Report Writing Test 2015

1. True or False? A report should have a clear, distinct title.

Answers:

• False

• True

2. Which of the following is the least effective title for a history report?

Answers:

• Changes in England: Review of 1811-1819

• Changes in England: Reign of George III

• Changes in England: An Analysis

• Changes in England: The Regency Period

3. Which of the following is the least effective way to finish a report?

Answers:

• Recommending actions or tasks

• Reviewing the main points

• Reiterating the objectives

• Recalling a personal anecdote

4. Which of the following can be included as supporting information in a business report, presuming it is relevant to the report's topic and scope?

Answers:

• Personal experience

• Statistics

• (All of these)

• Historic facts

5. Which of the following is NOT part of the outlining process?

Answers:

• Ascertaining who the audience will be

• Determining line breaks, margin size, and font

• Deciding what will be included

• Gathering relevant information

6. Which of the following elements enhance professionalism in a report?

Answers:

• A wide range of citations, an arresting title

• Proper editing, the use of business language

• Alphanumeric listings, title page

7. True or False? While reports may include analysis, their primary purpose is to present quantifiable information.

Answers:

• False

• True

8. Which of the following could influence a report's style?

Answers:

• Requirements of submission

• Policy of report requester

• Background of author

• (All of these)

9. True or False? Analysis is permissible in a report.

Answers:

• True

• False

10. True or False? Poor formatting will likely affect a report's reception.

Answers:

• False

• True

11. True or False? Reports should be written using slang.

Answers:

• False

• True

12. True or False? Guidelines for a report, if provided, should only be checked before beginning to write.

Answers:

• False

• True

13. True or false? Reports are best written in active voice.

Answers:

• True

• False

14. Which of the following is the best way to designate the most important sections of a report?

Answers:

• With Roman numerals

• With boldface

• With capital letters

15. Which of the following is not a suitable topic for a report?

Answers:

• A literary review

• (These are all acceptable)

• A scientific methodology

• A sales program analysis

16. Which of the following is always included in a correctly formatted report?

Answers:

• Table of contents

• Numbered pages

• (All of these)

• Sub-section titles

17. True or False? A report should emphasize the writer's opinion.

Answers:

• True

• False

18. Which of the following best describes the information in the Bibliography?

Answers:

• The most respected journals in the field

• The leading authorities on the subject and the institutions with which they are affiliated

• References used in researching and writing the report

• The resources most used by the writer

19. Select the evidence that would least contribute to a team performance report written for a business.

Answers:

• Descriptions of employees' attitudes

• Details regarding employees' tardiness

• Interpretations of employees' personal activities

• Information about employees' productivity

20. What contributes to making a report easy to read?

Answers:

• The use of formal language

• Explanations that go into depth

• The inclusion of appendices

• The use of graphics

21. Which of the following appear in the first and final sections of a report, respectively?

Answers:

• The Introduction and the Conclusion

• The Introduction and the Recommendations

• The Title and the Citations

• The Body and the Conclusion

22. What is the primary purpose of the Recommendations section of a report?

Answers:

• To validate the logical direction of the report

• To demonstrate that the writer has conducted extensive research

• To enable the reader to make an informed decision

• To structure the discussion

23. Which sentence type is used most frequently in reports?

Answers:

• Declarative

• Imperative

• Interrogatory

• Exclamatory

24. What kind of word or phrase helps link ideas?

Answers:

• Noun clauses

• Transitional words and phrases

• Dependent clauses

• Intransitive verbs

25. Which of the following best describes how reports should be formatted?

Answers:

• Reports should be formatted according to context-specific guidelines.

• Reports should be formatted according to business-world standards.

26. Which of the following should be avoided as supporting information in an academic report, even if it is relevant to the report's topic and scope?

Answers:

• Statistics

• Historic facts

• (All of these)

• Personal experience

27. What three things should be evident when graphics are presented?

Answers:

• Labels, consistency, reference to the graphic in the body of the report.

• Numbers, documentation, numerical depiction

• Facilitation of understanding, linkage, up-to-date information

• Identification, sophistication, science

28. True or False? The conclusion paragraph should be written during the outlining process.

Answers:

• False

• True

29. Considering language and grammar, which of the following sentences is most appropriate for inclusion in a report?

Answers:

• You 28 team members averaged 30% return on client business in the last two months.

• The 28 team members averaged a 30% return on client business in the last two months.

• The 28 team members and I should've averaged 30% return on client business in two months.

• Our 28 team members are averaging a 30% return on client business over two months.

30. The Table of Contents is derived from which source?

Answers:

• The bibliography

• The outline

• The hypothesis

• The abstract

31. What purpose do references serve?

Answers:

• (All of these)

• They enable the reader to pursue further inquiry.

• They validate the data presented.

• They prevent challenges to the authority and logic of the report.

32. What question will help the writer break the topic into subtopics?

Answers:

• Will the readers of this report understand its purpose?

• What are the main points I want the reader to know?

• Has this topic undergone considerable examination already?

• Where does my expertise lie?

33. What is most important to remember when including graphics?

Answers:

• They should be divided between the Body and the Appendix.

• They should be simple.

• They should be varied.

• They should be relevant.

34. Because people absorb information differently, how can a writer supplement the writing in their report?

Answers:

• With graphics

• With panel discussions

• With videotapes

• With audiotapes

35. True or False? A report should be written without using traditional paragraphs.

Answers:

• False

• True

36. Select the sentence that is most suitable for a report in terms of language and grammar.

Answers:

• In conclusion, while it is clear sales were low in the first quarter, by taking the measures outlined above, you can expect increased profit in Q3.

• In conclusion, while it's clear sales were low in Q1, by taking the measures outlined above, I'm expecting increased profit this year.

• In conclusion, while it is clear sales were low in the first quarter, by taking the measures outlined above, the company may expect increased profit in the third quarter.

37. What enhances readability in a report?

Answers:

• Variety in paragraph length

• (All of these)

• Prepositions that do not exceed a ratio of 1 per 11 words

• Sentences that average 14 words or fewer

38. At what stage in the report-writing process should you consider the report's audience?

Answers:

• When drafting the report

• When compiling information for the report

• (All of these)

• When determining the report's purpose

39. The use of fonts, page layout, page numbers, and labels for graphics constitute what aspect of a report?

Answers:

• The format

• The research

• The references

• The captions

40. Which of the following should NOT be used when writing a report?

Answers:

• Technical terms

• Formal language

• Informal jargon

41. Which of the following may be included in a properly formatted report?

Answers:

• (All of these)

• Bulleted points

• Enumerated claims

• Numbered ideas

42. In which setting are you likely to be asked to write a report?

Answers:

• A business

• (All of these)

• A classroom

• A law office

43. Which of the following parts of speech may be used in reports?

Answers:

• (All of these)

• Transition phrases

• Coordinating conjunctions

• Prepositional phrases

44. Which of the following may be a subject for a report?

Answers:

• (All of these)

• Finance

• History

• Business

45. When should field-specific terminology be used in a report?

Answers:

• Hardly ever

• Whenever possible

• As necessary

46. Which type of punctuation should be used least in reports?

Answers:

• Parentheses

• Exclamation points

• Semi-colons

• Question marks

47. Select the evidence that would best contribute to a sales report written for a  manufacturer.

Answers:

• Analysis of product development

• Attitude of sales representatives

• Amount of product sold last month

• Amount of sales managers

48. "Brainstorming" and "mindmapping" are strategies for which aspect of the report-writing process?

Answers:

• Maintaining a professional voice

• Presenting information logically

• Incorporating optional elements

• Outlining

49. How is report writing distinguished from other kinds of writing?

Answers:

• By a dependence on metrics

• By a formal tone

• By its use of questions

• By the inclusion of scientific topics

50. What is another term for "Executive Summary"?

Answers:

• Bibliography

• Abstract

• Recommendations

• Conclusion

51. To what extent should personal pronouns be used in reports?

Answers:

• They should be used to establish familiarity with the reader.

• They should be completely avoided.

• They should be alternated with impersonal pronouns.

• They are acceptable in most circumstances.

52. Of the listed steps, which should be taken last when writing a report?

Answers:

• Writing a draft

• Gathering evidence

• Outlining points

53. Which combination reflects optional elements of a report?

Answers:

• Title page, Body, Conclusion

• Abstract, Introduction, Table of Contents

• Glossary, Recommendations, Bibliography

54. True or False? A completed outline MUST be strictly adhered to during the writing process.

Answers:

• False

• True

55. What does the phrase "specific-to-general" mean?

Answers:

• An approach used exclusively for scientific reports

• A means of establishing credibility among readers

• The deductive method of presenting data

• A method of organizing the information in a report

56. How should you begin an organized report-writing process?

Answers:

• Identify the topic

• Write a thorough outline

• Brainstorm discussion points

57. When should contractions be used in a report?

Answers:

• In direct quotations

• Throughout

• In body paragraphs

• In the introduction and conclusion

58. Which pair are opposite means of organizing information in a report?

Answers:

• Bibliographic/Linear

• Topical/Subtopical

• Chronological/Biographical

• Inductive/Deductive

59. Where is the best place to explain a graphic?

Answers:

• In the near text preceding the graphic

• In the paragraphs following the insertion of the graphic

• In the Conclusion portion of the report

• In the introduction

60. What is the essential reason for writing a report?

Answers:

• To reach a conclusion based on research

• To provide information so the reader can make a decision

• To organize important information

• To report findings

61. True or False? A report should be typed in Times New Roman, 12-point font in all contexts.

Answers:

• False

• True

62. Should a report contain the writer's opinion?

Answers:

• Yes, but only if it is clearly differentiated from the facts presented.

• No, because reports are based entirely on quantifiable information.

• Yes, because facts and opinions are entwined as a rule.

• No, because a report is not an essay.

63. Which of these is true of the Abstract?

Answers:

• It has about 100-500 words as a rule.

• It is designed for presenting the methodology used.

• It is the first thing to be written.

• It focuses on the conclusions reached.

64. What term refers to a pronoun that does not show a clear relationship?

Answers:

• Dangling participle

• Indefinite antecedent

• Law of Proximity

• Passive voice

65. How important is the Executive Summary in a report?

Answers:

• A report that doesn't include it is considered unprofessional

• It's an essential element

• It's an optional element

• It is useful only if the readers are executives

66. Which verb tense should be used most frequently when writing a report?

Answers:

• Present tense

• Past tense

• Future tense

67. Which of the following should typically be used to cite outside sources included in a report?

Answers:

• (None of these)

• AMA style

• MLA style

• APA style

68. Which optional element in a report reflects goals and objectives?

Answers:

• The recommendations

• The overview

• The abstract

• The letter of transmittal

69. When providing an either/or choice, what determines the correct verb usage?

Answers:

• The noun that is closer to the verb

• The preceding pronoun to which the noun alludes

• The antecedent cited most often

• The first noun listed

70. Which of the following points of view is LEAST commonly used to write a report?

Answers:

• First person

• Third person

• Second person

71. If a pronoun is preceded by a preposition, what case will the pronoun take?

Answers:

• Active

• Passive

• Subjective

• Objective