Question 1

The purpose of a lab report in school is to

Accepted Answer

A) prepare students for the world of work. 
B) help students learn material or prove a theory. 
C) determine whether a particular product or application is practical and safe. 
D) teach students the scientific method and help students learn material or prove a theory. 
A) prepare students for the world of work. 
B) help students learn material or prove a theory. 
C) determine whether a particular product or application is practical and safe. 
D) teach students the scientific method and help students learn material or prove a theory. D

Question 2

The "Action Structure" used for short reports stipulates that

Accepted Answer

A) every report requires a background section. 
B) not all reports require a background section. 
C) reports longer than three pages require a background section. 
D) incident and causal analysis reports are the only types that require a background section. 
A) every report requires a background section. 
B) not all reports require a background section. 
C) reports longer than three pages require a background section. 
D) incident and causal analysis reports are the only types that require a background section. B

Question 3

Most readers of feasibility reports want the writer's bottom-line answer in the

Accepted Answer

A) in the opening paragraph or two. 
B) in the assessment section. 
C) in the conclusion and action closing. 
D) either in the opening paragraph or in the conclusion/action closing. 
A) in the opening paragraph or two. 
B) in the assessment section. 
C) in the conclusion and action closing. 
D) either in the opening paragraph or in the conclusion/action closing. D

Question 4

Field trip reports usually use the following structure:

Accepted Answer

A) action opening/work accomplished/action closing. 
B) action opening/background/work accomplished/action closing. 
C) action opening/background/work accomplished/problems encountered/action closing. 
D) action opening/work accomplished/liaison activities/action closing. 
A) action opening/work accomplished/action closing. 
B) action opening/background/work accomplished/action closing. 
C) action opening/background/work accomplished/problems encountered/action closing. 
D) action opening/work accomplished/liaison activities/action closing.

Question 5

In the Action Structure, the "action opening"

Accepted Answer

A) connects with the reader's needs and interests. 
B) reviews previous actions and results. 
C) promises to provide a description of an action that has been taken. 
D) supplies useful background information. 
A) connects with the reader's needs and interests. 
B) reviews previous actions and results. 
C) promises to provide a description of an action that has been taken. 
D) supplies useful background information.

Question 6

Formal reports require

Accepted Answer

A) a cover page and title page. 
B) a title page, summary, and glossary. 
C) a cover page, title page, summary, and glossary. 
D) a transmittal document, title page, summary, and table of contents. 
A) a cover page and title page. 
B) a title page, summary, and glossary. 
C) a cover page, title page, summary, and glossary. 
D) a transmittal document, title page, summary, and table of contents.

Question 7

Documents of one to three pages should use

Accepted Answer

A) a correspondence format. 
B) an email format. 
C) a semi-formal report format. 
D) a formal report format. 
A) a correspondence format. 
B) an email format. 
C) a semi-formal report format. 
D) a formal report format.

Question 8

Pre-printed or electronic form reports

Accepted Answer

A) are used only by automotive and appliance service businesses. 
B) are used only for incident reports. 
C) are used by a wide variety of technical people for progress reports. 
D) have no useful role in today's workplace. 
A) are used only by automotive and appliance service businesses. 
B) are used only for incident reports. 
C) are used by a wide variety of technical people for progress reports. 
D) have no useful role in today's workplace.

Question 9

Periodic activity reports are similar to

Accepted Answer

A) progress reports in that both types summarize activities. 
B) progress reports in that both types summarize activities, but progress reports focus on a specific project while periodic activity reports describe general activity in a given period. 
C) project completion reports in that both types summarize activities that have already been completed. 
D) incident reports in that both types summarize activities that occur on a regular basis. 
A) progress reports in that both types summarize activities. 
B) progress reports in that both types summarize activities, but progress reports focus on a specific project while periodic activity reports describe general activity in a given period. 
C) project completion reports in that both types summarize activities that have already been completed. 
D) incident reports in that both types summarize activities that occur on a regular basis.

Question 10

Letter and memo reports should

Accepted Answer

A) never use subject headings. 
B) use subject headings if the document exceeds one page. 
C) use appropriate subject headings for the background, detailed analysis, and conclusion sections. 
D) use subject headings only for components of the detailed data and analysis sections. 
A) never use subject headings. 
B) use subject headings if the document exceeds one page. 
C) use appropriate subject headings for the background, detailed analysis, and conclusion sections. 
D) use subject headings only for components of the detailed data and analysis sections.

Question 11

The main difference between direct and indirect recommendations reports lies in

Accepted Answer

A) the length of the document. 
B) where the document places its main recommendations. 
C) how the argument is developed and supported in the report's main central section. 
D) the tone of the phrasing - indirect recommendations reports must phrase their analysis in very careful, indirect language. 
A) the length of the document. 
B) where the document places its main recommendations. 
C) how the argument is developed and supported in the report's main central section. 
D) the tone of the phrasing - indirect recommendations reports must phrase their analysis in very careful, indirect language.

Question 12

The following type of short technical report presents information, but focuses on analysis:

Accepted Answer

A) project completion report. 
B) progress report. 
C) incident report. 
D) indirect recommendations report. 
A) project completion report. 
B) progress report. 
C) incident report. 
D) indirect recommendations report.

Question 13

In progress reports, problems and setbacks

Accepted Answer

A) should always be discussed in a Conclusions section. 
B) should not be discussed if at all possible because the report should focus on progress. 
C) can be discussed in a special category. 
D) can be included, but cannot be easily integrated into a progress report. 
A) should always be discussed in a Conclusions section. 
B) should not be discussed if at all possible because the report should focus on progress. 
C) can be discussed in a special category. 
D) can be included, but cannot be easily integrated into a progress report.

Question 14

The Harvard case study method is particularly useful for creating

Accepted Answer

A) direct recommendations reports. 
B) indirect recommendations reports. 
C) assessment reports. 
D) incident reports. 
A) direct recommendations reports. 
B) indirect recommendations reports. 
C) assessment reports. 
D) incident reports.

Question 15

Causal analysis reports

Accepted Answer

A) explain what caused a problem, failure, or breakdown. 
B) explain what has led to improved situations or positive trends. 
C) either explore the cause of a problem, failure, or breakdown, or discuss the reasons or an improved situation or positive trend. 
D) explore the legal basis for assigning blame for a problem, failure, or breakdown. 
A) explain what caused a problem, failure, or breakdown. 
B) explain what has led to improved situations or positive trends. 
C) either explore the cause of a problem, failure, or breakdown, or discuss the reasons or an improved situation or positive trend. 
D) explore the legal basis for assigning blame for a problem, failure, or breakdown.

Question 16

Justification reports

Accepted Answer

A) are exactly the same as proposals 
B) are exactly the same as causal analysis reports 
C) respond to a reader's request for a solution to a problem 
D) originate with the writer, who has recognized a problem or challenge and who has developed a solution or response 
A) are exactly the same as proposals 
B) are exactly the same as causal analysis reports 
C) respond to a reader's request for a solution to a problem 
D) originate with the writer, who has recognized a problem or challenge and who has developed a solution or response

Question 17

Compliance reports are

Accepted Answer

A) are required only by environmental watchdog agencies. 
B) are written exclusively for government regulatory agencies. 
C) are usually completed in forms provided by the regulatory agency. 
D) may be completed in forms, but more often the reporting organization has to create its own format and report structure. 
A) are required only by environmental watchdog agencies. 
B) are written exclusively for government regulatory agencies. 
C) are usually completed in forms provided by the regulatory agency. 
D) may be completed in forms, but more often the reporting organization has to create its own format and report structure.

Question 18

Incident reports

Accepted Answer

A) are written in present tense narrative, to give a sense of urgency and drama. 
B) are always written in the objective third person, often in passive voice, to eliminate personal bias. 
C) are written solely in past tense narrative to describe what happened. 
D) are written primarily in past tense narrative, but part of the report might be in present tense to describe the current situation. 
A) are written in present tense narrative, to give a sense of urgency and drama. 
B) are always written in the objective third person, often in passive voice, to eliminate personal bias. 
C) are written solely in past tense narrative to describe what happened. 
D) are written primarily in past tense narrative, but part of the report might be in present tense to describe the current situation.

Question 19

Assessment reports are similar to feasibility reports, but

Accepted Answer

A) assessment reports are usually much longer. 
B) assessment reports apply evaluation criteria, unlike feasibility reports. 
C) assessment reports are written after a project has been conducted or after changes have been effected. 
D) assessment reports are distributed within an organization, while feasibility reports are written for external clients. 
A) assessment reports are usually much longer. 
B) assessment reports apply evaluation criteria, unlike feasibility reports. 
C) assessment reports are written after a project has been conducted or after changes have been effected. 
D) assessment reports are distributed within an organization, while feasibility reports are written for external clients.

Question 20

The Action Structure

Accepted Answer

A) can be adapted to structure any type of correspondence or short report. 
B) is suitable only for project completion and periodic activity reports. 
C) is suitable only for progress reports and recommendations reports. 
D) is suitable only for reports that recommend specific actions. 
A) can be adapted to structure any type of correspondence or short report. 
B) is suitable only for project completion and periodic activity reports. 
C) is suitable only for progress reports and recommendations reports. 
D) is suitable only for reports that recommend specific actions.

Exam 21: Formal Analytical Reports

The purpose of a lab report in school is to

The "Action Structure" used for short reports stipulates that

Most readers of feasibility reports want the writer's bottom-line answer in the

Field trip reports usually use the following structure:

In the Action Structure, the "action opening"

Formal reports require

Documents of one to three pages should use

Pre-printed or electronic form reports

Periodic activity reports are similar to

Letter and memo reports should

The main difference between direct and indirect recommendations reports lies in

The following type of short technical report presents information, but focuses on analysis:

In progress reports, problems and setbacks

The Harvard case study method is particularly useful for creating

Causal analysis reports

Justification reports

Compliance reports are

Incident reports

Assessment reports are similar to feasibility reports, but

The Action Structure

Introduction to Technical Communication

Meeting the Needs of Specific Audiences

Persuading Your Audience

Weighing the Ethical Issues

Teamwork and Global Considerations

An Overview of the Technical Writing Process

Thinking Critically About the Research Process

Evaluating and Interpreting Information

Summarizing Research Findings and Other Information

Organizing for Readers

Editing for a Professional Style and Tone

Designing Visual Information

Designing Pages and Documents

Email

Workplace Memos and Letters

Résumés and Other Job-Search Materials

Technical Definitions

Technical Descriptions, Specifications, and Marketing Materials

Instructions and Procedures

Informal Reports

Proposals

Oral Presentations and Video Conferencing

Blogs, Wikis, and Web Pages

Social Media

Filters