TACN 2 - Chapter 1 - 4

 Highly developed technical or "hard" skills are the most sought-after employment skills demanded by employers. 

• TRUE

• FALSE

Answer explanation

Although technical or "hard" skills are needed on the job, they are not as important as "soft" skills. In fact, in a poll of recruiters, oral and written communication skills were by a large margin the top skill set sought.

Most people are good listeners.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Answer explanation

Most people are poor listeners. According to researchers, we misinterpret, misunderstand, or change 70 to 90 percent of what we hear

Nonverbal communication includes only those behaviors that are intended.  

• FALSE

• TRUE

Answer explanation

Nonverbal communication includes all unwritten and unspoken messages, whether intended or not.

 Communicators in high-context cultures (such as those in China, Japan, and Arab countries) tend to be intuitive, contemplative, and group oriented.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Answer explanation

Communicators in high-context cultures (such as those in China, Japan, and Arab countries) assume that the listener does not need much background information. They are also more likely to be intuitive and contemplative, may not take words literally, and value group membership.

 Ethnocentrism is inherent in all cultures

• TRUE

• FALSE

Answer explanation

The belief in the superiority of one's own culture is called ethnocentrism, a natural attitude found in all cultures. 

 The central objective of communication is the transmission of meaning.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Answer explanation

Only when the receiver understands the meaning intended by the sender does communication take place.

Skilled business writers spend most of their time on the revising phase of the 3-x-3 writing process.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Answer explanation

Good writers spend  about half of their time on the revising phase of the 3-x-3 writing process. 

The richest communication channel is e-mail

• TRUE

• FALSE

Answer explanation

The richest communication channel is face-to-face​ conversation because it allows for more interactivity and feedback. 

To optimize the connection with your audience, you should use first-person pronouns such as I, we, and our liberally in written messages. 

• TRUE

• FALSE

Answer explanation

​Skilled communicators concentrate on audience benefits by using the "you" view. They emphasize second-person pronouns (you, your) instead of first-person pronouns (I, we, us, our). In fact, whether the goal is to inform, persuade, or promote goodwill, the catchiest words you can use are you and your. 

"Every mechanic must submit his timesheet by Friday" is grammatically correct and bias free.   

• TRUE

• FALSE

Answer explanation

This example is not a well-written sentence because it incorporates insensitive and biased language. Therefore, it should be revised. One way to revise this sentence is Every mechanic must submit a timesheet by Friday.