ENG 302W Quizzes

Companies hiring technical professionals such as engineers, scientists, and programmers focus primarily on the technical abilities of the candidates they consider for employment. A. False - Candidates' communication skills are actually more important to these companies than candidates' technical skills. B. True - Candidates' technical skills ARE most important to these companies.

A False - Candidates' communication skills are actually more important to these companies than candidates' technical skills.

According to Chapter 3, how much time can someone expect to spend planning a writing project? A. more than one-third of the total time spent on the writing project B. about one-tenth of the total time spent on the writing project C. as little as possible D. one hour for every ten pages

A more than one-third of the total time spent on the writing project

Chapter 2 explains that, according to a 2012 survey of more than 250 companies, half of the employers surveyed reported monitoring their employees' use of social media sites. A. False - Actually, more than one third of employers surveyed reported monitoring their employees' use of social media sites. B. False - Actually, more than two thirds of employers surveyed reported monitoring their employees' use of social media sites. C. True.

A False - Actually, more than one third of employers surveyed reported monitoring their employees' use of social media sites.

Which of the following is NOT a guideline for using social media ethically and legally, according to Chapter 2? A. Work efficiently by repurposing pieces of content you wrote for one job at another job. B. Keep your private social-media accounts separate from those at work. C. Avoid false endorsements. D. Avoid revealing unauthorized news about your own company.

A Work efficiently by repurposing pieces of content you wrote for one job at another job.

Chapter 2 lists four areas of law relevant to ethical issues in technical communication. One is copyright law. What is one other area of law discussed? A. trademark law B. criminal law C. procedural law D. martial law

A trademark law

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 circumstance(s) is the passive voice generally more appropriate? A. All responses are correct. B. when the agent is less important than the action C. when the agent is unknown D. when a reference to the agent is embarrassing, dangerous, or in some other way inappropriate

A. All responses are correct.

Which of the following can help you display your organizational pattern prominently? A. All responses are correct. B. frequent section headings C. topic sentences to begin paragraphs D. a detailed table of contents

A. All responses are correct.

Chapter 4 offers seven suggestions for communicating diplomatically. Which of these is a suggestion from the chapter? A. Ask pertinent questions. B. Follow your emotions if someone opposes you. C. Use strong language—it is better to appear overbearing than to appear weak and indecisive. D. Avoid qualifier statements such as "I think . . . ." or "It seems to me . . . ."

A. Ask pertinent questions.

Which method of addressing opposing viewpoints is likely to be least effective? A. Avoid discussing the opposing viewpoint. B. Show that the opposing viewpoint is less strong and attractive than your own. C. Point out any problems in the logic of the opposing viewpoint or the facts used to support it. D. Try to reconcile the opposing viewpoint with your own.

A. Avoid discussing the opposing viewpoint.

A team of writers is just beginning a new documentation project. The client for the team's last project complained that the completed document kept switching from active to passive voice and that the design of the headings was not visually consistent. Which of the following is the team's best approach to avoiding such problems on the current project? A. Create a style sheet. B. Establish clear work procedures. C. Discuss cultural differences. D. Create a document template.

A. Create a style sheet.

A euphemism is a bit of shoptalk, a word or phrase that has a precise meaning to members of a particular group, organization, profession, or occupation but may have little meaning for people outside that group. A. False B. True

A. False

Secondary research is the process of creating technical information yourself, as opposed to collecting information that other people have discovered or created. A. False B. True

A. False

Chapter 7 states that one disadvantage of the problem-methods-solution organizational pattern is that you cannot alter the sequence of those three elements. A. False. B. True.

A. False.

A writer is developing a brochure for vacationers interested in taking an "Introduction to Kayaking" course offered by a rafting and kayaking company. Based on the principles discussed in Chapter 9, which of the following headings is most likely to appear in the brochure? A. Ferries, Peel-Outs, and Eddy Turns B. 1.0 Water C. What Clothing Will I Need To Bring? D. How To Perform Z-Drag Extractions of Pinned Boats

A. Ferries, Peel-Outs, and Eddy Turns

According to Chapter 5, what should you do once you have analyzed your audience and purpose? A. Get management's approval. B. Complete an audience profile. C. Outline the document. D. Begin drafting.

A. Get management's approval.

Which of these statements does NOT identify a benefit of turning a paragraph into a list? A. It forces you to reorder the sequence. B. It forces you to look at the bigger picture. C. It forces you to write more precisely and more clearly. D. It forces you to create a helpful lead-in.

A. It forces you to reorder the sequence.

Based on the principles discussed in Chapter 9, which of these examples shows the most effective transition from the first sentence to the second? A. New screening techniques are being developed to combat computer viruses. These techniques are the subject of a new research effort at Big State University. B. New screening techniques are being developed to combat computer viruses. They are the subject of a new research effort at Big State University. C. New screening techniques are being developed to combat computer viruses. Nevertheless, they are the subject of a new research effort at Big State University. D. New screening techniques are being developed to combat computer viruses. A new research effort at Big State University is focused on fighting computer viruses.

A. New screening techniques are being developed to combat computer viruses. These techniques are the subject of a new research effort at Big State University.

Which sentence below shows a comma splice? A. The 728B polo shirt is our most popular model, it offers an unequaled blend of comfort and durability. B. The 728B polo shirt is our most popular model, and it offers an unequaled blend of comfort and durability. C. The 728B polo shirt is our most popular model, because it offers an unequaled blend of comfort and durability. D. The 728B polo shirt is our most popular, comfortable, attractive, durable, and cost-effective model.

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

Which of the following is likely to cause a team writing collaboratively to produce an inferior document? A. The team avoids conflict and disagreement since that behavior is often time consuming and can feel frustrating. B. Team members act as the audience for the document. C. The team shares a common goal. D. Team members establish a style sheet and then divide up the workload.

A. The team avoids conflict and disagreement since that behavior is often time consuming and can feel frustrating.

A periodical index contains lists of journal and magazine articles classified according to title, subject, and author. A. True B. False

A. True

Once you've determined the audience and the purpose, 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. A. True B. False

A. True

Which of the following is an example of an informational constraint that you might confront when completing a project? A. You have located advertising brochures and testimonials associated with the subject you're writing about, but you can't find reports on the kinds of controlled tests that would convince a skeptical reader. B. Your document would be most effective if it used color, but your budget will allow for only black-and-white printing. C. You know that your proposal would help the company, but you also know that the company can't afford to act on your proposal.

A. You have located advertising brochures and testimonials associated with the subject you're writing about, but you can't find reports on the kinds of controlled tests that would convince a skeptical reader.

According to Chapter 5, which approach is best when writing for multiple audiences? A. a modular approach B. an experiential approach C. an attitudinal approach D. a linear approach

A. a modular approach

A writer is considering revising the long paragraph below. Would the best place to start a second paragraph be at (1), (2), or (3)? Although graphics can enhance a website, they can also serve as a distraction. Having too many graphics that do not contribute to the content of the site may make your company appear unprofessional, as well as contributing to slow download times. Your site, for example, has thirty moving images. (1) Such images do not reflect the serious nature of your business. When it comes to graphics, we suggest you adopt a "less is more" approach. (2) Another troublesome feature of your site is the scrolling banner used as a navigation element. To reach certain pages on your site, users must quickly click the links scrolling across the banner. If they miss a link, they must wait another 20 seconds until the link scrolls by again. (3) Because this site is not designed to be a game but rather a place for customers to learn more about handling hazardous materials, you should not use a scrolling banner as a navigation element. We recommend that you use standard navigation buttons aligned along the left margin or across the top of the page. Also, you may want to include a text-only navigation element at the bottom of the page. A. at (2) B. at (3) C. at (1) D. None of the responses are correct. The excerpt is most effective as a single paragraph.

A. at (2)

Chapter 8 discusses four broad goals of an audience. One is security. Which is NOT one of the other three goals? A. fair-mindedness B. recognition C. growth D. connectedness

A. fair-mindedness

When working with a reader who is hostile to your subject or to your approach to the subject, you should first state your position, followed by your rationale for that position. A. false B. true

A. false

Chapter 6 advises researchers to look for information that is current. What are two other characteristics of reliable information that the chapter says you should look for? (You must select both of the correct answers in order to receive credit for this question.) A. lack of bias B. well-known author C. comprehensiveness D. attractive design

A. lack of bias C. comprehensiveness

Print is a common medium for publishing information. Chapter 6 identifies four other publishing media. What are two other media listed in the chapter? (You must select both of the correct answers in order to receive credit for this question.) A. social media B. microfilm C. microfiche D. websites

A. social media D. websites

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; no partial credit will be awarded.) A. the reader's job responsibility B. the reader's temperament C. the reader's gender D. the reader's professional experience

A. the reader's job responsibility D. the reader's professional experience

Chapter 1 discusses a survey of more than 100 large American corporations. The results of that survey show that one-third of professionals need strong writing skills in their daily work and that one-fourth of all companies in all industries consider writing skills in making promotion decisions. A. True - The results of that survey show that one-third of professionals need strong writing skills in their daily work and that one-fourth of all companies in all industries consider writing skills in making promotion decisions. B. False - The results of that survey actually show that two-thirds of professionals need strong writing skills in their daily work and that one-half of all companies in all industries consider writing skills in making promotion decisions.

B False - The results of that survey actually show that two-thirds of professionals need strong writing skills in their daily work and that one-half of all companies in all industries consider writing skills in making promotion decisions.

In the section of Chapter 4 called "Listening Effectively," which of the following is not a suggestion for improving your effectiveness as a listener? A. Ask questions to clarify what the speaker said. B. Type notes directly into a shared wiki document for team record keeping. C. Don't get emotionally involved with the speaker's ideas. D. Listen for main ideas.

B Type notes directly into a shared wiki document for team record keeping.

Which two things are most essential for you to understand in order to communicate successfully? A. your collected documentation and the eight measures of excellence in technical communication B. your audience and your purpose C. your proposal and your audience D. your software and your hardware

B Your audience and your purpose

Which of these statements about working with someone from another culture is true? A. People from other cultures have a knack for delivering criticism to teammates. B. A topic of discussion that is common in one culture might be considered highly personal in another culture. C. People from other cultures are likely to find it easy to ask for help on a project. D. People from other cultures are likely to find it easy to participate actively in group projects.

B. A topic of discussion that is common in one culture might be considered highly personal in another culture.

Why should you use an audience profile sheet for a writing project? A. It helps you realize when you need to learn more about your target audience. B. All responses are correct. C. It prompts you to ask questions about your target audience. D. It helps you remember what you've learned about your target audience.

B. All responses are correct.

How does culture affect the process of persuasion? A. It determines the structure of effective arguments. B. Both responses are correct. C. None of the responses are correct. D. It determines the content of effective arguments.

B. Both responses are correct.

Chapter 4 lists and describes several advantages of collaboration. Which of the following is not an advantage described in Chapter 4? A. Collaboration draws on a wider knowledge base. B. Collaboration helps certain employees prove they are the best leaders. C. Collaboration helps acclimate new employees to an organization. D. Collaboration provides a better idea of how the audience will read the document.

B. Collaboration helps certain employees prove they are the best leaders.

Which of the guidelines below should you follow when organizing information by the comparison-and-contrast pattern of development? (You must select all of the correct answers in order to receive credit for this question.) A. Once you've ordered the second-level items, arrange them spatially. B. Consider using graphics to complement the text. C. Evaluate each item according to the criteria you have established. D. Choose either the whole-by-whole or the part-by-part pattern or some combination of the two. Then order the second-level items.

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

A writer's company has just adopted a policy of tracking employee emails to determine which employee is leaking confidential information. Because the writer knows that this policy will be unpopular with company employees, which is the best strategy for announcing the policy to employees in a memorandum? A. State the policy and then provide the reasoning. B. Present the reasoning behind the new policy and then state the policy. C. State only the new policy. D. State the reasoning behind the new policy and then state the policy in a follow-up memorandum.

B. Present the reasoning behind the new policy and then state the policy.

In the section of Chapter 4 called "Guidelines: Managing Your Project," which of the following is not a suggestion for keeping your project on track? A. Be flexible regarding schedule and responsibilities. B. Report ineffective team members to a supervisor. C. Break down a large project into smaller tasks. D. Put your decisions in writing.

B. Report ineffective team members to a supervisor.

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 A. The list is not punctuated correctly. B. The list is not parallel in structure. C. The list uses the wrong verb tense. D. The lead-in is not grammatically complete.

B. The list is not parallel in structure.

A post hoc argument claims that because A preceded B, A must have caused B. A. False B. True

B. True

Government publications are not usually listed in indexes or by abstract services. A. False B. True

B. True

Readers who can easily locate and understand important information in a document will be more likely to agree with its arguments. A. False B. True

B. True

According to an "Ethics Note" box in Chapter 3, it is completely ethical to ask subject matter experts (SMEs) and people who are similar to the intended audience of your document to critique a draft of it. Which of the following information is also discussed in this section of Chapter 3? A. You must pay the SME for their time and expertise, particularly if they offer detailed comments or suggestions on the draft or send you a multi-page review - and if you use some or many of their ideas. This is one item that should should always be included in the the budget you draft for a workplace writing project. Chapter 3 notes that the SME will often need official documentation about how much they were paid in order to submit the appropriate paperwork to abide by local, state, and federal tax laws. B. You must acknowledge the SME's contributions, particularly if they offer detailed comments or suggestions on the draft or send you a multi-page review - and if you use some or many of their ideas. Chapter 3 notes, for example, that you can do this in the introduction of the document they critiqued or you can send them a memo of appreciation that they can use for a future performance evaluation.

B. You must acknowledge the SME's contributions, particularly if they offer detailed comments or suggestions on the draft or send you a multi-page review - and if you use some or many of their ideas. Chapter 3 notes, for example, that you can do this in the introduction of the document they critiqued or you can send them a memo of appreciation that they can use for a future performance evaluation.

According to Chapter 10, sentences are often easier to understand and more emphatic if new information appears in which position? A. at the beginning of the sentence B. at the end of the sentence C. after a semicolon D. in the middle of the sentence

B. at the end of the sentence

Which of the organizational patterns below depends on relationships that can be difficult to prove? A. comparison and contrast B. cause and effect C. general to specific D. spatial

B. cause and effect

Which three of the following are elements of an argument? (Select the three that apply.) A. fighting, arguing, and bitterness B. claim, evidence, and reasoning C. persona, drama, and explanation D. introduction, body, and conclusion

B. claim, evidence, and reasoning

What level of formality does technical communication usually require? A. very informal to informal B. moderately formal to highly formal C. informal to moderately formal D. None of the responses are correct.

B. moderately formal to highly formal

Which of the following is NOT a category of constraints on your ability to be persuasive in a workplace document? A. financial B. partitional C. personnel D. political

B. partitional

Which of these best describes the process of revising a document? A. changing your document to improve style, diction, and mechanics B. reexamining your draft to see if it serves your audience and your purpose C. developing an outline of major points you want to make D. reading closely to make sure you do not have errors in spelling and punctuation

B. reexamining your draft to see if it serves your audience and your purpose

Which term below is used in Chapter 5 to describe a type of audience? A. supplemental B. tertiary C. indiscriminate D. fundamental

B. tertiary

According to Chapter 1, people who are good at communicating in the workplace possess four skills -- or abilities -- including the abilities to write clearly, solve problems, and analyze information. Which of the following is the fourth ability? A. the ability to speak more than one language fluently B. the ability to perform as a researcher C. the ability to perform as a manager D. the ability to be punctual

B. the ability to perform as a researcher

An effective topic sentence will reflect which of the following? A. the title of the document B. the organizational structure of the document C. the cohesive devices used in the document D. the character of the writer

B. the organizational structure of the document

Which organizational pattern often occurs in a comparison-and-contrast discussion? A. bit-by-bit B. whole-by-whole C. meter-by-meter D. problem-methods-solution

B. whole-by-whole

Which factor should influence the organizational pattern you choose? A. your document's length B. your readers' expectations C. All responses are correct. D. your number of section headings

B. your readers' expectations

In the section of Chapter 1 called "The Challenges of Producing Technical Communication," the author writes: "Technical communication is challenging because people are complicated, and collaborating with people is at the heart of the process." This line is followed by an example of a real-life workplace scenario. Which scenario is is presented for you, the reader? A. You are responsible for creating a blog post discussing fracking in the community and monitoring the social media response to that post. However, every technical document you create involves a compromise, perhaps regarding your budget, your audience's or colleagues' expectations or beliefs, and/or your department's needs (etc.), and you will need to negotiate a compromise. B. You are responsible for creating a fold-out brochure containing set up instructions for a bunk bed. However, every technical document you create involves a compromise, perhaps regarding your budget, your audience's or colleagues' expectations or beliefs, and/or your department's needs (etc.), and you will need to negotiate a compromise. C. You are responsible for purchasing a scanning electron microscope (SEM) for your department. However, every technical document you create involves a compromise, perhaps regarding your budget, your audience's or colleagues' expectations or beliefs, and/or your department's needs (etc.), and you will need to negotiate a compromise. D. You are responsible for producing a handbook on ethical employee behavior in the workplace. However, every technical document you create involves a compromise, perhaps regarding your budget, your audience's or colleagues' expectations or beliefs, and/or your department's needs (etc.), and you will need to negotiate a compromise.

C You are responsible for purchasing a scanning electron microscope (SEM) for your department. However, every technical document you create involves a compromise, perhaps regarding your budget, your audience's or colleagues' expectations or beliefs, and/or your department's needs (etc.), and you will need to negotiate a compromise.

What does the symbol ® indicate about a word, phrase, or symbol? A. It has been registered for trademark protection with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, but with "reserved" status. B. None of these answers are correct. C. It has been registered for trademark protection with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. D. It has been registered for trademark protection under the Regency d'Internationale Agreement of 1996.

C It has been registered for trademark protection with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Which of the following is * not * one of the four examples of misleading technical communication described by Chapter 2? A. Exaggerations B. Euphamisms C. Lying by Omission D. False implications E. Legalistic Constructions

C Lying by Omission

You are writing a report analyzing whether your company should hire a new vendor to provide data-warehousing services. You have found a white paper online that looks promising. How can you judge the degree to which the authors are unbiased? A. Check to see if the authors appear to be related to each other. B. Check to see if the authors have advanced degrees. C. Check to see if the authors work as industry-wide consultants or as contractors for specific vendors. D. Check to see if the authors have offices in the same cities as your potential data-service vendors.

C. Check to see if the authors work as industry-wide consultants or as contractors for specific vendors.

Which of the following is not a technique for generating ideas about your topic, according to Chapter 3? A. Freewriting B. Clustering C. Considering the four innovator's steps D. Talking with someone E. Branching F. Asking the six journalistic questions

C. Considering the four innovator's steps

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? A. Write the manual to the lowest level of the audience. B. Write the manual to the highest level of the audience. C. Include different sections for the different audiences.

C. Include different sections for the different audiences.

Which of the following mistakes did McDonald's make when it printed takeout bags decorated with flags from around the world? A. The writing on the bags was in English, which offended numerous nonnative speakers. B. The bags showed a pair of hands holding a flag in a way that customers in some cultures would interpret as an obscene gesture. C. The bags showed a Saudi flag, which depicts holy scripture from the Koran. The Saudis were offended because these bags would be thrown out. D. All responses are correct.

C. The bags showed a Saudi flag, which depicts holy scripture from the Koran. The Saudis were offended because these bags would be thrown out.

According to Chapter 2, what steps should a company take to improve its ethical culture? (Select all that apply. Each correct answer must be selected in order for you to receive credit for this question.) A. The organization can prioritize protecting its own employees over protecting the general public. B. The organization can retaliate against "whistle blowers" to help ensure employee loyalty. C. The organization can create a code of conduct that is - among other things - specific, comprehensive, and enforceable. D. The organization's leadership, supervisors, and peers can set good examples to act ethically.

C. The organization can create a code of conduct that is - among other things - specific, comprehensive, and enforceable. D. The organization's leadership, supervisors, and peers can set good examples to act ethically.

Which of the following is a run-on sentence? A. The adventurer walked for days and days, for weeks on end, for what seemed like an eternity; he found himself in a state of perpetual exhaustion. B. He is a little bit sour, she is a little bit sweet, and I am a little bit stale. C. Vote for Pedro he will represent you well. D. I left the room when he yelled at me.

C. Vote for Pedro he will represent you well.

The following statement appears in a university's report to its board of regents: "Several other notable universities, including Stanford and Harvard, are offering massive, open online classes, or MOOCs. It is imperative for Old State University to keep pace in the educational marketplace." What type of reasoning does the passage display? A. ad hominem argument B. arguing from ignorance C. ad populum argument D. circular argument

C. ad populum argument

What is an advance organizer? A. transitional words and phrases, such as first, therefore, furthermore, or consequently B. an outline of the document you are drafting, showing its content and organization C. any text that indicates the background, purpose, scope, and organization of the discussion that follows it D. the text that introduces a list

C. any text that indicates the background, purpose, scope, and organization of the discussion that follows it

Chapter 8 lists four characteristics that can help you establish an effective professional persona. One is cooperativeness. Which of the following characteristics is also mentioned in this brief list? A. self-control B. leadership C. fair-mindedness D. punctuality

C. fair-mindedness

For a report on the nutritional value of fast food, a writer has decided to organize her information by assigning fast-food items to categories. Which of the following sets of categories is flawed? A. under a dollar $1.00-$2.00 $2.01-$4.00 over $4.00 B. breakfast items lunch items dinner items C. high-fat items high-cholesterol items high-calorie items D. main dishes side dishes drinks desserts

C. high-fat items high-cholesterol items high-calorie items

Which of the following is an example of a coherence device? A. None of the responses are correct. B. removing transitional words C. repeating key words D. replacing nouns with demonstrative pronouns

C. repeating key words

Which quality in the list below is evident in the revised version of the following paragraph? Original: During our monthly meeting last month, we all came to the conclusion that overtime procedures are inadequate and that new procedures need to be initiated. I discussed this problem with our chief accountant, who was sympathetic and agreed to consider any changes we would like to make to the present procedures. Please bring your suggested changes to this month's departmental meeting scheduled for 2:30 P.M. next Wednesday afternoon. Revision: During last month's meeting, we concluded that our overtime procedures need revision. Our chief accountant has agreed to consider any changes we would like to make to the present procedures. Please bring your suggested changes to this month's departmental meeting scheduled for 2:30 P.M. next Wednesday. A. conciseness B. comprehensiveness C. accuracy D. correctness

Conciseness

Why is it important to plan your document before you start drafting it? A. Planning can make the writing process more efficient. B. Planning can make your final document more effective at fulfilling its purpose. C. Planning can help you create a realistic schedule. D. All responses are correct.

D All responses are correct.

Chapter 1 lists eight "Measures of Excellence" for technical documents. Seven of the characteristics are: honesty, clarity, accuracy, accessibility, conciseness, professional appearance, and correctness. What is the eighth characteristic? A. Influential, which means the document is successful when readers save it to refer to over and over again during their decision making processes at work. B. Emotional authenticity, which means the reader should have an immediate emotional response to the document to establish a strong reader-document bond. C. Expert testimony, which means established experts and scholars are quoted in the document to convince the reader of the veracity of the work. D. Comprehensiveness, which means the document includes background, sufficient detail, and supporting materials (perhaps provided as attachments).

D Comprehensiveness, which means the document includes background, sufficient detail, and supporting materials (perhaps provided as attachments).

Question 6 of 10 10.0 Points Chapter 1 describes six characteristics of a successful technical document. Here are four of the characteristics listed: 1) it addresses particular readers, 2) it helps readers solve problems 3) it reflects the organization's goals and culture, and 4) it is produced collaboratively. What is one of the two remaining characteristics of a successful technical communication document? A. It helps to ensure that you will be promoted more quickly than your colleagues. B. It flatters the customer, client, or reader who will ultimately need to use the document. C. It serves as an example of good work for you to include in your professional portfolio. D. It uses design to increase readability, since being legible will help readers understand the document.

D It uses design to increase readability, since being legible will help readers understand the document.

According to Chapter 2, ethicists such as Manuel Velasquez (2011) argue that whistle-blowing is justified if three conditions are satisfied. One condition is that there is strong evidence that the organization is doing something that is hurting or will hurt other parties. What is another condition? A. The employee has suffered personal harm as a result of the wrongdoing, such as the loss of a promotion, a substantial decrease in salary, or physical injury. B. The wrongdoing involves members of a minority group or affects individuals granted specific rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act. C. None of these answers is correct. D. The employee has made a serious but unsuccessful attempt to resolve the problem through internal channels.

D The employee has made a serious but unsuccessful attempt to resolve the problem through internal channels.

Which of the following is involved in creating technical communication? A. an electrical engineer filling out a standardized form B. a webmaster revising a company web page C. a company secretary writing a letter to a customer D. all of these answers are E. a manager preparing an oral presentation

D all of these answers are

Chapter 2 lists four factors governing the fair-use exemption, which allows you to use copyrighted material without permission under certain conditions. One factor is the nature and purpose of the copyrighted work. What is another factor? A. whether the copyrighted work was published on the Internet, in which case it can be considered to be in the public domain B. whether you intended to cause the copyright holder any harm—financial or otherwise—by using the copyrighted material C. the degree of difficulty you might encounter if you did seek permission to use the copyrighted work D. the effect of the use on the potential market for the copyrighted work

D the effect of the use on the potential market for the copyrighted work

A writer is commenting on a first draft of a technical report written by another team member. Which of the following comments is most appropriate? A. "You've really improved your editing skills, Brian. Your writing would be less confusing if you used more active voice. Similarly, your report would be even better if you used some bulleted lists to break up some of your longer paragraphs." B. "Use Arial Bold for all headings. Change on-line to online. Delete section 4. Add a map of the site in section 2. Otherwise, you are on the right track. Good work, Kathy." C. "I'm working on several different projects right now. I've been able to proof the document. However, I leave it to you to check its organization. Also, I feel you didn't sell me on the benefits of usability testing." D. "Section 3 does a great job of making a case for the importance of our usability testing. Perhaps we should also include a graph showing a decrease in customer-service calls since we started testing. We may also want to add a section on user feedback."

D. "Section 3 does a great job of making a case for the importance of our usability testing. Perhaps we should also include a graph showing a decrease in customer-service calls since we started testing. We may also want to add a section on user feedback."

In the section of Chapter 4 called "Setting Your Team's Agenda," which of the following is not a suggestion for helping your team work effectively and efficiently? A. Establish a procedure for resolving conflict productively. B. Create evaluation materials. C. Define tasks for each team member. D. Avoid choosing a team leader.

D. Avoid choosing a team leader.

You are writing a report about new regulations that affect your company. Your primary audience of company executives is very busy and will read your report quickly, but secondary- and tertiary-audience members are likely to read more slowly and carefully. Which of the following options is most appropriate for your situation? A. Include detailed footnotes on each page. B. To save time, omit the executive summary and put more details in the body of your report. C. Follow the patterns of writing that were successful for you in college English and history classes. D. Break your report into modules and put highly detailed information in an appendix.

D. Break your report into modules and put highly detailed information in an appendix.

Chapter 4 lists and describes several disadvantages of collaboration. Which of the following is not a disadvantage described in Chapter 4? A. Collaboration can lead to groupthink. B. Collaboration can take more time than individual writing. C. Collaboration can yield a disjointed document. D. Collaboration can lead to plagiarism from outside sources.

D. Collaboration can lead to plagiarism from outside sources.

Which of the following is NOT a principle for using the problem-methods-solution pattern of organization? A. Consider using graphics to complement your text. B. Describe your methods so that readers understand how and why you did what you did. C. Avoid overstating claims about your solution. D. Describe your problem in general terms.

D. Describe your problem in general terms.

The section of Chapter 3 called "Seeking Help From Others," recommends that technical writers seek help from two kinds of people: subject matter experts (SMEs) and actual and/or prospective users of the document. Four techniques are offered for how technical writers can learn from SMEs and actual and prospective users. Which of the following techniques does not appear in this section? A. Interview SMEs about a draft of the document. B. Survey, interview, or observe readers as they use the document. C. Conduct a focus group to learn of prospective users' opinions about the document. D. Hire a research consultant to both survey prospective users' and revise the document according to their feedback.

D. Hire a research consultant to both survey prospective users' and revise the document according to their feedback.

What is Simplified English? A. It is English written in sentences with five or fewer words. B. It is a way to teach English to elementary-school children. C. It is writing that has been dumbed down. D. It is a set of about 1,000 English words used for writing technical manuals in certain industries.

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

"Refer to the person first, the disability second" is one of the guidelines for using the people-first approach to writing about people with disabilities. Which of the following are other guidelines discussed in the chapter? A. Refer to a person who uses a wheelchair as wheelchair bound or confined to a wheelchair. B. Refer to people with disabilities as abnormal, as opposed to atypical. C. Remember that handicap and disability are synonymous terms. D. None of the responses are correct.

D. None of the responses are correct.

A local bank uses this slogan in its advertising: "Integrity. Experience. Trust. Local." What about this slogan violates readers' expectations? A. The hierarchy of the list is confusing. B. None of the responses are correct. C. The list does not follow the general-to-specific pattern. D. The items in the list are not parallel.

D. The items in the list are not parallel.

Which statement best compares the information found on a wiki with the information from an edited website? A. The lack of editors on a wiki means that a wiki can be updated quickly. Faster is better. B. Edited websites lack the accountability created when content gets "crowdsourced" on a wiki. C. The lack of editors on a wiki means that authors on the site can be trusted to speak the truth. D. The lack of editors on a wiki means that authors on the site may mix truth with fiction.

D. The lack of editors on a wiki means that authors on the site may mix truth with fiction.

Which of the following techniques is not included in a list of techniques in the section of Chapter 3 called "Drafting Effectively"? A. Get comfortable B. Draft quickly C. Don't stop to get more information or to revise D. Try writing with your eyes closed

D. Try writing with your eyes closed

Which word best describes the process of writing technical documents? A. static B. fixed C. linear D. nonlinear

D. nonlinear

According to Chapter 6, which of these is considered a traditional tool for secondary research? A. microblog B. tagged content C. questionnaire D. online catalog

D. online catalog

Chapter 5 identifies seven categories of cultural variables "on the surface." One category is political. Which of these is NOT a category of surface cultural variables? A. social B. religious C. economic D. philosophical

D. philosophical

Your supervisor has asked you to write a brief description of an abandoned silver mine with a complex series of caves, some of which are slated for hazardous-waste cleanup. The audience for this document is the waste cleanup crew leader. Of the organizational patterns discussed in Chapter 7, which would be most logical and effective for describing the mine? A. general to specific B. problem-methods-solution C. cause and effect D. spatial

D. spatial

Your manager has asked you to recommend which of two new types of digital camera to buy for your company's publications department. Which of the following is likely to be the best source of information for your report? A. an encyclopedia B. scholarly article C. book D. website

D. website

Chapter 3 defines a "living document" as one that exists only as long as its writer who created it works at that company or organization. When the writer leaves the company or organization, the document becomes a "dead document." True False

False

Chapter 1 begins by explaining that "People in the working world communicate technical information for a number of reasons, many of which fall into one of two categories: 1) to help others learn about a subject, carry out a task, or make a decision, or 2) to reinforce or change attitudes and motivate readers to take action." True False

True

Chapter 2 discusses ethicist Thomas Donaldson's concept of a "moral minimum," which describes the idea that companies working in cross-cultural situations are "ethically obligated not to reinforce patterns of discrimination in product information," though they "are not obligated to challenge the prevailing prejudice directly." True False

True

In the section of Chapter 2 called "Using Social Media Ethically and Legally," several guidelines are offered. One of those guidelines is that you should avoid revealing unauthorized news about your own company. This section includes the following information: "A company that wishes to apply for a patent for one of its products or processes has, according to the law, only one year to do so after the product or process is first mentioned or illustrated in a 'printed publication.' Because courts have found that a photo on Facebook or a blog or even a tweet is equivalent to a printed publication (Bettinger, 2010), you could inadvertently start the clock ticking. Even worse, some other company could use the information to apply for a patent for the product or process that your company is developing." True False

True

Styles are preformatted designs for different kinds of documents, such as business letters, memos, newsletters, and reports. True False

True