Test Bank For Business Communication Today 12 e 12th Edition Courtland Bovee John V Thill

Test Bank for Business Communication Today, 12/E 12th Edition Courtland Bovee, John V.
Thill
Test Bank for Business Communication Today, 12/E

12th Edition Courtland Bovee, John V. Thill
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Business Communication Today, 12e (Bovee/Thill)
Chapter 9 Visual Media
1) Compared to poorly written text, badly designed visuals are ________ to be noticed by your
audience.
A) less likely
B) more likely
C) just as likely
D) not eligible
Answer: B
Explanation: B) A poorly designed visual is highly conspicuous and takes up much more space
than text. For that reason, an awkward or inappropriate visual is a bigger threat to your
credibility than poorly written text.
Diff: 2
Skill: Concept
Objective: 1
AACSB: Communication Abilities
Learning Outcome: Summarize the steps involved in planning, selecting, and producing a visual
business communication
2) All of the following guidelines except ________ will help you avoid ethical lapses when
you're creating visual support for a business message.
A) aggregating data carefully
B) oversimplifying complex situations
C) providing background information
D) avoiding emotional manipulation
Answer: B
Explanation: B) It is unethical to mislead an audience by hiding or downplaying complications
that are important to their understanding of the situation you're representing.
Diff: 3
Skill: Critical Thinking
Objective: 1
AACSB: Communication Abilities, Ethical Understanding and Reasoning Abilities
1
Copyright © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc.
3) Use the concept of ________ to help you design visuals that are consistent from one page of a
document to the next.
A) data visualization
B) visual parallelism
C) graphical enrichment
D) visual enhancement
Answer: B
Explanation: B) Consistency is fundamental to effective visual design. Visual parallelism
promotes consistent design elements throughout a document.
Diff: 2
Skill: Concept/Application
Objective: 1
4) Consider the statements below. Which one of them is true?

A) Contemporary audiences don't expect messages to contain visual elements.
B) Today's video and graphic technology is so complex that only professionals can use it.
C) Visuals can help you communicate your messages to audiences with lower reading skills.
D) Your ability to create and interpret visuals will have little to do with your success in business.
Answer: C
Explanation: C) Research shows that only 50% of adults in the USA have the literacy skills
required for success in today's workplace. Visuals could play a vital role in communicating your
messages to audience members with lower literacy skills.
Diff: 2
Skill: Concept
Objective: 1
AACSB: Communication Abilities, Multicultural and Diversity Understanding
Learning Outcome: Describe the opportunities and challenges of communicating in a diverse
world
5) Clip art cluttering a bar chart is an example of

A) a pictogram.
B) chartjunk.
C) a good way to grab reader interest.
D) all of the above.
Answer: B
Explanation: B) Chartjunk is defined as any visual element that is added to an image for
decorative (or other) purposes that does contribute any value or meaning to the image. Chartjunk
clutters visuals and makes them hard to interpret.
Diff: 2
Skill: Application
Objective: 1
AACSB: Use of IT
2
6) Examples of ethical lapses to avoid in business visuals include all of the following except
A) including photos that play on racial or gender stereotypes.
B) expanding the detail of a graphic in order to make it more readable.
C) altering photos or graphs to hide information that could make you look bad.
D) distorting the axes on a line chart to make sales look like they have increased significantly
over previous years.
Answer: B
Explanation: B) Most lapses come from hiding or distorting information. Rather than hide or
distort, making a graphic more readable is likely to reduce the chance of misinterpretation.
Diff: 2
Skill: Application
Objective: 1
AACSB: Ethical Understanding and Reasoning Abilities
7) If you have a great deal of detailed, specific information to present to allow users to find
specific data point values in decimal form, the best visual to use would be a
A) table.
B) pie chart.
C) diagram.
D) Gantt chart.
Answer: A
Explanation: A) Tables are best for presenting detailed, specific information in large quantities.
Diff: 2
Skill: Concept
Objective: 3
8) Use a ________ to show frequency or distribution of parts in a whole.

A) bar chart
B) histogram
C) flowchart
D) pie chart
Answer: D
Explanation: D) Use a pie chart when you need to show frequency or distribution of parts in a
whole.
Diff: 1
Skill: Application
Objective: 3
AACSB: Use of IT
3
9) When you need to show processes, transformations, and other activities, the most effective
visual choice would be
A) infographics.
B) flowcharts and diagrams.
C) animations and videos.
D) data visualizations.
Answer: C
Explanation: C) Use animation and video to show processes, transformations, and other
activities.
Diff: 2
Skill: Application
Objective: 3
AACSB: Use of IT
10) When you're creating a table for online use, ________ to make sure that the table is easy to
read.
A) reduce the number of columns and rows
B) remove lines and spaces between columns and rows
C) display data items in unrounded, multiple units
D) present large amounts of data and information
Answer: A
Explanation: A) Printed tables can display extensive amounts of information, but tables intended
for online display and electronic presentations must be simpler.
Diff: 2
Objective: 3
AACSB: Use of IT
4
11) When preparing numerical tables, you should
A) be sure to identify the units you are using.
B) use at least three colors to hold the audience's attention.
C) use a font no larger than 9 points.
D) do all of the above.
Answer: A
Explanation: A) The units may be provided in each table cell as shown below:
Car Mileage
26.4 miles per
Spitfire gallon
Alternatively, units may be labeled on vertical or horizontal table headings, as in:
Miles per
Car gallon
Spitfire 26.4
Diff: 2
Skill: Concept
Objective: 3
12) The best type of visual for showing that annual consumer spending has decreased over the
past ten years would be
A) a table.
B) a pie chart.
C) a line chart.
D) an organization chart.
Answer: C
Explanation: C) A line chart is best for showing how a variable changes over time or showing
the relationship of two or more variables. These features can be shown on bar charts as well, but
bar charts cannot show time as a continuous variable.
Diff: 3
Objective: 3
AACSB: Analytical Skills
5
13) When preparing a line chart, keep in mind that you should
A) never leave out increments from the vertical axis.
B) be especially careful to avoid distorting the data.
C) never include negative numbers on the vertical axis.
Answer: B
Explanation: B) You can distort your data if you choose the range for your axes as too great or
too small. Distortions also occur when an axis shows only part of an entire range, such as
percentages from 90 percent to 100 percent, rather than showing a range from 0 percent to 100
percent.
Diff: 2
Skill: Concept
Objective: 3
14) The best visual for illustrating a manufacturer's quality control process would be a
A) line chart.
B) flowchart.
C) scatter diagram.
D) pie chart.
Answer: B
Explanation: B) Flowcharts are best for showing conceptual rather than numeric relationships.
Flowcharts are ideal for showing a complicated, multi-step manufacturing process, allowing
sequential steps and relationships to be shown visually.
Diff: 1
Objective: 4
6
15) A surface chart is
A) a type of three-dimensional pie chart.
B) a form of line chart in which all the lines add up to the top line.
C) a type of map showing various terrains.
D) used to show interrelationships within an organization.
Answer: B
Explanation: B) The top line of the surface chart shows the cumulative total from all of the
contributors. The area between each pair of lines below shows the contribution from a single
contributor alone. Note that the bottom contributor accounts for the entire area from its top
border to the bottom of the graph.
Diff: 2
Skill: Concept
Objective: 3
16) A bar chart would be particularly useful for

A) illustrating what percentages of a company's monthly budget are spent on utilities and other
expenses.
B) comparing sales totals of three breakfast cereals from 2007 to 2009.
C) showing the stages in production of a jet engine.
D) depicting links between employees at a large firm.
Answer: B
Explanation: B) A pie chart is better than a bar chart for showing a budget. A flow chart is better
than a bar chart for showing a production process. A wheel chart is best for showing links
between people in an organization. Bar charts are best for comparing the sizes of several
different items at once, so a bar chart is the best choice for this question.
Diff: 2
Objective: 3
7
17) A segmented or stacked bar chart
A) shows how individual components contribute to a total number.
B) shows the correlation between two items.
C) compares quantities that require different intervals.
D) identifies positive and negative values.
Answer: A
Explanation: A) A stacked bar chart is similar to a surface chart. It uses bars to show cumulative
contributions of various contributors to a total. The height of the bar represents the cumulative
total. Each section of the bar shows the contribution from that contributor.
Diff: 2
Skill: Concept
Objective: 3
18) A chart that uses symbols or graphic images instead of words or numbers to portray data is
called a
A) Gantt chart.
B) surface chart.
C) combination chart.
D) pictogram.
Answer: D
Explanation: D) A pictogram uses images to represent numeric data. For example, a small
Mickey Mouse could be used to represent Disney's sales totals in a bad year. A much larger
Mickey would represent the sales totals in a good year. The size or height of each Mickey would
be proportional to its numeric value.
Diff: 2
Skill: Concept
Objective: 3
8
19) A Gantt chart is a type of
A) pictogram.
B) line chart.
C) time line chart.
D) pie chart.
Answer: C
Explanation: C) Gantt charts are especially good for showing durations of tasks in a process that
requires input from multiple sources working in parallel. Looking at a Gantt chart for a work
process you can tell at a glance how work tasks will overlap at various times. For example, in a
text book creating process, a Gantt chart might tell you that the editors will be working on
Chapter 7 at the same time that writers are working on Chapter 12.
Diff: 2
Skill: Concept
Objective: 3
20) To track your team's progress toward completing an important project, you should use
A) an organizational chart.
B) a Gantt chart.
C) a pie chart.
D) a pictogram.
Answer: B
Explanation: B) Of the choices, only a Gantt chart makes sense for tracking a complex task in
which many people work on different aspects of a larger whole in parallel with one another.
Diff: 3
Objective: 3
9
21) The best way to illustrate what percentage of your firm's annual budget is spent on what
would be a
A) pie chart.
B) line chart.
C) organizational chart.
D) flowchart.
Answer: A
Explanation: A) Pie charts are best for showing how parts of a larger whole are distributed. For
this reason, pie charts are perfect for budgets, as each slice of the pie shows the relative
contribution of that item to the whole.
Diff: 2
Objective: 3
22) For determining numerical values, pie charts are generally ________ than bar charts or line
charts.
A) much better
B) worse
C) about the same
D) slightly better
Answer: B
Explanation: B) It is very difficult to determine a numerical value using a pie chart. In contrast,
it is quite easy to read off a value from a well-made bar chart or line chart.
Diff: 3
Skill: Concept
Objective: 3
10
23) Flowcharts are used to
A) summarize large amounts of statistical data.
B) show the relative sizes of the parts of a whole.
C) show how something looks or operates.
D) illustrate processes and procedures.
Answer: D
Explanation: D) A flowchart works best in showing relationships between steps in a process that
are not necessarily in a sequential linear order. For example, in a manufacturing process a
flowchart can show that any one step in the sequence can feedback to earlier steps and modify
their progress. If, for example, a shortage of materials is detected in stage 5, feedback can be sent
back to stage 2 to remedy the shortage.
Diff: 1
Skill: Concept
Objective: 4
24) The best graphic element to identify the communication channels of an entire business
organization is a(n)
A) organization chart.
B) bar chart.
C) scatter diagram.
D) Gantt chart.
Answer: A
Explanation: A) An organization chart shows an entire organizational hierarchy and how
different levels and positions within those levels interact with one another.
Diff: 2
Skill: Concept
Objective: 4
11
25) Microsoft Visio is one example of specialized software used to create
A) professional-quality illustrations.
B) complex spreadsheets.
C) cash flow tracking systems.
D) none of the above.
Answer: A
Explanation: A) Other popular illustration programs include Adobe Illustrator, Google
SketchUp, and Corel Draw. Full-time professionals may use a computer-aided design program,
or CAD.
Diff: 2
Skill: Concept
Objective: 4
AACSB: Use of IT
26) CAD stands for

A) charts automatically designed.
B) complete audiovisual display.
C) computer-aided design.
D) computer adaptable display.
Answer: C
Explanation: C) Computer-aided design programs are primarily used by architects and engineers
to make such things as blueprint drawings for building plans and scale drawings for engineering
equipment.
Diff: 1
Skill: Concept
Objective: 4
AACSB: Use of IT
12
27) A potential drawback of using photographs in reports is
A) that they can show too much detail.
B) that they are difficult to change or manipulate.
C) that appropriate photos are difficult to find.
Answer: A
Explanation: A) In showing how, for example, an electric razor works, a photo of the razor
would show too much detail, confusing the viewer. A diagram might be much more useful for
this purpose, showing the important working parts of the razor and leaving out all of the
unimportant parts.
Diff: 1
Skill: Concept
Objective: 4
28) To use photographs successfully in workplace documents or online publications, do not

A) replace all diagrams with photographs.
B) master basic image-processing functions.
C) determine the communication value of each photograph.
D) ) observe copyrights and model permissions.
Answer: A
Explanation: A) Use a simplified diagram, not a photograph, when you need to emphasize
specific parts that are relevant to a specific problem.
Diff: 3
Skill: Application
Objective: 4
AACSB: Communication Abilities, Ethical Understanding and Reasoning Abilities
29) As a key business skill, visual literacy involves

A) being conversant with the latest image-editing software.
B) understanding how visual representations have evolved over the ages.
C) the ability to create effective visuals and interpret them correctly.
D) sharing smartphone photos on social media.
Answer: C
Explanation: C) Visual literacy is the ability to create and interpret visuals successfully.
Diff: 2
Skill: Concept
Objective: 1
13
30) Using video to enhance business messages
A) has become difficult and expensive, since audiences now have such high expectations.
B) is generally a bad idea, since it takes away from the main idea.
C) is easier than ever, thanks to low-cost video cameras and video sharing sites such as
YouTube.
D) is effective for tech-savvy audiences, but a turn-off for most others.
Answer: C
Explanation: C) YouTube now offers branded channels that allow companies to feature all of
their videos in a single location. For example, a power tool company might have a branded
channel that features how-to videos for using their equipment.
Diff: 2
Skill: Concept
Objective: 4
AACSB: Use of IT
31) When designing important visuals in business,

A) include as little text and as many photographs as possible.
B) use online clipart to apply a decorative flair to your corporate communications.
C) plan on using every color in the rainbow to reach out to the global community.
D) consider hiring a professional to design a template for the visuals that represent your
company.
Answer: D
Explanation: D) A professional designer can create a visual template that connects with your
viewers and enhances awareness of your brand.
Diff: 2
Skill: Concept
Objective: 4
AACSB: Use of IT
14
32) In computer graphics, a template
A) is a tool for creating curves and geometric shapes.
B) helps ensure an effective design, saves time, and makes decision making easier.
C) is any kind of chart generated by a spreadsheet or illustration program.
D) is a tool for creating classic architectural views.
Answer: B
Explanation: B) A template can be used over and over again, ensuring company-wide
consistency and saving time. Rather than need to make esthetic decisions each time you create a
new graphic, just fill in the blanks of the template.
Diff: 2
Skill: Concept
Objective: 4
AACSB: Use of IT
33) The style and quality that you choose for your visuals depends mostly on
A) the gender of your audience.
B) whether or not your topic is controversial.
C) the subject matter and the situation at hand.
Answer: C
Explanation: C) The situation dictates the type of visuals you should use. A simple diagram may
suffice for an informal meeting. A presentation to an industrial society, on the other hand, may
require elaborate, full-color, charts, graphs, and photos to make sure your audience fully
understands the information you present.
Diff: 2
Skill: Concept
Objective: 4
world
15
34) The ideal balance between the visual and the verbal depends on
A) the nature of your audience.
B) the length of the report/presentation.
C) the amount of money available for underwriting the costs of graphics.
D) internal company guidelines.
Answer: A
Explanation: A) Each audience responds best to a particular balance and emphasis. A non-
English speaking audience, for example, may require extra visuals to get around language
barriers. A largely academic audience, in contrast, might respond better to a text-heavy
presentation.
Diff: 2
Skill: Concept
Objective: 5
world
35) The reference to a bar chart in your report on advertising costs should
A) come directly after the chart itself appears.
B) precede the chart.
C) come on the page following the chart, and refer to it as "the abovementioned pie chart."
D) include copyright information.
Answer: B
Explanation: B) Readers find it less confusing when an explanation of the visual comes before
the visual itself rather than after the visual. Make a concerted effort to avoid having your readers
need to flip back and forth between visuals and text, or scroll down awkwardly on a computer
screen. Try to place the visual as closely as possible to the text that supports it.
Diff: 2
Skill: Application
Objective: 5
16
36) In business reports, it is best to place each visual
A) within, beside, or immediately after the paragraph it illustrates.
B) just before the paragraph referring to it.
C) together with other visuals at the end of each chapter.
D) together with other visuals in an appendix at the end of the report.
Answer: A
Explanation: A) The rule of thumb is to place the visual as closely as possible to its supporting
text. If text and visual start to get separated, try recasting the section of the document in which
they appear to change where pages break and allow the visual and the text to remain together.
Diff: 2
Skill: Concept
Objective: 5
37) A ________ offers additional discussion of the content of a visual; a ________ helps readers
decode a visual.
A) legend; tag cloud
B) table; chevron
C) caption; legend
D) diagram; matrix
Answer: C
Explanation: C) A caption usually offers additional discussion of a visual's content. A legend
helps readers "decode" a visual by explaining the meaning of colors, symbols, or other choices.
Diff: 2
Skill: Concept
Objective: 5
38) Which of the following is an example of a descriptive title for a visual?

A) How CamCo Reduces Costs
B) CamCo Cost Reductions Are Increasing Each Year
C) Reducing Costs Is a Number-One Goal at CamCo
D) Whither Camco: Is the Rollercoaster Ride Over?
Answer: A
Explanation: A) A descriptive title simply identifies the topic of the visual. An informative title
draws a conclusion about the visual, or points out some key feature of the visual.
Diff: 3
Skill: Application
Objective: 5
17
39) Legends should be included with
A) controversial reports.
B) all visuals in business reports.
C) complex graphs.
Answer: C
Explanation: C) Legends are needed whenever a graph is somewhat complex and confusion is
likely. For example, when multiple colors are used to represent different data types, those colors
should be clearly identified in a legend.
Diff: 2
Skill: Concept
Objective: 5
40) When creating visuals, it is highly unethical to

A) leave out important information.
B) "airbrush" the photos of company executives to make them look more attractive.
C) overload your report with unnecessary tables and charts.
D) simplify data from other sources.
Answer: A
Explanation: A) For the sake of design or simplicity, in some visuals key information gets left
out of the picture. This can happen deliberately or inadvertently. To make sure that you haven't
accidentally created a misleading visual, check your work over after it is finished and ask
yourself, "Am I distorting anything or leaving anything out of this graph?"
Diff: 2
Skill: Concept
Objective: 5
world
18
41) A special class of diagrams called ________ can feature stylized versions of charts and
graphs or offer structured narratives.
A) informatics
B) pictograms
C) infographics
D) monograms
Answer: C
Explanation: C) Infographics come in two types: those that are stylized collections of charts and
graphs and those that have a structured narrative.
Diff: 2
Skill: Concept
Objective: 5
AACSB: Use of IT
42) The process for producing business videos includes the following three stages:
A) planning, writing, and completing.
B) casting, filming, and broadcasting.
C) visualization, production, and dissemination.
D) preproduction, production, and postproduction.
Answer: D
Explanation: D) By following a methodical process in the preproduction, production, and
postproduction stages, any business communicator with basic equipment can create effective
videos.
Diff: 2
Skill: Synthesis
Objective: 6
AACSB: Use of IT
43) The term ________ refers to secondary video clips and still images that can add visual
interest to or improve the flow of a business video.
A) B-roll material
B) A-list material
C) shot-list material
D) back-up material
Answer: A
Explanation: A) B-roll is film terminology for extra scenes and images that can enhance the
finished product.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6
AACSB: Use of IT
19
44) Best practices during the production stage of a business video do not include
A) keeping your camera still.
B) capturing B-roll footage.
C) framing each shot carefully.
D) using special effects on your camera.
Answer: D
Explanation: D) Export "clean" footage to your editing software and add special effects as
needed in postproduction.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6
AACSB: Use of IT
45) During the post-production stage of a business video, you can

A) add transitions between video segments.
B) identify the shots you want to keep and those you want to delete.
C) synchronize the main audio track with the video and record narration.
Answer: D
Explanation: D) During the postproduction stage, you can remove clumsy bits of footage, record
narration, replace sections of dialogue, and make other fixes.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6
AACSB: Use of IT
46) Unlike words, visual images have connotative meanings that are consistent across cultures.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: Visual images evolve over time and have different meanings in different cultures.
Diff: 2
Skill: Concept
Objective: 1
AACSB: Multicultural and Diversity Understanding
world
20
47) Including visuals in your report or presentation is a particularly powerful way to
communicate with a culturally diverse audience.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: Visuals come in especially handy when you are trying to communicate with others
who don't share your language. Using a graphic or photo to express an idea in this situation,
rather than words, can be extremely useful.
Diff: 1
Skill: Concept
Objective: 1
AACSB: Multicultural and Diversity Understanding
world
48) Poorly planned visuals are often more noticeable than grammatical errors in the text of your
report.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: Because visuals take up more room on the page and are much more conspicuous
than text, a mistake in a visual can have a much greater impact than a text mistake.
Diff: 2
Skill: Concept
Objective: 1
49) According to the concept of visual symbolism, many shapes and colors have the same
meaning, across a wide variety of cultures.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: Many colors, shapes, and other design elements have visual symbolism, and their
symbolic, connotative meaning can evolve over time and mean different things in different
cultures.
Diff: 2
Skill: Concept
Objective: 1
world
21
50) In business presentations, maintaining consistency among your visuals is less important than
impressing the audience with a wide range of special effects.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: Too many visual effects tend to clutter the page and cancel one another out.
Balance, proportion, and consistency are much more important for visual success than visual
effects.
Diff: 1
Skill: Concept
Objective: 1
51) The more decorative elements you can add to a graphic, the more interesting and useful it
will be to the audience.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: Adding decorative elements is a form of chartjunk that needlessly clutters visuals
and gets in the way of effective design. Good design never includes elements that are purely
decorative.
Diff: 2
Skill: Concept
Objective: 1
52) Altering the horizontal or vertical scale on a line graph can profoundly influence your
audience's perception of the data you present.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: For example, changing a vertical percentage scale to show only the top twenty
percent of the scale instead of the entire range from 0 percent to 100 percent can make fairly
minor fluctuations in data look enormous. This strategy would be used by an artist who wanted
to dramatize the element of change in the data. In many cases, this kind of manipulation is
unethical, because it distorts the meaning of the data.
Diff: 1
Skill: Concept
Objective: 1
22
53) Use a table to summarize information that would be difficult or tedious to handle in the main
text.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: Tables are the best choice when the actual values of the data are important for
users to obtain. For example, in a federal tax table, users need to be able to look up the exact
amount they must pay according to their taxable income. So they just find their taxable income
in one column of the table, then read off the taxable amount in a second column.
Diff: 1
Skill: Concept
Objective: 3
54) Infographics are limited to showing stylized versions of charts and graphs.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: Infographics can offer not only stylized graphics but also structured narratives.
Diff: 1
Skill: Concept
Objective: 5
55) When preparing numerical tables, you should express all items in a column in the same unit.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: Changing units within a single column could be confusing or even misleading to
the reader.
Diff: 3
Skill: Application
Objective: 3
56) In line charts showing trends, the vertical axis indicates time or quantity, and the horizontal
axis indicates amount.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: The convention in line charts is for the horizontal axis always to show a unit of
time, such as years, days, or minutes. Some line charts don't include a time element; in that case,
either variable can be located on the horizontal axis.
Diff: 3
Skill: Concept
Objective: 3
23
57) Generally speaking, a line chart should not contain more than 2-3 lines for comparison.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: One of the best features of a line graph is its ability to show how different variables
change over time. However, the graphs become confusing and hard to read if more than two or
three variables are graphed on the same axes.
Diff: 2
Skill: Concept
Objective: 3
58) The edge of the bottom section of a surface chart shows the cumulative total for all of the
categories.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: The top edge of the top section shows the cumulative total for all categories.
Diff: 2
Skill: Concept
Objective: 3
59) Bar charts can be used to compare more than one set of data.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: For example, in comparing yearly sales of three different brands of cereal, each
brand can be represented by a separate bar.
Diff: 1
Skill: Concept
Objective: 3
60) The deviation bar chart shows variation for a variable over time.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: For example, a deviation bar chart for daily weather might show a bar that extends
from the high to the low temperature for the day. Between that high and low, a single bar would
mark the average temperature for the day.
Diff: 2
Skill: Concept
Objective: 3
24
61) Bars in a bar chart should always be aligned horizontally.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: Bars can be aligned vertically or horizontally. There is no set format for bar charts.
Bar charts are the most versatile type of chart.
Diff: 2
Skill: Concept
Objective: 3
AACSB: Use of IT
62) A Gantt chart is a type of time line chart used to track the progress of a project.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: Gantt charts are especially good for showing durations of tasks in a process that
requires input from multiple sources working in parallel. Looking at the chart you can tell at a
glance how work will overlap at various times.
Diff: 2
Skill: Concept
Objective: 3
63) A pie chart would provide an effective visual to illustrate how an employee's time is divided
among different tasks throughout the week.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: Pie charts are best for showing how the parts of a whole compare to the whole
itself. The size of each "slice" of the pie shows how large that category is compared to the whole.
Diff: 1
Skill: Application
Objective: 3
25
64) Data visualization is focused on extracting broad meaning from data (rather than on
clarifying individual data points).
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: The point of data visualization isn't so much representing individual data points as
it is conveying the "meaning" of the data. When data visualization is done well, you are able to
draw an instant conclusion from viewing the graphic, such as, "Too much money is being spent
on overhead," or "Sales doubled over the last three months."
Diff: 2
Skill: Concept
Objective: 3
65) If you want to illustrate a process or procedure, the best type of visual to use is a flowchart.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: A flowchart works best in showing relationships between steps in a complex
process, such as a manufacturing process, that are not necessarily in a sequential linear order.
Diff: 1
Skill: Concept
Objective: 4
66) On a flowchart, diamonds indicate decision points.

Answer: TRUE
Explanation: In a flowchart, diamonds represent decision points, while rectangles show process
steps.
Diff: 2
Skill: Concept
Objective: 4
67) Drawings, diagrams, and photographs are generally not helpful in business documents.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: Visuals of all types, when chosen well and implemented skillfully, can enhance the
effectiveness of a business document immensely.
Diff: 1
Skill: Concept
Objective: 4
26
68) Because of the costs of reproduction, photographs are usually not used in business reports.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: Costs to reproduce photographs are virtually zero in today's all-digital world.
Companies can include photographs that they have taken themselves with almost no cost.
Permissions can be costly, so business reports tend to use in-house photos more than purchased
photos.
Diff: 1
Skill: Concept
Objective: 4
69) Using an informative title for a visual, such as "Demand Grows Exponentially," will make it
easier for your audience to understand the main idea depicted in that visual.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: If a visual has an informative title, the audience won't have to interpret the visual
to extract its main idea.
Diff: 2
Skill: Application
Objective: 4
70) In the text of a report, only the most important visuals should be referred to by number.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: If one visual in the document is referred to by number, all of the visuals should be
included in the number scheme, whether they are considered "important" or not.
Diff: 2
Skill: Concept
Objective: 5
27
71) The best place to put a visual is right next to or immediately following the paragraph it
illustrates.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: The worst place to put a visual is a page or more before or after it is referred to in
the text. This causes the reader to need to flip back and forth between the text and the visual,
something that most people find irritating.
Diff: 2
Skill: Concept
Objective: 5
72) A basic principle of design is to maintain ________ or visual parallelism among all the
visuals in a document.
Answer: consistency
Explanation: An example of visual parallelism is to put the main text of a document to one side
of the page, and leave a small column on the outside of the page empty for comments, graphs, or
other visual elements.
Diff: 2
Skill: Concept
Objective: 1
73) ________ refers to decorative elements that clutter documents without adding any relevant
information.
Answer: Chartjunk
Explanation: Any visual element that is purely decorative is considered chartjunk and should be
left out of the graphic.
Diff: 2
Skill: Concept
Objective: 1
28
74) A(n) ________ chart specializes in showing how a variable changes over time.
Answer: line
Explanation: Typically, the horizontal axis for a line chart is a unit of time—years, days, hours,
and so on. Line charts can also plot a non-time variable on the horizontal axis.
Diff: 2
Skill: Concept
Objective: 3
75) A(n) ________ is a poor choice for noticing mathematical trends.

Answer: table
Explanation: It is very difficult to see trends in a table that is filled with data points that are
represented either by number values or words. To see relationships in a table that contains
numbers, you need to estimate relationships between values.
Diff: 2
Skill: Concept
Objective: 3
76) ________ charts are a form of line chart with a cumulative effect; all the lines add up to the
top line.
Answer: Surface
Explanation: At any point on the top edge of a surface chart you can get a measure of the
cumulative total of the variable on the vertical axis.
Diff: 2
Skill: Concept
Objective: 3
77) A(n) ________ chart can take several forms including grouped, deviation, segmented,
combination, or paired.
Answer: bar
Explanation: Bar charts are the most versatile form of chart. Bar charts can be constructed in
dozens of different ways to emphasize different aspects of a data set.
Diff: 2
Skill: Concept
Objective: 3
29
78) A(n) ________ is a type of chart that uses symbols instead of words or numbers to portray
data.
Answer: pictogram
Explanation: The symbols in a pictogram represent data. The larger the symbol, the greater the
value of the data point.
Diff: 2
Skill: Concept
Objective: 3
79) A(n) ________ ________ chart shows how much time is needed to complete each task in a
given project.
Answer: time line
Explanation: A time line chart shows time needed to complete a single task.
Diff: 2
Skill: Concept
Objective: 3
80) A(n) ________ chart is a type of time line chart used to track progress toward completing a
project.
Answer: Gantt
Explanation: A Gantt chart is essentially a series of time line charts all expressed in the same
graph with a single horizontal axis expressing time.
Diff: 2
Skill: Concept
Objective: 3
81) The most difficult chart to use to collect numerical data from is the ________ chart.
Answer: pie
Explanation: It is almost impossible to collect numerical values from a pie chart. If the pie is
split in half, you can tell that half of the circle represents 50 percent of the total. Any other value
can only be guessed at.
Diff: 2
Skill: Concept
Objective: 3
30
82) To illustrate the positions, units, or functions of an organization and the way they interrelate,
use a(n) ________ chart.
Answer: organization
Explanation: An organization chart works like a flowchart to depict relationships between
individuals and levels in a company or organization. For example, an organization chart for the
United States government would start with three boxes on top showing the president, Congress,
and Supreme Court.
Diff: 2
Skill: Concept
Objective: 4
83) A(n) ________ title on a graphic simply identifies the topic.

Answer: descriptive
Explanation: An example of a descriptive title is: "Supply Versus Cost for Oil, 2009." The title
identifies the topic, but it doesn't make a comment on the topic.
Diff: 2
Skill: Concept
Objective: 5
84) A(n) ________ title calls attention to the conclusion that ought to be drawn from the data.
Answer: informative
Explanation: An example of an informative title is: "Cost of Oil Rises as Supply Decreases,
2009." The title not only identifies the topic, it also tells comments on trends that seem evident in
graph.
Diff: 2
Skill: Concept
Objective: 5
31
85) Along with the title of a visual, the ________ offers additional discussion of the visual's
content and can be several sentences long.
Answer: caption
Explanation: Captions may point out some special feature in the visual. For example, the caption
for a photograph of a chemical plant might say: "The container on the right is used as a
fermentation tank."
Diff: 3
Skill: Concept
Objective: 5
86) What is "chartjunk"?

Answer: "Chartjunk" refers to any decorative elements that clutter documents (and confuse
readers) without adding any relevant information.
Diff: 1
Skill: Concept
Objective: 1
87) Briefly describe one way that visuals can be designed to emphasize or deemphasize certain
aspects of the data they present.
Answer: You can emphasize or deemphasize certain aspects of data in visual aids by altering the
horizontal or vertical scale on a chart or graph or by manipulating the perspective a photograph
provides on an object.
Diff: 3
Skill: Concept
Objective: 1
88) List at least five types of visuals commonly used to present data in business documents.
Provide an example of a specific task for which one type would be especially useful.
Answer: (1) Tables, (2) line charts, (3) surface charts, (4) bar charts, (5) pictograms, (6) Gantt
charts, (7) Scatter and bubble diagrams, and (8) pie charts. A bar chart would be helpful for
comparing the retail cost of several hybrid automobiles.
Diff: 2
Objective: 3
32
89) In a line chart, what do the vertical and horizontal axes normally illustrate?
Answer: The vertical axis normally shows the amount, and the horizontal axis illustrates the
time or other quantity against which the amount is being measured.
Diff: 3
Skill: Concept
Objective: 3
90) In designing visuals for business reports, what tasks are best suited for bar charts? List at
least two.
Answer: Bar charts are particularly useful for comparing the size of several items at one time,
showing changes in one item over time, indicating the composition of several items over time,
and showing the relative size of components of a whole.
Diff: 2
Skill: Concept
Objective: 3
91) How are Gantt charts used in business documents?

Answer: Gantt charts are used to track progress toward completing a project.
Diff: 2
Skill: Concept
Objective: 3
92) In preparing a presentation for a local community group, you need to describe the process
your plant uses to manufacture home appliances. What type of visual should you use to describe
the process, and why?
Answer: A flowchart would be best in this case, since it is the visual aid designed to illustrate a
sequence of events from start to finish.
Diff: 2
Objective: 4
33
93) List two ways that including too many visuals can distract your audience from the main
points of your message.
Answer: (1) Along with constantly referring to tables, drawings, and other visual elements,
switching back and forth from words to visuals can make it difficult for readers to follow your
message. (2) The space occupied by visuals can disrupt the flow of text on the page or screen,
which also creates additional work for the reader.
Diff: 2
Skill: Concept
Objective: 5
94) Briefly explain the difference between descriptive titles and informative titles for visuals, and
provide an example of each.
Answer: Informative titles do more than simply identify the topic of the illustration. "Annual
Spending" would be a descriptive title, whereas "Annual Spending Increases Despite Flagging
Economy" would be an informative title. (Answers will vary.)
Diff: 2
Skill: Application
Objective: 5
95) What three questions should you ask in verifying the quality of the visuals you include in
business messages?
Answer: (1) Is the visual accurate? (2) Is the visual properly documented? and (3) Is the visual
honest?
Diff: 2
Skill: Concept
Objective: 5
34
96) Define and explain the "visual evolution in business communication."
Answer: Several technological and social factors are contributing to the increasing use—and
importance—of visuals in business communication. Whereas creating and working with visual
elements used to be the domain of experts, digital technology has changed this situation
dramatically. Digital cameras that can produce high-quality images and video are inexpensive
and easy enough for anyone to use; the software needed to create diagrams, process photos, edit
video, and prepare other visual elements continues to get both easier and more powerful all the
time; the global reach of the Internet makes it easy to send images almost instantly; and more
Internet users have high-speed connections that can handle the larger computer files that visuals
tend to require. Design and production tasks that used to take days can now be completed in
hours or even minutes. As technologies such as wireless networking continue to advance,
business communicators will continue to reach wider audiences in less time, using equipment
that costs less and requires fewer skills.
Diff: 3
Skill: Synthesis
Objective: 1
AACSB: Communication Abilities, Use of IT
97) Discuss six principles to keep in mind when designing visuals regarding the aesthetic and
symbolic aspects of graphic art.
Answer: (1) Consistency: Readers view a series of visuals as a whole, assuming that design
elements will be consistent from one page to the next. (2) Contrast: Visual distinctions should
match verbal ones. To emphasize differences, depict items in contrasting colors, such as red and
blue, or black and white. To emphasize similarities, make color difference more subtle. (3)
Balance: Images that appear to be out of balance can be as unsettling as a building that looks like
it's about to tip over. Balance can be either formal, in which the elements in the images are
arranged symmetrically around a central point or axis, or informal, in which elements are not
distributed evenly but stronger and weaker elements are arranged in such a way that achieves an
overall effect of balance. (4) Emphasis: The most important point should receive the greatest
visual emphasis, so present the key item on the chart in the most prominent way—through color,
position, size, or whatever. Visually downplay less important items. (5) Convention: Visual
communication is governed by a variety of generally accepted (and deeply ingrained) rules.
Flouting those conventions can be effective, but must be done carefully in order to avoid
breakdowns in communications. (6) Simplicity: Limit the number of colors and design elements
you use, and take care to avoid chartjunk.
Diff: 3
Skill: Concept
Objective: 1
35
98) What are the "five Cs" to consider when you're deciding which points to illustrate with
visuals?
Answer: (1) Clear: The human mind is extremely adept at processing visual information, so if
you're having difficultly conveying an idea in words, take a minute to brainstorm some visual
possibilities. (2) Complete: Visuals, particularly tables, often serve to provide the supporting
details for your main idea or recommendation. (3) Concise: If a particular section of your
message seems to require extensive description or explanation, see whether there's a way to
convey this information visually. (4) Connected: Whenever you want readers to see key
connections, see whether a chart, diagram, or other illustration can help. (5) Compelling: Even if
a particular point can be expressed equally well via text or visuals, consider adding the visual in
order to make your report or presentation more compelling.
Diff: 3
Skill: Concept
Objective: 2
99) Identify and discuss the four elements of the production stage for business videos.
Answer: These four tips will help you collect great footage during the production stage: (1)
Frame each shot carefully. Framing refers to the decisions you make about what the camera sees
and doesn't see when you aim it. Remember this: even though the viewer sees everything the
camera sees, he or she sees only what the camera sees. (2) Keep the camera still. Shaky video
from a handheld camera is uncomfortable to watch, so whenever possible, use a tripod or other
stabilizing arrangement. (3) Take B-roll footage. In addition to the B-roll shots you planned in
preproduction, keep an eye out for other interesting scenes and images that might enhance the
finished video. (4) Don't use the special effects in your camera when filming. Doing so will alter
the video permanently. Instead, export "clean" footage to your editing software and add effects in
postproduction.
Diff: 3
Skill: Concept
Objective: 3
36
Test Bank for Business Communication Today, 12/E 12th Edition Courtland Bovee, John V. Thill
100) Explain "data visualization" and give at least one example to support your explanation.
Answer: Data visualization refers to a diverse class of display capabilities designed to overcome
the drawbacks of conventional charts and graphs. It is less about clarifying individual data points
and more about extracting broad meaning from large masses of data or putting the data in
context. Most types of conventional visuals can show only a limited number of data points,
cannot illustrate complex relationships among those data points, and can represent numeric data
only. Data visualization tools are not limited by these constraints. For example, "friend wheels"
on Facebook offer a visual sense of a user's network by showing which of his or her friends are
friends of each other and thereby indicating "clustering" within the network. Another example of
data visualization is the "tag cloud," which shows the relative frequency of terms, or tags, in an
article, a blog, a website, survey data, or another collection of text.
Diff: 3
Skill: Concept
Objective: 3
AACSB: Communication Abilities, Use of IT
37
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4) Consider the statements below. Which one of them is true?

5) Clip art cluttering a bar chart is an example of

8) Use a ________ to show frequency or distribution of parts in a whole.

Alternatively, units may be labeled on vertical or horizontal table headings, as in:

16) A bar chart would be particularly useful for

26) CAD stands for

28) To use photographs successfully in workplace documents or online publications, do not

29) As a key business skill, visual literacy involves

31) When designing important visuals in business,

38) Which of the following is an example of a descriptive title for a visual?

40) When creating visuals, it is highly unethical to

45) During the post-production stage of a business video, you can

66) On a flowchart, diamonds indicate decision points.

75) A(n) ________ is a poor choice for noticing mathematical trends.

83) A(n) ________ title on a graphic simply identifies the topic.

86) What is "chartjunk"?

91) How are Gantt charts used in business documents?

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