• What is the main goal of using business writing fundamentals?

1. To reduce mental effort
2. To include as much information as you can
3. To present your writing in a technical manner
4. To make your writing shorter

• Choose the statement that best describes business writing.

1. Business writing combines what is taught in academic writing with professional formatting techniques.
2. Business writing is written with technical language, aimed towards the skilled community.
3. Business writing focuses on meeting a need and delivering a conclusion for a problem.
4. Business writing includes many fine details because important details like changes in financial accounts should not be glossed over.

• Choose the statement that is most correct regarding writing for different audiences.

1. Business writing aimed at a director would include interpretation because they are the furthest from the analysis and require more detail to fully grasp the situation.
2. Business writing is not for laypeople so there is no need to consider them as a potential audience of the writing.
3. Business writing aimed at a technician can include as much jargon and detail as you want because they are so closely involved with operations that they will know most of it already.
4. Business writing aimed at a director should be short and concise because they are very busy and only have small amounts of time to process the information.

• Compare the following two sentences.

1. As of the most recent safety meeting regarding equipment, there have been a number of grievances that have been raised.
2. We have received complaints about equipment safety.

Identify which plain language techniques were used to re-write the first sentence into the second sentence.

1. Active voice, short words, unnecessary words, long sentences
2. Unnecessary words, concrete terms, long sentences, positive tone
3. Jargon, short words, passive voice, unnecessary words
4. Complex terms, short words, long sentences, positive tone

• Which of the following statements best describes why we direct readers to the appendices, where we put supporting evidence and raw data?

1. Business people are too busy to worry about the raw data.
2. It is a technique called inverting the pyramid.
3. Having graphics such as tables and charts in the body of the writing is a waste of space.
4. Decision-makers want to focus on the main message of the writing. The supporting evidence is available in the appendices if they want to know more.

• Which of these statements about using graphics is the LEAST correct?

1. Graphics can convey deeper meaning in an easy to understand form.
2. Graphics should always be used whenever they can replace text.
3. Graphics are used to make business writing more engaging
4. Graphics can help readers understand a message with a quick glance.

• What of the following is NOT one of the key items to consider for plain language writing?

1. Writing delivery
2. Positive tone
3. Unnecessary words
4. Long sentences

• What is the purpose of using the fog index?

1. To look at how to include more words into your sentences.
2. To evaluate how hard it is to read your writing.
3. To help you count how many difficult words are in your writing.
4. To identify when you need to use more sophisticated vocabulary in your writing.

• You are a financial analyst at Company A. Your company is looking to acquire Company B. You have been tasked to evaluate their financial performance and you notice the following:
• Sales have declined for the last five years by roughly 1.5% each year
• Operating expenses have also been increasing by 2.1% each year in the same time period
• COGS as a percentage of revenue has stayed the same

You want to recommend to the director that your company should not look to acquire Company B. Which of the following statements is best for making this recommendation?

1. Company B is not an investment opportunity that would bring positive returns as shown by their persistent sales declines of 1.5% and continuous operating expense increases of 2.1% every year for the past five years.
2. Our company should avoid acquiring Company B. Their financial performance has been declining for the past five years. We can achieve better returns without acquiring them.
3. Due to the trend of declining financial performance, investing in Company B is an inefficient method for our capital to be spent. This is not the correct way our capital should be allocated.
4. Company B should not be acquired by our company. For the past five years, their financial performance has not been performing well. Acquiring them would not be well-advised.

• Which of the following statements is true about writing in the active voice?

1. Active voice is engaging, thus engaging the reader to act as well.
2. Active voice requires a reader to actively try to interpret the message, slowing the reader, whereas passive voice allows for passive reading.
3. Active voice is more positive, making readers more receptive to recommendations.
4. Active voice improves reading flow, allowing the reader to understand the message quicker.

• Which three factors out of the 5Ws and H are most important for business writing preparation?

1. When, how, who
2. Why, when, who
3. How, who, why
4. How, where, what

• Which is NOT one of the three most important factors to consider before you begin your business writing?

1. Topic
2. Delivery
3. Audience
4. Purpose

• Which of these statements about reducing mental effort is FALSE?

1. It makes the reader more receptive to your ideas.
2. It takes less time to write.
3. It allows you to present your ideas more efficiently.
4. It makes your ideas easier to understand.

• Which of these statements best represents inverting the pyramid?

1. Sushi is delicious and healthy. I want to eat sushi. Sushi is low in calories and contains omega-3 fatty acids that are good for the heart.
2. The movie we watched yesterday had several famous actors. I was very impressed with how they portrayed my favorite characters. It was a great movie.
3. I was injured yesterday playing soccer. I fell and sprained my ankle. One of the players on the other team tripped me while I was trying to get past him.
4. This computer is very slow. I am requesting a new office computer. Whenever I try to do work in Excel, it freezes for a while.

• Which of the following best describes the 'Question' of the SCQA method of writing?

1. The question refers to how a good piece of writing will make the reader question the status quo.
2. The question is the process of asking yourself whether your writing is appropriate for the audience.
3. The question is the problem that needs to be addressed.
4. The question relates to the change in the status quo.