Solved [Decemeber 2022] BCS055 - Business Communication - Previous Year Question

Read the following passage and answer the questions given below it:
To me, there are very few human qualities less appealing than someone who is highly self-absorbed. A person who falls into this category takes him or herself extremely seriously. They love to listen to themselves speak, and value their own time—but no one else's. They are usually quite selfish with their time, love, and money, in addition to lacking compassion for those less fortunate. They are arrogant and come across as pompous and self-righteous. Self-absorbed individuals see others and often treat others as instruments or objects to get something they want. They usually see only one point of view—their own. They are right, and everyone else is wrong, unless, of course, you agree with them.

People who are self-absorbed can be rude, insensitive to the feelings of others, and primarily interested in themselves—their own wants, needs, and desires. They tend to see people in a hierarchical manner. In other words, they see certain people as being beneath them and, as such, they see them as less important than they are. Finally, self-absorbed people are poor listeners because, quite frankly, they aren't very interested in other people beyond a superficial level.

Obviously, I'm painting a worst-case scenario picture. Very few people are quite this bad. I paint this picture, however, because I believe it's important to be fully aware of what type of person you absolutely never, under any set of circumstances, want to become. This encourages you to be certain that none of these ugly characteristics ever creep into your life, and if they do, that you act quickly to move in a different direction.

Don't confuse self-esteem with self-absorption. The two are completely unrelated. In fact, you could say that the two are virtually opposite in nature. A person with high self-esteem loves others and feels good about herself. Because she already has what she needs in an emotional sense (feeling positive about herself), her natural instinct is to reach out to others in an unselfish way. She's extremely interested in hearing what other people have to say and in learning from them. She's very compassionate, always looking for ways to be of service or ways to be kind and generous. She is humble and treats everyone with respect and kindness.

There are many excellent reasons to become less self-absorbed. To begin with, as you can see by the picture I have painted, being self-absorbed is an ugly human quality. Beyond that, being self-absorbed is highly stressful. In fact, self-absorbed people sweat the small stuff as much, or more, than any other group of people–everything bothers or frustrates them. It seems that nothing is ever good enough.

For instance, self-absorbed people often have very poor learning curves. Since they don't listen well and aren't interested in other people, they don't have the advantage of learning from them. In addition, self-absorption comes across loud and clear to others, making them extremely resistant to wanting to be supportive or of any significant help. It's difficult to cheer on an arrogant person. In fact, it's tempting to want to see them fail.

(i) List four qualities of highly self-absorbed people.
(ii) What do you think the writer means by the phrase "they tend to see people in a hierarchical manner"?
(iii) What according to the writer is difference between a self-absorbed person and a person who has self-esteem?
(iv) Why are self-absorbed people highly stressed?
(v) Why do you think self-absorbed people are unlikely to succeed? (2 marks)

Answer:

(i) Four qualities of highly self-absorbed people are arrogance, selfishness, insensitivity, and being poor listeners.
(ii) The phrase "they tend to see people in a hierarchical manner" means that self-absorbed people view others as inferior or less important compared to themselves.
(iii) A self-absorbed person focuses solely on themselves and their needs, while a person with self-esteem loves others, feels positive about themselves, and extends kindness and respect to others.
(iv) Self-absorbed people are highly stressed because they obsess over small details, are never satisfied, and lack supportive relationships due to their behavior.
(v) Self-absorbed people are unlikely to succeed because their arrogance alienates others, and they fail to learn and grow due to poor listening skills.

Pick out words from the passage which mean the same as the following words/phrases:
(i) Sympathy and consideration (para 1)
(ii) having a sense of self-importance (para 1)
(iii) pride and faith in oneself (para 4)
(iv) makes them energy and disheartened (para 5)
(v) proud and conceited person (para 6) (5 marks)

Answer:

(i) Compassion
(ii) Arrogant
(iii) Self-esteem
(iv) Frustrates
(v) Pompous

Make sentences of your own with each of the following words from the passage:
(i) Point of view
(ii) Superficial
(iii) Creep into your life
(iv) Supportive
(v) Humble (5 marks)

Answer:

(i) Everyone has a different point of view on the subject.
(ii) His understanding of the problem was superficial at best.
(iii) Bad habits can easily creep into your life if you are not careful.
(iv) She was very supportive during my difficult time.
(v) Despite his success, he remains humble and grounded.

Write short notes on the following:
(i) Preparing for an interview
(ii) The importance of small talk in business
(iii) Organising oneself for business travel
(iv) Different styles and types of communicators
(v) Types of internal communication (10 marks)

Answer:

(i) **Preparing for an interview:** Preparation for an interview is crucial to make a good impression. It involves thoroughly researching the company, understanding its mission, vision, and values, and analyzing the job description to align your skills with the requirements. Practice answering common and role-specific questions confidently. Prepare questions to ask the interviewer to demonstrate your interest in the position. Dress appropriately for the role, ensure punctuality, and carry all necessary documents like a resume, portfolio, and ID proof.

(ii) **The importance of small talk in business:** Small talk plays a pivotal role in business as it helps establish rapport and break the ice in formal settings. Topics like weather, recent events, or non-controversial interests can create a comfortable atmosphere. It sets the tone for deeper conversations and fosters relationships by demonstrating genuine interest and emotional intelligence. Small talk can also act as a bridge to transitioning into business discussions.

(iii) **Organising oneself for business travel:** Effective organization ensures a stress-free travel experience. Begin by confirming appointments, creating a detailed itinerary, and booking transportation and accommodations in advance. Pack essentials such as business attire, toiletries, and a power bank. Ensure that all work-related documents, gadgets, and backups are ready. Be mindful of cultural norms if traveling internationally and prepare for emergencies by keeping health insurance and emergency contacts accessible.

(iv) **Different styles and types of communicators:** Communication styles vary widely. Assertive communicators express their thoughts clearly while respecting others’ viewpoints. Passive communicators tend to avoid conflict but may struggle to express their needs. Aggressive communicators prioritize their perspective at the expense of others, which can lead to conflict. Passive-aggressive communicators often express resentment indirectly. Effective communication involves recognizing your style and adapting it to different situations. Types of communicators can also be categorized as verbal, non-verbal, or digital, depending on the medium used.

(v) **Types of internal communication:** Internal communication within an organization is vital for smooth operations. Formal communication includes reports, memos, and emails that maintain a record. Informal communication, such as casual conversations and chats, fosters team bonding. Vertical communication occurs between different levels of hierarchy, like manager-to-subordinate, while horizontal communication happens among peers. Other types include upward communication, where employees provide feedback to management, and downward communication, where management delivers instructions and updates to staff. Effective internal communication improves collaboration, transparency, and productivity.

Fill in the blanks with appropriate conjunctions in the sentences given below (if, in case, unless, until, when):
(i) We are unable to supply the goods .................... we receive payment in advance.
(ii) A spare axle is provided .................... one is damaged during routine use.
(iii) The machine should not be modified .................... a service engineer is present.
(iv) The filter should be changed .................... the unit has been in operation for two months.
(v) The red light will come on .................... the machine overheats. (5 marks)

Answer:

(i) We are unable to supply the goods **unless** we receive payment in advance.
(ii) A spare axle is provided **in case** one is damaged during routine use.
(iii) The machine should not be modified **unless** a service engineer is present.
(iv) The filter should be changed **when** the unit has been in operation for two months.
(v) The red light will come on **when** the machine overheats.

Rewrite the sentences in the passive voice:
(i) Somebody cleans the office everyday.
(ii) They cancelled all flights because of the fog.
(iii) How do people learn languages?
(iv) People don't use this road very often.
(v) They have built a new hospital near the airport. (5 marks)

Answer:

(i) The office is cleaned every day.
(ii) All flights were cancelled because of the fog.
(iii) How are languages learned?
(iv) This road is not used very often.
(v) A new hospital has been built near the airport.

Make a short presentation using about ten slides on the following topics:
(i) An industry that interests you
(ii) Changes that you would like at your workplace (10 marks)

Answer:

Below is a suggested structure for your presentation:

1. Title Slide: The name of the presentation, your name, and the date.
2. Slide 1: Introduction - Briefly introduce the two topics you will be discussing.
3. Slide 2: Industry of Interest - Overview - Describe the industry you are interested in and its significance.
4. Slide 3: Industry Trends - Discuss the current trends and innovations in the industry.
5. Slide 4: Career Opportunities - Explore potential job roles and growth opportunities within the industry.
6. Slide 5: Industry Challenges - Highlight key challenges the industry faces and how they are being addressed.
7. Slide 6: Desired Changes in the Workplace - Introduce the changes you would like to see in your workplace.
8. Slide 7: Change 1 - Work Environment - Describe a specific change, such as improving the work environment or office design.
9. Slide 8: Change 2 - Work-Life Balance - Suggest improvements in work-life balance policies or flexibility.
10. Slide 9: Change 3 - Communication and Collaboration - Recommend enhancing communication and collaboration tools or strategies.
11. Slide 10: Conclusion - Summarize your key points and end with a call to action or further thoughts.

These slides will help you create a comprehensive and engaging presentation. You can use tools like PowerPoint, Google Slides, or similar platforms to build your slides and present your ideas effectively.