Business Communication: Building Critical Skills

Kitty O. Locker, Ohio State University
Steven Kyo Kaczmarek, Columbus State Community College
Kathryn Braun, Sheridan College

Positive Emphasis

Self Quiz


1	Which of the following words has a negative connotation?
		A)	Afraid
		B)	Error
		C)	Objection
		D)	All of the above.


2	Which of the following is a situation to omit a negative?
		A)	When the information is trivial.
		B)	When the information affects only the reader, not the organization.
		C)	When the information will make you look bad.
		D)	None of the above.


3	When you are at fault, you should
		A)	Immediately issue an apology.
		B)	Consider first whether the apology has legal implications.
		C)	Ignore the situation; it will blow over.
		D)	None of the above.


4	Do NOT apologize when
		A)	The error is small and you are correcting it.
		B)	You are not at fault.
		C)	Both of the above.
		D)	None of the above.


5	When you must give bad news, consider
		A)	Telling the reader immediately in the message.
		B)	Hedging your statement.
		C)	Leaving the bad news out of the message.
		D)	None of the above.


6	Negatives are never necessary.
		A)	True
		B)	False


7	Always be positive, even if it means distorting the truth.
		A)	True
		B)	False


8	Words never have hidden negative meanings.
		A)	True
		B)	False


9	Focusing on alternatives is a way of being positive in an otherwise negative situation.
		A)	True
		B)	False


10	Avoid is a word that never has a negative implication.
		A)	True
		B)	False

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