All Free Business Writing and Comprehension MCQs with Answers

Every Business Writing and Comprehension question in the bank, across all chapters, each with the correct answer and a written explanation. Free and unlimited, with no account needed.

239 questions · page 11 of 12

  • A. Present it as an established fact
  • B. Strengthen it with additional reasoning
  • C. Attribute it clearly to the writer
  • D. Replace it with the writer's own opinion

Explanation: A précis must represent the original writer fairly, so an opinion should remain identifiable as the writer's view.

Correct answer: Attribute it clearly to the writer
  • A. Replace every verb with a noun
  • B. Repeat the conclusion in shorter wording
  • C. Delete every sentence containing an example
  • D. Combine related points under broader terms

Explanation: Combining related points under broader terms removes unnecessary detail while retaining the argument.

Correct answer: Combine related points under broader terms
  • A. The writer argues that the policy has limits
  • B. I personally agree that the policy has limits
  • C. The policy has limits beyond any doubt
  • D. We should reject the policy immediately

Explanation: The first option attributes the claim to the original writer without adding personal judgement.

Correct answer: The writer argues that the policy has limits
  • A. Every original linking word
  • B. Only the final linking word
  • C. The logical relationship between ideas
  • D. The same sentence lengths and punctuation

Explanation: A précis may replace repeated or elaborate connectors, but it must preserve relationships such as contrast, sequence, and result.

Correct answer: The logical relationship between ideas
  • A. Due to the fact that rainfall was absent, crops failed
  • B. It was a situation in which crops failed because rain was absent
  • C. The crops, which were present in fields, failed due to rain absence
  • D. Because there was no rain, crops failed

Explanation: The second sentence expresses the complete relationship in the fewest clear words.

Correct answer: Because there was no rain, crops failed
  • A. Report its essential meaning in concise indirect form
  • B. Retain its exact wording regardless of the word limit
  • C. Remove it because quotations never belong in précis writing
  • D. Add another quotation to make the précis authoritative

Explanation: A central quotation may carry an important claim, but its meaning can normally be reported in indirect form.

Correct answer: Report its essential meaning in concise indirect form
  • A. Remedy, problem, and causes
  • B. Problem, causes, and remedy
  • C. Causes, remedy, and unrelated background
  • D. Background, remedy, and repeated examples

Explanation: Following the original progression makes the argument easier to understand and avoids misleading emphasis.

Correct answer: Problem, causes, and remedy
  • A. The plan is new and innovative
  • B. The plan is new and also innovative
  • C. The plan is innovative
  • D. The plan is a new plan with innovation

Explanation: Innovative already conveys the idea of being new, so the shorter sentence avoids unnecessary repetition.

Correct answer: The plan is innovative
  • A. To verify accuracy, emphasis, and proportion
  • B. To copy sentences that sound impressive
  • C. To increase the précis to the original length
  • D. To replace difficult ideas with personal views

Explanation: Comparison with the source helps confirm that the précis is accurate and gives proper emphasis to the main points.

Correct answer: To verify accuracy, emphasis, and proportion
  • A. The judge abstained the accused for theft.
  • B. The voter abstained from casting a ballot.
  • C. The medicine abstained his severe pain.
  • D. The teacher abstained the students from class.

Explanation: Abstain means to deliberately refrain from an action, and it is commonly followed by “from.” The other sentences incorrectly use it as a…

Correct answer: The voter abstained from casting a ballot.
  • A. She is averse with accepting unnecessary risks.
  • B. She is averse for accepting unnecessary risks.
  • C. She is averse to accepting unnecessary risks.
  • D. She is averse by accepting unnecessary risks.

Explanation: Averse means opposed or unwilling, and the standard construction is “averse to.” The prepositions “for,” “with,” and “by” do not fit this…

Correct answer: She is averse to accepting unnecessary risks.
  • A. The bored student was disinterested in the lecture.
  • B. The impartial referee was uninterested in the teams.
  • C. The impartial referee was disinterested in the teams.
  • D. The bored student was disinterested by the lecture.

Explanation: Disinterested means impartial or free from personal interest, so it correctly describes a fair referee.

Correct answer: The impartial referee was disinterested in the teams.
  • A. To measure the effects of inflation
  • B. To reduce the harmful effects of inflation
  • C. To predict the future rate of inflation
  • D. To remove every effect of inflation

Explanation: Mitigate means to make something less severe, harmful, or painful. It does not necessarily mean to eliminate a problem completely, making…

Correct answer: To reduce the harmful effects of inflation
  • A. The drought may affect food prices this year.
  • B. The drought may effect food prices this year.
  • C. The drought may affect a major effect this year.
  • D. The drought may effect an affecting price this year.

Explanation: Affect is usually a verb meaning to influence, while effect is usually a noun meaning a result.

Correct answer: The drought may affect food prices this year.
  • A. The office ordered new stationary for its letters.
  • B. The office ordered new stationery for its furniture.
  • C. The office ordered new stationery for its letters.
  • D. The office ordered new stationary for its furniture.

Explanation: Stationery means writing materials such as paper and envelopes. Stationary means still or unmoving, so it cannot describe office writing…

Correct answer: The office ordered new stationery for its letters.
  • A. The blue tie compliments him for his honesty.
  • B. The blue tie compliments his grey suit.
  • C. The blue tie complements him for his honesty.
  • D. The blue tie complements his grey suit.

Explanation: Complement means to complete, match, or enhance something, so it fits the relationship between the tie and the suit.

Correct answer: The blue tie complements his grey suit.
  • A. A short introduction will precede the main speech.
  • B. A short introduction will proceed the main speech.
  • C. A short introduction will precede after the main speech.
  • D. A short introduction will proceed before the main speech.

Explanation: Precede means to come before something in time or order. Proceed means to continue or move forward, so it cannot replace “precede” in this…

Correct answer: A short introduction will precede the main speech.
  • A. The witness gave a credulous account of the incident.
  • B. The witness gave a credible account of the incident.
  • C. The witness was credible because he believed every rumour.
  • D. The witness was credulous because his evidence was reliable.

Explanation: Credible means believable or trustworthy, so it appropriately describes a reliable account.

Correct answer: The witness gave a credible account of the incident.
  • A. The pragmatic manager chose a careless solution.
  • B. The pragmatic manager chose a magical solution.
  • C. The pragmatic manager chose a workable solution.
  • D. The pragmatic manager chose a purely theoretical solution.

Explanation: Pragmatic means practical and focused on achieving a useful result. A workable solution reflects practical thinking, whereas magical or…

Correct answer: The pragmatic manager chose a workable solution.
  • A. The minister inferred that prices would rise, and the audience inferred his concern.
  • B. The minister inferred that prices would rise, and the audience implied his concern.
  • C. The minister implied that prices would rise, and the audience implied his concern.
  • D. The minister implied that prices would rise, and the audience inferred his concern.

Explanation: To imply is to suggest something indirectly, while to infer is to reach a conclusion from evidence.

Correct answer: The minister implied that prices would rise, and the audience inferred his concern.