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1.
According to Chapter 7, one benefit of using a conventional pattern to organize
technical information is that the pattern serves as a template or checklist, helping you
remember what information to include. What is the main benefit for your readers,
according to the chapter?
A)
It helps readers relax.
B)
It keeps readers from becoming bored.
C)
It makes a positive impression on readers.
D)
It helps readers associate new information with other information presented in the
same pattern.
E)
None of the responses are correct.
2.
Your supervisor has asked you to write a brief description of an abandoned silver mine
that is slated for hazardous-waste cleanup. Of the organizational patterns discussed in
Chapter 7, which would be most logical and effective for describing the mine?
A)
classification or partition
B)
general to specific
C)
problem-methods-solution
D)
spatial
3.
Of the options listed below, which is the most effective way to organize a document
describing the events that led to an Internet company’s bankruptcy?
A)
classification
B)
comparison and contrast
C)
problem-methods-solution
D)
chronological
4.
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?
A)
at the end of your document
B)
after the middle of your document
C)
near the middle of your document
D)
early in the document
5.
Which of the following can help you display your organizational pattern prominently?
A)
topic sentences to begin paragraphs
B)
frequent section headings
C)
a detailed table of contents
D)
All responses are correct.
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6.
Which of the organizational patterns below depends on relationships that can be difficult
to prove?
A)
cause and effect
B)
comparison and contrast
C)
general to specific
D)
spatial
7.
Which of the following is NOT a principle for using the problem-methods-solution
pattern of organization?
A)
Avoid overstating claims about your solution.
B)
Describe your problem in general terms.
C)
Describe your methods so that readers understand how and why you did what you
did.
D)
Consider using graphics to complement your text.
8.
Which of the guidelines below should you follow when organizing information by the
comparison-and-contrast pattern of development? (Select all that apply.)
A)
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)
Once you’ve ordered the second-level items, arrange them spatially.
C)
Evaluate each item according to the criteria you have established.
D)
Consider using graphics to complement the text.
9.
The following two headings indicate which type of organizational pattern?
Two Tasks You Must Complete Today
Other Tasks That Need Your Attention
A)
more important to less important
B)
general to specific
C)
whole-by-whole comparison
D)
problem-methods-solution
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10.
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)
main dishes
side dishes
drinks
desserts
D)
high-fat items
high-cholesterol items
high-calorie items
11.
Of the options listed below, which is the most effective way to organize a document
explaining which of three different trucks your company ought to buy for its fleet?
A)
classification
B)
comparison and contrast
C)
spatial
D)
chronological
12.
Of the options below, which is the most effective way to organize a discussion
highlighting the most important events in your company’s 31-year history?
A)
partition
B)
comparison and contrast
C)
spatial
D)
chronological
13.
Which of the following tactics will help your readers see and follow your organizational
pattern?
A)
using section headings conservatively
B)
using section headings liberally
C)
using section headings subtly
D)
using section headings infrequently
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14.
Which of these organizational patterns does NOT benefit from the use of “signposts” in
your document?
A)
more important to less important
B)
comparison and contrast
C)
general to specific
D)
chronological
15.
Which organizational pattern often occurs in a comparison-and-contrast discussion?
A)
meter-by-meter
B)
bit-by-bit
C)
whole-by-whole
D)
problem-methods-solution
16.
You are writing a guide to help chemistry majors plan their class schedules. Which
pattern of classification would be best for discussing the classes students must take?
A)
difficult classes, slightly difficult classes, and easy classes
B)
chemistry classes and other classes
C)
morning classes, afternoon classes, and evening classes
D)
general education classes, required chemistry classes, elective science classes, and
general elective classes
17.
Which pattern of organization would be most helpful for organizing the
work-experience section of your résumé?
A)
spatial
B)
chronological
C)
partition
D)
comparison and contrast
18.
Which factor should influence the organizational pattern you choose?
A)
your readers’ expectations
B)
your document’s length
C)
your number of section headings
D)
All responses are correct.
19.
In what situation do graphics benefit your reader?
A)
when graphics contrast with the text
B)
when graphics complement the text
C)
when graphics subvert the text
D)
when graphics supplant the text
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20.
Which organizational pattern is least susceptible to a writer’s attempts to mislead
readers?
A)
comparison and contrast
B)
cause and effect
C)
more important to less important
D)
spatial
21.
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
22.
According to Chapter 7, long, complex arguments can most often be organized
according to one pattern.
A)
True
B)
False
23.
It is often helpful to combine bases of classification or partition simultaneously when
using that pattern to write a passage.
A)
True
B)
False
24.
Classification is an organizational pattern in which a unit is divided into its components.
A)
True
B)
False
25.
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)
True
B)
False
26.
Chapter 7 explains that one challenge in using the cause-and-effect organizational
pattern is that it is very difficult to prove a causal relationship between two factors.
A)
True
B)
False
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27.
The general-to-specific pattern is effective for explaining the factors that led to a
specific problem.
A)
True
B)
False
28.
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.
A)
True
B)
False
29.
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.
A)
True
B)
False
30.
Signposts are especially useful for readers of passages written according to the spatial
pattern of organization.
A)
True
B)
False
31.
According to Chapter 7, one benefit of using a conventional pattern to organize
technical information is that the pattern serves as a template or checklist, helping you
remember which information to include where. According to the chapter, what is one
benefit for your readers?
32.
Your supervisor has asked you to write a completion report about a project you
completed to improve the employee onboarding program at your company. Of the
organizational patterns discussed in Chapter 7, which would be most logical and
effective for describing the project?
33.
According to Chapter 7, what is classification?
34.
According to Chapter 7, what is partition?
35.
Chapter 7 notes that using headings liberally is one way to display the organization of
your document prominently. What is another way?
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36.
A proposal routinely makes use of which organizational pattern?
37.
Chapter 7 gives three guidelines for organizing information spatially. One is to provide
signposts. What are the other two?
38.
Why are cause-and-effect relationships difficult to describe?
39.
Which organizational pattern works best when readers want to get to key information as
soon as possible?
40.
Why do writers sometimes place less-important information at the beginning of
documents addressed to readers outside of their own organization?
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Answer Key
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