Module 00107 Exam: Basic Communication Skills

In the study of communication, noise is best defined as

• thoughts that distract the listener

• people interrupting someone who is thinking

• anything that interferes with the message being heard or understood

• discussing things that are off the main topic

Folding your arms in front of you makes it seem as if you are

• very angry

• the group leader

• warm and friendly

• distant and unwilling to talk

If someone does not understand what a speaker is saying, he or she should

• ask the speaker questions for clarification

• ask other people what they think the speaker means

• try to figure it out on his or her own

• ignore that part of the conversation

When listening to instructions, the best way for listeners to make sure they get all the information is to

• take notes and compare them with other co-workers' notes

• ask questions, but wait until the person has stopped talking

• take notes, ask questions, and repeat a summary of the instructions

• read a book about the topic later on

An important attribute of an effective speaker is the ability to

• inject humor on the job site with practical jokes

• explain and simplify complex topics

• conduct multiple conversations with workers

• make others feel too inferior to speak openly

Common documents that construction professionals need to read on the job include

• construction drawings, code books, and installation manuals

• legal briefs, permits, and subpoenas

• contracts, warrants, and encyclopedias

• literary reviews, argumentation papers, and essays

Special features in books that help readers locate information include

• safety-related cautions and warnings

• dictionaries and encyclopedias

• drawings and photographs

• tables of content, indexes, and glossaries

When reading instructions or a series of steps, one should ____

• Read only the steps you don't know

• Perform the steps even if you don't understand them

• Read the directions completely

• Skim the directions quickly

The rough draft of a document you are writing should ____

• Follow an outline or incorporate your research

• Be as close to perfect as possible

• Be complete before any research has been done

• Be complete before an outline has been created

What is an important practice in writing to avoid errors that can cost time and money?

• Handwriting any document before using a computer.

• Always writing in the first person

• Proofreading the work for accuracy

• Writing at a high reading grade level