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CHAPTER 1. Introduction to Technical Communication
True/False Questions
1.
feelings. Technical communication rarely focuses on the author’s personal thoughts or
2. Technical documents are almost always designed for expert readers.
3. Phone calls, conversations, and meetings have largely replaced the need for
written documents.
4. Most technical writing is done in teams.
5. All documents have some persuasive aspect.
6. Research is involved in creating virtually all technical documents.
7. Technical communication includes digital media such as blogging and
PowerPoint slides.
8. In the United States, most people read documents from beginning to end.
Fill-in-the-blank Questions
9. In
primary. communication, the reader’s needs and interests are
10. Four different types of technical communication documents are ,
, , and .
11. The kind of easily correctable errors proofreading can detect include
, , and .
12. Three ways in which technical communications differs from academic
communication are ,
. , and
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Multiple-choice Questions
13. Technical communication seeks to
(a) anticipate and answer questions.
(b) help people perform a task.
(c) persuade people to do something.
(d) b and c
(e) All of these answers are correct.
14. When proofreading your work
(a) do so early on in the writing process so you don’t have to rework your sentences later.
(b) read your paper on a computer screen for easy viewing and correcting.
(c) be sure to read the entire document at one time.
(d) never rely on computerized writing aids.
(e) None of these answers is correct.
15. Effective technical documents
(a) use obfuscation.
(b) avoid combining text, visuals, and sound.
(c) are easy to navigate.
(d) a and c
(e) None of these answers is correct.
16. Of the following statements, which is least accurate?
(a) As long as a document is persuasive, it need not be clear and efficient.
(b) Instructions and procedures are two types of technical documents.
(c) At some point, all professionals engage in technical communication.
(d) Errors in punctuation and grammar can distract a reader.
(e) Technical documents must account for cultural differences among users.
17. Which of the following statements is most accurate?
(a) Technical communication helps us interact with technology in our daily lives.
(b) Technical communication helps advance workplace goals.
(c) Technical communication helps specialists solve complex problems.
(d) Technical communication helps both to advance workplace goals and to assist
specialists in solving complex problems.
(e) All of these answers are correct.
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18. An effective technical communicator does all of the following except
(a) works well as part of a team.
(b) performs research.
(c) proofreads carefully.
(d) considers global audiences as needed.
(e) uses appropriate media.
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CHAPTER 1 ANSWER KEY