Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Chapter 11 (For Student)
Chapter 11 (For Student)
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Although formal reports are similar to formal proposals, a primary difference is that
a. formal reports represent the end product of thorough investigation and analysis.
b. formal reports use a more conversational tone.
c. reports are written for internal audiences only.
d. more formal reports are written than formal proposals.
23. What is the correct order of ideas for a report using the indirect strategy?
a. Recommendations, findings, and conclusions
b. Conclusions, findings, and recommendations
c. Findings, conclusions, and recommendations
d. Recommendations, conclusions, and findings
24. Chronological organization arranges ideas by
a. time.
b. order of importance.
c. physical location.
d. simple to complex.
25. Tanya must prepare a formal report detailing the findings of a year-long study of her company's new
wellness program. In this report she must discuss employee absenteeism before and after the program's
implementation. What type of organizational pattern will she likely use?
a. Chronological
b. Spatial
c. Compare/Contrast
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d. Importance
26. John is writing a report that analyzes the GlobalCom, Inc., market share of cell phone subscriptions
worldwide by region. He will probably organize his report
a. chronologically by the date the cell phone subscriptions reached their maximums.
b. around extensive secondary data to assure the reader that he conducted adequate research
before he wrote the report.
c. using a functional arrangement to show types of subscriptions globally.
d. geographically with sections representing each region's market share.
27. Harry is creating an outline to help him write a report on e-waste generated by his company. What
advice should he follow?
a. Include the outline as part of the final report so that his audience can quickly see his
organizational pattern.
b. Create a balanced outline with exactly the same number of subpoints and details for each
main point.
c. Avoid placing only one subpoint under a main idea.
d. Avoid using the main points used on the outline as main headings in the written report.
28. Janet must include a long table in a report she is preparing on employee Internet use. What advice
should she follow when creating the table?
a. Avoid distracting her readers with shading.
b. Place the table as close as possible to its text discussion.
c. Leave missing data blank.
d. Because the emphasis is on the data, avoid the use of headings for each row.
29. The major advantage of line charts is that they
a. compare related items.
b. present large amounts of data.
c. show the proportion of parts to a whole.
d. demonstrate trends.
30. What type of graphic illustrates changes in data over time?
a. Line chart
b. Flowchart
c. Bar chart
d. Table
31. In her letter to policyholders, Min Yi needs a graphic depicting the procedure a policyholder follows
when filing a claim. Which of these would be most appropriate?
a. Organizational chart
b. Flowchart
c. Illustration
d. Table
32. Which statement about pie charts is accurate?
a. Pie charts are most useful for technical audiences.
b. Pie charts are most appropriate for showing percentages.
c. Pie charts are more flexible than bar or line charts.
d. Pie charts can be confusing to readers because of the use of multiple colors.
33. Which of the following is the best advice when using graphics in reports?
a. Don't overuse color because too much color can be distracting and confusing.
b. Don't introduce a graphic; a good graphic should communicate clearly itself.
c. Avoid summarizing the main point of the graphic.
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d. Avoid the use of headings on a graphic.
34. What is the purpose of a letter or memo of transmittal?
a. To present an overview of the report
b. To provide a list of sources used within the report
c. To introduce the writer of the report
d. To designate the parts of the report
35. What advice should you follow when preparing a table of contents?
a. Avoid leaders (spaced or unspaced dots) on a table of contents to avoid confusing the
reader.
b. Include all headings for a long report on the table of contents.
c. Include a list of figures on the table of contents.
d. Wait until you have completed the report before writing the table of contents.
36. The discussion of findings in a report should do all of the following except
a. use graphics to illustrate key points and findings.
b. use first-person pronouns.
c. analyze and interpret the research findings or solution.
d. present evidence to justify your conclusions.
37. What information is included in the appendix in of a formal report?
a. Surveys
b. Sources mentioned in the report
c. Recommendations based on the report findings
d. Author's credentials
TRUE/FALSE
2. Secondary data come from reading what others have experienced and observed.
3. An advantage of secondary data over primary data is that secondary data are easier and cheaper to
develop.
4. Books provide historical, in-depth data; however, periodicals provide limited but current coverage.
5. If you find information on the Web, you can be assured that it is reliable.
Secondary Data
6. To efficiently locate information using the Internet, use two or three search tools and combine
keywords into phrases.
7. Businesses should avoid using social networking sites to generate research because these sites serve
entertainment and leisure purposes only.
8. Both observation and experimentation produce firsthand data to clarify cause and effect.
9. When you conduct an interview, prepare closed-ended questions to make the interviewee feel relaxed
and at ease.
10. The only reason to document sources in a report is to avoid charges of plagiarism.
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11. Documenting data is necessary only when writing long reports and proposals.
12. If you paraphrase (put information in your own words), you do not need to credit the information
source.
14. If you are worried about plagiarizing, you can avoid the problem if you use the grammatical structure
of the original and just replace words with synonyms.
15. Katrina has decided to organize her business report using the direct organizational pattern. Therefore,
she should begin the report with her conclusions and recommendations.
16. A report discussing the correct procedure to process customer complaints should be organized using a
chronological order.
17. Most writers agree that the clearest way to show the organization of a report is by recording its
divisions in an outline.
18. Avoid the use of graphics in a report because graphics usually confuse readers.
19. Probably the most frequently used visual aid in reports is the table.
20. The major advantage of line charts is that they show changes over time, thus indicating trends.
21. Avoid referencing graphics in the text of your report; the visual should speak for itself.
23. If included with a report, a letter or memo of transmittal should be written using the indirect pattern.
24. The body of a formal report typically includes an introduction; the discussion of findings; and a
summary, conclusions, or recommendations.
25. The recommendations of a report may be placed in a separate section or incorporated with the
conclusions.
26. Regardless of the referencing format used, citations include the author, title, publication, date of
publication, page number, and other significant data for all sources used in the report.
27. Graphics should incorporate lots of color and decorations to provide visual impact for readers.
COMPLETION
1. The planning of every report begins with a statement of ____________________ that describes the
goal, significance, and limitations of a formal report.
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3. A(n) ____________________ tool is a service such as Google that indexes, organizes, and often rates
and reviews Web pages.
4. An online diary or journal that allows visitors to leave public comments is called a weblog or
____________________.
6. Business reports often rely on ____________________ data from firsthand experience such as
surveys, interviews, observations, and experimentations.
7. Using the ideas of someone else without giving credit is called ____________________ and is
unethical.
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