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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. The _____________ explains what an organization wants to do and justifies the proposal with primary and secondary research.
Precise
Plan of work
Appendix
Instructions
2. Written to describe events like safety emergencies - equipment problems - and workplace accidents.
Operator's Manuals
Tutorials
Claim Letters
Incident or trouble reports
3. Charts that show parts of a whole
Incident or trouble reports
Negation
Procedures
Pie charts
4. ___________ - such as 'who -' are more likely to decrease clarity in a document.
Etymology
Non Technical
Plan of work
Relative pronouns
5. Used when writing about one subject that is similar to another.
Parallel sentences
Pictograms
Comparison
Passive voice and helping verbs
6. The _______ is the left-hand column of a table - and it lists the items being compared.
Visuals
Drawings
Stub
Memorandum Structure
7. Written for repair technicians; contain troubleshooting charts for diagnosing problems
Widows
Service Manuals
Conclusion
Instructions
8. 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.
Pictograms
Analogy
Brochure
Cover panel
9. Explain how each element of a complex item works - which is especially beneficial to laypersons attempting to understand a technical subject.
Expanded Definition
Chunking
Analysis of parts
Widow
10. Major teaching tool in vocational jobs; used to train people in a procedure or skill and often paired with audiovisual information
Collaborative writing
Stub
Chunking
Training Manuals
11. Data organized visually for easy comparison
Resume
Headers and footers
Feasibility Report Structure
Tables
12. ______ are documents that help people how to understand how to assemble - use - and repair products.
Manuals
Sentence outlines
Feasibility Report Structure
Letters
13. Writers developing a formal document should avoid _______________ - but thee occasional use in semiformal or informal documents is acceptable.
Data Validity Questions
Contractions
Job Application Letters
Unsolicited proposal
14. Increase the wordiness of a sentence
Informative Abstract
Passive voice and helping verbs
Although
Bar graphs
15. Included either at the beginning of the conclusion or at the end of the body; reviews main points and findings
Sentence Definition
Closing Summary
Operator's Manuals
Claim Letters
16. Useful in highlighting sections of a document to draw reader attention
Tables
Claim Letters
Color
Headings
17. Show how components of a principle - process - or system function together - useful to people assembling and installing things.
Semi Technical
Tone
Schematic diagrams
Comparison
18. Describing the terms origin - such as Greek or Latin words
Etymology
Columns
Unsolicited proposal
Negative definitions
19. Show how the phases of a project relate to each other
Gantt charts
Sentence outlines
Negative definitions
Analogy
20. A single line carried over the top of a column
Widow
Grant or Research Proposal
Gantt charts
Memorandum Structure
21. External proposal written to request funding for a project or study.
Tutorials
Precise
Modified-block style
Grant or Research Proposal
22. Appear on the top of every page in a document to indicate the page number and document title.
Contractions
Headers
Negative definitions
High Technical
23. 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.
Routine Internal Proposal
Instructions
Descriptive Abstract
Relative pronouns
24. Illustrate relationships in systems - such as components in an electronic device
Diagrams
Progress Reports
Brochure
Emphatic pattern
25. ______ ______ ______ 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
Non Technical
Topic outlines
Cause and Effect
Feasibility Report Structure
26. ____________________ in a sentence indicates the relationship between ideas; structuring a sentence with effective ______________ improves conciseness.
Routine Internal Proposal
Subordination
Columns
Lists
27. A word on a line by itself at the end of a column
Spatial pattern
Sentence Definition
Chronological pattern
Orphan
28. Using '______________' to link the two sentences best contrasts the information.
Full-block style
Closing Summary
Although
Appendix
29. Audience consists of laypersons with no training in the subject matter; data needs to be translated into simple language that can be easily understood e.g.; a physician giving a report to a patient's spouse regarding lab results - symptoms - and trea
Conclusion
Headers
Feasibility Report Structure
Non Technical
30. Boldface - italics - capital letters - font style - and font size are common ways to show readers the difference between _________________ headings.
Memos
Use Manuals
Etymology
First-level and second-level
31. Often include section topic - date - page number - and title of document.
Parallel sentences
Headers and footers
Process Description
Deliverable
32. What is the background of the audience? Global? - What is the reader's experience - What is the attitude of the audience on subject? - What are the needs/interests/expectations of the audience? - Will multiple audiences/skill levels read this?
Audience Analysis Questions
Resume
Memorandum Structure
High Technical
33. Consist of brief phrases that indicate a document's method of development - and they are primarily used for short documents like letters and memos.
Widows
Unsolicited proposal
Spatial pattern
Topic outlines
34. These kinds of reports answer the following questions: The reason for conducting the test or investigation - Problems - Results and Conclusion
Justification
Parenthetical definition
Etymology
Laboratory Reports
35. Too brief and general to convey the complexity of a term with multiple meanings.
Incident or trouble reports
Cover panel
Sentence outlines
Parenthetical definition
36. 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
Tables
Headers
Parenthetical definition
Memorandum Structure
37. Detailed - usually multipage commercial document containing descriptions of product/servive/project for marketing purposes.
Analysis of parts
Brochure
Parallel sentences
Analogy
38. Emphasizes important information; reasons or examples are arranged in decreasing or increasing order of imporance; used when making recommendations or proposals.
Data Validity
Emphatic pattern
Sentence outlines
Progress Reports
39. 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
Glossary
Data Validity Questions
Proposal
Inquiry Letters
40. Informal written communications used in business between colleagues. The provide a record trail of decisions that can be used legally.
Sentence definitions
Headings
Flowcharts
Memos
41. 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.
Data Validity
15 to 20
Formal Internal Proposal
Parenthetical definition
42. These build unity and clarity by creating a smoooth flow of ideas. Achieved by using ______ words (therefore - meanwhile etc) Repeating major points or words - summarizing information in previous paragraphs - using numbers to indicate steps.
Parallel sentences
Transitional phrases
Negation
Widow
43. Explaining what the term does not mean.
Background
Line Graphs
Conclusion
Negation
44. Use a synonym or clarifying phrase to explain the meaning of an unfamiliar word; easy to set up links in electronic documents.
Parenthetical Definition
Stub
Captions
Solicited Proposal
45. Show trends and changes over time - cost - size - rates - and other variables.
Pie charts
Glossary
Tutorials
Line Graphs
46. Discuss history - development - and applications for the term - unless readers are only attempting to perform a task related to the term.
Background
Table of Contents
Grant or Research Proposal
Pictograms
47. The purpose of a ____ is to: Summarize information - Interpret Findings - Recommend action
Pie charts
Sentence Definition
Conclusion
Spatial pattern
48. A formal document longer than ten pages usually includes a table of contents to simplify the process of locating information. It's included after the title and abstract - but before the list of tables - forward and preface.
Table of Contents
Laboratory Reports
Transitional phrases
Schematic diagrams
49. Letter format most appropriate with letterhead stationery - all letter elements are aligned to the left margin - and company letterhead is commonly used.
Columns
Modified-block style
Non Technical
Full-block style
50. This supplements or clarifies information in the text body. It is in the back and there may be more than one per topic. For example: experiment details - complicated formulas - interview questions and answers - long quotes - maps - photos - tests - v
Claim Letters
Diagrams
Parenthetical definition
Appendix