Question 1

These days, technical communicators

Accepted Answer

A) increasingly specialize in different formats and types of content 
B) are becoming generalists who require design skills and multimedia, not just writing 
C) spending more time on video than on print formats 
D) are limited to research and writing of reports, manual, and proposals 
A) increasingly specialize in different formats and types of content 
B) are becoming generalists who require design skills and multimedia, not just writing 
C) spending more time on video than on print formats 
D) are limited to research and writing of reports, manual, and proposals B

Question 2

Efficient documents include the following feature

Accepted Answer

A) they're organized to guide readers and emphasize important points. 
B) they include visuals that clarify concepts. 
C) their supplements help readers to choose only what's pertinent to those readers. 
D) a, b, and c are all features of efficient documents 
A) they're organized to guide readers and emphasize important points. 
B) they include visuals that clarify concepts. 
C) their supplements help readers to choose only what's pertinent to those readers. 
D) a, b, and c are all features of efficient documents A

Question 3

Technical documents address

Accepted Answer

A) the reader's need to be engaged and entertained. 
B) only the technical aspects of a topic, not the background or recommended actions. 
C) the reader's need to be informed. 
D) the writer's desire for self-expression. 
A) the reader's need to be engaged and entertained. 
B) only the technical aspects of a topic, not the background or recommended actions. 
C) the reader's need to be informed. 
D) the writer's desire for self-expression. C

Question 4

A "virtual assistant" is defined as someone who

Accepted Answer

A) volunteers as an office assistant in order to gain experience. 
B) uses an avatar to perform office tasks. 
C) works from his or her home, on contract for one or more firms. 
D) exists only as a computer-generated figure that answers questions and finds data. 
A) volunteers as an office assistant in order to gain experience. 
B) uses an avatar to perform office tasks. 
C) works from his or her home, on contract for one or more firms. 
D) exists only as a computer-generated figure that answers questions and finds data.

Question 5

Technical documents focus on

Accepted Answer

A) the writer's need for self-expression. 
B) logical explanations of the presented data. 
C) the document's appearance, especially its professional format and graphics. 
D) the reader's information needs and decision-making challenges. 
A) the writer's need for self-expression. 
B) logical explanations of the presented data. 
C) the document's appearance, especially its professional format and graphics. 
D) the reader's information needs and decision-making challenges.

Question 6

Which of the following is not used to create structured documents?

Accepted Answer

A) Adobe Ideapi 
B) FrameMaker 
C) MS Word 
D) Autotag 
A) Adobe Ideapi 
B) FrameMaker 
C) MS Word 
D) Autotag

Question 7

Big Data can be successfully analyzed by

Accepted Answer

A) any worker who has special knowledge of the field of data being examined. 
B) experts who understand how to process and see patterns of meaning in large fields of data. 
C) librarians who can navigate databases. 
D) any outside observer who has no preconceived ideas about the collected data. 
A) any worker who has special knowledge of the field of data being examined. 
B) experts who understand how to process and see patterns of meaning in large fields of data. 
C) librarians who can navigate databases. 
D) any outside observer who has no preconceived ideas about the collected data.

Question 8

According to a study of Microsoft workers, how many minutes on average does it take a worker to return to "serious mental tasks" after being interrupted by a text or email?

Accepted Answer

A) 1 minute 
B) 5 minutes 
C) 15 minutes 
D) 30 minutes 
A) 1 minute 
B) 5 minutes 
C) 15 minutes 
D) 30 minutes

Question 9

In Chapter 1, "structured documents" are defined as documents that use

Accepted Answer

A) defined organizational patterns for each type of document 
B) a minimum of three levels of topic headings 
C) embedded coding or markup to provide structural meaning to a defined organizational structure 
D) standard headings such as "Introduction," "Discussion," and "Conclusion" 
A) defined organizational patterns for each type of document 
B) a minimum of three levels of topic headings 
C) embedded coding or markup to provide structural meaning to a defined organizational structure 
D) standard headings such as "Introduction," "Discussion," and "Conclusion"

Question 10

A virtual private network connects

Accepted Answer

A) home-based workers to an office intranet that's not monitored by people outside that intranet. 
B) workers to other workers within an office intranet that's not monitored by a supervisor. 
C) workers to a central secure server where workers can store files that no one else can open. 
D) workers to their iPhone or android device. 
A) home-based workers to an office intranet that's not monitored by people outside that intranet. 
B) workers to other workers within an office intranet that's not monitored by a supervisor. 
C) workers to a central secure server where workers can store files that no one else can open. 
D) workers to their iPhone or android device.

Question 11

Videoconferencing provides

Accepted Answer

A) a video-based equivalent of an internet chat room, where participants share video files. 
B) live online meetings where participants can see and hear each other in real time. 
C) telephone conference calls during which participants can access video clips stored on an internet site. 
D) all the meeting participants with smartphone access to video clips. 
A) a video-based equivalent of an internet chat room, where participants share video files. 
B) live online meetings where participants can see and hear each other in real time. 
C) telephone conference calls during which participants can access video clips stored on an internet site. 
D) all the meeting participants with smartphone access to video clips.

Question 12

In Chapter 1 of Technical Communication, the "global context challenge" refers to

Accepted Answer

A) the challenge faced by North American firms competing against cheap labour costs in other parts of the world. 
B) the challenge of team members with diverse backgrounds producing information for diverse audiences around the world. 
C) the challenge of producing products and services that will appeal to people in various cultures. 
D) the challenge of keeping up with a company's global expansion. 
A) the challenge faced by North American firms competing against cheap labour costs in other parts of the world. 
B) the challenge of team members with diverse backgrounds producing information for diverse audiences around the world. 
C) the challenge of producing products and services that will appeal to people in various cultures. 
D) the challenge of keeping up with a company's global expansion.

Question 13

Which of the following is not included in the list of challenges faced by technical writers?

Accepted Answer

A) the information challenge 
B) the persuasion challenge 
C) the management challenge 
D) the ethics challenge 
A) the information challenge 
B) the persuasion challenge 
C) the management challenge 
D) the ethics challenge

Question 14

Currently, technical communicators

Accepted Answer

A) never get involved in developing products for their employers or clients 
B) occasionally participate in product development 
C) are involved only in writing user guides for products 
D) increasingly are involved in the planning, design, test, sales, and service phases of the product development process 
A) never get involved in developing products for their employers or clients 
B) occasionally participate in product development 
C) are involved only in writing user guides for products 
D) increasingly are involved in the planning, design, test, sales, and service phases of the product development process

Question 15

The "virtual office" refers to

Accepted Answer

A) an online computer game that trains people in business communication skills. 
B) an online office that replaces an actual physical office for a firm whose employees either work from home or are constantly travelling on business. 
C) an arrangement by which employees work out of various locations, but maintain contact with people at one or more central offices. 
D) an office that is in the process of being equipped with electronic communication devices such as computer intranets and a videoconferencing room. 
A) an online computer game that trains people in business communication skills. 
B) an online office that replaces an actual physical office for a firm whose employees either work from home or are constantly travelling on business. 
C) an arrangement by which employees work out of various locations, but maintain contact with people at one or more central offices. 
D) an office that is in the process of being equipped with electronic communication devices such as computer intranets and a videoconferencing room.

Question 16

Workplace readers read

Accepted Answer

A) most documents quickly, from beginning to end. 
B) most documents slowly and carefully, from beginning to end. 
C) only the parts of a document they need to be informed to make a decision. 
D) only the parts they find interesting. 
A) most documents quickly, from beginning to end. 
B) most documents slowly and carefully, from beginning to end. 
C) only the parts of a document they need to be informed to make a decision. 
D) only the parts they find interesting.

Question 17

"Big Data" is defined as

Accepted Answer

A) the avalanche of data and data sources now available because of new technology 
B) data that's difficult to comprehend 
C) the most important pieces of information to consider when making decisions 
D) data that involves very large numbers 
A) the avalanche of data and data sources now available because of new technology 
B) data that's difficult to comprehend 
C) the most important pieces of information to consider when making decisions 
D) data that involves very large numbers

Question 18

The initialism VoIP refers to

Accepted Answer

A) variable operating internet principles. 
B) voice over internet protocol. 
C) video on internet players. 
D) video on internet protocol. 
A) variable operating internet principles. 
B) voice over internet protocol. 
C) video on internet players. 
D) video on internet protocol.

Question 19

The problem with inefficient documents is that

Accepted Answer

A) they drain a reader's energy and interest. 
B) they make it difficult for a company to attain ISO 9000 status. 
C) they are too easily understood. 
D) they cost too much to produce. 
A) they drain a reader's energy and interest. 
B) they make it difficult for a company to attain ISO 9000 status. 
C) they are too easily understood. 
D) they cost too much to produce.

Question 20

As defined in Chapter 1 of Technical Communication, inefficient documents can result from

Accepted Answer

A) headings that direct the readers to specific parts of a document. 
B) including supplements such as appendices of tables and graphs. 
C) excessive jargon or vague technical expressions that readers can't understand. 
D) placing photographs, graphs, or tables in the main text of the document. 
A) headings that direct the readers to specific parts of a document. 
B) including supplements such as appendices of tables and graphs. 
C) excessive jargon or vague technical expressions that readers can't understand. 
D) placing photographs, graphs, or tables in the main text of the document.

Exam 1: Introduction to Technical Communication

These days, technical communicators

Efficient documents include the following feature

Technical documents address

A "virtual assistant" is defined as someone who

Technical documents focus on

Which of the following is not used to create structured documents?

Big Data can be successfully analyzed by

According to a study of Microsoft workers, how many minutes on average does it take a worker to return to "serious mental tasks" after being interrupted by a text or email?

In Chapter 1, "structured documents" are defined as documents that use

A virtual private network connects

Videoconferencing provides

In Chapter 1 of Technical Communication, the "global context challenge" refers to

Which of the following is not included in the list of challenges faced by technical writers?

Currently, technical communicators

The "virtual office" refers to

Workplace readers read

"Big Data" is defined as

The initialism VoIP refers to

The problem with inefficient documents is that

As defined in Chapter 1 of Technical Communication, inefficient documents can result from

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

Formal Analytical Reports

Proposals

Oral Presentations and Video Conferencing

Blogs, Wikis, and Web Pages

Social Media

Filters