When setting up a videoconference with international audience members, choose a time
that is convenient for everyone.
Handwritten thank you letters are unprofessional.
In a chronological sequence, a description begins at one location and ends at another.
The word ‘wiki’is derived from a Hawaiian phrase meaning ‘quick.’
Definitions should not be longer than one sentence.
Sometimes the most reliable material resides in less attractive, text-only sites.
Always use “Mrs.’ or ‘Miss’ when identifying a woman.
The definition of technical communication is any communication that provides
complex information for technical experts; it is not intended for broader audiences.
Nominalizations are easier to understand than verbs.
Use sentence definitions to establish a working definition of a term.
Detailed formal outlines are most useful for
(a) all types of documents, no matter the length.
(b) very short documents like memos.
(c) brief reports.
(d) complex documents such as proposals.
(e) no type of document.
Which of the following statements is least accurate?
(a) All social media sites are used for the same purposes.
(b) External audience members can be important contributors to social media sites.
(c) Social media may be used to share updated information with customers.
(d) Job postings can be found on some social media sites.
(e) Many organizations use social media to highlight a particular product or service.
A conclusion is a good place to
(a) introduce a new topic.
(b) make recommendations.
(c) suggest further research.
(d) add new data.
(e) b and c.
Appropriate content for a letter of transmittal might be
(a) acknowledging individuals who helped with the report.
(b) referring to specific portions of the report.
(c) offering personal observations.
(d) a and b.
(e) a, b, and c.
All of the following are common sources of wordiness except
(a) strong verbs.
(b) qualifiers.
(c) prepositional phrases.
(d) ‘there is.’
(e) weak verbs.
In a claim letter,
(a) use a direct approach for a routine claim.
(b) never use an indirect approach.
(c) avoid expressing goodwill and confidence in the company.
(d) avoid asking for specific action for an arguable claim.
(e) None of these answers are correct.
Avoid all of the following in a proposal except
(a) an inducement for readers to act. (b) excessive detail.
(c) passive language. (d) exaggerated claims.
(e) a broad title.
Bulleted lists are appropriate for
(a) organizing similar items.
(b) enumerating a sequence of steps.
(c) drawing attention to headings.
(d) a and c.
(e) a, b, and c.
Which of the following statements about inquiry letters is least accurate?
(a) Address the letter to a specific person.
(b) Provideallof your contact information so thatyou can be reached easily.
(c) Do not enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope as doing so is presumptuous.
(d) Say thank you and offer to follow up.
(e) All of these answers are correct.
Paragraphs in a document should
(a) all be the same length.
(b) be at least three lines long and no more than six lines long.
(c) incorporate ‘orphans’ and ‘widows’ whenever possible.
(d) be at least 15 lines long.
(e) vary in length.
Which of the following statements about organizing a team project is least accurate?
(a) Work without a manager; allow all team members to take charge.
(b) Compose a purpose statement.
(c) Develop a file-naming system for documents.
(d) Decide on a specific meeting schedule.
(e) All of these answers are correct.
The best social media option to use when a situation requires a rapid response is
(a) YouTube.
(b) Twitter.
(c) a customer review site.
(d) LinkedIn.
(e) All of these answers are correct.
Acceptable practices in technical communication include
(a) plagiarizing the work of others.
(b) exaggerating claims.
(c) downplaying information.
(d) b and c.
(e) None of these answers are correct.
For meeting minutes, do all of the following except
(a) list attendees.
(b) describe agenda items.
(c) include personal commentary.
(d) include a title and the meeting date.
(e) record all decisions made.
Which statement below is most accurate?
(a) Blogs are not a useful medium for collaboration.
(b) An intranet is an external company Web site.
(c) Instant messaging is an easy means of holding real-time team meetings.
(d) ‘Web conferencing’ is another term for ‘teleconferencing.’
(e) None of these answers are correct.
Trip reports should
(a) avoid cluttering the document with the details of who was spoken with and where,
since the focus is on the financial details of the trip.
(b) avoid expressing personal impressions.
(c) express a willingness to answer follow-up questions.
(d) b and c.
(e) a, b, and c.
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.
To prepare a usable document, consider the
(a) budget.
(b) setting.
(c) length.
(d) a and b.
(e) a, b, and c.
Front matter includes the
(a) introduction.
(b) table of contents.
(c) letter of transmittal.
(d) b and c.
(e) a and b.
___________ analysis rates similar items based on specific criteria, whereas_________
analysis may explain the effects of a problem or decision.
Embarrassing or bad news may be placed in an appendix to the main report.
Using one visual after another throughout a presentation has the potential to bore or
confuse an audience.
Internal wikis do not allow employees to update information.
Social networking sites are not useful means of advancing your career.
If you are interrupted by an audience member who has a question and you don’t want to
answer it at that point, you should be polite but firm when saying that you will address
it at the end of your talk.
Active voice is inappropriate for an application letter.
A letter of transmittal is submitted as an appendix to a formal report.
More than_______ percent of managers nationwide feel pressure to
compromise ethics for company goals.