Category: Professional Communication Objective Questions

Professional Communication Multiple Choice Questions on “Definition and Types of Preposition”.

1. A preposition is placed before which of these?
a) Noun
b) Verb
c) Adjective
d) Noun or pronoun
Answer: d
Clarification: A preposition is a word placed before a noun or a pronoun to show in what relation the person or thing denoted by it stands in regard to something else. For example: There is a dog in the garden. For this sentence, the preposition is in, and it is placed before the noun garden. Another example is: The boy’s cellphone lay beside him. In this sentence, the preposition is beside, and it precedes the pronoun him.

2. The noun or pronoun which is used with a preposition is called its object.
a) True
b) False
Answer: a
Clarification: The noun or pronoun which is used with a preposition is called its object. It is in the accusative case and is said to be governed by the preposition. Example: There is a dog in the garden. The noun ‘garden’ is in the accusative case governed by the preposition ‘in’.

3. In which of these cases, the preposition is always placed at the end?
a) Relative pronoun
b) Reciprocal pronoun
c) Possessive pronoun
d) Reflexive pronoun
Answer: a
Clarification: The preposition is always placed at the end when the object is an interrogative or a relative pronoun. For example: Here is the money that you asked for. , What are you thinking of.

4. Which of these is not a simple preposition?
a) From
b) Through
c) Above
d) With
Answer: c
Clarification: At, by, for, from, in, of, off, as, out, through, till, to, up, with are simple prepositions. Compound prepositions are generally formed by prefixing a preposition to a noun, adjective or an adverb. Example, above.

5. Phrase prepositions are group of words used with the force of single preposition.
a) True
b) False
Answer: a
Clarification: Phrase prepositions are group of words used with the force of single preposition. Examples are in addition to, in place of, in spite of, etc.. For example: Call me in case of an emergency.

6. Fill in the blank: He acted ________ my instructions.
a) agreeable to
b) according to
c) in favour of
d) in course of
Answer: b
Clarification: Here we use a phrase preposition, according to. The correct statement will be: He acted according to my instructions.

7. Which of these is a participial?
a) Underneath
b) Beside
c) Considering
d) Along with
Answer: c
Clarification: Participials are present participles of verbs which are used absolutely without any noun or pronoun being attached to them. For all practical purposes, they have become prepositions. In the above question, the word Considering is the present continuous tense of the word consider, and it’s used as a participial preposition. Example: Considering his age, the Sports Council felt that he was too old to be in the international team.

8. Correct the incorrect statement :
I do not agree to his proposal.
a) I do not agree with his proposal.
b) I do not agree for his proposal.
c) I do not agree on his proposal.
d) I do not agree at his proposal.
Answer: a
Clarification: Here the correct statement is: I do not agree with his proposal. Frequent mistakes are made through wrong use of prepositions in certain idiomatic usage.

9. Fill in the blank: We walked ___ the river and back.
a) till
b) to
c) at
d) about
Answer: b
Clarification: The preposition used here is- to. Do not use wrong prepositions. To is used with distance and till or until with time.

10. Fill in with appropriate preposition : I have not seen the television ______ yesterday.
a) from
b) since
c) till
d) for
Answer: b
Clarification: The correct preposition here would be- since. Since is used before a noun or a phrase, which denotes some point of time. It is preceded by a verb in perfect tense.

Professional Communication Multiple Choice Questions on “Conversion of Direct Speech to Indirect”.

1. Indirect speech is when one quotes the exact words spoken by a speaker.
a) True
b) False
Answer: b
Clarification: The statement is false. Direct speech is when one quotes the exact words spoken by a speaker. For example, Neha said “I am very tired now.”

2. Indirect speech is also called as :
a) Reported speech
b) Quoted speech
c) Simple speech
d) Principal speech
Answer: a
Clarification: Indirect speech is also called reported speech. Indirect speech is when one reports what the speaker said without quoting his exact words.

3. While converting direct speech to indirect, simple present becomes a simple past.
a) True
b) False
Answer: a
Clarification: The statement is true. While converting direct speech to indirect, simple present becomes a simple past.

4. Convert the following direct speech to indirect :
She said, “My mother is cooking food.”
a) She said that her mother was cooking food.
b) She said that my mother was cooking food.
c) She said that her mother is cooking food.
d) She said that my mother is cooking food.
Answer: a
Clarification: While converting direct speech to indirect, present continuous becomes a past continuous. The above statement is an example for the same. So the correct statement is: She said that her mother was cooking food.

5. Change the speech for the following statement :
She said, “The man died in the afternoon.”
a) She said the man died in the afternoon.
b) She said that the man had died in the afternoon.
c) She had said the man died in the afternoon.
d) She said the man was dead in the afternoon.
Answer: b
Clarification: The correct statement is: She said that the man had died in the afternoon. As a rule, the simple past in the direct becomes the past perfect in the indirect.

6. Convert the following statement in direct speech to indirect :
He said to me, “I don’t believe you.”
a) He said he didn’t believe me.
b) He said I don’t believe you.
c) He said he don’t believe me.
d) He said I didn’t believe you.
Answer: a
Clarification: The correct statement is: He said he didn’t believe me. The pronouns of the direct speech are changed in such a manner that their relationship with the reporter and the hearer, is indicated.

7. Change the speech in the following sentence :
She says, “I am happy to be here this evening.”
a) She said she was happy to be there that evening.
b) She said she is happy to be there that evening.
c) She said she is happy to be there that evening.
d) She said she was happy to be there this evening.
Answer: a
Clarification: The correct statement is : She said she was happy to be there that evening. Words expressing nearness in time or place are changed into words expressing distance.

8. Change the direct speech to indirect :
He said to me, “Where is Neha?”
a) He asked me where is Neha.
b) He asked me where Neha was.
c) He asked me where Neha is.
d) He said where was Neha.
Answer: b
Clarification: The correct statement is: He asked me where Neha was. We use verbs like ‘asked’, ‘inquired’, etc., while reporting questions in indirect speech.

9. Convert the following direct speech to indirect :
Vineet said to Nitin, “ Go away.”
a) Vineet ordered Nitin to go away.
b) Vineet said Nitin to go away.
c) Vineet ordered Nitin go away.
d) Vineet said to Nitin go away.
Answer: a
Clarification: The correct statement is: Vineet ordered Nitin to go away. The indirect speech is introduced by a verb which expresses a command or a request while reporting commands or requests.

10. Convert the following direct speech to indirect:
She said, “Alas ! I have failed.”
a) She exclaimed sadly that she failed.
b) She exclaimed sadly that she had failed.
c) She exclaimed sadly that I failed.
d) She exclaimed that she failed.
Answer: b
Clarification: The correct statement is: She exclaimed sadly that she had failed. In reporting exclamations and wishes the indirect speech is introduced by a verb which expresses exclamation or wish.

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Professional Communication Multiple Choice Questions on “Sentence Structure”.

1. On is used in speaking of things in motion.
a) True
b) False
Answer: b
Clarification: The statement is false. On is used in speaking of things at rest, and upon of things in motion. For example: The clock sat on the bedside table. This is an example of an object at rest. Whereas, in the sentence: She stumbled upon a secret passage; movement is clearly being conveyed.

2. Fill in the blank.
The dog sprang ____ him.
a) on
b) upon
c) in
d) over
Answer: b
Clarification: The statement is: The dog sprang upon him. On is used in speaking of things at rest, and upon of things in motion.

3. Till is used for time.
a) True
b) False
Answer: a
Clarification: The statement is true. Till is used of time and to is used of place. For example: I slept till 6 o’clock.

4. Which of these comes immediately after the noun?
a) Adverb phrase
b) Adjective phrase
c) Verb phrase
d) Pronoun phrase
Answer: b
Clarification: The adjective phrase comes immediately after the noun. For example: The top of the handle was broken.

5. Which of these statements is false?
a) The subject should usually follow the verb.
b) The object usually comes after the verb.
c) When there is an indirect object and a direct object, the indirect precedes the direct.
d) When the adjective is used attributively it comes before the noun which it qualifies.
Answer: a
Clarification: The subject should usually precede the verb. For example: The dog bit the boy. The object usually comes after the verb.

6. Every statement must have a subject and a _____
a) noun
b) verb
c) predicate
d) phrase
Answer: c
Clarification: To be complete, every statement must have a subject and a predicate. In other words, once the subject has been mentioned, there is necessity to say something about it.

7. Choose the correct statement.
a) Do not make friend with selfish people.
b) Do not make friendship with selfish people.
c) Do not make friends with selfish people.
d) Do not make friendly with selfish people.
Answer: c
Clarification: The correct statement is: Do not make friends with selfish people. The phrase ‘make friends’ is grammatically correct.

8. Choose the correct statement.
a) She doesn’t know the reason for his disappearance.
b) She doesn’t know the reason of his disappearance.
c) She doesn’t know the reason at his disappearance.
d) She doesn’t know the reason with his disappearance.
Answer: a
Clarification: The correct statement is: She doesn’t know the reason for his disappearance. The preposition should be used according to the prepositional phrase.

9. Some students are ____ at copying.
a) adapt
b) adept
c) adopt
d) edept
Answer: b
Clarification: The correct statement is: Some students are adept at copying. Adept is an adjective meaning “proficient or well trained.”

10. Father _____ me not to go out in the cold.
a) adviced
b) advised
c) advice
d) advise
Answer: b
Clarification: The correct statement is: Father advised me not to go out in the cold. Advise is a verb meaning “to counsel”. Advice is a noun meaning “to give me opinion”.

Professional Communication Multiple Choice Questions on “Features of a Paragraph”.

1. A paragraph gives expression to thoughts in any writing.
a) True
b) False
Answer: a
Clarification: The statement is true. A paragraph gives expression to thoughts in any writing. It has many features like length, unity, etc..

2. Which of these is not an important feature of a paragraph?
a) Length
b) Breadth
c) Unity
d) Coherence
Answer: b
Clarification: A paragraph gives expression to thoughts in any writing. The important features of paragraph are its length, unity, coherence and emphasis.

3. A paragraph should contain short sentences.
a) True
b) False
Answer: a
Clarification: The statement is true. A paragraph should contain short sentences. These are preferred.

4. An average length of sentence in a paragraph should be _____
a) 15 to 20 words
b) 25 to 30 words
c) 2 to 5 words
d) 5 to 10 words
Answer: a
Clarification: An average length of sentence should be about 15 to 20 words. These should be a variety in sentence length. It is better to adopt a range from 3 to 30 words.

5. Which of these is not a feature of a paragraph?
a) Length
b) Unity
c) Incoherence
d) Correctness
Answer: c
Clarification: A paragraph has six features. They are: length, unity, coherence, emphasis, courtesy and correctness. Out of these the important ones are length, unity, coherence, emphasis.

6. Where should the main idea be put up in a paragraph?
a) In the beginning
b) In the middle
c) At the end
d) After the paragraph
Answer: a
Clarification: The main idea should be put up front within a sentence. A writer must decide the emphasis accordingly. The writer should choose words precisely.

7. Which of these should be avoided in a paragraph?
a) Courtesy
b) Positive attitude
c) Discriminatory language
d) Politeness
Answer: c
Clarification: A paragraph writer should be sincerely tactful, thoughtful and nondiscriminatory. Courteous communication wins hearts of the readers and the listeners.

8. Which of these is not a level of language?
a) Formal
b) Public
c) Informal
d) Substandard
Answer: b
Clarification: There are three levels of language. They are: formal, informal and substandard (or non standard).

9. Which of these is not a level of language?
a) Formal writing
b) Informal writing
c) Substandard language
d) Formal speaking
Answer: d
Clarification: The levels of language used are in writing. It is important to use the right level of language. The levels of language are: formal, informal and substandard.

10. Which of these is associated with academic pursuits?
a) Informal writing
b) Formal writing
c) Personal writing
d) Substandard writing
Answer: b
Clarification: Formal writing is associated with academic pursuits and scholarly writings e.g: thesis, research papers and articles, government agreements, legal documents.

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Professional Communication Multiple Choice Questions on “Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication”.

1. Which of these do not deal with precise information?
a) Engineer
b) Scientist
c) Technician
d) Fiction writer
Answer: d
Clarification: A scientist, engineer, technician or technologist deals with precise information. A fiction writer may indulge in charming nonsense, but a scientific man must develop a style of writing which conveys information with precision.

2. In an office, an employee communicates horizontally with his _______
a) superiors
b) subordinates
c) colleagues
d) assistant
Answer: c
Clarification: The correct statement is: In an office, an employee communicates horizontally with his colleagues. Horizontal communication happens between people who are on the same tier as each other in an office hierarchy. He communicates vertically with his subordinates and superiors. Vertical communication happens between people who are on different levels in an office hierarchy.

3. Talking comes under which type of communication?
a) Verbal
b) Non- verbal
c) Written
d) Dramatic
Answer: a
Clarification: Communication can be of two types. They are: verbal communication and non-verbal communication. Talking is an effective tool, but it has limited reach.

4. Which of these has maximum reach?
a) Writing
b) Listening
c) Speaking
d) Talking
Answer: a
Clarification: Writing has enormous reach. It has an inviolable quality about it, since what has been written cannot be altered.

5. How is good technical writing achieved?
a) Naturally
b) By practice
c) Listening
d) Speaking
Answer: b
Clarification: Good technical writing does not come naturally. It is an end product of careful practice. It is obvious that a technical writer must have something substantial to say.

6. Which of these parameters are not required to define style?
a) Moral truth
b) Compassion
c) Gender
d) Information
Answer: c
Clarification: There are three parameters that are stated when defining style. They are: moral truth, compassion and information with precision.

7. Any style must convey moral truth.
a) True
b) False
Answer: a
Clarification: The statement is true. Any style must convey intellectual and moral truth. Most writers tend to hide truth. Their language becomes a vehicle of ambiguity.

8. Any writer must convey truth with warmth.
a) True
b) False
Answer: a
Clarification: The statement is true. Any writer must convey truth with warmth and compassion. Any good writing must create a bond of oneness between writer and reader.

9. A writer must not convey information with _____
a) precision
b) clarity
c) randomness
d) truth
Answer: c
Clarification: Any writer must convey truth in his writing. Also, it must convey information simply with precision and clarity. It must be such that it is easily understood by every reader.

10. Which of these are to be avoided in any style of writing?
a) Truth
b) Clarity
c) Compassion
d) Dishonesty
Answer: d
Clarification: Any style must convey intellectual and moral truth. Most writers tend to hide truth. The first thing a writer must do is ensure that he is being truly honest to himself.

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

1. Interviews are conversations with _______
a) fun
b) purpose
c) friendliness
d) informality
Answer: b
Clarification: The correct statement is: Interviews are conversations with purpose. For the employer the purpose is to determine the most suitable person for the job.

2. A job interview is a formal meeting between a job seeker and an employer.
a) True
b) False
Answer: a
Clarification: The statement is true. Interview is a formal face-to-face meeting. A job interview is a formal meeting between a job seeker and an employer.

3. All job interviews have the same objective.
a) True
b) False
Answer: a
Clarification: The statement is true. All job interviews have the same objective, but employers reach that objective in a variety of ways.

4. Which of these is not a type of interview?
a) Screening interview
b) Stress interview
c) Music interview
d) Lunch interview
Answer: c
Clarification: Interviews can be of nine types: They are Screening interview, stress interview, behavioural interview, the audition, group interview, telephone, lunch interview, video interview and sequential interview.

5. Which kind of interview includes a process in which the employability of the job applicant is evaluated?
a) Stress interview
b) Screening interview
c) Group interview
d) Behavioural interview
Answer: b
Clarification: In the screening interview, companies use screening tools to ensure that candidates meet minimum qualification requirements.

6. How many styles are used in a screening interview?
a) Two
b) Five
c) Three
d) Four
Answer: a
Clarification: There are two styles used in a screening interview. They are: the directive style and the meandering style.

7. In which of these interviews, insults are common?
a) Screening interview
b) Stress interview
c) Behavioural interview
d) Group interview
Answer: b
Clarification: In stress interview, insults and miscommunication is common. All this is designed to see whether you have the mettle to withstand the company culture or other potential stress.

8. Which of these interviews is adapted for computer programmers?
a) The stress interview
b) The group interview
c) The screening interview
d) The audition
Answer: d
Clarification: For some positions such as computer programmers or trainers, companies want to see you in action before they make their decision. Here, the audition type is adapted.

9. In which of these, more than one candidate is interviewed?
a) The behavioural interview
b) The stress interview
c) The group interview
d) The audition
Answer: c
Clarification: In group interview, more than one candidate is interviewed. Interviewing simultaneously with other candidates can be disconcerting, but it provides the company with a sense of your leadership potential and style.

10. Which of these interviews is taken for a candidate far away?
a) Lunch interview
b) Telephone
c) Stress interview
d) Group interview
Answer: b
Clarification: Many organizations will conduct jnterviews by telephone to narrow a field of candidates. Telephone interviews may also be used as a preliminary interview for candidates who live far away.