OMST Business Communication 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does the notation 'cc:' at the bottom of a business letter indicate?
- The letter was composed on carbon paper
- Copies were sent to additional recipients (Correct answer)
- The letter is confidential
- Content was certified by legal counsel
Correct answer: Copies were sent to additional recipients
The 'cc:' (courtesy copy) notation lists other parties who received a copy of the letter.
Question 2: In a formal business report, which section provides a brief overview of the entire document for busy executives?
- Introduction
- Appendix
- Executive summary (Correct answer)
- Table of contents
Correct answer: Executive summary
The executive summary condenses key findings, conclusions, and recommendations so decision-makers can grasp the report without reading it in full.
Question 3: Which proofreading mark indicates that a lowercase letter should be changed to uppercase?
- A circle around the letter
- Three underlines beneath the letter (Correct answer)
- A slash through the letter
- A caret above the letter
Correct answer: Three underlines beneath the letter
Three underlines (triple underscore) beneath a letter is the standard proofreading mark for 'capitalize this letter.'
Question 4: A communication that flows from employees to management is called:
- Downward communication
- Lateral communication
- Upward communication (Correct answer)
- Diagonal communication
Correct answer: Upward communication
Upward communication travels from lower-level employees to supervisors or management, such as reports, suggestions, or complaints.
Question 5: Which element of a business letter identifies a previous correspondence or file number?
- Attention line
- Reference line (Correct answer)
- Enclosure notation
- Postscript
Correct answer: Reference line
The reference line (often labeled 'Re:' or 'In reply to:') connects the current letter to prior correspondence or a case number.
Question 6: What is the recommended line spacing for the body of a standard US business letter?
- Double-spaced throughout
- Single-spaced with a blank line between paragraphs (Correct answer)
- 1.5-spaced throughout
- Triple-spaced between paragraphs
Correct answer: Single-spaced with a blank line between paragraphs
Business letters are single-spaced within paragraphs with one blank line separating each paragraph for readability.
OMST Business Communication 2
What does the notation 'cc:' at the bottom of a business letter indicate?