Communication Skills for Professionals: CASD Midterm Examination

This document presents a midterm exam focused on communication and professional development, covering a range of topics relevant to effective workplace interactions. The exam includes multiple-choice questions addressing key concepts such as the principles of communication, listening skills, nonverbal communication, cultural sensitivity, conflict resolution, and interviewing techniques. Questions explore various communication barriers, negotiation styles, and the impact of gender and disabilities on communication. The exam also assesses understanding of supportive versus defensive communication climates, the use of language, and legal considerations in employment interviews. The highlighted options are the answers.

Midterm Questions CASD
The highlighted options are the answers
Q U E S T I O N 1
1. Why would an important person in an organization be willing to be interviewed by you, a
mere student?
Many successful people want to help others, just as they have been helped.
If you've made contact through a referral, your interviewee will be helping the person
who referred you.
The interviewee may be flattered that you asked for an interview.
All of the above are reasons why an important person in an organization would be
willing to meet with you.
Q U E S T I O N 2
1. Georgia believes that she will get what she wants if she simply
communicates in the “correct” way. Which of the principles of
communication does Georgia fail to understand?
One cannot not
communicate.
Communication is
irreversible.
Communication is
unavoidable.
Communication is not a
panacea.
Q U E S T I O N 3
1. When your text states that communication is unavoidable, it means that
if you're absent from a meeting, you are not communicating at all.
all communication is unintentional.
people will probably attach meaning to your actions, even when you
don't intend to communicate something.
true communication occurs only when we are face to face with another
person.
2 points
Q U E S T I O N 4
1. Rob was selected by his supervisor to conduct interviews with prospective
college graduates for their law firm. This is the first time Rob has ever been
on the other side of the table in the interview process. He decided to prepare

well in order to make a good impression on the partners of the firm. First, he
developed a list of topics he felt needed to be covered. He then developed a
number of open-ended questions with follow-up probes related to each of his
major topics. Which type of interview schedule has Rob created?
Legalist
moderately
structured
Structured
Unstructured
2 points
Q U E S T I O N 5
1. All of the following are suggestions for improving your nonverbal
effectiveness except:
Monitor your nonverbal behaviors.
Show your interest in others by using nonverbal behaviors that create a
sense of immediacy.
Be guarded about expressing confidence, goodwill, and positive feelings
in the workplace.
Learn and observe the nonverbal conventions of the organization or
country you are in.
2 points
Q U E S T I O N 6
1. The owner of a small car dealership wanted to find a way to discourage the amount of
horizontal communication that was occurring among salesmen because he (mistakenly)
thought their conversations were reducing the company's sales levels. He implemented a
bonus plan that required sales personnel to compete against one another to keep their jobs.
In the above example, which of the following forms of discouragement is the owner using to
limit horizontal communication at his company?
rivalry
specialization
information overload
physical barriers
2 points
Q U E S T I O N 7
1. Hiro takes pleasure in exploring ideas during meetings. He likes to discuss an
idea thoroughly, being sure that all the pros and cons have been
systematically considered. Only after much debate is he willing to decide on
a course of action. Hiro is demonstrating the _________________ style of
listening.

relational
analytical
task-
oriented
critical
2 points
Q U E S T I O N 8
1. Katie is a supervisor for a calling center. She is experiencing a number of
problems with her subordinates. They often bungle the instruction she
provides, which results in additional work for her. After researching this
problem, Katie determined that the reason her instructions were being
misinterpreted is that she is giving instructions while the phones are ringing
and the employees are filling out their time sheets. Which barrier to effective
listening is the cause of Katie’s problem?
message overload
rapid thought
egocentrism
sociocultural
differences
2 points
Q U E S T I O N 9
1. James and his classmates complain that their instructor doesn’t give clear
instructions for their assignments. All of the following strategies could help
these students EXCEPT
assuming that effective communication is always the
sender’s responsibility
paraphrasing
asking clarification questions
taking notes
2 points
Q U E S T I O N 1 0
1. One guideline for interacting with people who have a disability is:
To prevent embarrassment, take care that you don't say "see you later"
to a blind person.
When you are talking to a person who uses a wheelchair, position
yourself at her or his eye level.
An effective way to reduce your awkwardness and create a sense of
familiarity is to lean on a person's wheelchair.
If a person has difficulty speaking, you can assist her by finishing her
sentences for her.

Q U E S T I O N 1 1
1. Our own culture's standards are usually
not obvious to us.
easy for us to
describe.
meaningless.
strange.
2 points
Q U E S T I O N 1 2
1. A probable result of thinking constructively about the chance to participate in
an interview is
increased anxiety during the interview.
overconfidence.
planning ahead to think of ways to handle the
upcoming challenges.
negative self fulfilling prophecies.
2 points
Q U E S T I O N 1 3
1. Rafael is taking an online communication class this semester. Today he is
frustrated because the server is down and he can’t complete the quiz on
listening that is due by 5 P.M. Which barrier to effective listening does this
situation illustrate?
rapid thought
fear of appearing
ignorant
message overload
environmental
barrier
2 points
Q U E S T I O N 1 4
1. An effective evaluative listener will ask all of the following questions except
“Do these ideas reinforce my current beliefs?”
“Do the examples represent the whole situation?”
“Are there any important exceptions that the speaker
hasn’t pointed out?”
“Is the evidence true?”

2 points
Q U E S T I O N 1 5
1. Manager Bland gave the following instructions to Jared:
“I’d like you take on more responsibility. So far, you’ve only been dealing with minor tasks
such as drawing up daily schedules and mailing out customer refunds. Starting with your
shift on Tuesday, I’d like you to assist Kevin with brainstorming new means of customer
outreach and with designing a sticky web site for our PRNG program.” Manager Bland’s
instructions include all of the following types of language EXCEPT_________.
low-level abstractions
jargon
high-level abstractions
slang
2 points
Q U E S T I O N 1 6
1. Relational listeners tend to judge people based on how well organized and
concise their remarks are.
True
False
2 points
Q U E S T I O N 1 7
1. Which of the following is NOT identified in your text as a strategic goal?
Relational
communication
Unintended
communication
Instrumental
communication
Identity management
2 points
Q U E S T I O N 1 8
1. According to Jack Gibb’s work on supportive and defensive communication, a
supervisor who ____________ is promoting a disconfirming climate.
focuses on solving problems
listens open-mindedly to opposing
viewpoints
doesn’t show concern for the
feelings of others

treats her subordinates as if they
were equals
2 points
Q U E S T I O N 1 9
1. Which is generally the most advantageous negotiation style for all parties
involved?
win-lose
lose-lose
Comprom
ise
win-win
2 points
Q U E S T I O N 2 0
1. The statement, “Omar has been nagging me about that job for two weeks”
(as opposed to “Omar has inquired a few times about the status of that job.”)
is an example of
biased language.
low-level
abstraction.
denotative
language.
verbal precision.
QUESTION 21
1. Which of the following can be characterized as a descriptive “I” statement?
“You’re not doing your share around here.”
“I’m worried about the way our customers will react to your report if it contains any errors.”
“There are three terrible problems with the job you’ve done: it’s late, it’s incomplete, and it’s
messy.”
“I refuse to work with a negative person like you.”
2 points
QUESTION 22
1. Robert is an effective supervisor because he has the ability to interpret a number of spoken and
unspoken conversational cues. His subordinates in his sales division respect him because he also has the
ability to develop strong rapport with each coworker by showing constant support. Which type of
communication style is Robert demonstrating when he is showing support?

feminine
neutral
androgynous
masculine
2 points
QUESTION 23
1. Which of the following statements about gender differences in listening is true?
In the workplace, men and women are listened to with an equal amount of attention.
In most cases, women are better listeners than men are.
Men use vocalizers such as “uh-huh” to signal they are paying attention to the speaker.
Women tend to listen to the feelings behind a message, while men tend to listen to the content of
a message.
2 points
QUESTION 24
1. Which of the following is normally a lawful question to ask DURING an employment interview (not as
verification submitted after employment)?
“Which years did you serve in Vietnam, and what type of discharge did you get?”
“If the company pays for additional schooling, what courses would you like to take?”
“How did your parents come to this country?”
“What is your date of birth?”
2 points
QUESTION 25
1. In her spare time, Sharon is the chair for a local nonprofit organization. The project committee is
attempting to determine what the organization’s next large charity drive will be. Sharon felt that she had
a great idea, but it was quickly rejected by the other committee members. So, as chair, she simply
selected her idea and forced it on the other members. According to the text, which of the following
approaches to conflict did she employ?
Avoiding

accommodating
Competing
Compromising
2 points
QUESTION 26
1. Kio was injured while performing a safety inspection at the chemical plant he worked for and was taken
to the emergency room. The doctor asked him a number of questions about his injuries to determine
the proper course of action for treatment. According to the text, which of the following types of
information-gathering interviews did Kio's doctor perform?
diagnostic
research
survey
exit
2 points
QUESTION 27
1. Skylar is a very organized and timely individual. He always shows up for meetings 15 minutes early. He
frowns upon colleagues who fail to arrive on time. Which orientation toward time would most
accurately describe Sky's behavior?
Asian
standard
monochronic
Polychromic
2 points
QUESTION 28
2. Don’t use strategic ambiguity when your goal is to
help the listener understand your precise meaning.
promote harmony.
soften the blow of difficult messages.

communicate your ideas in a situation where it could possibly expose you to a lawsuit if you stated
your point unambiguously.
2 points
QUESTION 29
2. Your text identifies several characteristics that showcase an interview as a special kind of
conversation. Which of the following is NOT a special characteristic of interviews?
It has a predetermined purpose, at least for one of the parties involved.
There is an element of control, because one of the parties directs the flow of conversation
toward a goal.
Only two people will participate.
The focus is on questions and answers.
2 points
QUESTION 30
2. Which of the following ways of saying “no” illustrates a high-context culture?
That would be difficult.
I refuse to do that.
I’m sorry; we just can’t do that.
No way, man. Can’t you see I’m busy?
Q U E S T I O N 3 1
1. Richard works for a small local newspaper as the advertising manager.
Richard thinks he has been giving his subordinates plenty of encouragement
because he says "thank you" when they turn in their projects. However,
Richard has just discovered that most of his subordinates think Richard isn't
providing enough praise and encouragement. This example illustrates that
meaning resides in the words of the sender.
the verbal channel is fatally flawed.
there is no guarantee that a message will be understood as
the sender intended.
Richard is a good supervisor.
2 points
Q U E S T I O N 3 2

1. According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), during
an employment interview candidates with disabilities can be questioned
about their ability to perform the job they are applying for.
True
False
2 points
Q U E S T I O N 3 3
1. Which of the following represents the lowest-level of abstraction?
The proposal has mistakes in it.
The proposal you sent to Mr. Brewer on Jan 8 has incorrect budget totals,
misspelled words, and grammar mistakes.
The proposal sucks.
The proposal you sent to Mr. Brewer has mistakes in it.
2 points
Q U E S T I O N 3 4
1. Various forms of sexual harassment can exist in any work setting. If Tony
expected sexual favors from Judith in return for a promotion to assistant
coordinator of the sales division, which type of sexual harassment would be
involved?
sexual initiation
quid pro quo
work-environment hostility
This is not a form of sexual
harassment.
2 points
Q U E S T I O N 3 5
1. In Darlene’s performance review, her supervisor pointed out that she
frequently misunderstood the tasks and deadlines that had been assigned to
her. The supervisor suggested that Darlene should restate, after each team
meeting, what she understands her assignment to be. This strategy of
rephrasing will give the supervisor a chance to correct any misconceptions.
Which type of paraphrasing will Darlene be using?
norm
al
feelin
g
conte
nt
revisi

on
2 points
Q U E S T I O N 3 6
1. Tucker was interviewing for a sales position with a local pharmaceutical
company. During the interview he was asked a significant number of
demanding questions that warranted complex, detailed responses. According
to the text, which type of questions was the interviewer asking?
open
imagina
ry
direct
closed
2 points
Q U E S T I O N 3 7
1. Dmitri doesn’t like Val, one of his co-workers. Dmitri started to send an e-
mail to his workgroup, falsely accusing Val of stealing company supplies.
Before clicking "Send," Dmitri re-read his message. He decided to delete the
message instead of sending it, fearing that his work team members might
consider his e-mail to be inappropriate. Which ethical consideration did
Dmitri use in his decision to behave in a principled manner?
Publicity Test
Common Good
approach
Professional Ethic
Utilitarian approach
2 points
Q U E S T I O N 3 8
1. All of the following are examples of negative, rather than positive, language
EXCEPT:
When do I have to submit my paper?
What is the due date for the paper?
How many points will you dock me if I turn in my
paper late?
When is the latest I can turn in my paper?
2 points
Q U E S T I O N 3 9
1. Which of the following is NOT true about the physical environment at work?
The person with higher status controls the “approach” rules between two
people.

An employee’s status may be measured by whether his or her office is
next to the boss’s or is in a dark alcove.
If you want to diminish your chances of being viewed as a leader, you
should sit along the sides of a table, not at the head of the table.
The distance that separates people in an organization has little effect on
who talks to whom.
2 points
Q U E S T I O N 4 0
1. The CEO has promised all employees a 5% raise next year if they will forego
a raise this year. The CEO’s administrative assistant tells you during a coffee
break that there will probably be no raise next year either, despite the CEO's
promises. The assistant’s words illustrate the __________ function of informal
communication.
contradictin
g
Confirming
Expediting
circumscrib
ing
Q U E S T I O N 4 1
1. Formal communication networks in organizations can be described by all of
the following EXCEPT:
information sent through formal networks tends to be believed less than
information heard through informal networks.
formal networks embody management's idea of who ought to
communicate to whom on the job.
formal networks are workplace communication flow as described in
organizational charts.
formal networks are the most rapid form of communication in an
organization.
2 points
Q U E S T I O N 4 2
1. The text recommends that if you are visiting a culture that operates
according to a different set of ethical principles than you do, the best way to
communicate is always to conform to the practices of the country you are in.
True
False
2 points