Business Writing
Response to the following multiple choice questions:
Part I: Punctuation
Choose the best punctuation option for the highlighted area of each sentence.
1.We will continue counselling Shawnee County residents and we will accept residents from adjoining counties who choose to travel here.
a. residents and we will
b. residents, and we will
c. residents; and we will
d. residents-and we will
2. Online shopping is gaining in popularity however high-end brick-and-mortar businesses continue to report growth.
a. popularity, however high-end
b. popularity, however, high-end
c. popularity; however, high-end
d. popularity; however; high-end
3. When the judge requests a document it needs to be delivered promptly.
a. document it needs
b. document, it needs
c. document; it needs
d. document. It need
4. This report was written solely to conveyinformationand for historicalpurposes.
a. information and for historical
b. information, and for historical
c. information; and for historical
d. linformation-and for historical
5. If you purchase a fishing license, you will protect the sport of fishing butthe program "Fishing for Youth" will not be extended.
a. fishing but the program
b. fishing, but the program
c. fishing ; but the program
d. fishing-but the program
6. Have a user name, password, and security code in mind and thenyou can begin your application for health coverage by selecting your state.
a. in mind and then
b. in mind, and then
c. in mind; and then
d. in mind: and then
7. Verizon offered a rebate and I applied.
a. rebate and I
b. rebate, and I
c. rebate; and I
d. rebate-and I
8. The technical analysis is complete we recommend computerizing medical records.
a. complete, we recommend
b. complete; we recommend
c. complete-we recommend
d. complete: we recommend
9. Bringing the fans to their feet she scored 8 points in 30 seconds and gave the Ichabods the needed momentum to win the game.
a. their feet she scored
b. their feet, she scored
c. their feet; she scored
d. their feet. She scored
10. Washburn University is celebrating 150 years of achievement therefore everyone is invited to participate in these activities.
a. achievement, therefore everyone
b. achievement, therefore, everyone
c. achievement; therefore everyone
d. achievement; therefore, everyone
11. Popular heart tests include the EKG chest X-ray stress test and tilt table test.
a. the EKG, chest X-ray, stress test and tilt table test.
b. the EKG, chest X-ray, stress test, and, tilt table test.
c. the EKG, chest X-ray, stress test, andtilt table test.
d. the EKG; chest X-ray; stress test; and tilt table test.
12. Several developers are building hotels overseas for example VillaseauxBaldwin and Cadiz.
a. overseas, for example,Villaseaux, Baldwin, and Cadiz
b. overseas-for example, Villaseaux, Baldwin and Cadiz
c. overseas; for example,Villaseaux, Baldwin and Cadiz
d. overseas; for example, Villaseaux, Baldwin, and Cadiz
13. Data processing involves three main activities sorting merging and computing.
a. activities. Sorting, merging and computing.
b. activities: sorting, merging and computing.
c.activities: sorting, merging, and computing.
d. activities-sorting, merging, and computing.
14. The new equipment laptops screens and monitors arrived safely in one delivery.
a. equipment, laptops, screens and monitors, arrived
b. equipment, laptops, screens, and monitors, arrived
c. equipment-laptops, screens and monitors-arrived
d. equipment-laptops, screens, and monitors-arrived
15. Washburn's International Program offers opportunities for study abroad in such exciting places as Maynooth Ireland Aachen Germany Asuncion Paraguay and Wuhan China.
a. asMaynooth, Ireland; Aachen, Germany; Asuncion, Paraguay; and Wuhan, China.
b. as:Maynooth, Ireland; Aachen, Germany; Asuncion, Paraguay and Wuhan, China.
c. asMaynooth, Ireland, Aachen, Germany, Asuncion, Paraguay, and Wuhan, China.
d. as:Maynooth, Ireland, Aachen, Germany, Asuncion, Paraguay and Wuhan, China.
Part II: Punctuation
Choose the sentence which is punctuated correctly.
16. Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
a. Because the decision was reversed we will consider taking the case to the Supreme Court, but the cost will be substantial.
b. Because the decision was reversed, we will consider taking the case to the Supreme Court, but the cost will be substantial.
c. Because the decision was reversed we will consider taking the case to the Supreme Court; but the cost will be substantial.
d. Because the decision was reversed, we will consider taking the case to the Supreme Court; but the cost will be substantial.
17. Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
a. Relying on his experience as an intern, the new employee out-performed other sales associates.
b. Relying on his experience as an intern; the new employee out-performed other sales associates.
c. Relying on his experience, as an intern, the new employee out-performed other sales associates.
d. Relying on his experience-as an intern-the new employee out-performed other sales associates.
18. Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
a. Our web site technicians set up internet websites, maintain web server software and optimize network connectivity.
b. Our web site technicians set up internet websites, maintain web server software, and optimize network connectivity.
c. Our web site technicians set up internet websites, maintain web server software, and, optimize network connectivity.
d. Our web site technicians set up internet websites; maintain web server software; and optimize network connectivity.
19. Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
a. Each technician has three central responsibilities: maintain the hospital website based on developed standards, support employees in creating web-based materials and render web services as requested.
b. Each technician has three central responsibilities: maintain the hospital website based on developed standards, support employees in creating web-based materials, and render web services as requested.
c. Each technician has three central responsibilities: maintain the hospital website based on developed standards; support employees in creating web-based materials; and render web services as requested.
d. Each technician has three central responsibilities-maintain the hospital website based on developed standards, support employees in creating web-based materialsand render web services as requested.
20. Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
a. We need a few exotic animals tropical fish, African tortoises, and macaws in our pet store.
b. We need a few exotic animals, tropical fish, African tortoises, and macaws, in our pet store.
c. We need a few exotic animals-tropical fish, African tortoises and macaws-in our pet store.
d. We need a few exotic animals-tropical fish, African tortoises, and macaws-in our pet store.
Part III: Sentence Structure
21. Which sentence needs revision as it ends with a preposition?
a. This is the timetable on which we have settled.
b. This brochure will have our design as its focal point.
c. These are the colleagues we are going with.
d. These are the sessions which we are required to attend.
22. Which sentence has correct subject-verb agreement.
a. The consultant and her lawyer has the contract.
b. The consultants and their lawyer has the contract.
c. The consultants and their lawyers has the contract.
d. The consultants and their lawyers have the contract.
23. Which sentence has correct subject-verb agreement.
a. The manager or the customer-service representative is designing a brochure.
b. The manager or the customer-service representatives is designing a brochure.
c. The manager or the customer-service representative are designing a brochure.
d. The managers or the customer-service representative are designing a brochure.
24. Which sentence has correct subject-verb agreement?
a. The private recycling facility, as well as the city's recycling centers, are located in west Lawrence.
b. The private recycling facility, as well as the city's recycling centers, is located in westLawrence.
c. The private recycling facilities, as well as the city's recycling center, is located in westLawrence.
d. The private recycling facility, as well as the city's recycling center, are located in westLawrence.
Identify the sentences with errors and the standard (i.e. correct) sentence within the paragraph below.
25. Comma Splice
26. Faulty Parallelism
27. Fragment
28. Run-on
29. Standard Sentence
(a) Legend's security depends upon our restricting access to the building, installing office and hallway monitors, and the mail must be inspected. (b) Although these adjustments may be costly. (c) It is possible to write a grant for federal funds. (d) Homeland Security is now offering a generous grant, twenty percent of the funds must be applied to eavesdropping on employee computers, however. (e) Our committee could add that intention to our list of security objectives we could deal with the union later.
Choose the best sentence in each unit below.
30. Which sentence is not a fragmentandreflects proper subject-verb agreementrules?
a. Rhythm and blues a genre of popular African-American music.
b. While rhythm and blues is a genre of popular African-American music.
c. Rhythm and blues is a genre of popular African-American music.
d. Rhythm and blues are a genre of popular African-American music.
31.Which sentence is not a fragmentandreflects proper subject-verb agreementrules?
a.A vegetarian diet that eliminates meats, eggs, and dairy products.
b. A vegetarian diet that eliminates meats, eggs, and dairy products to lower the risk of heart disease.
c. A vegetarian diet that eliminates meats, eggs, and dairy products lower the risk of heart disease.
d. A vegetarian diet that eliminates meats, eggs, and dairy products lowers the risk of heart disease.
32. Which sentence is not incorrectly fused with anotherandreflects proper subject-verbagreement rules?
a.There are a routine procedure and a complex medical test which can lead to a diagnosis.
b. There is a routine procedure and a complex medical test which can lead to a diagnosis.
c. We can use a routine procedure to lead to a diagnosis we can also use a complex medical test to lead to a diagnosis.
d. We can use a routine procedure to lead to a diagnosis, we can also use a complex medical test to lead to a diagnosis.
33. Which sentence is not incorrectly fused with anotherandreflects proper subject-verbagreement rules?
a. The employees may enter a complaint it also could be entered by the manager.
b. The employees may enter a complaint, it also could be entered by the manager.
c. The employees or the manager is going to enter a complaint.
d. The employees or the manager are going to enter a complaint.
34. Which sentence avoids ending with a preposition andreflects proper subject-verb agreement rules?
a. The judge, as well as the jury, needs to deliberate the evidence.
b. The judge, as well as the jury, need to deliberate the evidence.
c. The judge and the jury needs to deliberate the evidence in order to decide what verdict to arrive at.
d. The judge and the jury need to deliberate the evidence in order to decide what verdict to decide upon.
35. Which sentence avoids ending with a preposition andreflects proper subject-verb agreement rules?
a. A number of factors was narrowing my options in the lab.
b. The number of factors was narrowing my options in the lab.
c. The number of factors were narrowing my options in the lab.
d. In the lab, there were a number of factors which I could decide by.
36. Which sentence fixes the dangling modifier error below?
Before installing a firewall, the computers must be checked for viruses.
a. Correct as is.
b. Before installing a firewall, laptops must be checked for viruses.
c. Before installing a firewall, a virus check must occur on all computers.
d. Before installing a firewall, a technician must check the computers for viruses.
e. Neither a, b, c, or d.
37. Which sentence fixes the dangling modifier error below?
Determined to speed up the process, scheduling a meeting was essential.
a. Correct as is.
b. Determined to speed up the process, a meeting was scheduled.
c. Determined to speed up the process, the manager scheduled a meeting.
d. Determined to speed up the process, the schedule was changed to require a meeting.
e. Neither a, b, c, or d.
38. Which sentence fixes the misplaced modifier error below?
To complete the report on time, the back-up study was postponed.
a. Correct as is.
b. To complete the report on time, the team postponed the back-up study.
c. To complete the report on time, 2010 was set as the new date for the back-up study.
d. To complete the report on time, a postponement of the back-up study was essential.
e. Neither a, b, c, or d.
39. Which sentence has parallel structure?
a. In this tech position, you must monitor the daily performance of computer systems, set up equipment for daily use, and install and repair hardware and software.
b. In this tech position, daily performance of computer systems must be monitored, equipment for daily use must be set up, and hardware and software must be installed and repaired.
c. In this tech position, monitoring the daily performance of computer systems, setting up equipment for daily use, and installing and repairing hardware and software are important tasks.
d. We need a technician who can monitor the daily performance of computer systems, set up equipment for daily use, and install and repair hardware and software.
e. Sentences a-d each display parallelism.
40. Which sentence has parallel structure?
a. To attract new customers, we need advertisements, to offer sales, and the latest merchandise must be showcased.
b. To attract new customers, we need advertisements, sales, and to showcase the latest merchandise.
c. To attract new customers, we need to advertise, offer sales, and the latest merchandise must be showcased.
d. To attract new customers, we need to advertise, offer sales, and showcase the latest merchandise.
f. Sentences a-d each display parallelism.