Final Exam

Question 1

One of three key concepts in all technical communications—clarity—is best defined as being _____.

Answer 1

Easy to understand

Question 2

The rhetorical triangle commonly used in communication analysis today is composed of _____.

Answer 2

Four elements: audience, communicator, message, and context

Question 3

Which statement is not true of audience in technical writing?

Answer 3

It is the situation or circumstances in which true communication occurs

Question 4

Which definition best describes development as a principle of effective writing?

Answer 4

It refers to the depth of ideas and how they are presented in writing

Question 5

Adequately addressing the characteristics of a particular audience makes the difference between _____.

Answer 5

An appropriate tone or an inappropriate one, engaging or alienating them, and building or losing credibility

Question 6

How can a technical writer best ensure the message will meet all of the needs of the audience?

Answer 6

Determine the best writing style, tone, format, and method delivery

Question 7

Which question does not reflect an ethical consideration on the part of a technical writer?

Answer 7

I want to write “do a one-eighty.” Should I write “turn 180 degrees” instead?

Question 8

What is true about the function of an executive summary in a technical proposal?

Answer 8

It highlights the main points of the proposal on a single page

Question 9

In the specific, formal structure of most technical proposals, where is credit given for quoted or paraphrased source material?

Answer 9

Works cited page

Question 10

What fundamentals apply to social media content as well as every other type of technical writing?

Answer 10

Rhetorical situation: communicator, audience, message, and context

Question 11

Which list identifies examples of common development types?

Answer 11

Questionnaires, polls, surveys, and interviews
Graphs, charts, tables and figures
Definitions, such as denotation or connotation

Question 12

Which statement is true of a coherently organized body paragraph?

Answer 12

It starts with one thought - a topic sentence

Question 13

An effective sentence structure is one in which there is noun-verb agreement. Which example does not show such agreement?

Answer 13

The alumnus are going to the class reunion

Question 14

Which sentence is a correct example of the principle of right word usage?

Answer 14

I accept the truth wholeheartedly

Question 15

Incorrect spelling, capitalization, and punctuation can _____.

Answer 15

Cause the audience to reject the document
Undermine the credibility of the writer
Completely change the meaning of a sentence

Question 16

Using the writing process can help technical writers to _____.

Answer 16

Create a document that is clear, useful, and reader centered

Question 17

A step in Stage 1 of the writing process is one of the most important things you can do to avoid writer’s block. What is it?

Answer 17

Generate ideas by free writing, brainstorming, and so on

Question 18

The goal of Stage 4 of the writing process - revising - is to _____.

Answer 18

Ensure completeness and accuracy

Question 19

Stage 5 of the writing process—editing—is critical to the technical writer because errors _____.

Answer 19

Can cause misunderstandings
Undermine the credibility of the document
Create a bad impression of your company

Question 20

Stage 5 of the writing process—editing— is _____.

Answer 20

The final check for error in spelling, grammar, and mechanics

Question 21

What is not a benefit of doing research as part of your writing process?

Answer 21

It eliminates the need to generate ideas

Question 22

Ways to research secondary data do not include _____.

Answer 22

Designing and conducting topic-specific experiments

Question 23

Which is the best definition of the term annotate? When writing a document, you use internal citations after every instance where you _____.

Answer 23

Paraphrase another writer’s work, quote another writer’s work, or summarize another writer’s work

Question 24

The double-entry notes method of notetaking is used to make a record of _____.

Answer 24

Reactions to source material when you first read it

Question 25

Which is not a consideration for gathering primary data by way of observation?

Answer 25

Quantified data is necessary to its credibility

Question 26

Which of the following is not a characteristic of object description, a commonly used pattern of writing technical documents?

Answer 26

It provides step-by-step instructions on how to use the object

Question 27

The organizational criteria for the formal classification pattern of writing is called an objective characteristic, which is defined as _____.

Answer 27

A characteristic that is not open to interpretation or judgement

Question 28

Which description of a common fallacy is called a post hoc, ergo propter hoc?

Answer 28

It is expressed as “X caused Y, because X happened before Y”

Question 29

Which is a common rhetorical technique that is especially useful in the introduction of a persuasive document?

Answer 29

Include a little-known fact

Question 30

For technical documents that are written for the purpose of informing or solving a problem, a technique for writing an introduction is to _____.

Answer 30

Build it around elements of the rhetorical triangle

Question 31

Among the rhetorical techniques used for writing conclusions is to _____.

Answer 31

Predict the outcome if the problem is not managed or solved

Question 32

Revision typically involves rethinking the document as a whole. Which question is not directly related to this stage of the writing process?

Answer 32

Is the writing itself free of surface errors, such as grammar and spelling mistakes?

Question 33

Which is not a consideration for conducting an effective review of a technical document?

Answer 33

Select reviewers who can fill in gaps or answer questions about content or direction

Question 34

Asking readers to recall information or explain concepts from a technical document they have read twice is what kind of test?

Answer 34

Understandability

Question 35

Guidelines for writing web content include which one of the following?

Answer 35

If you’ve included external links, test them frequently to ensure they remain unbroken

Question 36

Which statement about the guidelines for writing for social media is not true?

Answer 36

It is exactly the same as writing for any other kind of technical document

Question 37

What is a consideration for choosing images for your web page?

Answer 37

Select images that help make text scannable, as well as add visual appeal
Choose a header image that reflects both the tone and the subject of your writing
Ensure images aren’t so large that they cause the page to load slowly

Question 38

What is true about the CPTC Foundation exam?

Answer 38

When you pass, your name is added to the STC certification database

Question 39

As you follow your reading/study schedule for exam preparation, you find that you are already familiar with the content of some of the required reading. You should _____.

Answer 39

Reread and review that material carefully