Business Correspondence Quiz

Business Correspondence Quiz. This test covers various topics in Business Correspondence including parts, tones, and others requisites of a professional business letter. You may use the items below for a pretest or for formative assessment purposes.

Part 1. Alternative-Response Type (True or False).

  1. In writing the body of the business letter, the writer must stress what something is rather than what it is not.
  2. Key points in the body of the letter must be emphasized using boldface, underlining, or italics.
  3. The purpose of the claim letter is to highlight the product or service’s appeal.
  4. The three major elements of business letter writing are the sender, the receiver, and the stationery.
  5. Key sentences containing the important points and objectives must be at the end of each body paragraph.
  6. The main purpose of inquiry letters is to make special demands.
  7. The positive tone of business letters is normally applied to negative issues or bad news such as employment or contract termination and decline of credit application.
  8. Sales letter writing requires the use of reader psychology and appeal to reader’s emotions or comfort.
  9. The purpose of costumer relations letters is to establish and maintain good relationships with the customers.
  10. Audience analysis helps gain valuable insights about the readers.
  11. Writing clearly demands the use of simple language and easy sentence structure in composing the message.
  12. Inquiry and special request letters normally use the neutral tone.
  13. In writing the business letter, one must avoid interrupting the main clause with the placement of a subordinate clause if the interruption will cause confusion.
  14. It is an advice to business letter writers not to use transitional words so there is limit with the use of words.
  15. Most of the time, printed letters are preferred for a more formal communication and for permanent records.

Part 2. Multiple-Choice Type.

  1. Which of the following could be the first step or consideration in composing a business letter?
    • choosing the salutation
    • writing an outline for the body
    • signing the letter
    • audience analysis
  2. Which of these is not an A in the four A’s of sales letter writing?
    • attention
    • allocation
    • appeal
    • application
  3. The following are basic types of costumer relations letters except for:
    • Follow-up letters
    • Adjustment letters
    • Claim letters
    • Termination letters
  4. Which letter has the purpose of responding to a complaint letter with a solution offered?
    • Claim letter
    • Refusal letter
    • Adjustment letter
    • Confirmation letter
  5. How will a correspondent emphasize the positives in a business letter?
    • by explaining rather than by offering a solution
    • by insisting a stand and conveying unpleasant facts
    • by stressing what it is not rather than what it is
    • by saying what the product can do rather than what it can not
  6. Which salutation can be best used as a safe choice if the writer does not know the recipient well?
    • Dear Dr. San Juan:
    • Dear Sir/Madam:
    • Dear Ed San Juan:
    • To Whom It May Concern:
  7. What part of a business letter is the equivalent of handshake before doing business if it is face to face?
    • Return address
    • Closing
    • Salutation
    • Subject line
  8. Which of these could be the last step in composing a business letter?
    • writing the body
    • audience analysis
    • signing the letter
    • preparing an outline
  9. What could be the content of the last body paragraph of a refusal letter?
    • an expression of gratitude to the applicant for wanting to do business with
    • an explanation of the appropriate reasons for refusing to grant the customer credit
    • an encouragement to the reader to reapply later when his/her circumstances have changed
    • a description of the inconvenience the customer has created to the company
  10. What business tone should be used for sales letters?
    • negative tone
    • indirect tone
    • positive tone
    • neutral tone