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1)Because long sentences are hard to understand, the business writer should make no sentence longer than 25 words

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1)Because long sentences are hard to understand, the business writer should make no sentence longer than 25 words.

 

 

      2.   In adapting sentences, you should aim a little above the level of your readers.

  

 

      3.   Some degree of simplification is best for all readers.

 

 

      4.   What is readable is related to the communication ability of the reader.

 

 

 

      5.   An ideal average sentence length in writing for the middle-level adult reader is 8 to 10 words.

  

 

 

      6.   The shorter sentences are especially useful for subordinating information.

  

 

 

      7.   Short sentences receive less emphasis than long sentences.

 

 

 

      8.   A sentence covering two items of information gives more emphasis to each item than does a sentence covering three items.

 

 

 

      9.   Even though short sentences generally are desirable, a long succession of them produces a bad effect.

 

 

 

    10.   As a rule, the shorter ways of saying things communicate better.

 

 

 

    11.   For the best communication results, repetition in business writing should be eliminated.

  

 

 

    12.   Repetition of words is quite acceptable when it is done for special effect or emphasis.

 

 

 

    13.   Unrelated ideas should not be placed together in a sentence.

 

 

    14.   As unity of paragraphing is clearly defined, paragraph content can be determined easily.

 

 

 

    15.   It would be illogical to present all the findings in a report with equal emphasis.

 

 

    16.   For reasons of economy, items not related in thought may be placed in the same sentence.

 

 

 

    17.   A paragraph should never consist of only one line..

  

 

    18.   Unfortunately, the rules for correctness in writing are based on arbitrary decisions made by grammarians and have little relation to the need for clarity.

 

 

 

    19.   If the content of a paragraph can be reduced to one topic statement, one can be reasonably sure that the paragraph has unity.

 

 

 

    20.   One major weakness of the paragraph plan with topic sentences within the paragraph is that the topic sentence receives little emphasis in this position.

 

 

    21.   Even if they are the same as to words and punctuation marks, a page broken by five or six paragraphs is more inviting to the reader than a page covered by one or two long paragraphs.

 

 

 

    22.   A report with its paragraphs averaging eight lines in length would meet requirements for ideal paragraph length.

Answer: True

 

 

    23.   It is not good writing practice to construct paragraphs longer than 12 lines.

 

 

 

    24.   Not every good paragraph must have a topic sentence.

 

 

 

    25.   The most common paragraph arrangement ends with the topic sentence.

  

 

 

    26.   It is acceptable to place the topic sentence within the paragraph.

 

 

 

    27.   The most common paragraph design places the topic sentence at the beginning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Multiple Choice Questions

 

    28.   The average sentence length found in the readability studies to be best for communicating with the middle level of adult readers is about:

            A)  6 to 8 words.

            B)   8 to 11 words.

            C)   11 to 13 words.

            D)  16 to 18 words.

            E)   20 to 24 words.

  

 

 

    29.   The sentence form that gives most emphasis to its contents is the:

            A)  simple sentence.

            B)   compound sentence.

            C)   compound-complex sentence.

            D)  complex sentence.

            E)   All of these give equal emphasis.

 

 

    30.   In a paragraph containing five items of information, you want to make one stand out. You should:

            A)  present each in separate, simple sentences.

            B)   present the one item in a separate, simple sentence and the others in compound sentences.

            C)   present all in compound sentences, placing the one item in a dependent clause.

            D)  present all in compound sentences, placing the one item in an independent clause.

            E)   present minor items in simple sentences and the one to be emphasized in a compound sentence.

 

 

 

    31.   Choose the sentence that does not contain a cluttering phrase.

            A)  At the present time we are using the old model.

            B)   We made payment in the amount of $751.

            C)   You will get your money in the near future.

            D)  This revised plan cut our production costs 12 percent.

            E)   In the event that you fail, we will help you.

  

 

 

    32.   Which of the following sentences covers its contents in the most roundabout way?

            A)  It is the president's belief that a recession is near.

            B)   The president believes a recession is near.

            C)   The president thinks a recession is near.

            D)  A recession is near, believes the president.

            E)   The president thinks a recession is coming.

 

 

    33.   Which of these sentences best meets the requirements of good business writing?

            A)  Lee's payment in January was in the amount of $300.

            B)   Lee paid $300 in January.

            C)   Lee's January payment was for $300.

            D)  Three hundred dollars was paid by Lee in January.

            E)   The $300 January payment was made by Lee.

 

 

 

    34.   Mark the sentence that best meets the requirements of good business writing.

            A)  With regard to the parking problem, corrective action is being taken.

            B)   With reference to the parking problem, the administration is taking corrective action.

            C)   concerning the parking problem, corrective action is being taken by the administration.

            D)  The administration is taking corrective action on the parking problem.

            E)   The administration is correcting the parking problem.

  

 

 

 

 

    35.   Which of these sentences best meets the requirement of good business writing?

            A)  The worker must report losses daily.

            B)   It is essential that the worker report losses daily.

            C)   It is essential that losses be reported daily by the worker.

            D)  Losses must be reported daily by the worker.

            E)   The worker's losses must be reported daily.

 

    36.   Which of these sentences best meets the requirements of clear and interesting writing?

            A)  In the near future prices will be cut.

            B)   Ford will cut prices soon.

            C)   Prices will be cut by Ford in the near future.

            D)  Ford will cut prices February 1.

            E)   Prices will be cut February 1.

  

 

 

    37.   Repetition of words or thoughts is best justified for reasons of:

            A)  rhythm.

            B)   concreteness.

            C)   emphasis.

            D)  organization.

            E)   personal preference.

 

 

 

    38.   Long sentences of about 30 words or more may:

            A)  be used to emphasize contents.

            B)   never be used.

            C)   be used sparingly to subordinate the less important information.

            D)  be used freely to impress certain readers.

            E)   be used when one wishes to economize on the words used.

  

 

 

    39.   If any of the four following statements does not help justify short paragraphs, mark it. If all are appropriate, mark e.

            A)  They help the reader see beginnings and ends, thereby giving the effect of organization.

            B)   They give added emphasis to the facts covered.

            C)   They have good eye appeal.

            D)  They show frequent breaking points, which is appealing to the reader.

            E)   All are appropriate.

 

 

 

    40.   A paragraph arranged in the most widely used plan:

            A)  begins with its topic sentence.

            B)   ends with its topic sentence.

            C)   has its topic sentence within.

            D)  has both beginning and ending topic sentences.

            E)   has all topic sentences.

 

 

 

    41.   Which of the following placements would give greatest emphasis to a fact?

            A)  A short sentence in the middle of a long paragraph

            B)   A short sentence at the end of a paragraph

            C)   A long sentence that makes up the entire paragraph

            D)  A short sentence in a one-sentence paragraph

            E)   A long sentence at the end of a paragraph

  

 

 

        

 

    42.   Your reader will comprehend sentences most easily that are written at a level:

            A)  challenging to the reader.

            B)   impressive to the reader.

            C)   appropriate to the technical expertise of the writer.

            D)  above the reader.

            E)   a little below the level of the reader.

  

 

 

    43.   A paragraph should:

            A)  consist of at least three sentences.

            B)   build around a single topic or idea.

            C)   include several different ideas or topics.

            D)  have both simple and complex sentences.

            E)   never be longer than eight lines.

 

 

 

 

    44.   One-line paragraphs:

            A)  should never be used.

            B)   can be used to emphasize a major point.

            C)   should be used frequently.

            D)  are good for subordinating contents.

            E)   give the writing sophistication.

 

 

 

 

    45.   The topic sentence of a paragraph:

            A)  should always come first in the paragraph.

            B)   should be in the middle of the paragraph.

            C)   should be last to summarize the paragraph.

            D)  may vary in placement according to the purpose of the paragraph.

            E)   should be preceded by an independent clause.