oDesk Report Writing Test Answers 2015
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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
