26. A letter written to officially announce you are leaving your job is a:
- D. Letter of Inquiry
- B. Letter of Resignation
- C. Letter of Reference
- A. Letter of Application
Answer: A resignation letter is a formal document stating your intent to leave your current position.
27. In an informal letter to a friend, how might you open the letter?
- D. 'To Whom It May Concern:'
- A. 'I am writing to inform you...'
- B. 'This is in reference to...'
- C. 'Hope you're doing well!'
Answer: Informal letters often start with a friendly, personal greeting or question to set a warm tone.
28. What does the abbreviation 'cc' at the end of a letter mean?
- C. Confidential Correspondence
- D. Credit Copy
- B. Carbon Copy
- A. Check Copy
Answer: 'cc' indicates that a copy of the letter has been sent to the person(s) listed after the abbreviation.
29. What is the primary function of the concluding paragraph in a formal letter?
- A. To introduce a new topic.
- C. To share a personal anecdote.
- D. To apologize for writing the letter.
- B. To summarize the main points and state the expected action or response.
Answer: The final paragraph should bring the letter to a logical close, often including a call to action or suggesting the next steps.
30. A 'Thank-You' letter should be sent:
- A. Only when you receive a very expensive gift.
- C. A month after the event.
- D. Only if the other person sends one first.
- B. Promptly after receiving a gift, attending an interview, or receiving help.
Answer: Timeliness is key for a thank-you letter to show genuine appreciation and good manners.
31. Which of the following would be an inappropriate salutation for an email to a professor you don't know well?
- C. 'Hey,'
- D. 'Hello Dr. Smith,'
- A. 'Dear Professor Smith,'
- B. 'Hi Professor Smith,'
Answer: 'Hey' is overly casual and unprofessional for academic or formal correspondence.
32. The writer's signature in a formal letter should be placed:
- C. Between the complimentary close and the typed name.
- B. To the left of the salutation.
- D. At the top of the page.
- A. Above the complimentary close.
Answer: You sign your name by hand above your typed full name, which follows the closing.
33. A letter requesting a professional's opinion of a former employee or student is a:
- A. Cover Letter
- D. Sales Letter
- B. Letter of Complaint
- C. Letter of Reference Request
Answer: This formal request asks someone to act as a reference and provide a recommendation for you.
34. In the modified block format, which parts of the letter are typically indented or moved to the right?
- B. The recipient's address.
- C. The heading (sender's address and date) and the closing.
- A. The salutation and body paragraphs.
- D. The entire letter.
Answer: Unlike the full block format, the modified block format aligns the heading and closing to the center or right, while body paragraphs remain left-aligned.
35. A letter of acceptance is written to:
- D. Inquire about a position.
- C. Apologize for a mistake.
- B. Formally agree to a job offer, invitation, or proposal.
- A. Complain about a rejected offer.
Answer: This letter serves as official confirmation that you accept the terms of an offer that has been made to you.
36. What is the tone of a letter of condolence?
- A. Joyful and celebratory.
- D. Demanding and critical.
- B. Sincere, empathetic, and respectful.
- C. Humorous and light-hearted.
Answer: A condolence letter expresses sympathy to someone who is grieving a loss and should be written with care and sincerity.
37. The abbreviation 'RSVP' on an invitation letter requests that the recipient:
- A. Bring a gift.
- B. Pay for the event.
- D. Arrive early.
- C. Reply to confirm attendance.
Answer: RSVP comes from the French phrase 'Répondez s'il vous plaît,' which means 'Please respond'.
38. The body of a letter should ideally be:
- A. A single, very long paragraph.
- B. Divided into short, clear paragraphs, each focusing on a specific point.
- C. Written entirely in bullet points.
- D. As vague as possible.
Answer: Breaking the body into paragraphs improves readability and helps organize your thoughts logically.
39. What is a 'cover letter'?
- C. A formal complaint letter.
- D. The first page of a novel.
- A. A letter used to protect another document from damage.
- B. A letter sent with, and explaining the contents of, another document like a résumé.
Answer: A cover letter introduces you and your purpose for writing, providing context for the attached document, most commonly in a job application.
40. Which of these salutations is most suitable for an informal letter to a friend?
- A. 'Respected Sir,'
- B. 'Dear Mr. Thompson,'
- C. 'Dear Alex,'
- D. 'To Whom It May Concern,'
Answer: Using a person's first name is standard and appropriate for informal correspondence with friends and family.
41. A 'business letter' is generally characterized by:
- D. A story-like narrative.
- C. Hand-drawn illustrations in the margins.
- A. Emotional language and slang.
- B. A focus on a specific business-related transaction, request, or issue.
Answer: Business letters are purposeful and professional, aiming to achieve a specific business outcome efficiently.
42. What does 'BCC' mean in the context of an email?
- D. Blind Carbon Copy
- A. Bold, Copied, Content
- B. Before Carbon Copy
- C. Business Correspondence Copy
Answer: BCC sends a copy of the email to a recipient without their email address being visible to the other recipients in the 'To' and 'CC' fields.
43. In a letter of apology, it is most important to:
- D. Make excuses for your actions.
- C. Ignore the mistake and talk about something else.
- B. Be sincere and take responsibility for the error.
- A. Blame someone else for the mistake.
Answer: An effective apology letter is genuine, acknowledges the mistake, and, if appropriate, outlines steps to rectify it.
44. The use of contractions (e.g., 'don't', 'can't') is generally acceptable in:
- B. A formal job application.
- C. An informal letter to a cousin.
- D. A letter to a government official.
- A. A legal notice.
Answer: Contractions reflect spoken language and are suitable for a casual, conversational tone, which is appropriate for informal letters but not formal ones.
45. A 'sales letter' is a form of letter written to:
- A. Resign from a sales job.
- C. Persuade a potential customer to buy a product or service.
- D. Ask for a refund on a purchased item.
- B. Complain about a salesperson.
Answer: A sales letter is a piece of direct mail marketing designed to convince the reader to make a purchase.
46. If you are writing on behalf of a company, your typed name at the end should be followed by your:
- C. Favorite hobby.
- B. Job title.
- D. Nickname.
- A. Home address.
Answer: Including your job title (e.g., 'Sales Manager') clarifies your position and authority to write the letter on the company's behalf.
47. What is the key element of a 'Letter of Invitation'?
- B. A request for money.
- D. A list of people who are not invited.
- A. A detailed complaint about a past event.
- C. Clear details about the event: purpose, date, time, and location.
Answer: The primary goal of an invitation is to provide all necessary information so the recipient knows what they are being invited to and can decide whether to attend.
48. Which of these should be avoided in a formal letter?
- D. Slang and emojis.
- C. A polite and respectful tone.
- B. Proper grammar and spelling.
- A. Clear and concise language.
Answer: Slang, casual acronyms (like LOL), and emojis are unprofessional and should be reserved for informal communication only.
49. A letter written to decline an offer or invitation is called a:
- C. Letter of Approval
- B. Letter of Inquiry
- D. Letter of Application
- A. Letter of Regret
Answer: Also known as a letter of declination, it is a polite and formal way to say 'no' to an invitation or offer.
50. The final check of a letter for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors is called:
- D. Brainstorming
- B. Outlining
- C. Proofreading
- A. Drafting
Answer: Proofreading is the essential final step before sending any written communication to ensure it is error-free and professional.
