1. The handshake originated _______________.
in England as a gesture of
welcome
as a signal that your
weapon hand was free and you were friendly
as a gesture of hospitality from the Native Americans
to differentiate the upper and lower classes
The correct answer is: as a signal that your weapon hand was free
and you were friendly. It is believed that the handshake originated
among the barbarians as a peaceful gesture when greeting someone. In the
late 1800's it was fashionable to give a high handshake, at the level of
your nose. Today, the handshake has been maintained as a sign of
welcome, given at waist height.
2. When making introductions _________________.
the most important person's name is said
last
a person with greater authority is
introduced to one of lesser authority
the CEO of your company is introduced to a client
only names should be given, with no titles or
references to professional or personal information
The correct answer is: the CEO of your company is introduced to a
client. According to the rules of introductions, the less important
person is always introduced to the more important person. For example,
Joe Bob, the client is more important than Clayton Jones the CEO, in a
business situation. Therefore, you would say, "Mr. Bob, I would like you
to meet the CEO of our company Mr. Clayton Jones. Mr. Jones, this is Mr.
Bob of Fisheries Incorporated, one of our best clients." The first
answer is incorrect because the most important person's name always
comes first. The last answer is incorrect because titles and references
should accompany an introduction whenever possible.
3. What one accessory is a necessity in today's business
wardrobe?
a trench coat
a watch
a daytimer, organizer or
planner
one nice business suit
The correct answer is: a watch. Notice that the question asked
what accessory. A watch is the first clue that you are punctual,
organized and part of the corporate world. While the way you dress can
vary from organization to organization, a watch is a universal
necessity.
4. What percentage of each day is spent communicating?
35-40%
50-55%
60-65%
75-80%
The correct answer is: 75-80%. Research shows that 75-80% of
each day is spent in oral communication. On a daily basis we ask and
answer questions, talk on the telephone, participate in meetings, order
at restaurants and give and receive advice. How you communicate in any
and all of these areas can have a significant impact on your level of
success in life.
5. You return from a business trip to 38 voice mails. Two days
later you are still returning calls. You should
________________.
forget about calling, at this point it is
too late
apologize and then get to
your point
offer a lengthy explanation of
your failure to call
have your assistant
return the calls you could not
The correct answer is: apologize and then get to your point.
You should have updated your voice mail message to let people know you
would be out of the office for a specific period of time, so they do not
expect to hear from you right away. It is best to return calls within 24
hours of your return to the office, however, even if it takes you two
days to get back to them, that is still better than failing to return
their calls. Do not give a lengthy explanation of your failure to call
more promptly. They are busy too. Keep it short and get to the point. As
a last resort, have your assistant return the calls you could not get
to.
6. Human beings have the ability to listen __ to __ times faster
than we speak.
1 to 3
2 to
4
4 to 6
10 to 12
The correct answer is: 4 to 6 times faster. In America, we
live in an era of fast-paced technology. We have picture-in-picture
television to watch two shows at the same time and DSL Internet to speed
up the downloading of information. Understanding that we can listen and
absorb information much faster than a person can communicate it is
vital. We tend to finish someone's thought before they do or focus on
our response without listening to what is really being said. The ability
to listen effectively is an important element in the art of
communication.
7. You are dining with a business associate. The first course is a
salad. Above the plate you have a spoon, facing left, above the spoon
there is a salad fork, facing right. To the left of the plate you have a
dinner fork on the outside and a salad fork on the inside. Which utensil
do you use?
the salad fork facing right at the top of
the plate
the dinner fork at the left of
your plate
the salad fork at the
left of your plate
a knife at the right of
your plate
The correct answer is: the salad fork at the left of your
plate. A large number of the population including hosts, hostesses
and restaurant staff have not been educated or trained in table
settings. In this case, you know the utensils above your plate are for
dessert and the salad fork is generally shorter than the dinner fork.
The general rule is that you start from the outside in. If there is a
mistake in the way the table is set, use the correct utensil, even if it
is not in the correct position. Do not call attention to the mistake.
You do not want to embarrass the host or hostess.
8. You are being served a five-course meal. Which of the following
is normally served right before the main course?
an appetizer
sorbet
soup
salad
The correct answer is: sorbet. Sorbet is served before the
main course to cleanse the palate, making it easier for you to
experience the full flavor of the main dish. Sorbet is cold and tart and
usually served in small portions at more formal meals.
9. The ideal amount of time to spend with one person when
networking is _______.
just enough time to exchange cards and
sales pitches
5-7
minutes
10 minutes
15-20 minutes
The correct answer is: 5-7 minutes. 5-7 minutes is enough time
for you to introduce yourself, express your interest, ask one or two
questions and build the foundation for future contact. Limiting the
discussion, allows you the opportunity to talk to more people and to
pursue further conversation at a later date. If the body language and
conversation of the other person indicates they are open to further
discussion, use your best judgment.
10. You are in the middle of dinner with a group of clients. The
maître dí comes to your table and tells you that you have a call. You
should _______.
ask the maître dí to take a message and
apologize to your guests
excuse
yourself and place your napkin on the table, to the left of your
plate
excuse yourself and place your
napkin on the back of the chair
not take
the call because it would be rude to leave the table
