An inappropriate choice in which of following areas has the highest potential to confuse
an international audience?
A) the thickness of the paper
B) the type of binding used
C) the pictures used as icons
D) the typeface chosen for body text
Chapter 17 notes that in writing meeting minutes, you should be comprehensive and
clear. According to the chapter, what else should you do? (Select all that apply.)
A) Be objective.
B) Record emotional exchanges between participants.
C) Be diplomatic.
D) Create a planning document for use in preparing for the group’s next meeting.
According to Chapter 4, one way to listen more effectively is to pay attention to the
speaker. What are two other ways? (Select both answers.)
A) Listen for main ideas.
B) Take notes while the speaker is speaking.
C) Avoid getting emotionally involved with the speaker’s ideas.
D) Tape-record what the speaker is saying.
Which three of the following are elements of an argument? (Select the three that apply.)
A) claim
B) persona
C) conclusion
D) evidence
E) reasoning
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) website
B) book
C) scholarly article
D) abstract service
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) arguing from ignorance
B) circular argument
C) ad hominem argument
D) ad populum argument
According to Chapter 17, which of the following statements is true?
A) A status report describes work on a project, whereas a progress report describes
work that is not specific to a particular project
B) A progress report describes work on a project, whereas a status report describes work
that is not specific to a particular project.
C) A progress report is for internal audiences, whereas a status report is for external
audiences.
D) None of the responses are correct.
A field report explains a problem, methods, results, and conclusions, but it
deemphasizes the methods and can include recommendations.
A) True
B) False
In describing your methods, you might include a picture of the equipment in your lab as
you used it.
A) True
B) False
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
A writer in the research division of Radworth Pharmaceutical, Inc. is preparing a
monthly progress report on the development of a new drug. What is the best way to
organize the body of the report?
A) by time
B) from most-important to least-important accomplishments
C) by task
D) based on the budget allocated for the project
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.
According to Chapter 6, which of these is considered a traditional tool for secondary
research?
A) online catalog
B) tagged content
C) questionnaire
D) microblog
According to Chapter 9, using Styles to design your headings can help you enhance the
coherence of your document.
A) True
B) False
According to Chapter 4, one advantage of collaboration is that it helps acclimate new
employees to an organization.
A) True
B) False
What is most important to convey in the employment section of your rsum?
A) information about your successful accomplishments on the job
B) information about how to contact your previous managers
C) information about relevant courses you took during your academic career
D) information about the size of each company you have worked for
Nominalized verbs help you communicate clearly and concisely.
A) True
B) False
Chapter 12 suggests that you consider four factors when planning a graphic. One is
your audience. What else should you consider?
A) the physical conditions in which readers will view the graphic
B) the kind of information you want to communicate
C) your purpose
D) All responses are correct.
E) None of the responses are correct.
In the results section of a recommendation report, you should interpret or comment on
the data you have compiled.
A) True
B) False
What is the purpose of providing front matter in a report?
A) to help readers understand the whole report and find the information they seek
B) to give readers answers to questions that the body of the report does not cover
C) to help readers know what sources to consult for additional information
D) All responses are correct.
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
A set of instructions is a type of definition.
A) True
B) False
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
Chapter 4 offers seven suggestions for communicating diplomatically. Which of these is
a suggestion from the chapter?
A) Avoid qualifier statements such as “I think . . . .” or “It seems to me . . . .”
B) Use strong languageit is better to appear overbearing than to appear weak and
indecisive.
C) Follow your emotions if someone opposes you.
D) Ask pertinent questions.
According to Chapter 7, long, complex arguments can most often be organized
according to one pattern.
A) True
B) False
Which three of the following forms are discussed in Chapter 4 as tools to help ensure
that a team’s efforts will be successful? (Select the three that apply.)
A) work-schedule form
B) task-deadline form
C) self-evaluation form
D) team-member evaluation form
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.
A heuristic evaluation is usually performed by focus groups.
A) True
B) False
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) True
B) False
Which of the following options is the best lead-in for a sentence list?
A) Our three main competitive advantages are:
B) The reasons are the following:
C) We offer advantages over the competition.
D) We offer three main advantages over the competition:
It is appropriate to use a defensive tone in an informational report if something has not
happened according to plan.
A) True
B) False
One technique a presenter can use to make his or her language more memorable is to
involve the audience.
A) True
B) False
An effective code of conduct has three characteristics. One is that it protects the public
rather than members of the organization or profession. What is one other characteristic
of an effective code of conduct?
According to Chapter 17, what is the common goal of all informational reports?
Why are graphics especially useful when communicating with people from other
cultures?
In what way does collaboration allow an organization to grow?
Identify one of the strategies listed in Chapter 3 for acknowledging reviewers who
contributed significant feedback on your document.
What is the function of an RSS feed?
Chapter 12 discusses five principles for making a graphic clear and understandable.
One principle is that the graphic should have a purpose. What is another principle for
making an effective graphic?
When revising documents for technical communication, you should ask two kinds of
people for help. One type is subject-matter experts. What is the other one?
Chapter 4 discusses five aspects of conducting meetings, a crucial component of
collaboration. What are two of those aspects?
Chapter 19 provides four guidelines for using equations in a lab report. One is to use an
equation editor or write the equations by hand. What are the other three guidelines?
What is another name for a status report?
Why should you avoid back-to-back headings, such as the following?
6-0 Approaches to Neighborhood Policing
6-1 Community Policing
In an oral presentation, what is an advance organizer?
Where is the stub located in a table?
What fundamental question does the conclusions section of a recommendation report
answer?