WorkKeys Business Writing 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which word correctly completes: "The team _____ their progress report every Friday."
- submit
- submits (Correct answer)
- submitted
- submitting
Correct answer: submits
"The team" is a collective noun treated as singular, requiring "submits."
Question 2: Which sentence is most appropriate for a formal policy update?
- Employees gotta clock in on time or else.
- Please ensure all employees adhere to the designated clock-in schedule. (Correct answer)
- Clock-in time is super important!
- Everyone needs to be on time, you know?
Correct answer: Please ensure all employees adhere to the designated clock-in schedule.
Business policies require formal, precise, and respectful language. Option B meets all these criteria.
Question 3: What is the correct way to write the date in a formal business document?
- 4/5/26
- Apr. 5th, '26
- The fifth of April
- April 5, 2026 (Correct answer)
Correct answer: April 5, 2026
Formal documents write dates in full: Month Day, Year (e.g., April 5, 2026).
Question 4: Which sentence is an example of passive voice?
- The manager approved the budget.
- The budget was approved by the manager. (Correct answer)
- The manager will approve the budget.
- All managers approve budgets quarterly.
Correct answer: The budget was approved by the manager.
Passive voice: "The budget was approved by the manager" — the subject receives the action rather than performing it.
Question 5: An employee must notify a customer of a shipping delay. Which opening sentence is most appropriate?
- Your order is late because our warehouse messed up.
- We regret to inform you that your order has been delayed due to an unexpected fulfillment issue. (Correct answer)
- Hey, just wanted to let you know your stuff is late.
- The order got delayed.
Correct answer: We regret to inform you that your order has been delayed due to an unexpected fulfillment issue.
Customer communications must be apologetic, professional, and clear. Option B meets all criteria.
Question 6: Which sentence contains a grammatical error?
- The supervisor and the team leader reviewed the proposal.
- Neither the manager nor the employees was available. (Correct answer)
- The committee has reached its decision.
- Each of the reports was submitted on time.
Correct answer: Neither the manager nor the employees was available.
With "neither...nor," the verb agrees with the nearest subject ("employees" = plural), so it should be "were," not "was."
WorkKeys Business Writing 3
Which word correctly completes: "The team _____ their progress report every Friday."