Instructions: For each question, click on the radio button beside your answer. When you have completed the entire quiz, click the “Submit my answers” button at the bottom of the page to receive your results.

Question 1:

Which of the following does NOT characterize plain language?
a) Simplicity
b) Directness
c) Intricacy
d) Clarity

Question 2:

To incorporate the plain-language style, which of the following should a writer practise?
a) Using ambiguous language
b) Avoiding passive-voice constructions
c) Distancing the subject from the verb
d) Avoiding use of personal pronouns

Question 3:

Which of the following are examples of familiar, accessible language?
a) Words with a French derivative
b) Foreign expressions
c) Words that substitute –ize and –ization endings
d) Important-sounding words

Question 4:

Using current business language requires replacing which of the following?
a) Clichés
b) Emoticons
c) Slang
d) All of the above

Question 5:

Effective word choice includes which of the following?
a) Specific qualitative statements
b) Abstract language
c) Ambiguous language
d) Non-idiomatic statements

Question 6:

Which of the following is a technique to achieve conciseness?
a) Adding extended verb phrases
b) Inserting redundancies
c) Eliminating or revising empty words and phrases
d) Including prepositional phrases

Question 7:

Which is NOT an example of active voice?
a) Lee-Sun gave an entertaining presentation.
b) The formal report was written by a team.
c) The proposal addressed the competition.
d) Redundancies create unnecessary wordiness.

Question 8:

Which term refers to a word’s implied, associative meaning?
a) Connotation
b) Denotation
c) Contraction
d) Detraction

Question 9:

Which of the following does NOT characterize a personal style of writing?
a) Short sentences
b) Passive voice
c) Personal pronouns
d) First names and personal references

Question 10:

Creating an effective tone includes which of the following?
a) Expressing yourself positively
b) Stressing reader benefits
c) Incorporating a you-attitude
d) All of the above

Question 11:

To develop a polite tone, what should writers do?
a) Use extreme politeness
b) Suppress or censor what you need to say to avoid insult
c) Develop a courteous tone that is natural and friendly
d) Use sarcasm or show anger only when necessary

Question 12:

Which is NOT a gender-neutral title?
a) Worker
b) Salesman
c) Manager
d) Chairperson

Question 13:

A confident tone includes which of the following?
a) Apologies, even when they are unnecessary
b) Bragging and boasting
c) Data and informative material
d) Weasel words like “I hope” and “I trust”

Higher Education

Communicating for Results, Third Edition: Chapter 3