Chapter 9

1. Reports in today’s business environment range widely in length and purpose, help organizations sift through data and make decisions, and _______.

• can be delivered orally or digitally
• should never be stored on cloud servers off-site for security purposes
• are nevertheless becoming obsolete
• are used strictly for providing information

2. Reports that present data without analysis or recommendations are _______.

• informational reports
• analytical reports
• cost-benefit analysis reports
• justification reports

3. Which of the following should be written as an informational report?

• A recommendation from the Information Technology Department that your company install a wireless network
• A feasibility study addressing possible tuition reimbursement for employees
• A comparison of five handheld communication devices that your company might purchase
• A summary of information presented at a recent conference for technical writers

4. Reports that provide data or findings with analyses and conclusions are _______.

• informational reports
• analytical reports
• summaries
• progress reports

5. Which of the following reports is an example of an analytical report?

• A report summarizing the details of a recent seminar you attended
• A report recommending an antiterrorism security system for mass transit
• A report outlining the new company procedure for reporting workplace injuries
• A report showing state budget allocationsfor education

6. The direct strategy of organization is appropriate for a business report when readers _______.

• need to be educated
• must be persuaded
• are informed
• may be disappointed or hostile

7. When you organize an informational report directly, in what order should the ideas be presented?

• Introduction/background, facts/findings, and summary
• Introduction/background, summary, and facts/findings
• Summary, introduction/background, and facts/findings
• The direct strategy presents ideas in any order for maximum effectiveness and flexibility.

8. The indirect strategy of organization is appropriate for a business report when readers _______.

• are supportive of the topic
• must be persuaded
• are familiar with the topic
• want to know the results immediately

9. When you organize an analytical report indirectly, in what order should the ideas be presented?

• Introduction/problem, conclusions/recommendations, facts/findings, and discussion/analysis
• Introduction/background, facts/findings, and summary
• Introduction/problem, facts/findings, discussion/analysis, and conclusions/recommendations
• The indirect strategy does not follow a set order of ideas

10. An informal writing style includes _______.

• contractions (for example, wouldn't, don't, they're)
• second-person pronouns (for example, you and your)
• mainly passive-voice verbs
• longer sentences