporting materials are placed strategically throughout the body of the report.

Question 59

The section of a formal business report that tells what the findings mean is the 

A)recommendations.
B)introduction.
C)conclusion.
D)body.

Question 60

Rick has asked you for help in preparing an executive summary of a formal business report he is writing. What is the best advice you can give him? 

A)To add variety to your report, prepare your executive summary in a different sequence from the report itself.
B)Use a lot of technical language to impress your reader.
C)Begin the executive summary with your purpose.
D)Make the executive summary as long as necessary to be persuasive.

Question 61

Skilled grant proposal writers are highly in demand today.

Question 62

An effective opening for an informal proposal might be We are pleased to submit this proposal describing how our ethics training program can help your employees make the best decisions when faced with ethical dilemmas on the job.

Question 63

Informal proposals should close with a reminder of key benefits as well as a request for approval.

Question 64

Most proposals are unsolicited.

Question 65

If your costs increase later, you can raise the prices listed in your proposal budget.

Question 66

Formal business reports are similar to formal proposals in that they both make offers.

Question 67

The funds obtained through a grant proposal must be repaid.

Question 68

The executive summary included in a formal proposal is generally less technically oriented than an abstract.

Question 69

Many investors look carefully at the experience of the management team because they consider this the most important factor in assessing business potential.

Question 70

Formal proposals differ from informal proposals in style only.

Question 71

Most proposals begin by briefly explaining the reasons for the proposal and by highlighting the writer's qualifications.

Question 72

Formal business reports are read by only the highest levels of management.

Question 73

A copy of the RFP (request for proposal) should be included in the front matter of a formal proposal.

Question 74

A business plan is critical for securing financial support from banks, angel investors, venture capitalists.

Question 75

As long as you have at least one table or figure in your proposal, a list of figures is required.

Question 76

Be sure that your business plan describes a unique product or service because that is all investors will be interested in.

Question 77

If you are writing a solicited proposal, your goal in the background section is to convince the reader that a problem exists.

Question 78

Most proposals are external.

Question 79

Proposals are written offers to solve problems, provide services, or sell equipment.

Question 80

An appropriate statement to include in the letter of transmittal accompanying a formal proposal is This bid will be in effect until November 30, 2015.