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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. 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?
Operator's Manuals
Job Application Letters
Chunking
Data Validity Questions
2. Follows a sequence of events; useful for explanations of how something is done or how an accident occurred.
Justification
Gantt charts
Data Validity
Chronological pattern
3. ____________________ in a sentence indicates the relationship between ideas; structuring a sentence with effective ______________ improves conciseness.
Operator's Manuals
Subordination
15 to 20
Operation
4. 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.
Formal Internal Proposal
Transitional phrases
Sentence Definition
Negative definitions
5. ______ are documents that help people how to understand how to assemble - use - and repair products.
Service Manuals
Sentence Definition
Manuals
The functional resume format
6. Too brief and general to convey the complexity of a term with multiple meanings.
Parenthetical definition
Justification
Directives
Job Application Letters
7. Are reduced images of pictures.
Brochure
Thumbnails
Instructions
Visuals
8. External proposal that may be short or long depending on the size of the potential sale
Claim Letters
Sales Proposal
Semi Technical
Appendix
9. Use images or icons to represent quantities; useful for non-experts to grasp ideas.
Negation
Pictograms
Sentence Definition
Sales Proposal
10. They are different from Memos - since they correspond to people outside of the organization instead of inside.
Letters
Widow
Use Manuals
Procedures
11. A ____________ is the final document or product that will be submitted once a project is completed.
Training Manuals
Deliverable
Process Description
Partition
12. External proposal written and submitted without request
Operation
Unsolicited proposal
White space
Comparison
13. Single ___ for larger typeface; double for smaller typeface. Avoid orphans and widows.
Informative Abstract
Tutorials
Proposal
Columns
14. Show trends and changes over time - cost - size - rates - and other variables.
Grant or Research Proposal
Feasibility Reports
Headings
Line Graphs
15. External proposal written to request funding for a project or study.
Contractions
Grant or Research Proposal
Etymology
Table of Contents
16. Explain how each element of a complex item works - which is especially beneficial to laypersons attempting to understand a technical subject.
Justification
Analysis of parts
Informative Abstract
Columns
17. This document contains: Name and contact information - Job Objective - Qualifications and Summary - Education and Work Experience - Awards - Skills and Activities - References
Parallel sentences
The functional resume format
Operator's Manuals
Resume
18. Show how the phases of a project relate to each other
Gantt charts
Closing Summary
Sales Proposal
Usability testing
19. Written to accompany a resume when seeking an internship or employment; explains how skills and experience match a specific job position.
Conclusion
Negative definitions
Job Application Letters
Manuals
20. Explain policies - and proposals persuade readers to follow a plan of action.
Pie charts
Deliverable
Directives
Service Manuals
21. Data organized visually for easy comparison
Usability testing
Comparison
Feasibility Reports
Tables
22. Involves dividing an idea into different parts and explaining each part separately.
Proposal
Partition
Although
Chronological pattern
23. 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.
Parenthetical definition
15 to 20
Schematic diagrams
Deliverable
24. Written to express disappointment with a product or service and to request a refund - replacement - or an apology
Etymology
Claim Letters
Data Validity
Tables
25. Informal written communications used in business between colleagues. The provide a record trail of decisions that can be used legally.
Memos
Feasibility Report Structure
Progress Reports
Precise
26. 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
Job Application Letters
Use Manuals
White space
27. These kinds of reports answer the following questions: What has been accomplished since the last progress report? - What tasks still need to be accomplished? - Have there been any unanticipated problems? - What is the expected timetable for completio
Negation
Procedures
Conclusion
Progress Reports
28. Included either at the beginning of the conclusion or at the end of the body; reviews main points and findings
Chunking
Collaborative writing
Closing Summary
Background
29. Discuss history - development - and applications for the term - unless readers are only attempting to perform a task related to the term.
Memorandum Structure
Feasibility Report Structure
Background
Diagrams
30. Written as a self-study guide for the users of a product; intended to guide first-time users through the steps involved in operating a product.
Manuals
Tutorials
Widow
Glossary
31. 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.
Stub
Instructions
Precise
Sentence outlines
32. Written to describe events like safety emergencies - equipment problems - and workplace accidents.
Subordination
Full-block style
Closing Summary
Incident or trouble reports
33. Written for repair technicians; contain troubleshooting charts for diagnosing problems
Service Manuals
Cause and Effect
Informative Abstract
Non Technical
34. Written to ask about a product - service or procedure; brief - direct and clearly worded so the reader understands what is needed.
Justification
Etymology
Parallel sentences
Inquiry Letters
35. Begins with either the cause of the effect; useful in reports discussing problems and solutions
15 to 20
Cause and Effect
Schematic diagrams
Tutorials
36. Dividing information into manageable pieces so that the document is easier for readers to follow and understand - Writers use various sequencing methods to do this.
Tables
Chunking
Data Validity Questions
Emphatic pattern
37. Advantages: gaining a better understanding of how the audience will read the document - each member of the group provides more questions and suggestions Disadvantages: disjointed writing styles - increased time to complete the project - and reduced m
Collaborative writing
Process Description
Sentence Definition
Chunking
38. Left ____________ improves the flow of a document.
Cover panel
Parenthetical Definition
Parallel sentences
Justification
39. Show real or imaginary objects; highlight specific parts; use exploded view to show how parts fit together.
Comparison
Expanded Definition
Chunking
Drawings
40. Increase the wordiness of a sentence
Headers and footers
Passive voice and helping verbs
Lists
Data Validity Questions
41. Titles or brief statements that describe a visual.
Chunking
High Technical
Captions
White space
42. Commonly used to outline longer documents like reports - proposals - and manuals.
Collaborative writing
Sentence outlines
Modified-block style
Visuals
43. These kinds of reports answer the following questions: The reason for conducting the test or investigation - Problems - Results and Conclusion
Parallel sentences
Table of Contents
Descriptive Abstract
Laboratory Reports
44. 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
Table of Contents
White space
Descriptive Abstract
Process Description
45. The attitude expressed by a writer. Use formal or semi when writing for superiors/professionals - Use semi or informal when writing for colleagues and subordinates - Use informal when conversational style is desired. Avoid profanity or slang.
Tone
Cover panel
Justification
Feasibility Report Structure
46. The _______ is the left-hand column of a table - and it lists the items being compared.
Deliverable
Color
Stub
Negation
47. Letter format most appropriate with letterhead stationery - all letter elements are aligned to the left margin - and company letterhead is commonly used.
Full-block style
Progress Reports
Sentence definitions
High Technical
48. Indicate organizational structure and help readers find information; type size or font should differ from main text.
Glossary
Passive voice and helping verbs
Sentence definitions
Headings
49. Major teaching tool in vocational jobs; used to train people in a procedure or skill and often paired with audiovisual information
Collaborative writing
Training Manuals
Semi Technical
Sentence Definition
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
Progress Reports
Contractions
Appendix
Collaborative writing