Report Writing Test 2015

1. Which of the following is the most important concern a journalist should have when writing a report about an event?

Answers:

• To entertain the reader, even if the facts are challenged

• To get the story in on or before deadline

• To be factually accurate, given the report is about real people and a real event

• To impress the managing editor and receive a promotion

2. If a writer is legally licensed to copy an online report, which of the following methods is available to transfer the report to other readers or potential publishers?

Answers:

• Pasting into an e-mail

• Uploading to a blog

• Uploading to GoogleDocs

• Attaching to an e-mail

• All of the above

3. Which of the following is NOT part of the primary, researched body of a business report?

Answers:

• Discussion

• Contents page

• Methodology

• Findings and results

4. When writing a report on a sporting event, why is it important that the report be submitted on time and that the outcome of the match be double checked?

Answers:

• So that the report is accurate and free of numerical and factual errors and can be printed or broadcast in a timely manner

• So that the report can be broadcast to the greatest number of viewers possible

• So that the writer can obtain a bonus or possibly a promotion.

5. Choose the best option based on the following statement.

The majority of a business report should be written in the past tense.

Answers:

• True

• False

6. All of the following are qualities of a well-written business report EXCEPT ____________.

Answers:

• objectivity

• conciseness

• clarity

• consistency

• All of the above are qualities of a well-written business report.

7. The contents of a letter of transmittal typically include _____________.

Answers:

• the report writer's ruminations on the future of the letter recipient's company

• the report writer's promise to publish the content of the report, no matter what the recipient's reaction might be, with a polite sign-off

• a polite opening, a statement of the purpose of the letter, the main findings of the report, and a polite sign-off

• a polite opening, a statement of the purpose of the report, the writer's hopes for its publication, and a serious sign-off

8. If the writer of an academic report quotes a source cited in another source, he should ____________.

Answers:

• cite the primary source

• cite the secondary source

• cite both the primary and secondary source

• cite either the primary or the secondary source

9. Which of the following does NOT appear on the title page of a business report?

Answers:

• A brief description of the purpose of the report

• The full contact details and position of the person for whom the report was prepared

• Date of the report presentation

• The full contact details and position of the person who prepared the report

• Reference to works of a similar nature

10. Can a report contain visual displays?

Answers:

• Yes, a report may contain visuals as long as they are limited to photographs.

• No, a report should be strictly void of visuals.

• Yes, a report may contain whatever visuals are useful for conveying information, from graphs and tables to illustrations and photographs.

• Yes, a report may contain graphs and tables, but not photographs.

11. All of the following elements should be included in an in-house report about a new work of fiction EXCEPT____________.

Answers:

• the working title and subtitle (if applicable)

• the author's biography and past publications

• a plot synopsis

• the author's views on the most appropriate publishing house and cover art

• None of the above should be included in an in-house report about a new work of fiction

12. What is included in the "acknowledgements" section at the beginning of an academic report, and what is its importance?

Answers:

• It contains notes of thanks to people who helped make the report possible; it is important as it fosters good personal and professional relations.

• It contains recommendations for further reading; it is important because without it people will not be able to fully understand the contents of the report.

• It contains good wishes for the people who inspired the writing of the book; it is important since without those people the report could not have been written.

• b and c

• It contains a formal note of thanks to the publisher, editor, and agent; it is a traditional formality that has been followed for years.

13. Which of the following statements regarding academic reports is NOT true?

Answers:

• Academic reports and essays are the same thing.

• The goal of academic reports is to analyze information logically.

• Academic reports are objective.

• Academic reports can include bullet points if required.

14. Choose the best option based on the following statement.

A business report should address the important questions of what, when, why, where, and how.

Answers:

• True

• False

15. Which of the following are good presentation techniques for presenting a report to readers unfamiliar with its content?

Answers:

• Allow generous spacing between the elements of the report

• Use dot points, numbers, or letters to articulate the different report elements

• Use tables, figures, graphs, illustrations, maps, and so on for clarification of points

• Use consistent and appropriate formatting, and number each page

• b and d

• All of the above

16. The term "letter of transmittal" refers to ____________.

Answers:

• a letter to the person who commissioned the report in which the report writer effectively hands over the report

• a letter containing self-criticism that the writer prepares for himself

• a letter containing editorial comments and suggestions for improvement that the writer receives from the first readers of the report

• a letter to a publisher asking for the report to be withdrawn from the publication process

• a letter to posterity that is attached to the report and which asks for the report to be preserved

17. Good visual ideas for presenting a hard copy of a presentation report would include _____________.

Answers:

• joining the pages with a paper clip, using single spacing, and keeping white space to a minimum

• using plenty of white space for clarity and ease of reading, and ensuring that separate sections stand out through the use of subheadings and other organizational elements

• folding the paper two or three times for safety during handling

• making the report quite long and delivering it in an attractive envelope

18. Which of the following is commonly found at the end of a business report?

Answers:

• Recommendations and/or appendices

• Thank-you notes

• A selection of future works by the same author

• Lists of popular websites

• Personal and business advertisements

19. The term "executive summary" refers to ______________.

Answers:

• a section included in the beginning of a report that summarizes the report's findings, conclusions, and subsequent recommendations

• the methodology used to arrive at the report's conclusions

• a section placed after the report's recommendations that lists future, more expansive, and more detailed publications planned by the same writer

• an extra document that summarizes the report and that is meant for separate publication

• None of the above

20. Which of the following is essential when writing a report about a sporting event?

Answers:

• Updating the readers on the league or competition as a whole

• Conveying the drama of the game, its atmosphere, its stand-out performances, and the end result

• Including the outcome or score in the first line of the report

• Providing a list of injuries endured by the participants

• Including phrases like "Wow!" and "Goal!" and "That must have hurt!" in the report

21. All of the following are good preparation techniques for presenting a report to an audience EXCEPT _______________.

Answers:

• reading the report aloud to oneself before delivering it to the audience.

• timing the report and reading without rushing.

• checking the report for factual, statistical, grammatical, and other errors.

• anticipating and preparing answers for questions likely to be asked by the audience.

• All of the above are good preparation techniques for presenting a report to an audience.

22. In terms of page layout, how does the presentation structure of an online report differ from that of a hard copy?

Answers:

• A hard copy would have a linear layout, whereas online the report could either be divided into separate web pages or included in one long page.

• The hard copy would have exactly the same layout as the online version.

• Online copy always takes twice as many pages as hard copy.

• Online copy always takes half as many pages as hard copy.

• The hard copy would have an asymmetrical layout, whereas the online version would be linear.

23. Which of the following items are not critical but should be included in any extended or detailed business report?

Answers:

• Table of contents and/or letter of transmittal

• List of abbreviations and/or glossary

• Recommendations

• Bibliography and/or appendices

• All of the above should be included in a detailed business report

24. Which of the following skills are essential for good business report writing?

Answers:

• Formal writing style

• Analytical thinking

• Careful proofreading and clean presentation

• All of the above

25. Which of the following options shows the series of steps involved in creating a statistical business report?

Answers:

• Collect the data and ensure all figures are presented, even if they are not all explained

• Ensure that all figures are explained and cut those that cannot be explained

• Isolate the problem, collect the data, conduct the study, and prepare to report the results

• Collect the data, present the data in the introduction, and write a conclusion

26. Which of the following options represents the ESSENTIAL sections of a business report?

Answers:

• Cover page, argument, body, conclusion

• Title page, preface, introduction, conclusion

• Title page, preface, body, epilogue

• Title page, introduction, body, conclusion

• Cover page, title page, introduction, body, conclusion

27. Which of the following should a writer absolutely avoid when writing a factual and argumentative business report?

Answers:

• The inclusion of irrelevant or outdated data

• The use of diagrams and carefully numbered pages

• The inclusion of unsupported recommendations and conclusions

• Vague separation between opinions and facts

• a, c and d

28. Which of the following is NOT a primary function of a business report?

Answers:

• To assist in the business decision-making process

• To inform and educate as succinctly and clearly as possible

• To present solutions for business problems

• To negotiate different points of view and adopt one view for the business

29. Which of the following activities is/are highly important when trying to increase readership for an online report?

Answers:

• Advertise the blog or webpage on other sites as well as off-line.

• Include plenty of keywords in the report.

• Add external and internal links to the blog or webpage.

• Ensure that all added links are functional.

• All of the above

30. Which of the following options represents correct numbering format for a business report?

Answers:

• 1.0 ______________________________________ 1.1 _______________________________ 1.2 _______________________________ 1.2.1 ________________________ 1.2.2 ________________________ 1.2.2.1 _______________ 1.2.2.2 _______________ 2.0 ________________________________________ 2.1 _________________________________

• I ________________________________________ A ________________________________ B ________________________________ 1 __________________________ 2 __________________________ (a) ___________________ (b) ___________________ II ________________________________________ A ________________________________

• Neither format is correct.

• Both formats may be used.

31. The term "news story" refers to _________________.

Answers:

• an article that reports on occurrences from the previous three hours

• a personal account of recent events, similar to an editorial or "op ed"

• an article that deals with crime, politics, or health issues

• any factual, objective, and fairly short account of an event

32. Which of the following options shows the correct layout of a business report?

Answers:

• Identifying information -> Background information -> Supporting data -> Project definition -> Conclusions

• Background information -> Identifying information -> supporting data -> Project definition -> Conclusions

• Identifying information -> Project definition -> Background information -> Supporting data -> Conclusions

33. The Methodology section of the Executive Summary of a presentation report generally describes ________________.

Answers:

• the methods by which the writer arrived at his conclusions

• how the introduction has been shaped into the conclusion

• Both a and b

• the statistical tools and techniques that were used for the study

34. Which of the following should NEVER be included in a presentation report?

Answers:

• Sensitive material related to the chosen topic, even if the information is true

• The writer's name

• A request for additional funds for the project

• Careless, outdated, or conflicting data

• The name and contact details of the writer's supervisor

35. The main purpose of a business report is to ______________.

Answers:

• tell a story

• share opinions

• present information

36. Which of the following file formats is/are suitable for photographs used in online reports?

Answers:

• JPG

• DUB

• GIF

• TIF

• a, c, and d

37. Which of the following options shows the correct series of steps involved in writing a business report?

Answers:

• Determine the scope of the report -> Understand the target audience -> Research and collect supporting material -> Organize and format the report

• Understand the target audience -> Research and collect supporting material -> Organize and format the report -> Determine the scope of the report

• Determine the scope of the report -> Understand the target audience -> Organize and format the report -> Research and collect supporting material

38. Which of the following is an online method that could be useful for disseminating information about a report?

Answers:

• Sending the occasional e-mail to a friend

• Using billboards and placards in the street

• Using online conference rooms or message boards

• Typing in the report to as many computers as possible

39. Which part of a journalistic report is called the "lead"?

Answers:

• The last paragraph

• The first sentence

• The first paragraph

• The first page

• The final page

40. When referring to journalistic reports, the term "localizing" refers to ______________.

Answers:

• paying attention to global facts and interest in the story so the writer can match the broader details to the smaller picture

• paying attention to local politics above all other local concerns

• paying attention to local facts and interest in the story so that readers are more engaged and can relate more closely to the material

• selling the report to local newspapers and other media institutions

• b and d

41. The term "editorial" in journalism refers to _______________.

Answers:

• a column written to explain the newspaper's official opinion on a subject and intended to persuade the readers

• a column written to explain the newspaper's official political opinion and intended to provoke readers into disagreement

• a long, controversial opinion written to explain the newspaper's unofficial view on a subject

• a page written to explain the newspaper's unofficial opinion on a subject and intended to persuade the readers

• a column written to explain the newspaper's mixed opinion on a subject and intended to persuade readers of contradictory opinion

42. Which of the following citations for an electronic source is correct for an academic report?

Answers:

• Smith, J.(2002) Academic Reports. Netlibrary [Online]. Available at http://www.netlibrary.com (accessed on: 5 June 2005)

• Smith, James (2002) Netlibrary[Online]. Available at http://www.netlibrary.com Academic Reports. (accessed on: 5 June 2005)

• Smith, J. (2002) Academic Reports. (accessed on: 5 June 2005) Netlibrary[Online]. Available at http://www.netlibrary.com

43. What is "Powerpoint" and how is it best used in terms of content and number of slides?

Answers:

• Powerpoint is computer software used for presentations. It is best to have limited slides with limited content that can be elaborated upon verbally.

• Powerpoint is portable slide equipment. It is best to prepare enough slides to fill at least one carousel.

• Powerpoint is a way of digitally projecting a report, similar to an overhead projector. It is best to prepare enough transparencies or slides as necessary to project the entire contents of the report.

• Powerpoint is a type of hardware that allows presenters to save reports online. It does not involve slides or projections.

• Powerpoint is word processing software, similar to Microsoft Word, in which slides are projected automatically as soon as the program is opened. It is best to prepare numerous informative slides that do not need to be elaborated upon verbally.

44. Is work placed online copyrighted?

Answers:

• Yes, as long as it contains the copyright symbol.

• Yes, all original written work is copyrighted at the moment of composition.

• Yes, as long as the writer's name is included in a byline.

• a and c

• No, only printed material can be copyrighted.

45. Which of the following is the simple computer code that a writer might use to upload a report to a webpage?

Answers:

• Perl

• HTML

• Vulcan

• Java

• Blogger

46. The two types of business reports are _____________.

Answers:

• analytical and informational

• informational and promotional

• promotional and analytical

47. The term _______________ refers to a report that lists works already published by a particular publisher.

Answers:

• secondary list

• backlist

• extralist

• trashlist

• frontlist

48. Which of the following would detract from a good journalistic story and possibly damage its impact on a reader?

Answers:

• Inclusion of references for relevant facts

• Lack of structure

• Lack of a single focus

• Lack of revealing detail

• b, c, and d

49. The term "credit line" in a journalistic report refers to _______________.

Answers:

• the text beneath a photograph that tells the reader who commissioned the photo

• the text beneath a photograph that tells the reader where the photograph was taken

• the text beneath a photograph that tells the reader who is credited for publishing the photo

• the text beneath a photograph that tells the reader the cost of printing the photo

• the text beneath a photograph that tells the reader who took the photo

50. Which of the following is indispensable when writing a journalistic report?

Answers:

• The report must be at least 1000 words long.

• There must be a story to tell.

• The report must include details about the writer's circumstances.

• The report must enforce the values of the newspaper.

51. When writing a report for presentation, what is the primary advantage of using active voice over passive voice?

Answers:

• Active voice is clearer and more vibrant and makes it easier for the audience to immediately grasp the message of the presentation.

• Active voice has no clear advantage over passive voice; they are merely different styles.

• Active voice is easier to read more quickly, so the presenter can reach the end of the report sooner.

• Active voice is the inverse of passive voice, but both can be used to good effect.

• Writing in passive voice requires fewer words.

52. Which of the following is most important when trying to make a sporting event or an evening at the opera as appealing as possible to the reader?

Answers:

• List the score or describe the audience's enjoyment of the event at the beginning of the report, and provide careful details about how those conclusions were reached.

• Emphasize the thrill and excitement of the event in numerous ways, and include details about excellent performances, prices, and proximity to the performers.

• List the score or describe the audience's enjoyment of the event at the end of the report, and provide careful details about how those conclusions were reached.

• Include the price of admission.

• List similar shows in the local area.

53. The term _____________ refers to the description of a creative work, such as a novel, that is submitted to an agent or publisher.

Answers:

• marketing plan

• back cover copy

• synopsis

• blurb

• paperback write-up

54. An editor working on online reports needs to be skilled at ________________.

Answers:

• copyediting and proofreading

• the use of basic editing software such as Word or Notepad

• English grammar and sentence structure

• understanding the report's style and structure

• An online editor must possess all of the above skills

55. In online newspapers, blogs, and websites, the terms "flag" and/or "mast" refer to ___________.

Answers:

• the description of who works at the newspaper, blog, or website

• the logo or design that appears on the front page of the newspaper, blog, or website

• a small flag that appears at the bottom right-hand corner of the front page and that reveals the nationality of the newspaper, blog, or website

• a small flag that appears at the bottom left-hand corner of the various sections of the newspaper, blog, or website and that reveals the content of that section (such as sports or business)

• a and d

56. Roughly how long does a business report need to be before a table of contents page is necessary (as opposed to brief subheadings)?

Answers:

• 2 pages

• 4 pages

• 10 pages

• 25 pages

• 50 pages

57. Choose the best option based on the following statement.

A report should generally not be written in the first person.

Answers:

• True

• False

58. Which of the following statements regarding business reports is incorrect?

Answers:

• The business report writer should avoid using emotional language.

• The business report writer should not make unsupported judgements or inferences.

• The business report should not include graphics.

• All the pertinent information regarding the project should be given in the business report.

59. The term "caption" in a journalistic report refers to _______________.

Answers:

• the text beside a photograph that offers description or explanation, and that is always written in the past tense

• the text above an illustration that offers description or explanation, and that is always written in the past tense

• the text beneath a photograph that offers description or explanation, and that is always written in the present tense

• the text under a photograph that offers description or explanation, and that is always written in the past tense

60. Which part of a journalistic report is called the "byline"?

Answers:

• The copyright line for the writer of the report

• The credit line for the writer of the report

• The credit line for the commissioner of the report

• The copyright line for the publisher of the report

• The credit line for the printer of the report

61. A writer may need to include the "ISBN" when writing a report about published material. What does ISBN stand for?

Answers:

• Institutional Special Buying Number

• International Special Book Name

• Institutional Standard Book Name

• International Standard Book Name

• International Standard Book Number

62. Which of the following language styles would be the best choice for writing a business report?

Answers:

• Academic English that uses long sentences and short paragraphs, and that conveys the central points of the report as efficiently and simply as possible.

• Plain English that uses long sentences and long paragraphs, and that conveys the peripheral points of the report as efficiently and simply as possible.

• Academic English that uses medium-length sentences and short paragraphs, and that conveys the central points of the report as quickly as possible.

• Plain English that uses short sentences and short paragraphs, and that conveys the central points of the report as efficiently and simply as possible.

• Plain English that uses short sentences and short paragraphs, and that conveys the peripheral points of the argument as informally as possible.

63. Which of the following audience types could the writer of a business report target?

Answers:

• Primary and secondary audiences

• Primary, secondary, and immediate audiences

• Primary and immediate audiences

64. The introduction of an academic report should ______________.

Answers:

• contain information that will most likely be repeated in the body

• contain the same information that will be included in the conclusion

• be the continuation of information from the previous volume, with illustrations added

• include the motivation for the study, an explanation of the problem to be addressed, and a statement about why the study is important

• a and b

65. Which of the following additional activities would a journalist have to fit in while writing a report, and which may actually be part of the research process?

Answers:

• Interviewing people

• Investigating a story at the scene of the event

• Reporting the story for the radio or television news either after or before the write-up

• Fact-checking through secondary or independent sources

• All of the above

66. Which of the following words or phrases should be avoided in a business report?

Answers:

• Basically

• Undoubtedly

• During the course of our investigation

• All of the above should be avoided