Deck 11: Preparing Informative and Influential Business Reports

Question 1

You can improve the connecting network of thought throughout your report by the wise use of sentence transitions.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Using ample vertical white space between the topics in your business report will increase the readability of your message.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

When a problem in your business report concerns evaluating something, either singularly or in comparison with other things, you should look for the bases for the evaluation.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Glib conclusions and recommendations in a business report add to the credibility of the report.

Question 5

One way to ensure that the objectivity of your business message is not compromised, you should add color to your interpretations and make your report more interesting.

Question 6

An advantage of collaboration is that several minds are available for the critical thinking that is so necessary for identifying the factors of the problem related to a particular business report.

Question 7

Characteristic such as coherence enhances the reception of your report.

Question 8

A technique of good report writing is to bring to life the contents of your report by using passive-voice verbs as much as possible.

Question 9

Problem statements are generally written in the form of a question or infinitive phrase.

Question 10

In business reports, talking headings summarize the material they cover.

Question 11

Descriptive statistics are typically used to generalize about a population based on the study of a sample.

Question 12

Talking headings are short constructions, consisting of one or two words.

Question 13

You can create an instructive format by clearly indicating the hierarchy of the information in your business report.

Question 14

To maintain the consistency in a business document, two or more people should be assigned the task of editing the final draft.

Question 15

The conventional system uses whole numbers to show the major sections of a business report.

Question 16

In the case of collaborative report writing process, the last step involves determining the problem and purpose of the report.

Question 17

Once you've defined the problem and identified the purpose of your research, you should determine what factorsyou need to investigate.

Question 18

When you look for relationships between sets of data during the report-writing process, you should ensure that the data sets are noncomparable.

Question 19

The objective quality of a report is its unbiased approach.

Question 20

Emotionally charged language increases the objectivity of a business report.

Question 21

Possible explanations for or solutions to a problem are termed as _____.

A) bases
B) mission statements
C) hypotheses
D) purpose statements
E) problem statements

Question 22

In the absence of any evidence establishing Ms. Catherine Larson as a good credit risk, you conclude she is a poor risk and turn down her application for credit. Which fallacy is most likely to undermine the validity of your decision?

A) Unrepresentative data
B) Acceptance of lack of evidence as proof to the contrary
C) Comparison of noncomparable data
D) Illogical cause-effect conclusions
E) Unreliable data

Question 23

While applying which of the following tests related to interpretation of data are you most likely to ponder each interpretation you make, asking yourself, "Does this appear reasonable in light of all I know?"

A) Test of experience
B) Negative test
C) Positive test
D) Personality test
E) Intelligent quotient test

Question 24

The _____ in business reports is also called the study's objective, aim, or goal.

A) complimentary close
B) purpose statement
C) salutation
D) problem statement
E) concluding statement

Question 25

_____ are measures of central tendency, dispersion, ratios, and probability.

A) Inferential statistics
B) Nonnumerical statistics
C) Spreadsheet statistics
D) Descriptive statistics
E) Sample statistics

Question 26

During the report-writing process, in order to minimize human errors while interpreting your information you should:

A) add color to interpretations to make the report more interesting.
B) compare noncomparable data.
C) make the facts more exciting than they actually are.
D) refrain from collecting representative data.
E) refrain from interpreting a lack of evidence as proof to the contrary.

Question 27

The conventional system uses _____ to show the major headings in a report.

A) Roman numerals
B) whole numbers
C) Arabic numbers
D) rational numbers
E) irrational numbers

Question 28

Which of the following is an appropriate practice for improving your interpretation of findings?

A) Comparing noncomparable data
B) Adding color to interpretations to make the report more interesting
C) Making glib conclusions and recommendations as much as possible
D) Maintaining a judicial attitude
E) Refraining from collecting representative data

Question 29

Which of the following is involved in the negative test of interpretation?

A) Comparing noncomparable data
B) Examining opposing interpretations
C) Making glib conclusions and recommendations
D) Accepting lack of evidence as proof to the contrary
E) Oversimplifying a problem

Question 30

_____ enables you to generalize about a population based on the study of a sample.

A) Descriptive statistics
B) Central tendency
C) Mean
D) Inferential statistics
E) Dispersion

Question 31

Which of the following is true about purpose statements?

A) Purpose statements are often written in the form of a question.
B) Infinitive phrases are avoided when writing purpose statements.
C) Purpose statements are short constructions, consisting of one or two words and they merely identify the topic of discussion
D) Purpose statements are placed at the end of business reports.
E) Purpose statements are not used when the problem statements are stated in a business report.

Question 32

You have drawn the conclusion that people in cities are happier than people in rural areas from their income records. The fallacy in your interpretation is:

A) illogical cause-effect conclusion.
B) unreliable data.
C) unrepresentative data.
D) oversimplification of the problem.
E) faulty numeric calculation.

Question 33

Which of the following guidelines will help in minimizing human errors in the report-writing process?

A) Adding color to interpretations to make the report more interesting
B) Refraining from comparing noncomparable data
C) Making the facts more exciting than they actually are
D) Refraining from collecting representative data.
E) Making glib conclusions and recommendations as much as possible.

Question 34

Which of the following is the most appropriate problem statement for a business report on decline of sales?

A) To determine why company sales have declined.
B) Why has company sales declined?
C) Management wants to know the reasons for sales decline.
D) What is the reason for the decline of company sales?
E) To investigate the cause of decline in company sales.

Question 35

In the course of writing a business report, once you've defined the problem and identified your purpose, the immediate next step is to:

A) determine what factors you need to investigate.
B) gather the required information.
C) analyze the available information.
D) use the test of experience.
E) use the negative test.

Question 36

The _____ of a business report provides a clear description of the situation that created the need for the report.

A) complimentary close
B) purpose statement
C) problem statement
D) salutation
E) hypothesis

Question 37

Which of the following is a guideline for efficiently gathering information for a business report?

A) You should avoid gathering more information than that is required for the research as it is a waste of time.
B) You should keep accurate notes.
C) You should gather just enough information and not waste your time.
D) You should compare noncomparable data to reach an accurate conclusion.
E) You should restrict your search to a single source so as to avoid inconsistencies.

Question 38

Which of the following is true about business reports?

A) The larger the organization, the lesser the need for business reports.
B) A business report is typically subjective in nature.
C) The problem statement of a business report is generally written in the form of a question or infinitive phrase.
D) The types of reports you will write is independent of the nature of your business.
E) The frequency with which you will write reports, and the kinds you will write, will depend on your job and your employer.

Question 39

Which of the following is true about problem statements?

A) Problem statements are generally written as declarative statements.
B) When the problem statement of a business report is well written, the purpose statement becomes redundant.
C) Problem statements are typically written in the form of a question.
D) The infinitive phrase is most preferred for writing problem statements.
E) Problem statements avoid the use of active voice.

Question 40

To make your research as efficient as possible, you should:

A) keep careful records of sources.
B) use unrepresentative data.
C) avoid using the objective approach.
D) refrain from gathering more information than you will use.
E) restrict yourself to one source so that your report is consistent.

Question 41

Examine the sentence taken from a report. Which relationship is established by the transitional phrase "for example" with its preceding content? "Similarly, Crompton has outstanding qualities."

A) Contrast
B) Cause-result
C) Likeness
D) Explanation
E) Elaboration

Question 42

_____ are short constructions, frequently consisting of one or two words.

A) Talking headings
B) Topic headings
C) Sub headings
D) Format headings
E) Space headings

Question 43

Using present-time viewpoint requires that:

A) all the verbs used should be in the present tense.
B) all the verbs used should be in the past tense.
C) all the verbs used should be in the past continuous tense.
D) all the current information be presented in the passive voice.
E) all the information other than the current information be presented in its proper place in the past or future.

Question 44

Which of the following words does not share the same transitional relationship as the others?

A) On the other hand
B) In spite of
C) In contrast
D) In like manner
E) On the contrary

Question 45

The conventional system typically uses _____ to show the lesser headings in a report.

A) Roman numerals
B) whole numbers
C) Arabic numbers
D) rational numbers
E) irrational numbers

Question 46

Which of the following is true about talking headings?

A) They are short constructions consisting of one word.
B) The word limit in talking headings is restricted to two words.
C) Their job ends at identifying the topic of discussion.
D) They should be avoided when targeting readers who are extremely busy and are likely to skim the supporting facts.
E) They summarize the material they cover.

Question 47

Of the following headings from a report, _____ violates parallelism of construction.

A) "Adequacy of natural gas"
B) "Proximity to raw materials"
C) "Abundance of skilled labor"
D) "High tax rate is a problem"
E) "Availability of adequate transportation"

Question 48

The decimal system uses _____ to show the major sections in a report.

A) Roman numerals
B) Arabic numbers
C) letters of the alphabet
D) whole numbers
E) ratios

Question 49

If the information you have collected has some relation to geographic location, you should typically use a _____ division.

A) place
B) time
C) quantity
D) progress
E) quality

Question 50

Of the following headings from a report, _____ violates parallelism of construction.

A) Managers prefer to communicate via mails.
B) U.S. employees waste a lot of time on social media site.
C) A virtual team is preferred by overseas employees.
D) Employees everywhere form informal networks at workplace.
E) The recent recession has greatly affected the U.S. job market.

Question 51

Of the following headings from a report, _____ violates parallelism of construction.

A) "Slight increase in bank debits"
B) "Freight loadings increase slightly"
C) "Postal receipts remain unchanged"
D) "Retail sales reach new high"
E) "Construction activity stabilizes"

Question 52

Of the following headings from a report, _____ violates parallelism of construction.

A) "Morale is declining"
B) "Production is lagging"
C) "Breakdowns are occurring"
D) "Equipment is wearing out"
E) "Absenteeism, a problem"

Question 53

When using the past time viewpoint in your report, you:

A) should report the results of a recent survey in the present tense.
B) can violate parallelism of construction for the headings.
C) should use present tense viewpoint for research methodology.
D) should avoid using the past time viewpoint for prevailing concepts.
E) can use the past time viewpoint for proven conclusions.

Question 54

Examine the sentence taken from a report. Which relationship is established by the transitional phrase "for example" with its preceding content? "The Mills Company, for example, has conducted such a program for the past eleven years."

A) Contrast
B) Cause-result
C) Likeness
D) Explanation or elaboration
E) Listing or enumeration of subjects

Question 55

Of the following headings from a report, _____ violates parallelism of construction.

A) "Assessment of production facilities"
B) "Consumer demands are high"
C) "Postal receipts remain unchanged"
D) Necessary finances are absent.
E) The product design is competitive.

Question 56

Of the following headings from a report, _____ violates parallelism of construction.

A) "Increasing transportation costs"
B) "Recreation costs"
C) "Declining costs of clothing"
D) "Increasing food expenses"
E) "Increasing costs of housing"

Question 57

Which of the following is true about collaborative writing projects?

A) The specialized knowledge of different people can degrade the quality of the work.
B) The combined talents of the members in the group are likely to produce a document better than any one of the members could produce alone.
C) Dividing the work can increase the time needed for the project.
D) There are not many software tools available that allow groups to collaborate easily.
E) There are not many software tools available that allow groups to collaborate well from different places.

Question 58

Which of the following divisions is best suited for creating an outline of a report regarding the progress of a new manufacturing plant under construction?

A) Place
B) Quantity
C) Place-Quantity
D) Time
E) Quality

Question 59

Of the following headings from a report, _____ violates parallelism of construction.

A) "Leading position of the East"
B) "Runner-up status of Midwest"
C) "Third position for Far West"
D) "Rapidly gaining South ranks fourth"
E) "Last position for Mountain States"

Question 60

Of the following headings from a report, _____ violates parallelism of construction.

A) "Wilson leading in sales productivity"
B) "Kennison has the best training record"
C) "White shows all-around competency"
D) "Cannon is the most stable player in this field"
E) "Dawkins has a mediocre record"

Question 61

Discuss the two types of numbering commonly used in business reports.

Question 62

Define the two tests that will help you make reasonable inferences from the data gathered for your business report.
First is the test of experience. In applying this test, the writers use the underlying theme in all scientific methods-reason. They ponder on each interpretation they make, asking themselves, "Does this appear reasonable in light of all we know or have experienced?"
Second is the negative test, which is a critique of the writers' own conclusions. Here, they consider what a skeptic or "devil's advocate" might say about their interpretations. By considering the opposing viewpoint, they make their interpretations more reliable.

Question 63

Differentiate between topic and talking headings.

Question 64

List four ways of minimizing errors while gathering required information for your business report.

Question 65

Mention the steps involved in writing a collaborative project.

Question 66

Which of the following falls under the "organize the material" step of collaborative writing projects?

A) The group should determine the factors of the problem.
B) The group should conduct research.
C) Group participants must think through the facts, apply the facts to the problem, derive logical meaning from the facts, and see them from the readers' points of view.
D) The group needs to develop a coherent, shared sense of the report's intended readers and their needs.
E) Group participants must base the report's structure on the time, place, quantity, factor, or other relationships in the data.

Question 67

Define descriptive statistics.

Question 68

Differentiate between problem and purpose statements of business reports.
The problem statement provides a clear description of the situation behind the creation of a business report. Problem statements are generally written as declarative statements: "Sales are decreasing at Company X."
The purpose statement is often written in the form of a question or infinitive phrase. Thus, if the problem is that Company X wants to know why sales are decreasing, the purpose statement may be "To determine the causes of decreasing sales at Company X" or "What are the causes of decreasing sales at Company X?"

Question 69

Which of the following falls under the "interpret the information" step of collaborative writing projects?

A) The group should determine the factors of the problem.
B) The group should conduct research.
C) Group participants must think through the facts, apply the facts to the problem, derive logical meaning from the facts, and see them from the readers' points of view.
D) The group needs to develop a coherent, shared sense of the report's intended readers and their needs.
E) Group participants must base the report's structure on the time, place, quantity, factor, or other relationships in the data.

Question 70

Which of the following falls under the "determine the problem and purpose" step of collaborative writing projects?

A) The group should determine the factors of the problem.
B) The group should conduct research.
C) Group participants must think through the facts, apply the facts to the problem, derive logical meaning from the facts, and see them from the readers' points of view.
D) The group needs to develop a coherent, shared sense of the report's intended readers and their needs.
E) Group participants must base the report's structure on the time, place, quantity, factor, or other relationships in the data.

Question 71

List the three common factors involved in a problem concerning a business report.

Question 72

Which of the following is true about collaborative writing projects?

A) At a minimum, the group will consist of ten.
B) A maximum of fifty is a good rule since larger groups tend to lose efficiency.
C) In most business situations the highest ranking administrator in the group serves as leader.
D) With group writing projects, it is a not at all a good idea to have one person in charge overseeing the entire process.
E) The group will generate its own ground rules to which all members need not agree.

Question 73

Which of the following is true about collaborative writing projects?

A) Even today, groups need only face-to-face meetings to get their work done.
B) You should have at least two face-to-face meetings; one at the start of the project and another near the end.
C) The bulk of the collaborating should not take place by email.
D) The bulk of the collaborating should not take place by discussion board.
E) You should not use a live-meeting application to converse with each other.

Question 74

Elaborate on the two main choices of time viewpoint in a research.

Question 75

Discuss the bases for division by conventional relationships.