Category: Professional Communication Objective Questions

Professional Communication Multiple Choice Questions on “Types of Phonetics”.

1. Which of these terms refer to the study of speech process?
a) Phonology
b) Phonetic substances
c) Phonetics
d) Semantics
Answer: c
Clarification: Phonetics is the study of speech processes. It includes the anatomy, neurology and pathology of speech. It also includes the articulation, classification and perception of speech sounds. It shouldn’t be confused with Phonology, which is the study of speech sounds of a given language and their function within the sound system of that language; or Semantics, which is a field of Linguistics that is primarily concerned with meaning in various languages.

2. Which of these is not a type of phonetics?
a) Articulatory
b) Personal
c) Acoustic
d) Auditory
Answer: b
Clarification: Phonetics can be divided into three main branches. These are Articulatory phonetics, Accoustic phonetics and Auditory phonetics.

3. Articulatory phonetics is the study of physical properties of speech sounds.
a) True
b) False
Answer: b
Clarification: Articulatory phonetics is the study of the movement of the speech organs while words are being uttered. Acoustic phonetics is the study of physical properties of speech sounds which include frequency and amplitude.

4. Which of these terms refer to the study of hearing and perception of speech sounds?
a) Articulatory phonetics
b) Acoustic phonetics
c) Auditory phonetics
d) Laboratory phonetics
Answer: c
Clarification: Auditory phonetics is the study of hearing and perception of speech sounds. Articulatory phonetics deals with the movement of speech organs whereas Acoustic phonetics deals with the physical properties of speech sounds.

5. Laboratory phonetics is a branch which uses instruments to study sounds.
a) True
b) False
Answer: a
Clarification: Laboratory phonetics is experimental phonetics which uses instruments ( both mechanical and electronics) to study sounds.

6. What is the term used for ingressive air-sounds produced?
a) Claps
b) Snap
c) Clicks
d) Beats
Answer: c
Clarification: Normally, speech sounds are produced on egressive pulmonic air-stream during exhilaration. In few cases, ingressive air sounds are also made. Such speech sounds are called clicks.

7. Which of these refer to the sound features of a language?
a) Morphemics
b) Phonetic substances
c) Phonetics
d) Syntax
Answer: b
Clarification: Phonetic substances refer to the sound features of a language, as studied by articulatory, acoustic and auditory phonetics. It is different from Phonetics, which studies the kinds of sounds made by human speech using the speech organs; and also different from Morphemics, which is the synchronic study of words.

8. What does the phonetic symbol d represent?
a) Voiced bilabial plosive
b) Voiceless palatal plosive
c) Voiced alveolor plosive
d) Voiced dental fricative
Answer: c
Clarification: The symbol d refers to Voiced alveolor plosive. The symbol b refers to Voiced bilabial plosive and c refers to Voiceless palatal plosive.

9. What is the full form of IPA?
a) Indian Phonetic Alphabet
b) International Phonetic Alphabet
c) International Phonetic Agreement
d) Indian Phonetic Agreement
Answer: b
Clarification: IPA is International Phonetic Alphabet which provides a uniform international medium for studying and transcribing sounds of all languages of the world. In case of English, it assists in creating international intelligibility in pronunciation.

10. What does the sign /  / represent?
a) Phonetic transcription
b) Centralization
c) Voiced bilabial nasal
d) Rising- falling pitch
Answer: a
Clarification: Phonetic transcription is represented by / /. Centralization is represented by “. Voiced bilabial nasal is represented by m.

Professional Communication Multiple Choice Questions on “Types of Sentences”.

1. Which of these does not come under transformation of sentences?
a) Changing active voice into passive voice.
b) Changing passive voice into active voice.
c) Changing affirmative sentences into negative sentences.
d) Changing interrogative sentences into assertive sentences and their reverse.
Answer: b
Clarification: Transformation of sentences have various forms. These include : Changing active voice into passive voice, changing affirmative sentences into negative sentences, changing interrogative sentences into assertive sentences and their reverse, etc..

2. Which of these is not a type of sentence?
a) Assertive
b) Interrogative
c) Complicated
d) Imperative
Answer: c
Clarification: There are four kinds of sentences. They are : Assertive sentence, interrogative sentence, imperative sentence and exclamatory sentence.

3. An assertive sentence states a fact, describes a thing or reports an event.
a) True
b) False
Answer: a
Clarification: The statement is true. An assertive sentence states a fact, describes a thing or reports an event. For example, He wrote a letter.

4. Which of these is not a type of assertive sentence?
a) Affirmative
b) Informal
c) Negative
d) Emphatic
Answer: b
Clarification: An assertive sentence can be classified into three types. They are : Affirmative sentence, negative sentence and emphatic sentence.

5. Assertive sentence can also be called as :
a) Emphatic sentence
b) Declarative sentence
c) Imperative sentence
d) Exclamatory sentence
Answer: b
Clarification: An assertive sentence states a fact, describes a thing or reports an event. Assertive sentence can also be called as declarative sentence or a statement.

6. An imperative sentence inquires about something.
a) True
b) False
Answer: b
Clarification: The statement is false. An imperative sentence expresses some command, request, advice, etc. For example: Sit down, please.

7. To which of these types does the following sentence belong?
Brutus loved Caesar.
a) Assertive sentence
b) Interrogative sentence
c) Imperative sentence
d) Exclamatory sentence
Answer: a
Clarification: The above sentence is an example of an assertive sentence. To be precise, it is an affirmative sentence as it states a fact.

8. Which of these words is not used to transform non-emphatic sentence to emphatic sentence?
a) Do
b) Does
c) Did
d) Has
Answer: d
Clarification: A non-emphatic sentence can be transformed into an emphatic sentence with words like do, does, did. For example, He wrote a letter. Emphatic : He did write a letter.

9. To which type does the sentence belong?
Alas! I have no hope of life.
a) Assertive sentence
b) Interrogative sentence
c) Imperative sentence
d) Exclamatory sentence
Answer: d
Clarification: The above sentence is an example of exclamatory sentence. An exclamatory sentence expresses sudden emotion or feeling.

10. Which of these is an example of affirmative sentence?
a) Can you do this?
b) What a pretty girl!
c) Everyone accepts his version.
d) Please open the door.
Answer: c
Clarification: An affirmative sentence is a type of assertive sentence which states a fact or describes a thing. ‘Can you do this?’ is an example of interrogative sentence. ‘Please open the door’ is an example of imperative sentence.

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Professional Communication Multiple Choice Questions on “Rules for Use of Abbreviations”.

1. Full stops must be omitted from abbreviations.
a) True
b) False
Answer: a
Clarification: The statement is true. Full stops must be omitted from abbreviations, unless they are to be retained for clarity.

2. No space must be added between abbreviations.
a) True
b) False
Answer: a
Clarification: The statement is true. No space must be added between abbreviations. The abbreviation of World Health Organisation is WHO and not W.H.O.

3. Which of these months does not have an abbreviation?
a) January
b) December
c) May
d) August
Answer: c
Clarification: The abbreviations for January, December and August is Jan, Dec and Aug respectively. May, June and July are not abbreviated.

4. What is the abbreviation for October?
a) Ocb
b) Oct
c) Octr
d) Ocr
Answer: b
Clarification: The abbreviation for October is Oct. Abbreviations for February is Feb, November is Nov and December is Dec.

5. What is the abbreviation for Thursday?
a) Thu
b) Thur
c) Thurs
d) Thus
Answer: c
Clarification: The abbreviation for Thursday is Thurs and 6 is Tues. The abbreviation for Sunday is Sun, Monday is Mon and Saturday is Sat.

6. Which of these measurements does not have an abbreviation?
a) Gram
b) Metre
c) Litre
d) Mile
Answer: d
Clarification: A word indicating measurement which has less than four letters is not abbreviated but there are exceptions like mile.

7. What is the abbreviation of Hectometre?
a) hm
b) hcm
c) hmt
d) htm
Answer: a
Clarification: The abbreviation of Hectometre is hm. The abbreviation of Dekametre is dkm and Decimetre is dm.

8. What is the abbreviation of Centilitre?
a) cl
b) ctl
c) dl
d) clt
Answer: a
Clarification: The abbreviation of Centilitre is cl. The abbreviation for Millilitre is m1l and kilolitre is kl. The abbreviation for Decilitre is dl.

9. What is the expansion of a/c?
a) Alternating current
b) Account
c) Association
d) Chartered Accountant
Answer: b
Clarification: The expansion for a/c is account. The abbreviation for alternating current is AC and association is assoc.

10. What is the abbreviation for Centigrade?
a) cg
b) C
c) cgr
d) ctg
Answer: b
Clarification: The abbreviation for centigrade is C. The abbreviation for cubic centimetres is cc which is the same for carbon copy.

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Professional Communication Multiple Choice Questions on “Letters of Enquiry”.

1. Which of these are the most common type of business letters?
a) Letters of application
b) Letters of enquiry
c) Letters of order
d) Letters of adjustment
Answer: b
Clarification: Letters of enquiry are the most common type of business letters. These should be written with due care. They must create the right impression.

2. Which of these is not a type of letters of enquiry?
a) General enquiries
b) Personal enquiries
c) Sales related enquiries
d) Status enquiries
Answer: b
Clarification: Letters of enquiry can be of three types. They are : General enquiries, sales related enquiries and status enquiries.

3. Which of these is not a letter of enquiry?
a) General enquiry
b) Status enquiry
c) Friendly enquiry
d) Sales related enquiry
Answer: c
Clarification: Letters of enquiry are of three types: General enquiries, status enquiries and sales related enquiries. Friendly enquiry doesn’t exist.

4. General enquiry letters do not result in any business return.
a) True
b) False
Answer: a
Clarification: The statement is true. General enquiry letters do not result in any business return. They are used to accumulate information for business or private research.

5. Sales related enquiries seek information regarding the business practice of enterprises.
a) True
b) False
Answer: b
Clarification: The statement is false. Status enquiries seek information regarding the business practice of enterprises. Sales related enquiries seek information regarding purchase of a product.

6. Which of these seek information regarding purchase of a product?
a) General enquiry
b) Status enquiry
c) Sales related enquiry
d) Private enquiry
Answer: c
Clarification: Sales related enquiries seek information regarding purchase of a product or service. Status enquiries seek information regarding the business practices of enterprises.

7. What is the best way to seek information regarding finance?
a) Schools
b) Banks
c) Shops
d) Post office
Answer: b
Clarification: Status enquiries seek information regarding the financial viability and business practices of enterprises. The best way to seek information on matters regarding finance is through banks or financial institutions.

8. Which of these details is not required in a letter of enquiry?
a) Mode of packing
b) Mode of payment
c) Mode of transport
d) Age of owner
Answer: d
Clarification: Only relevant details must be stated in a letter of enquiry, such as: the purpose for which the item is required, the mode of payment, the mode of transport, the mode of packing, the expected delivery schedule, etc. The owner’s age isn’t relevant as it won’t influence the business in any way.

9. Where should the name and address of the firm writing the letter be mentioned in a letter of enquiry?
a) Top left corner
b) Top right corner
c) Bottom left corner
d) Bottom right corner
Answer: b
Clarification: The name and address of the firm writing the letter of enquiry should be mentioned on the top right corner along with the date below it.

10. Where should the courteous leave- taking be mentioned on a letter of enquiry?
a) Top left corner
b) Top right corner
c) Bottom left corner
d) Bottom right corner
Answer: d
Clarification: The courteous leave-taking is mentioned in the bottom right corner along with the signature and designation below it.

Professional Communication Multiple Choice Questions on “Preparing a Speech”.

1. A speech must always present _____
a) facts
b) opinions
c) suggestions
d) perspectives
Answer: a
Clarification: A speech must always present facts, which are very different from opinions. The two must never be confused.

2. Which of these must be avoided by the speaker?
a) He must convey precise information.
b) He must ensure that the information is understood by the audience.
c) He must inspire the audience to totally accept his point of view.
d) He must force the audience to totally accept his point of view.
Answer: d
Clarification: The main job of the speaker is three fold : He must convey precise information, he must ensure that the information is understood by the audience and he must inspire the audience to totally accept his point of view.

3. Masquerading opinions as facts amounts to perpetrating an intellectual fraud.
a) True
b) False
Answer: a
Clarification: The statement is true. Masquerading opinions as facts amounts to perpetrating an intellectual fraud. We must present facts, or we must let the audience know that we are presenting our personal opinions.

4. One should have a very slow pace while giving a presentation.
a) True
b) False
Answer: b
Clarification: The statement is false. One should take one’s time while giving a presentation, but at the same time, they shouldn’t be too slow. A slow pace tends to break the attention of the audience and bore them out. The pace shouldn’t be too fast either, otherwise the audience will not have the time to grasp the crux of the presentation. There should be used of a steady pace, which is neither too fast nor too slow.

5. Which of these is required to convey large information?
a) Voice
b) Tone
c) Body land
d) Preparation
Answer: d
Clarification: A good speech is rarely made extempore. No speaker can convey large amounts of information without adequate preparation.

6. Which of these must be avoided by a speaker?
a) Abstract words
b) Short sentences
c) Good pronunciation
d) Steady pace
Answer: a
Clarification: Abstract words must be avoided in a speech. There must be used of familiar words. Also there must be used of short sentence with a steady pace.

7. Which of these is a sign of rude manners?
a) Staring at the floor
b) Making eye contact
c) Steady pace
d) Simple words
Answer: a
Clarification: Please do not be transfixed on one face, or stare at the ceiling or floor. This is a sign, either of under confidence or of rude manners.

8. Which of these should be avoided in a group discussion?
a) listening
b) shouting
c) speaking
d) writing
Answer: b
Clarification: In a group discussion, we must never mumble, shout or speak very fast. To enhance listening ability, one should note down the vital points made by the speaker in his or her speech.

9. Which of these must be avoided in a speech?
a) Illogical sounds
b) Gestures
c) Eye contact
d) Interest
Answer: a
Clarification: Please do not make any Illogical sounds like er or ah. The speech must flow naturally and without any ugly sounds.

10. A finger may be used to _____
a) show over confidence
b) inspire
c) show under confidence
d) appoint
Answer: b
Clarification: Hands must be used to create the right impact. A finger may be used to inspire. It may also be used to accuse, if done badly.

Professional Communication Multiple Choice Questions on “Uses and Types of Graphic Ads”.

1. Which of these cannot be a billboard?
a) Wall
b) Static panel
c) Banner
d) Paper
Answer: d
Clarification: A billboard could be a wall, a static panel or a banner. It is essentially an outdoor form of advertisement. In case of billboards, consumers come to it.

2. Graphic techniques help to understand ________
a) business reports
b) friendly letters
c) notices
d) classified advertisements
Answer: a
Clarification: The correct statement is: Graphic techniques help to understand business reports. Graphic techniques include headings, tables, charts, graphs, etc.

3. Graphic aids provide large data in a short place.
a) True
b) False
Answer: a
Clarification: The statement is true. Graphic aids provide large data in a short place. It helps to communicate better.

4. Which of these can be dependent or independent?
a) Tables
b) Graphs
c) Figures
d) Charts
Answer: a
Clarification: Graphic aids are of two types. They are: tables and figures. Tables can be dependent or independent.

5. Which of these does a figure not include?
a) Graphs
b) Tables
c) Charts
d) Drawings
Answer: b
Clarification: Graphic aids are of two types. They are: tables and figures. Tables can be dependent or independent. Figures include graphs, charts, drawings, photos and maps.

6. An independent table is complete in itself.
a) True
b) False
Answer: a
Clarification: The statement is true. An independent table is complete in itself. It is placed separately from the text. It must be given a number and a title.

7. What is the first column of a table called?
a) Head
b) Subhead
c) Heading
d) Boxhead
Answer: b
Clarification: A table has rows which run horizontally and columns which run vertically. Its first column is called subhead.

8. Which of these is used to give additional information?
a) Subhead
b) Boxhead
c) Footnote
d) Dash
Answer: c
Clarification: A dash shows that no data exists for that column. A footnote may be used to give additional information while preparing a table.

9. Which of the following shows a trend of progress over a known period?
a) Rectilinear graph
b) Tables
c) Multiline graphs
d) Bar graphs
Answer: a
Clarification: Rectilinear graphs show trend of progress over a known period. They are useful to indicate change over a period of time.

10. Which of these presents data of related units?
a) Rectilinear graph
b) Tables
c) Multiline graphs
d) Bar graphs
Answer: c
Clarification: Multiline line graphs present data of related units. They have more than one index line.

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