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1.
Which two types of organizational patterns are most common for mechanism
descriptions? (Select both answers.)
A)
comparison and contrast
B)
functional
C)
spatial
D)
radial
2.
What are two common ways of concluding a set of instructions? (Select both answers.)
A)
with a summary of the steps in the process
B)
with a list of resources for additional information about the task
C)
with maintenance tips
D)
with a troubleshooting guide
3.
According to Chapter 20, an effective process description fully describes which of the
following?
A)
a glossary
B)
substeps
C)
subplots
D)
frames of reference
4.
According to Chapter 20, what is an effective way to conclude a description?
A)
with a restatement of key points from the introduction
B)
with a summary of major points and in some cases, a brief description of how the
parts or process steps work together
C)
with information on maintenance or troubleshooting
D)
with distinguishing characteristics
5.
According to Chapter 20, what is the primary way to indicate the nature and the scope
of a description?
A)
writing an effective title or section heading to precede the description
B)
using color cues and formatting changes
C)
describing the nature and scope in the introduction to the report
D)
creating a sentence definition that mentions the nature and the scope of the
description
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6.
Which of the following is an effective sentence definition?
A)
Cardiovascular exercise equipment is used by people to exercise their
cardiovascular system.
B)
A canteen is a clear Nalgene bottle used to hold liquids such as water, lemonade,
soda, and sometimes hot beverages.
C)
Velo binding is when two plastic strips are placed on either side of the document
and bound together with heat.
D)
Thermography is a printing process in which a special powder is added to the wet
ink on the surface of the paper and then heated.
7.
A writer is creating an employee handbook for assembly-line workers and their
supervisors. One particular extended definition is approximately a page long. Where
should the writer place this definition if it will be of interest to only the supervisors?
A)
in a marginal gloss
B)
in a footnote
C)
in an appendix
D)
in the text
8.
A writer wants to describe how screen printing works. Which of the following elements
is NOT likely to appear in the process description?
A)
a diagram illustrating the parts of the screen-printing machine
B)
a step-by-step guide to performing the process
C)
a sentence definition of screen printing
D)
a section heading or title indicating the nature and scope of the description
9.
While reviewing a draft of a trip report discussing the importance of a presentation she
attended, a writer decides that some readers may not know what a particular term
means. If she wants to clarify the term briefly and unobtrusively, the writer should use
which of the following strategies?
A)
Include a parenthetical definition.
B)
Define the term in an appendix.
C)
Include an extended definition.
D)
Include a sentence definition.
10.
A writer is drafting the conclusion of a lengthy process description explaining to
consumers how a company’s new voice-recognition product works. Which of the
following elements would be least appropriate for the conclusion?
A)
a brief review of the uses of voice-recognition technology
B)
a sales message summarizing the benefits of the product
C)
a short summary of the principal steps in the process
D)
a brief discussion of the implications of the process
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11.
Read the following instruction steps for creating an automated index of web files. Then
indicate which instruction steps are NOT CORRECTLY written.
1) Open Windows Explorer to c:\ program files\autoindex\
.
2) Copy the folders containing your web files to the folder named “indexer.” If
autoindex does not contain an indexer folder, you must reinstall the software. See the
installation booklet.
3) Type the appropriate path, for instance, c:\ program files\autoindex\
indexer\ indexer.exe webfolder1, webfolder2, etc.
4) Indexer now has a folder called IndexSearch. The executable file, index.exe, may be
run to view the searchable index of your web files.
A)
step 1
B)
steps 2 and 3
C)
steps 3 and 4
D)
steps 2 and 4
12.
To minimize product-liability lawsuits in the event of improper use of Phillips lawn
mowers, which of the following instructions should the lead technical writer at Phillips,
Inc. NOT give to the company’s manual?
A)
Repeat safety information if you think that the repetition will increase the
probability of its being read.
B)
If our company does not have an appropriate safety symbol, create your own text
symbol through the use of highlighting, larger point size, and a text box.
C)
For ease of use, place all safety information in the Introduction so that users can
read through all of it at once before using the product. Then, in the instruction
steps, merely cross-reference to the Introduction.
D)
Do not choose safety labels arbitrarily.
13.
You are a technical writer for Landson Toy Company. Landson has just designed a new,
more durable swing set for 6- to 10-year-olds. Which of the following should you
include in the Introduction to the swing-set installation guide?
A)
a list of the tools the user needs to assemble the swing set
B)
the reasons the user should carry out the instructions
C)
the safety precautions the user must take
D)
a list of parts included with the swing set for assembly
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14.
H&G Garden Supplies is revising its instruction booklet for assembling and installing its
redwood garden arbor. The set contains two 6-foot trellises, two planter boxes, and a
pair of adjustable arches. Which of the following should you NOT include in the back
matter of the instruction booklet?
A)
a troubleshooting guide
B)
instructions on how to order replacement parts
C)
warranty information
D)
safety information
15.
Several organizations have guidelines and standards for communicating information
about safety. Which of the following is NOT one of these organizations?
A)
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
B)
American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
C)
International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
D)
Institute of Safety Ordinances (ISO)
16.
Which of the following is the most effective title for a set of instructions on bicycle
repair?
A)
Caliper Brake Shoe Yaw Angle Adjustment
B)
Adjusting the Yaw Angle of Caliper Brake Shoes
C)
Fixing Caliper Brake Shoes
D)
How-to Adjusting Brake Shoes Yaw Angle
17.
You are writing a manual for a deep fryer designed for home cooks. Which statement
would be appropriately set off with Note as a signal word?
A)
Corn balls will be very hot when removed from the oil.
B)
The fry zone is very hot when the power is on. To avoid serious burns, do not
touch the fry zone while it is heated.
C)
The fry basket can hold 4–6 small doughnuts at a time.
D)
Do not attempt to fix the deep fryer while it is connected to a power source.
18.
Which of the critiques listed below applies to the following description of a process?
“Getting a College Degree”
First, you must apply to schools you want to attend. Pick good schools to apply to.
Next, you must enroll at a college.
After you have enrolled, you must pick a degree program. Take every course you need.
After you take all of your courses, you will have a degree. Congratulations!
A)
This description has an effective introduction.
B)
This description lacks effective detail on substeps.
C)
This description has an effective conclusion.
D)
This description challenges readers to learn new vocabulary.
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19.
Which of the following provides the best conclusion to a set of instructions on
assembling a toy airplane for children under age 10?
A)
Have fun!
B)
—End Of Page—
C)
Use your toy carefully.
D)
The propeller should turn as you roll the airplane’s wheels. If the propeller does not
turn, make sure the wheel axle is turning the gear on the motor.
20.
Which of the following best describes the definition “A conjunctive adverb is an adverb
that has a conjunctive function between two clauses”?
A)
This is a simple, but effective, sentence definition.
B)
This is a circular definition.
C)
This sentence definition describes its item with clear distinguishing characteristics.
D)
This is a stipulative definition.
21.
Step-by-step instructions should be written in the imperative mood.
A)
True
B)
False
22.
A conventions section explains to readers how a manual uses typography to signify
different kinds of information. One example is using Courier typeface to represent text
the reader is supposed to type.
A)
True
B)
False
23.
It is important to revise, edit, and proofread instructions to ensure that readers can
complete the task described safely.
A)
True
B)
False
24.
A set of instructions is a type of definition.
A)
True
B)
False
25.
Part of the challenge of deciding where to put a definition lies in the fact that several
places are viable options.
A)
True
B)
False
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26.
According to Chapter 20, many companies are uneasy about using instructional videos
and rely on printed documentation instead.
A)
True
B)
False
27.
According to Chapter 20, there is no absolute distinction between a set of instructions
and a manual.
A)
True
B)
False
28.
According to Chapter 20, the safety of your company’s products (and the effectiveness
of your company’s instructions) is a matter of contract law.
A)
True
B)
False
29.
Descriptions are rarely incorporated into longer documents; instead, they usually appear
as separate documents.
A)
True
B)
False
30.
The partitioning technique for creating an extended definition often appears in tandem
with another technique.
A)
True
B)
False
31.
Chapter 20 lists three steps in writing definitions. One is analyzing the writing situation.
What are the other two steps?
32.
In what way is the definition “Booting a computer is when you turn it on” flawed?
33.
In what way is the definition “In a bankruptcy action, a nonsecured debt is a debt that is
not secured” flawed?
34.
What technique is used to clarify the term inflammable in the definition “An
inflammable substance is not a substance that cannot catch fire. To the contrary, an
inflammable substance catches fire quite easily”?
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35.
What technique is used in the definition “RADAR originally stood for ‘radio detection
and ranging,’ but these days it is rarely used as an acronym and instead appears as the
noun radar“?
36.
Placing definitions directly in the text is a common practice. According to Chapter 20,
what are two other logical locations for definitions?
37.
What are the three types of descriptions discussed in Chapter 20?
38.
What are the four signal words commonly used to indicate the levels of seriousness in
comments?
39.
The introduction to a set of instructions should answer six questions, one of which is
“Why should the reader carry out this task?” According to Chapter 20, what is one other
question?
40.
What is the function of a conventions section?
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Answer Key