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Test your basic knowledge |
DSST Technical Writing
Start Test
Study First
Subjects
:
dsst
,
writing-skills
Instructions:
Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
If you are not ready to take this test, you can
study here
.
Match each statement with the correct term.
Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.
This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. Written for repair technicians; contain troubleshooting charts for diagnosing problems
Background
Directives
Service Manuals
Etymology
2. Charts that show parts of a whole
Proposal
Relative pronouns
White space
Pie charts
3. The _____________ explains what an organization wants to do and justifies the proposal with primary and secondary research.
Laboratory Reports
Analysis of parts
Training Manuals
Plan of work
4. Describes the physical appearance of an object or area beginning at one point and ending at another; useful for product or mechanism descriptions
Executive Summary
Descriptive Abstract
Process Description
Spatial pattern
5. Used when extensive details are required about an item; may be a paragraph or numerous pages depending on the audience and purpose.
Claim Letters
Parallel sentences
Color
Expanded Definition
6. The purpose of a ____ is to: Summarize information - Interpret Findings - Recommend action
Conclusion
Justification
Justification
Audience Analysis Questions
7. Audience consists of experts in the subject matter - data does not require lengthy explanation e.g.: a physician giving a report to a surgeon about a patient's lab results and symptoms
High Technical
Orphan
Columns
Analysis of parts
8. Involves dividing an idea into different parts and explaining each part separately.
Thumbnails
Analogy
Partition
Inquiry Letters
9. Begins with either the cause of the effect; useful in reports discussing problems and solutions
Manuals
Audience Analysis Questions
Cause and Effect
Gantt charts
10. Reduces costs by minimizing customer calls and the need to release document updates. Product sales and customer satisfaction also benefitsfrom this - although this enhances product safety - it does not eliminate a firm's legal responsibilities.
Visuals
Tone
Usability testing
Resume
11. Margins ________ on the left are easier to read; fully ______ is appropriate for multiple columns.
Informative Abstract
Justification
Table of Contents
Procedures
12. Written for trained operators of construction - computer - or manufacturing equipment for use on the job; includes instructions and safety information.
13. Commonly used to outline longer documents like reports - proposals - and manuals.
Color
Sentence outlines
Etymology
Tone
14. Used when writing about one subject that is similar to another.
Sentence definitions
Data Validity Questions
Comparison
15 to 20
15. Detailed - usually multipage commercial document containing descriptions of product/servive/project for marketing purposes.
Brochure
Spatial pattern
Headers
Headings
16. Letter format most appropriate with letterhead stationery - all letter elements are aligned to the left margin - and company letterhead is commonly used.
Formal Internal Proposal
Widow
Captions
Full-block style
17. Used for complex terms or when term has multiple meanings. Follows a fixed patter: indicate the term to be defined - the class in which the time belongs - and the features that make the item unique in its class.
Sentence Definition
Justification
Headers
Closing Summary
18. Data organized visually for easy comparison
Sentence Definition
Feasibility Report Structure
Tables
Titles and headings
19. Indicate organizational structure and help readers find information; type size or font should differ from main text.
Headings
Headers and footers
Analogy
Visuals
20. The page area that contains no text or graphics - and it helps draw a reader's attention to a particular page element. Improves the readability of a document for all types of readers. Although it limits the amount of information on a page - it does n
Analysis of parts
Memos
White space
Parenthetical definition
21. Titles or brief statements that describe a visual.
Incident or trouble reports
Modified-block style
Captions
Progress Reports
22. The _______ is the left-hand column of a table - and it lists the items being compared.
Stub
Deliverable
Headers and footers
First-level and second-level
23. Used in in presenting steps - materials - and recommendations
Lists
Negation
Color
Thumbnails
24. Show steps in a process.
Passive voice and helping verbs
Flowcharts
Color
Partition
25. This document contains: Name and contact information - Job Objective - Qualifications and Summary - Education and Work Experience - Awards - Skills and Activities - References
Orphan
Resume
Analogy
Negation
26. Use a synonym or clarifying phrase to explain the meaning of an unfamiliar word; easy to set up links in electronic documents.
Cover panel
Line Graphs
Headers and footers
Parenthetical Definition
27. Organization Name __________ To: Name/Title of addressee From: Name/Title of sender with handwritten initials Date: For record keeping purposes Subject: Key words Introductory Paragraph: purpose and background Body Paragraph(s): details - explanation
Widows
Memorandum Structure
Cause and Effect
Grant or Research Proposal
28. When using a ______________ - center the return address - date - and closing - and align body paragraphs to the left.
Modified-block style
Feasibility Reports
Training Manuals
Proposal
29. Emphasizes important information; reasons or examples are arranged in decreasing or increasing order of imporance; used when making recommendations or proposals.
High Technical
Cover panel
Routine Internal Proposal
Emphatic pattern
30. Written to express disappointment with a product or service and to request a refund - replacement - or an apology
Letters
Widows
Claim Letters
Columns
31. Discuss history - development - and applications for the term - unless readers are only attempting to perform a task related to the term.
Use Manuals
Expanded Definition
Job Application Letters
Background
32. Rules and guidelines provided to people who know how to perform a task - These ensure safety within a group. For example - guide on how to exit a building during a fire. Policemen have ________ they do after at a crime scene.
Relative pronouns
Procedures
Chronological pattern
Headers
33. Single words or short lines carried over to the top of a column or page
Negative definitions
Widows
Partition
Justification
34. Written in short proposal format; used frequently in organizations for minor spending requests.
Routine Internal Proposal
Orphan
Widows
Headings
35. Often include section topic - date - page number - and title of document.
15 to 20
Modified-block style
Resume
Headers and footers
36. Included on the title page; summarizes in a few sentences the scope and purpose of the document.
Topic outlines
Descriptive Abstract
Passive voice and helping verbs
Laboratory Reports
37. Writers developing a formal document should avoid _______________ - but thee occasional use in semiformal or informal documents is acceptable.
Manuals
Tutorials
Tables
Contractions
38. Written for both skilled and unskilled users of a product; include instructions regarding setup - operation and maintenance as well as safety warning and trouble-shooting tips
15 to 20
Widows
Usability testing
Use Manuals
39. Consist of brief phrases that indicate a document's method of development - and they are primarily used for short documents like letters and memos.
Incident or trouble reports
Captions
Headers
Topic outlines
40. Sentences with an average of ____________ words are appropriate for technical writing. Sentences of fewer than 15 words are too short and choppy - and ones longer than 20 words are cumbersome and confusing.
Closing Summary
Chunking
Parenthetical definition
15 to 20
41. These are sentences clarity is increased by creating lists/clauses with similar grammer. (for example - every item on a list has 'a' before it)
Parallel sentences
Titles and headings
Subordination
Sequential pattern
42. ______ are documents that help people how to understand how to assemble - use - and repair products.
Grant or Research Proposal
Manuals
Although
Parenthetical Definition
43. Increase the wordiness of a sentence
Collaborative writing
Passive voice and helping verbs
Sequential pattern
First-level and second-level
44. Explain how an item or process works
Feasibility Reports
Transitional phrases
Operation
Negative definitions
45. A document with an alphabetical list of definitions. It defines terms without breaking the flow. If a document has five or more technical terms it needs one of these. Insert after the appendix and bibiolography
Stub
Transitional phrases
Glossary
Relative pronouns
46. Explaining what the term does not mean.
Negation
Diagrams
Widows
Progress Reports
47. Illustrate relationships in systems - such as components in an electronic device
Justification
Glossary
Solicited Proposal
Diagrams
48. Show trends and changes over time - cost - size - rates - and other variables.
Use Manuals
Line Graphs
Expanded Definition
Semi Technical
49. A single line carried over the top of a column
Subordination
Transitional phrases
Widow
Pictograms
50. Using '______________' to link the two sentences best contrasts the information.
Relative pronouns
Although
Operator's Manuals
Tables