Question 1

In a story mentioned in the text, the importance of proofreading in writing was highlighted by

Accepted Answer

A) courses given at Fortune 500 companies for proofreading. 
B) professional communicators rating grammar as more important and teachers rating mechanics as more important. 
C) teachers rating it as more important than professional communicators. 
D) a misplaced decimal and a misplaced comma. 
A) courses given at Fortune 500 companies for proofreading. 
B) professional communicators rating grammar as more important and teachers rating mechanics as more important. 
C) teachers rating it as more important than professional communicators. 
D) a misplaced decimal and a misplaced comma. D

Question 2

According to the text, only 31 percent of college graduates could read long and "complex English textbooks and draw complicated inferences" from the material. As a technical communicator, what would you do to make reading such material easier?

Accepted Answer

As a technical communicator, my goal would be to enhance the readability and comprehension of complex English textbooks for a broader audience, including those who may struggle with drawing complicated inferences from the material. To achieve this, I would implement several strategies:

1. **Simplify Language**: Use plain language to explain complex concepts. This involves avoiding jargon and technical terms when possible, or clearly defining them when they are necessary.

2. **Structure Content**: Organize the material in a logical, hierarchical manner. Break down the content into smaller, manageable sections with clear headings and subheadings to guide the reader through the material.

3. **Visual Aids**: Incorporate charts, diagrams, and other visual aids to represent information graphically. Visuals can help readers understand and remember complex information more easily.

4. **Examples and Analogies**: Use real-world examples and analogies to explain abstract concepts. Relating new information to something familiar can make it more accessible.

5. **Active Voice**: Write in an active voice to make sentences clearer and more direct, which can help readers understand who is doing what.

6. **Summaries and Abstracts**: Provide summaries or abstracts at the beginning of each chapter or section to give readers an overview of what they will learn, which can help them to frame the information as they read.

7. **Glossaries and Indexes**: Include a glossary of terms and a comprehensive index. This can be particularly helpful for readers who need to look up specific terms or revisit key concepts.

8. **Practice Questions and Activities**: Offer exercises, practice questions, and activities that allow readers to apply what they have learned. This can reinforce understanding and help readers to draw inferences.

9. **Multiple Learning Channels**: Provide content in multiple formats, such as text, audio, and video, to cater to different learning styles.

10. **Feedback Loops**: Create opportunities for readers to ask questions and receive feedback. This could be through online forums, Q&A sections, or interactive elements within the textbook.

11. **Readability Tests**: Use readability tests to ensure the text is at an appropriate reading level for the target audience.

12. **User Testing**: Conduct user testing with a sample of the target audience to get feedback on the material's clarity and usability, and make adjustments based on this feedback.

By implementing these strategies, a technical communicator can make complex English textbooks more accessible and easier to understand for college graduates and other readers who may struggle with such material. The goal is to facilitate learning and comprehension, enabling readers to not only read the material but also to engage with it critically and draw meaningful inferences.

Question 3

Four important goals of effective technical communication are clarity, conciseness, accuracy, and organization.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 4

How will the shrinking size of technology impact the role of technical communicators and others who write in the world of work in the future? What kinds of equipment fall into this category? Since this is an issue facing professionals in the next decade, be creative and specific with your approach to this challenge.

Accepted Answer

The shrinking size of technology will ha

Question 5

Examples of camouflaged words are

Accepted Answer

A) make revisions and have a meeting. 
B) at a later moment and arrive at an agreement. 
C) with the exception of and consider the implementation of. 
D) thanking you in advance and came to the conclusion. 
E) None of these answers is correct. 
A) make revisions and have a meeting. 
B) at a later moment and arrive at an agreement. 
C) with the exception of and consider the implementation of. 
D) thanking you in advance and came to the conclusion. 
E) None of these answers is correct.

Question 6

Shun words almost always

Accepted Answer

A) are unnecessarily wordy. 
B) end in "tion." 
C) end in "sion." 
D) All of these answers are correct. 
E) None of these answers is correct. 
A) are unnecessarily wordy. 
B) end in "tion." 
C) end in "sion." 
D) All of these answers are correct. 
E) None of these answers is correct.

Question 7

To achieve clarity in a sentence, it should have

Accepted Answer

A) quantifiable details. 
B) specific information. 
C) broad and general descriptions. 
D) All of these answers are correct. 
E) A and B are correct. 
A) quantifiable details. 
B) specific information. 
C) broad and general descriptions. 
D) All of these answers are correct. 
E) A and B are correct.

Question 8

Which of the following contains no passive-voice structures?

Accepted Answer

A) The dog was shot by an irate neighbor. 
B) How old will Steve be on his next birthday? 
C) We couldn't see the sky because the shades had been closed and the curtains had been drawn by whomever was in the room last. 
D) While the room was being cleaned by the maid, we waited outside. 
A) The dog was shot by an irate neighbor. 
B) How old will Steve be on his next birthday? 
C) We couldn't see the sky because the shades had been closed and the curtains had been drawn by whomever was in the room last. 
D) While the room was being cleaned by the maid, we waited outside.

Question 9

Which of the following should be avoided in written communication?

Accepted Answer

A) short words 
B) camouflaged words 
C) technical terms 
D) active verbs 
A) short words 
B) camouflaged words 
C) technical terms 
D) active verbs

Question 10

Robert Gunning's Fog Index is a mathematical method for determining whether a paragraph is difficult or easy to read.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Words like obtain, cognizant, subsequent, and initial are examples of obscure words.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

In addition to using obscure and unclear words, other obstacles to readers are created when a technical communicator uses

Accepted Answer

A) jargon. 
B) acronyms. 
C) abbreviations. 
D) All of these answers are correct. 
A) jargon. 
B) acronyms. 
C) abbreviations. 
D) All of these answers are correct.

Question 13

Technological advancements have made modern communication more wordy.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Which of the following groups of words is an example of wordiness in writing?

Accepted Answer

A) With the exception of the orange juice, we purchased everything on the list. 
B) Enclosed please find two back issues of Scientific American magazine, as requested. 
C) We arrived at a decision after only 90 minutes. 
D) We collaborated together on the project. 
A) With the exception of the orange juice, we purchased everything on the list. 
B) Enclosed please find two back issues of Scientific American magazine, as requested. 
C) We arrived at a decision after only 90 minutes. 
D) We collaborated together on the project.

Question 15

Using acronyms in technical writing is

Accepted Answer

A) sometimes acceptable. 
B) never acceptable. 
C) always acceptable. 
D) unavoidable. 
A) sometimes acceptable. 
B) never acceptable. 
C) always acceptable. 
D) unavoidable.

Question 16

Sentences may be wordy because you have

Accepted Answer

A) been redundant. 
B) used shun words. 
C) used expletives. 
D) All of these answers are correct. 
E) A and B only 
A) been redundant. 
B) used shun words. 
C) used expletives. 
D) All of these answers are correct. 
E) A and B only

Question 17

The ultimate goal of good technical communication is clarity.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

Limiting the number of words in each sentence to not more than_________ generally makes the writing more readable.

Accepted Answer

A) 20 words 
B) 17 words 
C) 12 words 
D) 30 words 
A) 20 words 
B) 17 words 
C) 12 words 
D) 30 words

Question 19

The text lists five proofreading tips. Two of them are

Accepted Answer

A) reading it aloud and omitting redundancies. 
B) reading one line at a time and using emphatic words. 
C) reading it aloud and printing out a copy. 
D) letting someone else read it and avoiding shun words. 
E) None of these answers is correct. 
A) reading it aloud and omitting redundancies. 
B) reading one line at a time and using emphatic words. 
C) reading it aloud and printing out a copy. 
D) letting someone else read it and avoiding shun words. 
E) None of these answers is correct.

Question 20

Answering reporter's questions helps determine which details to include.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

In a story mentioned in the text, the importance of proofreading in writing was highlighted by

According to the text, only 31 percent of college graduates could read long and "complex English textbooks and draw complicated inferences" from the material. As a technical communicator, what would you do to make reading such material easier?

Four important goals of effective technical communication are clarity, conciseness, accuracy, and organization.

Examples of camouflaged words are

Shun words almost always

To achieve clarity in a sentence, it should have

Which of the following contains no passive-voice structures?

Which of the following should be avoided in written communication?

Robert Gunning's Fog Index is a mathematical method for determining whether a paragraph is difficult or easy to read.

Words like obtain, cognizant, subsequent, and initial are examples of obscure words.

In addition to using obscure and unclear words, other obstacles to readers are created when a technical communicator uses

Technological advancements have made modern communication more wordy.

Which of the following groups of words is an example of wordiness in writing?

Using acronyms in technical writing is

Sentences may be wordy because you have

The ultimate goal of good technical communication is clarity.

Limiting the number of words in each sentence to not more than_________ generally makes the writing more readable.

The text lists five proofreading tips. Two of them are

Answering reporter's questions helps determine which details to include.

An Introduction to Technical Communication

Digital Communication

The Communication Process

Audience Recognition

Ethical Considerations

Document Design

Visual Aids

Routine Correspondence

The Job Search

Communicating to Persuade

Social Media

Web Sites and Online Help

Technical Descriptions and Process Analyses

Instructions, User Manuals, and Standard Operating Procedures

Research

Short, Informal Reports

Long, Formal Reports

Proposals and Business Plans

Oral Presentations

Filters

Exam 4: Objectives in Technical Communication

In a story mentioned in the text, the importance of proofreading in writing was highlighted by

According to the text, only 31 percent of college graduates could read long and "complex English textbooks and draw complicated inferences" from the material. As a technical communicator, what would you do to make reading such material easier?

Four important goals of effective technical communication are clarity, conciseness, accuracy, and organization.

Examples of camouflaged words are

Shun words almost always

To achieve clarity in a sentence, it should have

Which of the following contains no passive-voice structures?

Which of the following should be avoided in written communication?

Robert Gunning's Fog Index is a mathematical method for determining whether a paragraph is difficult or easy to read.

Words like obtain, cognizant, subsequent, and initial are examples of obscure words.

In addition to using obscure and unclear words, other obstacles to readers are created when a technical communicator uses

Technological advancements have made modern communication more wordy.

Which of the following groups of words is an example of wordiness in writing?

Using acronyms in technical writing is

Sentences may be wordy because you have

The ultimate goal of good technical communication is clarity.

Limiting the number of words in each sentence to not more than_________ generally makes the writing more readable.

The text lists five proofreading tips. Two of them are

Answering reporter's questions helps determine which details to include.

An Introduction to Technical Communication

Digital Communication

The Communication Process

Audience Recognition

Ethical Considerations

Document Design

Visual Aids

Routine Correspondence

The Job Search

Communicating to Persuade

Social Media

Web Sites and Online Help

Technical Descriptions and Process Analyses

Instructions, User Manuals, and Standard Operating Procedures

Research

Short, Informal Reports

Long, Formal Reports

Proposals and Business Plans

Oral Presentations

Filters