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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. Use these to show the meaning of a process or concept.
Feasibility Reports
Tutorials
Process Description
Visuals
2. Use a synonym or clarifying phrase to explain the meaning of an unfamiliar word; easy to set up links in electronic documents.
White space
Parenthetical Definition
Job Application Letters
Instructions
3. Describes the physical appearance of an object or area beginning at one point and ending at another; useful for product or mechanism descriptions
Spatial pattern
Procedures
Data Validity Questions
Non Technical
4. Titles or brief statements that describe a visual.
Negation
Tone
Manuals
Captions
5. Used when requesting large amounts of money
First-level and second-level
Lists
Brochure
Formal Internal Proposal
6. A ____________ is the final document or product that will be submitted once a project is completed.
The functional resume format
Deliverable
Justification
Flowcharts
7. Included either at the beginning of the conclusion or at the end of the body; reviews main points and findings
Headers
Closing Summary
First-level and second-level
Chronological pattern
8. Show trends and changes over time - cost - size - rates - and other variables.
Line Graphs
Negation
Training Manuals
Expanded Definition
9. Too brief and general to convey the complexity of a term with multiple meanings.
First-level and second-level
Parenthetical definition
Etymology
Solicited Proposal
10. Translate numbers into shapes or colors; show camprisons
Headers
Lists
Proposal
Bar graphs
11. ____________________ in a sentence indicates the relationship between ideas; structuring a sentence with effective ______________ improves conciseness.
Table of Contents
Deliverable
Stub
Subordination
12. Consist of brief phrases that indicate a document's method of development - and they are primarily used for short documents like letters and memos.
15 to 20
Sales Proposal
Justification
Topic outlines
13. 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
Modified-block style
Contractions
Line Graphs
Use Manuals
14. Explaining what the term does not mean.
Negation
Tutorials
Line Graphs
Bar graphs
15. The _________ of a brochure is its front page - and its purpose is to catch the attention of the audience. Usually contain a visual image and a small amount of text. Concepts and overviews appear inside the brochure.
Resume
Analysis of parts
Deliverable
Cover panel
16. 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.
Orphan
15 to 20
Justification
Closing Summary
17. Emphasizes important information; reasons or examples are arranged in decreasing or increasing order of imporance; used when making recommendations or proposals.
Emphatic pattern
Headers
Captions
White space
18. 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.
Grant or Research Proposal
Sentence Definition
Parenthetical definition
Visuals
19. Often include section topic - date - page number - and title of document.
Parenthetical Definition
Instructions
Modified-block style
Headers and footers
20. Describing the terms origin - such as Greek or Latin words
Etymology
Stub
Job Application Letters
Semi Technical
21. External proposal written to request funding for a project or study.
Grant or Research Proposal
Deliverable
Diagrams
Subordination
22. Defining through __________ involves comparing two seemingly different objects that share a common characteristic.
Analogy
Pie charts
Drawings
Titles and headings
23. 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
Inquiry Letters
Memorandum Structure
Letters
Expanded Definition
24. Included on the title page; summarizes in a few sentences the scope and purpose of the document.
Letters
Descriptive Abstract
Flowcharts
Progress Reports
25. Involves dividing an idea into different parts and explaining each part separately.
Orphan
Parenthetical definition
15 to 20
Partition
26. Single words or short lines carried over to the top of a column or page
Headings
Passive voice and helping verbs
Widows
High Technical
27. Letter format most appropriate with letterhead stationery - all letter elements are aligned to the left margin - and company letterhead is commonly used.
Sentence definitions
Brochure
First-level and second-level
Full-block style
28. 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
Feasibility Report Structure
Solicited Proposal
Data Validity
29. Single ___ for larger typeface; double for smaller typeface. Avoid orphans and widows.
Columns
Appendix
Cause and Effect
Parallel sentences
30. Included before full report; summarized version of report
Informative Abstract
Collaborative writing
Job Application Letters
White space
31. Used when writing about one subject that is similar to another.
Comparison
Proposal
Letters
Tutorials
32. 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
Grant or Research Proposal
Analogy
Glossary
Routine Internal Proposal
33. It emphasizes abilities and skills rather than work history. This type of resume is appropriate for people who are changing careers or who have limited work experience. Education and references are included but not stressed.
Diagrams
Transitional phrases
The functional resume format
Etymology
34. Show real or imaginary objects; highlight specific parts; use exploded view to show how parts fit together.
Passive voice and helping verbs
Resume
Headings
Drawings
35. Indicate organizational structure and help readers find information; type size or font should differ from main text.
Gantt charts
Relative pronouns
Partition
Headings
36. ______ ______ ______ is as follows: Introduction: background information and purpose statement - Body: Review of options being considered based on criteria like costs and staff - Conclusion: Interpretations of findings - Recommendation: Author's opin
Feasibility Report Structure
Lists
Tutorials
Operator's Manuals
37. Detailed - usually multipage commercial document containing descriptions of product/servive/project for marketing purposes.
Resume
Proposal
Drawings
Brochure
38. External proposal that may be short or long depending on the size of the potential sale
Conclusion
Justification
Instructions
Sales Proposal
39. The purpose of a ____ is to: Summarize information - Interpret Findings - Recommend action
Usability testing
Conclusion
Manuals
Unsolicited proposal
40. 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.
Headers
Feasibility Report Structure
Analysis of parts
Procedures
41. Charts that show parts of a whole
Etymology
Parenthetical definition
Pie charts
Incident or trouble reports
42. Written to express disappointment with a product or service and to request a refund - replacement - or an apology
Claim Letters
Headers and footers
Service Manuals
Process Description
43. Show how components of a principle - process - or system function together - useful to people assembling and installing things.
Pie charts
Closing Summary
Operation
Schematic diagrams
44. What is the Web Site's sponsor and domain type(.edu.com.gov) - What is the purpose of the Web page and message? - When was the Web site most recently updated? - What are the author's credentials and expertise?
Formal Internal Proposal
Job Application Letters
Plan of work
Data Validity Questions
45. Written to accompany a resume when seeking an internship or employment; explains how skills and experience match a specific job position.
Training Manuals
Job Application Letters
Sentence definitions
Chunking
46. Explain policies - and proposals persuade readers to follow a plan of action.
Justification
Sequential pattern
Analysis of parts
Directives
47. Writers developing a formal document should avoid _______________ - but thee occasional use in semiformal or informal documents is acceptable.
Modified-block style
Contractions
Executive Summary
Data Validity Questions
48. Written for unskilled individuals. The steps required to complete a task safely and efficiently - such as installing a memory card into a laptop. i.e. printed manuals - user manuals.
High Technical
Relative pronouns
Instructions
Cover panel
49. ___________ - such as 'who -' are more likely to decrease clarity in a document.
Relative pronouns
Formal Internal Proposal
Flowcharts
Captions
50. Increase the wordiness of a sentence
Passive voice and helping verbs
Operator's Manuals
Memorandum Structure
Drawings