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. Use these to show the meaning of a process or concept.






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






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






4. Titles or brief statements that describe a visual.






5. Used when requesting large amounts of money






6. A ____________ is the final document or product that will be submitted once a project is completed.






7. Included either at the beginning of the conclusion or at the end of the body; reviews main points and findings






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






9. Too brief and general to convey the complexity of a term with multiple meanings.






10. Translate numbers into shapes or colors; show camprisons






11. ____________________ in a sentence indicates the relationship between ideas; structuring a sentence with effective ______________ improves conciseness.






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.






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






14. Explaining what the term does not mean.






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.






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.






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






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.






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






20. Describing the terms origin - such as Greek or Latin words






21. External proposal written to request funding for a project or study.






22. Defining through __________ involves comparing two seemingly different objects that share a common characteristic.






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






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






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






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






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






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)






29. Single ___ for larger typeface; double for smaller typeface. Avoid orphans and widows.






30. Included before full report; summarized version of report






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






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






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.






34. Show real or imaginary objects; highlight specific parts; use exploded view to show how parts fit together.






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






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






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






38. External proposal that may be short or long depending on the size of the potential sale






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






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.






41. Charts that show parts of a whole






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






43. Show how components of a principle - process - or system function together - useful to people assembling and installing things.






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?






45. Written to accompany a resume when seeking an internship or employment; explains how skills and experience match a specific job position.






46. Explain policies - and proposals persuade readers to follow a plan of action.






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






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.






49. ___________ - such as 'who -' are more likely to decrease clarity in a document.






50. Increase the wordiness of a sentence