exam2

What is a euphemism?

A euphemism is a polite way of saying something that makes people uncomfortable.

What mistake did McDonald's make when it printed takeout bags decorated with flags from around the world?

Bags showed a Saudi flag, which depicts holy scriptures from Korea. Saudis were offended because the bags would be thrown out.

Why are graphics especially useful when communicating with people from other cultures?

Graphics are especially useful because they are a way to overcome language barriers.

Your company has completed an audience analysis for the manual you are writing for users of a new accounting system. The manual will be given to the 750 employees in the company's accounting department. Some members of the audience are experienced accountants and others are not; some have MBA degrees and others have bachelor's or associate's degrees; some were recently hired and some are long-term employees; some are managers and some are bookkeepers. How might you best accommodate your audiences?

Include different sections for the different audiences.

What is Simplified English?

It is a set of about 1,000 English words used for writing technical manuals in certain industries.

Which organizational pattern works best when readers want to get to key information as soon as possible?

More important to less important

According to Chapter 7, what is partition?

Partition is the process of breaking an item into its major components.

Which of the following sentences illustrates the best approach to writing about people with disabilities?

People with advanced cases of scleroderma should avoid cold climates.

What two guidelines will help you to avoid causing confusion when using clusters of adjectives?

Use commas to separate coordinate adjectives, and use hyphens to link compound adjectives.

Which of the following is a run-on sentence?

Vote for Pedro he will represent you well.

In many cases, removing which type of phrase following a noun will make your writing more concise?

prepositional phrase

Which of these is NOT a variable "beneath the surface" of daily life in a culture?

prevalence of technology

According to chapter 5, how do public agencies use social-media data?

public agencies use social media data to help them refine their message.

Which organizational pattern is least susceptible to a writer's attempts to mislead readers?

spatial

Chapter 10 describes six techniques for avoiding sexist language, what are two of them?

switch to a different form of the verb address the reader directly

Identify one of the four cases in which it is better to use passive voice then active voice.

the agent is clear from context the agent is unknown

what is the past perfect tense used to discribe?

the past perfect tense is used to describe

What is the past perfect tense used to describe?

the past perfect tense is used to describe the earlier of two events that occurred in the past.

Chapter 5 suggests that you consider five other individual characteristics of readers in addition to education. Which two of the following characteristics does the chapter suggest you consider? (Select both answers.)

the reader's professional experience the reader's job responsibility

A sentence with a negative construction uses a word or phrase to describe what something is not. One example is the use of not many rather then few.

true

According to chapter 5, a good way to learn about your readers' preferences is to read documents they have written.

true

Which of the following tactics will help your readers see and follow your organizational pattern?

using section headings liberally

Which phrase best defines the purpose of a workplace document?

what you want to accomplish with the document you are producing

Which organizational pattern often occurs in a comparison-and-contrast discussion?

whole-by-whole

Which factor should influence the organizational pattern you choose?

your readers' expectations.

Which of the factors listed below did the writer of the following memo fail to take into account? TO: University Faculty Advisers FROM: David Gates, Ph.D., Department of Psychology SUBJECT: New course offered—PSYC 499, Self-Fulfillment in a Global Society Enclosed is a flyer briefly describing PSYC 499. After you read through the flyer, post it in a conspicuous place, e.g., on your door. Or, better yet, make copies and hand it out in your class. The course will explore how our society can maintain a sense of self in these increasingly uncertain times. So tell students in your courses and your advisees about this new timely course.

All responses are correct. reader's attitude toward the writer reader's attitude toward the subject reader's expectations about the subject reader's expectations about the document

Which of the following can help you display your organizational pattern prominently?

All responses are correct. topic sentences to begin paragraphs a detailed table of contents frequent section headings

Chapter 10 suggests that the passive voice is generally more appropriate than the active voice in four circumstances. One is when the agent is clear from the context, as in "Students are required to take both writing courses," in which it is clear that the college sets the requirements. Under what other circumstances is the passive voice generally more appropriate?

All responses are correct. when the agent is unknown when a reference to the agent is embarrassing, dangerous, or in some other way inappropriate when the agent is less important than the action

The following passage violates which of the basic principles for effective sentences listed below? (Choose all that apply.) The site marks the beginning of a first-year riparian forest buffer. Monitoring equipment was located essentially where this stream joined Cook Creek at the end of the forest riparian buffer. Monitoring data indicated improved water quality within the tributary. It is our opinion that this could be the result of the riparian forest buffer being created.

Avoid filler void wordy phrases

Chapter 7 notes that using headings liberally is one way to display the organization of your document prominently. What is another way?

Detailed table of contents

Chapter 5 discusses certain variables that lead to differences among cultures. Which of these statements about cultural variables is true?

Different organizations within the same culture can vary greatly.

One way to learn about the primary reader of your document is to interview people who know him or her. Which of these questions is NOT likely to help you learn useful information about your primary reader?

Does this person attend chapter meetings of professional associations?

Which of the following sentences has a strong verb?

Download the test file before you start to answer the questions.

Which of the guidelines below should you follow when organizing information by the comparison-and-contrast pattern of development? (Select all that apply.)

Evaluate each item according to the criteria you have established. Consider using graphics to complement the text. Choose either the whole-by-whole or the part-by-part pattern or some combination of the two. Then order the second-level items.

Classification is an organizational pattern in which a unit is divided into its components

False

In considering your audience's education, you should focus primarily on the types of academic degrees readers have earned.

False

In describing your company's product, you should not compare it with a competitor's product because the competitor will sue your company for misrepresentation.

False

It is always unethical to compare your company's product to a similar product by another company when trying to argue that your own company's product is superior.

False

Nominalized verbs help you communicate clearly and concisely.

False

According to Chapter 5, what should you do once you have analyzed your audience and purpose?

Get management's approval.

Chapter 10 describes six techniques for avoiding sexist language. What are two of them?

Switch to as different form of the verb Address the reader directly

Which sentence below shows a comma splice?

The 728B polo shirt is our most popular model, it offers an unequaled blend of comfort and durability.

You are writing a proposal to restructure your department's organizational chart. Your manager was a member of the committee that originally set up the department's current structure. Which purpose statement would be best for a proposal to your manager?

The purpose of this proposal is to show how we can reorganize our department to improve our efficiency while keeping intact the values that have allowed us to succeed to this point.

You are writing a report advocating that your company increase its use of social media. Your manager has said several times that she does not like to mix social media and business. She has pointed out several social-media problems that other companies have created for themselves. Which purpose statement would be best for a report to your manager?

The purpose of this report is to demonstrate how the speed and flexibility of social media can help our company reach a growing audience of young adults with controlled, targeted messaging.

Chapter 5 suggests that, in addition to education, you should consider five other individual characteristics of readers. What is one other individual characteristic listed in the chapter?

The readers professional experience and job responsibility.

The first step in comparing and contrasting two or more items is to determine the criteria: the standards or needs you will use in studying the items

True

The first step in comparing and contrasting two or more items is to determine the criteria: the standards or needs you will use in studying the items.

True

The point of learning about your audience is to use that information to tailor a document to fit the audience's needs.

True

Sentences are often easier to understand and more emphatic if new information appears in which position?

at the end of the sentence

In which of the following sentences is qualifying information emphasized?

if the new administrator gets her way, all of the adjunct instructors get a raise.

Where do real or conceptual subjects often get "buried" within confusing sentences?

in prepositional phrases following weak subjects

Why should you use an audience profile sheet for a writing project?

it helps you remember what you've learned about your target audience.

To what does a pronoun need to refer?

its antecedent

Which of the organizational patterns below depends on relationships that can be difficult to prove?

cause and effect

Which pattern of organization would be most helpful for organizing the work-experience section of your résumé?

chronological

What level of formality does technical communication usually require?

moderately formal to highly formal

The following two headings indicate which type of organizational pattern? Two Tasks You Must Complete Today Other Tasks That Need Your Attention

more important to less important

According to Chapter 7, where in your document should you put your main point if you expect that your audience will like what you have to say?

early in the document

A sentence using negative construction expresses bad news or the writers dissatisfaction or happiness.

false

The following passage exhibits which of the characteristics listed below? (Choose all that apply.) Not many rescuers are trained to handle hazardous materials. Provide care only when safe to do so, establish a safe zone, and call for help. When a rescuer commences patient care, he should focus on basic life support and finalize his plan to decontaminate the patient.

fancy words sexist language negative construction

In what way is the following list flawed? The Ventura Aquifer program objectives are the following: •characterization of groundwater quality •to provide data to support Best Management Practices (BMP) •relating data to agricultural land-use practices

he list is not parallel in structure