Test your basic knowledge |

DSST Technical Writing

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






2. Charts that show parts of a whole






3. The _____________ explains what an organization wants to do and justifies the proposal with primary and secondary research.






4. Describes the physical appearance of an object or area beginning at one point and ending at another; useful for product or mechanism descriptions






5. Used when extensive details are required about an item; may be a paragraph or numerous pages depending on the audience and purpose.






6. The purpose of a ____ is to: Summarize information - Interpret Findings - Recommend action






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






8. Involves dividing an idea into different parts and explaining each part separately.






9. Begins with either the cause of the effect; useful in reports discussing problems and solutions






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.






11. Margins ________ on the left are easier to read; fully ______ is appropriate for multiple columns.






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.






14. Used when writing about one subject that is similar to another.






15. Detailed - usually multipage commercial document containing descriptions of product/servive/project for marketing purposes.






16. Letter format most appropriate with letterhead stationery - all letter elements are aligned to the left margin - and company letterhead is commonly used.






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.






18. Data organized visually for easy comparison






19. Indicate organizational structure and help readers find information; type size or font should differ from main text.






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






21. Titles or brief statements that describe a visual.






22. The _______ is the left-hand column of a table - and it lists the items being compared.






23. Used in in presenting steps - materials - and recommendations






24. Show steps in a process.






25. This document contains: Name and contact information - Job Objective - Qualifications and Summary - Education and Work Experience - Awards - Skills and Activities - References






26. Use a synonym or clarifying phrase to explain the meaning of an unfamiliar word; easy to set up links in electronic documents.






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






28. When using a ______________ - center the return address - date - and closing - and align body paragraphs to the left.






29. Emphasizes important information; reasons or examples are arranged in decreasing or increasing order of imporance; used when making recommendations or proposals.






30. Written to express disappointment with a product or service and to request a refund - replacement - or an apology






31. Discuss history - development - and applications for the term - unless readers are only attempting to perform a task related to the term.






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.






33. Single words or short lines carried over to the top of a column or page






34. Written in short proposal format; used frequently in organizations for minor spending requests.






35. Often include section topic - date - page number - and title of document.






36. Included on the title page; summarizes in a few sentences the scope and purpose of the document.






37. Writers developing a formal document should avoid _______________ - but thee occasional use in semiformal or informal documents is acceptable.






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






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.






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.






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)






42. ______ are documents that help people how to understand how to assemble - use - and repair products.






43. Increase the wordiness of a sentence






44. Explain how an item or process works






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






46. Explaining what the term does not mean.






47. Illustrate relationships in systems - such as components in an electronic device






48. Show trends and changes over time - cost - size - rates - and other variables.






49. A single line carried over the top of a column






50. Using '______________' to link the two sentences best contrasts the information.