1
CHAPTER 12. Definitions
True/False Questions
1. Parenthetical definitions are often synonyms.
2. Definitions can be as long as several pages.
3. Definitions can have legal implications.
4. Hyperlinked definitions are difficult for readers to use.
5. Circular definitions help clarify technical concepts.
6. Visuals are inappropriate methods for defining concepts.
7. Use sentence definitions to establish a working definition of a term.
8. Definitions should never be placed in the margin of a text.
9. Definitions are rarely field-specific.
10. Use as many expansion methods as necessary for a definition.
Fill-in-the-blank Questions
11. The three parts of a sentence definition are ,
, and .
12. The term for a word’s origin is .
13. The three categories of definition are , ,
and .
Multiple-choice Questions
14. The specific strategies of expansion you choose will depend on
(a) the needs of your audience.
(b) how much time you have.
(c) the information you have.
(d) the amount of space you have in your report.
(e) None of these answers is correct.
2
15. Definitions should be
(a) judgmental.
(b) engaging.
(c) impressionistic.
(d) eclectic.
(e) concise.
16. An expanded definition should be placed
(a) at the beginning of a long document.
(b) in an appendix.
(c) as part of the running text.
(d) either at the beginning of a long document or in an appendix, depending upon the
purpose.
(e) None of these answers is correct.
17. To determine the best expansion approach, ask which of the following questions?
(a) What does it look like?
(b) What are its parts?
(c) How did its name originate?
(d) What does it not mean?
(e) All of these answers are correct.
18. Sound strategies for definitions include
(a) using circular definitions.
(b) avoiding visuals.
(c) narrowing the class precisely.
(d) making distinguishing features broad.
(e) All of these answers are correct.
19. Which of the following is not a method of expansion?
(a) explaining required conditions
(b) determining the audience
(c) comparing and contrasting
(d) analyzing parts
(e) identifying the operating principle
3
20. Which of the following statements is most accurate?
(a) Definitions have legal, ethical, and societal implications.
(b) Definitions have only legal and ethical implications.
(c) Definitions have neither societal nor ethical implications.
(d) Definitions have only legal implications.
(e) None of these answers are correct.
4
CHAPTER 12 ANSWER KEY