Excellence in Business Communication, 12e, GE (Thill/Bovee)
Chapter 1 Professional Communication in a Digital, Social, Mobile World
1) Which of the following best describes the communication process?
A) transferring information and meaning
B) listening actively
C) writing messages
D) speaking to others
E) providing data that benefits the speaker
Answer: A
Explanation: A) Communication is the process of transferring information and meaning between
senders and receivers, using one or more written, oral, visual, or electronic media. The other
answers are only part of the communication process.
LO: 1.1: Explain the importance of effective communication to your career and to the
companies where you will work.
AACSB: Written and oral communication
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Conceptual
Learning Outcome: Discuss the challenges and importance of business communication
2) Which of the following results in additional pressure on communication skills?
A) having great ideas
B) rising higher within the organization
C) connecting with decision-makers outside of your area of expertise
D) established company networks
E) the changing nature of employment
Answer: E
Explanation: E) Ambition and great ideas aren't enough. You'll need to communicate with a
wide variety of people if you want to succeed in business. The changing nature of employment is
putting new pressure on communication skills, too. Many companies now supplement their
permanent workforces with independent contractors who are brought on for a short period or
even just a single project.
LO: 1.1: Explain the importance of effective communication to your career and to the
companies where you will work.
AACSB: Written and oral communication
Difficulty: Easy
Classification: Conceptual
Learning Outcome: Discuss the challenges and importance of business communication
1
Copyright © 2017 Pearson Education, Ltd.
,3) Which of the following is most affected by effective communication by a company?
A) the nation
B) the suppliers
C) the competitors
D) the world
E) the stakeholders
Answer: E
Explanation: E) Stakeholders are those groups of people affected in some way by the company's
actions—like customers, employees, shareholders, suppliers, neighbors, the community, the
nation, and even the world. The other groups of people are only one subset of all stakeholders.
LO: 1.1: Explain the importance of effective communication to your career and to the
companies where you will work.
AACSB: Written and oral communication
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Application
Learning Outcome: Discuss the challenges and importance of business communication
4) Which of the following is not a characteristic of effective business messages?
A) They provide practical information.
B) They present the writer's opinions as facts.
C) They state precise audience responsibilities.
D) They highlight and summarize essential information.
E) They are short.
Answer: B
Explanation: B) Opinions should be presented as opinions. If opinions are called for, give
compelling evidence to support your opinion or conclusion. All the other answers are
characteristics of effective business messages.
LO: 1.1: Explain the importance of effective communication to your career and to the
companies where you will work.
AACSB: Written and oral communication
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Critical Thinking
Learning Outcome: Discuss the challenges and importance of business communication
2
Copyright © 2017 Pearson Education, Ltd.
,5) All of the following except ________ will make your business messages more effective.
A) providing practical information
B) clarifying expectations and responsibilities
C) presenting information concisely and efficiently
D) discussing personal issues and complaining about problems
E) showing readers how they will benefit by responding the way you want them to
Answer: D
Explanation: D) To make your communication efforts as effective as possible, focus on making
them practical, factual, concise, clear, and persuasive.
LO: 1.1: Explain the importance of effective communication to your career and to the
companies where you will work.
AACSB: Written and oral communication
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Critical Thinking
Learning Outcome: Discuss the challenges and importance of business communication
6) How do executives in established firms spend the majority of their time?
A) budgeting
B) traveling
C) communicating
D) plying their trade
E) buying and selling
Answer: C
Explanation: C) If you launch a company or move into an executive role in an existing
organization, you can expect communication to consumer the majority of your time.
LO: 1.1: Explain the importance of effective communication to your career and to the
companies where you will work.
AACSB: Written and oral communication
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Conceptual
Learning Outcome: Discuss the challenges and importance of business communication
3
Copyright © 2017 Pearson Education, Ltd.
, 7) Effective communication helps businesses make stronger decisions based on
A) closer ties with communities in the marketplace.
B) timely, reliable information.
C) clearer and more persuasive marketing messages.
D) greater employee engagement.
E) earlier warning of potential problems.
Answer: B
Explanation: B) Effective communication helps businesses in numerous ways. While it does
create closer ties, and more persuasive marketing messages, it allows an organization to make
stronger decisions based on timely, reliable information.
LO: 1.1: Explain the importance of effective communication to your career and to the
companies where you will work.
AACSB: Reflective thinking
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Application
Learning Outcome: Discuss the challenges and importance of business communication
8) Describe five characteristics of effective business messages.
Answer: Effective business messages provide practical information that immediately helps
receivers in concrete ways. They also give facts rather than vague impressions, and provide
compelling evidence to support all conclusions. They present information in a concise, efficient
manner. Effective business messages also state precise expectations and responsibilities, and
they offer compelling, persuasive arguments and recommendations.
LO: 1.1: Explain the importance of effective communication to your career and to the
companies where you will work.
AACSB: Written and oral communication
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Conceptual
Learning Outcome: Discuss the challenges and importance of business communication
9) The quality of performing at a high level and conducting oneself with pride and purpose is
known as
A) expediency.
B) professionalism.
C) entrepreneurialism.
D) impression management.
E) leadership.
Answer: B
Explanation: B) Professionalism is the quality of performing at a high level and conducting
oneself with purpose and pride.
LO: 1.2: Explain what it means to communicate as a professional in a business context.
AACSB: Reflective thinking
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Conceptual
Learning Outcome: Discuss the challenges and importance of business communication
4
Copyright © 2017 Pearson Education, Ltd.
Chapter 1 Professional Communication in a Digital, Social, Mobile World
1) Which of the following best describes the communication process?
A) transferring information and meaning
B) listening actively
C) writing messages
D) speaking to others
E) providing data that benefits the speaker
Answer: A
Explanation: A) Communication is the process of transferring information and meaning between
senders and receivers, using one or more written, oral, visual, or electronic media. The other
answers are only part of the communication process.
LO: 1.1: Explain the importance of effective communication to your career and to the
companies where you will work.
AACSB: Written and oral communication
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Conceptual
Learning Outcome: Discuss the challenges and importance of business communication
2) Which of the following results in additional pressure on communication skills?
A) having great ideas
B) rising higher within the organization
C) connecting with decision-makers outside of your area of expertise
D) established company networks
E) the changing nature of employment
Answer: E
Explanation: E) Ambition and great ideas aren't enough. You'll need to communicate with a
wide variety of people if you want to succeed in business. The changing nature of employment is
putting new pressure on communication skills, too. Many companies now supplement their
permanent workforces with independent contractors who are brought on for a short period or
even just a single project.
LO: 1.1: Explain the importance of effective communication to your career and to the
companies where you will work.
AACSB: Written and oral communication
Difficulty: Easy
Classification: Conceptual
Learning Outcome: Discuss the challenges and importance of business communication
1
Copyright © 2017 Pearson Education, Ltd.
,3) Which of the following is most affected by effective communication by a company?
A) the nation
B) the suppliers
C) the competitors
D) the world
E) the stakeholders
Answer: E
Explanation: E) Stakeholders are those groups of people affected in some way by the company's
actions—like customers, employees, shareholders, suppliers, neighbors, the community, the
nation, and even the world. The other groups of people are only one subset of all stakeholders.
LO: 1.1: Explain the importance of effective communication to your career and to the
companies where you will work.
AACSB: Written and oral communication
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Application
Learning Outcome: Discuss the challenges and importance of business communication
4) Which of the following is not a characteristic of effective business messages?
A) They provide practical information.
B) They present the writer's opinions as facts.
C) They state precise audience responsibilities.
D) They highlight and summarize essential information.
E) They are short.
Answer: B
Explanation: B) Opinions should be presented as opinions. If opinions are called for, give
compelling evidence to support your opinion or conclusion. All the other answers are
characteristics of effective business messages.
LO: 1.1: Explain the importance of effective communication to your career and to the
companies where you will work.
AACSB: Written and oral communication
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Critical Thinking
Learning Outcome: Discuss the challenges and importance of business communication
2
Copyright © 2017 Pearson Education, Ltd.
,5) All of the following except ________ will make your business messages more effective.
A) providing practical information
B) clarifying expectations and responsibilities
C) presenting information concisely and efficiently
D) discussing personal issues and complaining about problems
E) showing readers how they will benefit by responding the way you want them to
Answer: D
Explanation: D) To make your communication efforts as effective as possible, focus on making
them practical, factual, concise, clear, and persuasive.
LO: 1.1: Explain the importance of effective communication to your career and to the
companies where you will work.
AACSB: Written and oral communication
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Critical Thinking
Learning Outcome: Discuss the challenges and importance of business communication
6) How do executives in established firms spend the majority of their time?
A) budgeting
B) traveling
C) communicating
D) plying their trade
E) buying and selling
Answer: C
Explanation: C) If you launch a company or move into an executive role in an existing
organization, you can expect communication to consumer the majority of your time.
LO: 1.1: Explain the importance of effective communication to your career and to the
companies where you will work.
AACSB: Written and oral communication
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Conceptual
Learning Outcome: Discuss the challenges and importance of business communication
3
Copyright © 2017 Pearson Education, Ltd.
, 7) Effective communication helps businesses make stronger decisions based on
A) closer ties with communities in the marketplace.
B) timely, reliable information.
C) clearer and more persuasive marketing messages.
D) greater employee engagement.
E) earlier warning of potential problems.
Answer: B
Explanation: B) Effective communication helps businesses in numerous ways. While it does
create closer ties, and more persuasive marketing messages, it allows an organization to make
stronger decisions based on timely, reliable information.
LO: 1.1: Explain the importance of effective communication to your career and to the
companies where you will work.
AACSB: Reflective thinking
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Application
Learning Outcome: Discuss the challenges and importance of business communication
8) Describe five characteristics of effective business messages.
Answer: Effective business messages provide practical information that immediately helps
receivers in concrete ways. They also give facts rather than vague impressions, and provide
compelling evidence to support all conclusions. They present information in a concise, efficient
manner. Effective business messages also state precise expectations and responsibilities, and
they offer compelling, persuasive arguments and recommendations.
LO: 1.1: Explain the importance of effective communication to your career and to the
companies where you will work.
AACSB: Written and oral communication
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Conceptual
Learning Outcome: Discuss the challenges and importance of business communication
9) The quality of performing at a high level and conducting oneself with pride and purpose is
known as
A) expediency.
B) professionalism.
C) entrepreneurialism.
D) impression management.
E) leadership.
Answer: B
Explanation: B) Professionalism is the quality of performing at a high level and conducting
oneself with purpose and pride.
LO: 1.2: Explain what it means to communicate as a professional in a business context.
AACSB: Reflective thinking
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Conceptual
Learning Outcome: Discuss the challenges and importance of business communication
4
Copyright © 2017 Pearson Education, Ltd.
