BUSINESS COMMUNICATION

Sikkim Manipal University MBA 1ST SEMESTER

1 mark question (1 X 30 = 30)
1. A management trainee in a company writes a letter to the government, asking the government to contribute part of the funds for a community project. The request is turned down because of : a. Unclear message b. Wrong channel c. Wrong sender d. Wrong interpretation of message 2. A sales manager makes a presentation to his sales team using Power Point. Many of the slides are difficult to read, since they have too much text. This is one type of a. Semantic barrier b. Environmental barrier c. Linguistic barrier d. Channel barrier 3. Arriving ahead of time for a meeting is an example of a. Body language b. Non-verbal communication c. Etiquette d. Feedback 4. Arriving ahead of time for a meeting is an example of a. Body language b. Etiquette c. Non-verbal communication d. Feedback 5. How you say something includes all the following, except : a. Gestures b. Offensive language c. Facial expressions d. Tone of voice

6. In an organization, effective communication not only helps managers discharge their duties but also builds a bridge between managers and the ______ environment of the organization. a) external b) internal c) none of these. d) both of these. 7. Being egocentric and believing that your own
ideas are more valuable than the speakers, could interfere with the listening process.This is an example of a. Physiological noise b. Physical noise c. Psychological noise d. Cultural barrier

8. Communication helps managers utilize _______& other _______in the most effective & efficient manner: a) manpower & return b) material &resources. c) manpower & resources. d) none of these.

9. Sitting with an erect posture, nodding with appreciation, taking notes and asking questions are all examples of : a. Active listening b. Feedback c. Non-verbal communication d. Body language 10. Suggestions given by an employer to an employee on how to improve performance are an example of Choose one answer. a. Receiver b. Feedback c. Sender d. Message

11. The advertising slogan Nothing sucks like an Electrolux for Electrolux vacuum cleaners was a failure in the American context, because of the negative meaning of sucks. This is an example of : a. Semantic barrier b. Channel barrier c. Cultural barrier to communication d. Linguistic barrier 12. The message sent is not always the same as the meaning attached to the message. This is because of the : a. Faulty message b. Wrong medium c. Inaccurate decoding d. Wrong sender 13. You complain to your boss about a difficult co-worker through email, but do not receive any response. In this case, communication fails because of Choose one answer. a. Channel barrier b. Organizational barrier c. Individual barrier d. Linguistic barrier 14. Your boss turns down your request for long leave since a number of employees have recently left the company. This is an example of : Choose one answer. a. Physical context b. Chronological context c. Social context d. Cultural context 15. Two-way, non face-to-face communication is not suited for problem solving, because of: a. Distance factor b. New technologies c. Oral communication d. Lack of confidentiality

16. All the following are external stakeholders of an organization, except: a. Media b. Government c. Suppliers d. Shareholders 17. All the following describe a compressed organizational pyramid, except: a. More empowerment b. Importance of vertical communication c. Diminished hierarchy d. Larger span of control 18. An advantage of regular downward communication is : a. Giving job instructions b. Teamwork c. Feedback on performance d. Explaining company policies 19. B2B communication involves communication with : a. Consumers b. Society c. Media d. Suppliers 20. Building trust and confidence is the overall objective of communicating with : a. Shareholders b. Employees unions c. Peers d. Subordinates 21. Communicating about involvement in social development is part of : Choose one answer. a. Advertising b. Marketing c. Corporate social responsibility d. Public Relations

22. All the following are examples of physical barriers to listening, except : a. Hearing deficiencies b. Poor sound system c. Traffic noise d. Information overload 23. All the following are true of listening, except: a. A skill that one is born with b. A skill that can be developed c. An active process d. Hard work 24. All the following are wrong assumptions, except : a. Speakers are more powerful than listeners b. Listening is active c. Listening is passive d. Communication depends on the sender All the following non-verbal cues indicate active listening, except: Choose one answer. a. Eye contact b. Nodding of the head c. Silence d. Erect posture

27. Nouns that cannot be visualized are known as : a. Common nouns b. Proper nouns c. Concrete nouns d. Abstract nouns 28.One advantage of using the passive voice is that it : a. De-emphasizes a negative idea b. Draws attention to the doer of the action c. Gives a clearer picture to the receiver of the message d. Conveys ideas more vividly 29. One broad principle of general writing is a. Write to express, not to impress b. Emphasis and subordination c. Tone 30. One principle of business writing is : a. Active vs. passive voice b. Writing at the appropriate reading level c. Correct usage of parts of speech d. Keep it short and sweet

2 marks question (2 X 15 = 30)

1. A manager visiting an employees office for a discussion is an example of : a. Use of space to convey informality b. Use of space to convey leadership c. Social and public space d. Intimate space 2. A mixed signal means that : a. Verbal and non-verbal communication convey conflicting messages b. Tone of voice is changed frequently c. Different aspects of non-verbal communication convey the same message d. Different body movements are used to communicate 3. All the following are possible during a job interview conducted over the telephone, except: a. Tone of voice b. Immediate feedback

25. Confusing between noun and verb arises with regard to : a. American and British English b. Vowels c. Spellings d. Tenses 26. In business writing, tone depends on : a. Punctuation b. Active or passive voice c. Choice of words d. Spellings

c. Body language d. Control over receiver 4. Announcing a paid holiday to employees should be done through: a. Telephone b. Written channels c. Board meetings d. Teleconferencing 5. Arriving late for a meeting is an example of : a. Time language b. Meeting etiquette c. Informal communication d. Personal space

c. Advertising of services d. Advertising to promote ideas 11. The following is an example of constructive use of grapevine : a. Two co-workers discussing why an employee was fired, during a company picnic b. A rumor that the company is going to close down c. A proposal to introduce a formal dress code, to test employee reactions d. One co-worker informing a colleague that his boss is about to resign

12. The following is essential for crisis communication : a. A policy of openness b. Communication with the government c. Advertising d. Addressing consumer complaints 13. The purpose of a press release is : a. To publish a story in the media, free of cost b. To persuade people to buy the companys products c. To project a positive image of the company to the media d. To trace the history of the company 14. The purpose of public relations is : a. To communicate with shareholders b. To project a favorable image of the company among various publics c. To sell the companys products d. To communicate during a crisis 15. An interactive classroom session is an example of : a. Appreciative listening b. Comprehension listening c. Dialogic listening d. Discriminative listening

6. The term cardiac orifice is an example of :

a. Jargon b. Biased language c. Words with multiple meanings d. Highly specific language 7. Two-way, non face-to-face communication is not suited for problem solving, because of : a. Distance factor b. New technologies c. Oral communication d. Lack of confidentiality 8. Wrong decoding means : a. Interpreted meaning is different from intended message b. Badly worded message c. Message sent to wrong receiver d. Message sent by wrong sender 9. Performance counseling means : a. Listening with empathy b. Adopting a problem-solution approach c. Pointing out areas of poor performance d. Encouraging employee suggestions 10. Public Service advertising refers to : a. Advertising to project company image b. Advertising to promote a good cause

4 marks question (4 X 10 = 40)

1. Match the following sets and select one of the answers given below Set A
1.Write to express, not to impress 2. Metaphors 3. Jargon 4. Slang

Set A
1. Abstract nouns 2. Second person pronoun 3. Verbs 4.Adjectives and adverbs

Set B
a. Superlatives b. Correct use of tenses c. Emphasize positive ideas d. Difficult to visualize a. 1c, 2a, 3d, 4b b. 1d, 2c, 3b, 4a c. 1a, 2b, 3c, 4d d. 1b, 2d, 3a, 4c

Set B
a. Informal writing b. Improve vs. Ameliorate c. Advertising language d. Data Warehouse Architecture a. 1c, 2d, 3a, 4b b. 1b, 2c, 3d, 4a c. 1d, 2a, 3b, 4c d. 1a, 2b, 3d, 4c

4. Match the following sets and select one of the answers given belowSet A
1. 2. 3. 4. Apostrophe Brackets Colon Comma

2. Match the following sets and select one of the answers given below Set A
1. 2. 3. 4. Fog Index Technique of emphasis Non-sexist language Sincere tone

Set B
a. Separates adjectives in a series b. Suggests that a list will follow a statement c. Separates a phrase from the main sentence d. Indicates possession a. 1d, 2c, 3b, 4a b. 1b, 2a, 3c, 4d c. 1a, 2d, 3c, 4b d. 1c, 2b, 3a, 4d

Set B
a. Communicating with customers b. Neutral job titles c. Repetition

d. Length of words and sentences

a. 1a, 2b, 3c, 4d b. 1d, 2c, 3b, 4a c. 1b, 2a, 3d, 4c d. 1c, 2d, 3a, 4b

5. Match the following sets and select one of the answers given belowSet A
1. Passive voice

3. Match the following sets and select one of the answers given below-

2. American spelling 3. Quotation marks 4. Active voice

Set B
a. Doer of the action b. Enclose title of an article c. Labor d. Negative ideas a. 1c, 2b, 3a, 4d b. 1b, 2a, 3d, 4c c. 1d, 2c, 3b, 4a d. 1a, 2c, 3d, 4b

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Affect and effect Splendor and splendour Anyone and any one Disinterested and uninterested Device and devise Quiet and quite a. 1, 2, 3, 6 b. 1, 3, 4, 5 c. 1, 3, 4, 6 d. 2, 4, 5, 6

9. Which of the following are techniques of emphasizing ideas?

1. Placing the idea in the last paragraph 2. Placing the idea in the first paragraph 3.Using the passive voice to express an unpleasant idea 4. Repeating key words 5. Numbering ideas

6. Which of the following are examples of redundancies?

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Consensus of opinion Widow women At your earliest convenience But nevertheless Exact same Permit me to say a. 2, 4, 5, 6 b. 1, 2, 3, 5 c. 2, 3, 4, 6 d. 1, 2, 4, 5

6.Using small type, small letters and small font size

a. 2, 3, 4, 5 b. 1, 2, 4, 5 c. 1, 2, 4, 6 d. 2, 3, 4, 6

7. Which of the following are examples of British and American spellings?

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Visualise and visualize Cheque and check Candour and candor Stationery and stationary Modernisation and modernization Lose and loose a. 1, 2, 3, 5 b. 3, 4, 5, 6 c. 2, 4, 5, 6 d. 1, 3, 4, 5

10. Which of the following sentences include strong adverbs?

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. He has performed brilliantly in the new job Our prices are ridiculously low. Our forecasts have been fantastically accurate Sales have been phenomenal this year He made a ridiculous presentation Profits have been exceptionally high this year a. 3, 4, 5, 6 b. 1, 2, 3, 6 c. 2, 3, 4, 5

8. Which of the following are examples of frequently misused words?