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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. Consist of brief phrases that indicate a document's method of development - and they are primarily used for short documents like letters and memos.
Contractions
Topic outlines
White space
Unsolicited proposal
2. 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.
Tutorials
Routine Internal Proposal
Headers
Cover panel
3. Show trends and changes over time - cost - size - rates - and other variables.
Laboratory Reports
Line Graphs
Background
Columns
4. Show how components of a principle - process - or system function together - useful to people assembling and installing things.
Collaborative writing
Topic outlines
Audience Analysis Questions
Schematic diagrams
5. 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?
Spatial pattern
Orphan
Audience Analysis Questions
Bar graphs
6. 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.
Sentence Definition
Stub
Contractions
Instructions
7. Used when requesting large amounts of money
Headings
Procedures
Formal Internal Proposal
Negative definitions
8. 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.
Tables
Usability testing
Headings
Sequential pattern
9. 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
Schematic diagrams
Chronological pattern
Parallel sentences
Use Manuals
10. Left ____________ improves the flow of a document.
Justification
Full-block style
Data Validity
Precise
11. Show steps in a process.
Diagrams
Analysis of parts
Flowcharts
Bar graphs
12. These kinds of reports answer the following questions: Is the plan likely to be successful? - What are the benefits and risks of the plan? - What are other options? - Is funding available? - How would the employees be affected?
Orphan
Tables
Feasibility Reports
Process Description
13. 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
Training Manuals
Comparison
Etymology
Memorandum Structure
14. Too brief and general to convey the complexity of a term with multiple meanings.
Resume
Widow
Parenthetical definition
Deliverable
15. Single ___ for larger typeface; double for smaller typeface. Avoid orphans and widows.
Columns
Claim Letters
Chunking
Comparison
16. Used in in presenting steps - materials - and recommendations
Pie charts
Background
Collaborative writing
Lists
17. _______ are documents written to persuade readers to take some type of action.
Proposal
Chunking
Topic outlines
Operation
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.
Sentence Definition
Data Validity
Justification
Feasibility Report Structure
19. Begins with either the cause of the effect; useful in reports discussing problems and solutions
Cause and Effect
Closing Summary
Semi Technical
Gantt charts
20. 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
Non Technical
Routine Internal Proposal
Informative Abstract
Sequential pattern
21. ___________ - such as 'who -' are more likely to decrease clarity in a document.
Operator's Manuals
Diagrams
Relative pronouns
White space
22. A ____________ is the final document or product that will be submitted once a project is completed.
Solicited Proposal
Non Technical
Chronological pattern
Deliverable
23. Defining through __________ involves comparing two seemingly different objects that share a common characteristic.
Negative definitions
Analogy
Thumbnails
Job Application Letters
24. External proposal written in response to a request for proposals (RFP) or an invitation for bids (IFB)
Justification
Headers
Solicited Proposal
White space
25. Are reduced images of pictures.
Thumbnails
Descriptive Abstract
Expanded Definition
Titles and headings
26. Used when writing about one subject that is similar to another.
Glossary
Comparison
Plan of work
The functional resume format
27. Written to express disappointment with a product or service and to request a refund - replacement - or an apology
Headings
Progress Reports
Semi Technical
Claim Letters
28. 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.
Sequential pattern
Tutorials
Table of Contents
Topic outlines
29. 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?
Laboratory Reports
Schematic diagrams
Data Validity Questions
Parenthetical Definition
30. Detailed - usually multipage commercial document containing descriptions of product/servive/project for marketing purposes.
Brochure
Chunking
Training Manuals
Partition
31. Audience consists of people with some technical knowledge but less than experts; data needs some explanation e.g.: a physician giving a report to a first-year medical student regarding a patient's lab results and symptoms
Memorandum Structure
Although
Semi Technical
Tables
32. _______________ terms are clearer than general ones.
Precise
Laboratory Reports
Full-block style
Chronological pattern
33. Useful in highlighting sections of a document to draw reader attention
Contractions
Schematic diagrams
Table of Contents
Color
34. Charts that show parts of a whole
Columns
Semi Technical
Pie charts
Letters
35. When using a ______________ - center the return address - date - and closing - and align body paragraphs to the left.
Etymology
Modified-block style
15 to 20
Incident or trouble reports
36. Increase the wordiness of a sentence
Passive voice and helping verbs
Service Manuals
Laboratory Reports
Tutorials
37. Explain policies - and proposals persuade readers to follow a plan of action.
Directives
Manuals
Conclusion
Stub
38. Follows a sequence of events; useful for explanations of how something is done or how an accident occurred.
Modified-block style
Spatial pattern
Chronological pattern
Cover panel
39. Commonly used to outline longer documents like reports - proposals - and manuals.
Laboratory Reports
Modified-block style
Process Description
Sentence outlines
40. The _______ is the left-hand column of a table - and it lists the items being compared.
Stub
Sales Proposal
Color
Sentence definitions
41. 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
Plan of work
Visuals
Although
Progress Reports
42. The purpose of a ____ is to: Summarize information - Interpret Findings - Recommend action
Schematic diagrams
Analogy
Closing Summary
Conclusion
43. Letter format most appropriate with letterhead stationery - all letter elements are aligned to the left margin - and company letterhead is commonly used.
Widow
Line Graphs
Modified-block style
Full-block style
44. Explain how each element of a complex item works - which is especially beneficial to laypersons attempting to understand a technical subject.
Feasibility Report Structure
Analysis of parts
Justification
Resume
45. Most appropriate when a writer needs to define a multiple-meaning term with precision.
Use Manuals
Titles and headings
Sentence definitions
Feasibility Report Structure
46. Discuss history - development - and applications for the term - unless readers are only attempting to perform a task related to the term.
Tutorials
Captions
Justification
Background
47. 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
Parenthetical definition
Contractions
High Technical
Topic outlines
48. Margins ________ on the left are easier to read; fully ______ is appropriate for multiple columns.
High Technical
Grant or Research Proposal
Columns
Justification
49. These kinds of reports answer the following questions: The reason for conducting the test or investigation - Problems - Results and Conclusion
Laboratory Reports
Memos
Justification
Audience Analysis Questions
50. These are sentences clarity is increased by creating lists/clauses with similar grammer. (for example - every item on a list has 'a' before it)
Cause and Effect
15 to 20
Data Validity
Parallel sentences