Homework questions

1. When writing a routine message, you should place the following four elements in which order?

a) A statement of goodwill.

b)The main idea or request.

c)Any procedures or details that the reader will need to understand the message.

d)The reasoning for the main idea or request.

2. Which way of asking for action carries the lowest level of politeness?

a) An order: "Provide your proof of vaccination."

b) A polite question: "Could you please provide your proof of vaccination?"

c) A sender-focused-order: "I need you to provide your proof of vaccination."

d) A polite order: "Please provide your proof of vaccination."

3. Which one of these is a phrase?

a) For many weeks

b) The sportsball team needed to cancel its 2022-23 season.

c) Fans were disappointed

d) Because the sportsball team needed to cancel its 2021-22 season

4. Which of these sentences is free of needless, empty phrases or buzzwords?

a)Needless to say, it is what it is.

b)The new 5G features promise to be a real game-changer.

c)Let's take our operations to the next level.

d)The company's management team depends on working closely with its labor force to improve conditions for all employees.

5) Which is the least effective way to de-emphasize negative information in a three-page written document?

a)Place it in a subordinate clause.

b)Place it in a short, single-sentence paragraph.

c)Place it towards the middle of a sentence.

d)Use the passive voice.

6) When stating the actual refusal in a negative message that will likely cause the reader some distress, try to use:

An impersonal construction such as "the presentation did not convince the client to change direction."

A short, one-sentence paragraph.

Second-person pronouns, or the "you-voice."

Terms such as "unfortunately", "fail" and "problem".

7) Which of these is the best reason for giving bad news in writing?

a)You can respond to concerns immediately.

b)The document can serve as a reference, for instance, in a performance review.

c)It contains many non-verbal cues.

d)Giving the news in writing lets you hide behind the words.

8. Which of these should typically come last when you write a routine request message?

The reason you are making the request.

Details about your request.

The action you wish the reader to take.

A goodwill statement.

9.Which of these statements is both grammatically and logically parallel?

		Good students take reasonable risks, explore solid opportunities, and teachers are impressed by them.
		The dancer woke up, ate breakfast, drove to rehearsal, and practiced the routine.
		Customers have always preferred the ease, convenience, speed, and personalizing of shopping on the Internet.
		NASA is known for its Mars landings, its commitment to science, and Twitter followers all over the world look forward to its new videos.

10.In which situation would you want to emphasizedirectbenefits to get your reader to act?

		Signing a petition to save the whales.
		Investing $25,000 in a new, more efficient air-conditioning system for your business that will pay itself off in three years.
		Donating $25,000 so that a local homeless shelter can install a new air-conditioning system.
		Organizing a blood drive.

11.Which of these statements would be the best choice to create the context needed to effectivelybegin a routine message?

		I hope this email finds you well.
		Our company has been able to save a significant amount of money this year be not renewing our lease, so we have been investigating ways to creatively use the money to help the company.
		Also, we have noticed that as a result of remote work, many of you are reporting signs of stress and burnout and are looking for ways to connect to your co-workers.
		This month, our company will begin an exciting new program: quarterly weekend get-aways to exciting locations across the United States.

12.You plan to announce to your 100 employees that they will not receive raises this year. What is theworstway to deliver the bad news?

		Face to face.
		At the end of the day.
		As part of a public meeting where your company's management explains the reasons for steps it will take to cut costs to survive.
		Send out a text message to everyone in the company.

13.The subject of the sentence "You started your own company because the opportunity presented itself" is which part of speech?

		A missing-person pronoun.
		A third-person pronoun.
		A first-person pronoun.
		A second-person pronoun.

14.Which one of these sentences uses passive voice?

		The FDA approved the third Pfizer booster vaccine for use in the U.S.
		Citizens of DeKalb enjoy getting out into the sunlight after a cold, long winter.
		The bill was signed by the Governor, making any discussion of the issue moot from that point.
		I played the glockenspiel that my friends gave me as a gift.

15.Which one of these sentences provides the most dynamic and effective way to begin a sentence?

		There are some fiscal years when growth is not experienced by an economic sector.
		The new business model accellerates growth opportunities for our investors.
		It is worth mentioning that every company has pressure to show a profit.
		There are six reasons why the evaluations are done this way.