Technical Communication Exam
Questions
Course Introduction
Technical Communication focuses on the principles and practices of effective information exchange in scientific, technical, and professional contexts. This course teaches students how to analyze audiences, organize complex information, and design clear, concise documents such as reports, proposals, manuals, and presentations. Emphasis is placed on tailoring communication for both specialist and non-specialist audiences, integrating visual aids, and using accessible language. Students develop practical skills in writing, editing, collaborating in teams, and utilizing digital tools to enhance technical content for diverse academic and workplace settings.
Recommended Textbook
Technical Communication 11th Edition by Mike Markel
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Page 2
Chapter 1: Introduction to Technical Communication
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Sample Questions
Q1) Generosity and honesty are characteristics of effective technical communicators.
A)True
B)False
Answer: True
Q2) Chapter 1 defines technical communication as a process encompassing which of the following?
A) documents and activities
B) documentation and analysis
C) process and analysis
D) diagramming and activities
Answer: A
Q3) Chapter 1 states that technical communicators use design to increase readability and make their documents more effective. Which of the following is an example of a design feature?
A) easy-to-understand vocabulary
B) typography
C) definitions of key terms
D) effective topic sentences
E) all of the above
Answer: B
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Chapter 2: Understanding Ethical and Legal Considerations
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Q1) The standard of utility is concerned with what?
Answer: The standard of utility is concerned with the positive and negative effects that an action or a policy has, will have, or might have on others.
Q2) A writer preparing an electrician's manual is considering inserting company-designed danger symbols to denote the potential for electrocution. In deciding whether to do so, what should the writer's primary concern be?
A) codes of conduct
B) liability law
C) copyright law
D) whistle-blowing
Answer: B
Q3) An effective code of conduct has three characteristics. One is that it protects the public rather than members of the organization or profession. What is one other characteristic of an effective code of conduct?
Answer: The other two characteristics are that the code is specific and comprehensive and that it is enforceable.
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4
Chapter 3: Writing Technical Documents
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Sample Questions
Q1) today's composition tools cannot help you do which of the following?
A) convert text into infographics
B) cite and keep track of numerous research sources
C) translate text
D) convert handwriting into text
Answer: A
Q2) Which statement identifies a benefit of using a preformatted template for your writing project?
A) You can trust that templates always reflect good principles of design and layout.
B) Templates can save you time on formatting and allow you to focus on creating effective content.
C) Templates do not need to be changed; in fact, often you cannot change them.
D) Readers learn to memorize documents made from templates they have already seen. Answer: B
Q3) What are the two major ways to revise a document?
Answer: Studying the draft by yourself and seeking help from others
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Chapter 4: Writing Collaboratively
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Q1) A project manager is using a word processor to review an electronic file of a document written by a team member, and she does not understand the meaning of a term used in the document. What should the project manager do?
A) Use the comment feature to ask "Will the reader understand this term?"
B) Delete the term using the revision feature.
C) Check the change bar for an explanation.
D) Use the highlighting feature to call the writer's attention to the term.
Q2) All of the participants in a video conference must be in dedicated conference rooms with sophisticated cameras and microphones.
A)True
B)False
Q3) Which of the following is likely to cause a team writing collaboratively to produce an inferior document?
A) The team shares a common goal.
B) The team avoids conflict.
C) Team members act as the audience for the document.
D) Team members divide up the workload.
Q4) Is email a synchronous or an asynchronous medium of communication?
Q5) What is one of the disadvantages of collaboration mentioned in Chapter 4?
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Chapter 5: Analyzing Your Audience and Purpose
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Q1) which approach is best when writing for multiple audiences?
A) a linear approach
B) an experiential approach
C) a modular approach
D) an attitudinal approach
Q2) One way to learn about the primary reader of your document is to interview people who know him or her. Which of these questions is NOT likely to help you learn useful information about your primary reader?
A) Does this person prefer to read hard-copy documents or electronic documents?
B) Does this person prefer to read detailed information or a summary that provides a big picture?
C) Does this person tend to review the sources listed in a bibliography after reading a report?
D) Does this person attend chapter meetings of professional associations?
Q3) Interviews are great for learning from your audience but not for learning about your audience.
A)True
B)False
Q4) for what primary purpose do private companies use social-media data?
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Chapter 6: Researching Your Subject
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Q1) Chapter 6 advises researchers to look for information that is current. What are two other characteristics of reliable information that the chapter says you should look for?
A) lack of bias
B) well-known author
C) attractive design
D) comprehensiveness
Q2) You should select research methods before determining what research questions to pursue.
A)True
B)False
Q3) A writer who is researching a state agency's transition from paper-based reports to paperless electronic reports has scheduled an interview with a senior writer at the agency. Which of the following interview questions is likely to be most effective?
A) How do you think electronic reports will change your job?
B) What is the future of paper?
C) Do you think paperless reports are worth the effort to learn the new software?
D) Why do you write reports?
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Chapter 7: Organizing Your Information
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Q1) The general-to-specific pattern is effective for explaining the factors that led to a specific problem.
A)True
B)False
Q2) Of the options listed below, which is the most effective way to organize a document describing the events that led to an Internet company's bankruptcy?
A) classification
B) comparison and contrast
C) problem-methods-solution
D) chronological
Q3) Which organizational pattern often occurs in a comparison-and-contrast discussion?
A) meter-by-meter
B) bit-by-bit
C) whole-by-whole
D) problem-methods-solution
Q4) long, complex arguments can most often be organized according to one pattern.
A)True
B)False
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Chapter 8: Communicating Persuasively
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Q1) A testimonial can be an effective persuasive element.
A)True
B)False
Q2) People who write proposals are the only technical writers who need to be concerned with persuasion.
A)True
B)False
Q3) What type of argument appeals to a person's understanding and experience of how the world works?
Q4) What type of argument states that a claim is valid because many people think it is or act as if it is?
Q5) An argument using an appeal to pity is focused on what element?
A) logic
B) emotion
C) memory
D) the speaker or writer
Q6) If you are facing constraints in trying to persuade your audience, you are not an effective writer.
A)True
B)False
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Chapter 9: Emphasizing Important Information
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Q1) you should jot down a working title before you start drafting a document to give you a sense of direction, then come back and revise it at the end.
A)True
B)False
Q2) A local bank uses this slogan in its advertising: "Integrity. Experience. Trust. Local." What about this slogan violates readers' expectations?
A) The items in the list are not parallel.
B) The list does not follow the general-to-specific pattern.
C) The hierarchy of the list is confusing.
D) None of the responses are correct.
Q3) Which of the following options is the best lead-in for a sentence list?
A) Our three main competitive advantages are:
B) The reasons are the following:
C) We offer advantages over the competition.
D) We offer three main advantages over the competition:
Q4) What is the phrase "Special Restricted Incoming Materials Storage Area" an example of?
Q5) Where should you place a transitional word or phrase?
Q6) Identify two coherence devices discussed in Chapter 9.
Page 11
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Chapter 10: Writing Correct and Effective Sentences
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Q1) Which of these sentences shows parallel structure?
A) The line cook should follow the printed recipe; do not change the chef's dessert.
B) Our current structure is saving us money and reducing our downtime.
C) The speakers will include partners of accounting firms, businesspeople, and insurance agents.
D) We need to buy more drywall, lumber, tools, and hire the subcontractors.
Q2) A nominalization is a verb that has been transformed into a noun, as when to install becomes to effect an installation, or to analyze becomes to conduct an analysis.
A)True
B)False
Q3) Per diem is an example of what type of phrase for accountants and human-resources personnel?
Q4) To what does a pronoun need to refer?
A) its antecedent
B) its precedent
C) its antonym
D) its adverb
Q5) What is Simplified English?
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Chapter 11: Designing Print and Online Documents
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Q1) margins serve four main purposes within a document. Identify two.
Q2) Text printed in uppercase letters is easier to read than text set in a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters.
A)True
B)False
Q3) Which principle states that the human eye is drawn to-and that the brain interprets-differences in appearance between two items?
Q4) What is queuing?
Q5) Which document-design practice will most effectively convey the hierarchy within a document?
A) queuing
B) chunking
C) underlining
D) binding
Q6) Chapter 11 discusses four basic principles for designing effective documents and websites. One is contrast. What are the other three basic principles discussed in the chapter?
Q7) What is the difference between a serif typeface and a sans-serif typeface?
Q8) In typography, what is leading?
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Chapter 12: Creating Graphics
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Questions
Q1) A writer is creating a table that has 22 rows and 6 columns of data, all of which must appear on one page. To prevent readers from misinterpreting the data, which of the following techniques should the writer apply to the table?
A) drawing a horizontal rule after each row of data
B) using thick grid lines to help readers distinguish information in adjoining cells
C) grouping rows together in a logical order to help readers make comparisons
D) italicizing column heads
Q2) Why might you include a common, familiar item in a photograph of an item being discussed?
A) to give readers a sense of scale
B) to eliminate background clutter
C) to prevent manipulation of the photograph
D) to save space in your document
Q3) Which type of graphic does NOT use metaphor to convey information?
A) flowchart
B) photograph
C) diagram
D) organization chart
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Chapter 13: Reviewing, Evaluating, and Testing Documents and Web Sites
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Q1) Which of the following is NOT a technique for conducting usability evaluations?
A) surveying or interviewing users
B) conducting focus groups
C) crafting a persona of a subject-matter expert
D) using a commercial usability service
Q2) A printed form is the standard way to obtain informed consent from a test participant.
A)True
B)False
Q3) what does it mean to evaluate a draft?
Q4) which type of person is NOT typically involved in a usability evaluation?
A) subject-matter expert (SME)
B) user of the item being evaluated
C) informed-consent coordinator
D) usability expert
Q5) Proofreading is the process of looking again at your draft to see if your initial assumptions about your audience, purpose, and subject still pertain, then making any necessary changes.
A)True
B)False
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Chapter 14: Writing Correspondence
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Q1) which of the following is NOT a guideline for effective on-the-job microblogging?
A) Sound like a person.
B) Apologize when you make a mistake.
C) Regard your followers as a market for your company's products and services.
D) Learn the technology.
Q2) The number following an enclosure notation at the bottom of a letter indicates the number of sheets of paper enclosed with the letter.
A)True
B)False
Q3) What types of incidents and developments related to your organization should be the subject of posts on a company-sponsored microblog?
Q4) In a bad-news adjustment letter, there is no sense trying to salvage goodwill; the reader is so angry that he or she will never do business with you again. A)True
B)False
Q5) Chapter 14 describes two common letter formats. One is modified block. What is the other format described in the chapter?
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Chapter 15: Writing Job-Application Materials
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Q1) what is an elevator pitch?
Q2) Any picture of yourself that you display on your LinkedIn profile or your portfolio must be taken by a professional.
A)True
B)False
Q3) A job-application letter should expand on all the information contained in your résumé.
A)True
B)False
Q4) You are majoring in environmental studies. Last year, you worked for six months as a volunteer caregiver at an orphanage in Asia. Does this help you in your job search?
A) Yes. It gives you opportunities to discuss the transferrable skills you developed in areas such as problem-solving and collaboration.
B) No. It is not related to your intended field of study.
C) No. It shows that you took time off from finishing school.
D) Yes. It shows that you are willing to work for free, which employers like.
Q5) What are the four parts of the body of a job-application letter?
Q6) what should you do after interviewing for a job?
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Chapter 16: Writing Proposals
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Q1) A task schedule is almost always drawn in one of three graphical formats: table, bar chart, or network diagram.
A)True
B)False
Q2) In which of the following situations would a school district be likely to issue a request for quotation (RFQ)?
A) A school district needs to purchase 30 iPad tablet computers for an elementary school.
B) A school district needs landscaping for the new district headquarters building.
C) A school district needs someone to provide training for more than 1,000 teachers on developing curricula to meet Common Core standards.
D) A school district needs to refurbish an older building and bring it in line with current building codes.
Q3) one way to demonstrate professionalism in a proposal is to discuss your work history.
A)True B)False
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Chapter 17: Writing Informational Reports
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Q1) field reports "explain problems, methods, results, and conclusions, but they deemphasize methods and can include recommendations." What does it mean to deemphasize methods?
A) Spend less effort describing how you did the research and more effort on what you learned from it.
B) Write fewer words describing how you did the research and more words on what you learned from it.
C) Always make sure that your methods section is not the first section.
D) None of the responses are correct.
Q2) Which of these is NOT a typical field report as described by Chapter 17?
A) a report on a visit to a potential building site for an office for a client
B) a report on maintenance performed on a broken piece of machinery in a shop
C) a report on an inspection conducted at a customer's site
D) a report on an experiment conducted in your company's laboratory
Q3) How can you ensure that readers can easily find any appendixes you create for a report?
Q4) The primary purpose of a directive is to direct the reader to additional sources of information.
A)True
B)False
Page 19
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Chapter 18: Writing Recommendation Reports
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Q1) The back matter section of a recommendation report serves two primary purposes. Identify one.
Q2) the methods section of a recommendation report answers the question "What equipment did you use in conducting this investigation?"
A)True
B)False
Q3) Which of these is an example of documentation in a report?
A) a citation for an article that gave you information for the report
B) a title for a table you created
C) a list of symbols you use throughout the report
D) an appendix
Q4) In the results section of a recommendation report, you should interpret or comment on the data you have compiled.
A)True
B)False
Q5) the conclusions section of a typical recommendation report provides a summary of the report.
A)True
B)False
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Chapter 19: Writing Lab Reports
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Q1) Why should a scientist or engineer avoid introducing new information in the conclusion section?
A) The results section exists so that writers can reveal information they collected.
B) It is illogical to introduce new information in a section that serves a different function.
C) It is ineffective to introduce new information in a section that serves a different function.
D) All responses are correct.
Q2) The references section of a lab report should contain which of the following?
A) references for all of the sources you consulted, whether or not you cited them in the report
B) references for only the sources you cited in the report
C) references for only the sources you cited in the body of the report
D) None of the responses are correct.
Q3) Ideally, what will the title and abstract of a report help readers do?
Q4) In the context of a lab report, what does replicability mean?
Q5) Which of the procedures you performed should you mention in the "Materials and Methods" section of your report?
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Page 21
Chapter 20: Writing Definitions, Descriptions, and Instructions
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Q1) there is no absolute distinction between a set of instructions and a manual.
A)True
B)False
Q2) Descriptions are rarely incorporated into longer documents; instead, they usually appear as separate documents.
A)True
B)False
Q3) What are the three types of descriptions discussed in Chapter 20?
Q4) Which of the following is an effective sentence definition?
A) Cardiovascular exercise equipment is used by people to exercise their cardiovascular system.
B) A canteen is a clear Nalgene bottle used to hold liquids such as water, lemonade, soda, and sometimes hot beverages.
C) Velo binding is when two plastic strips are placed on either side of the document and bound together with heat.
D) Thermography is a printing process in which a special powder is added to the wet ink on the surface of the paper and then heated.
Q5) What is the function of a conventions section?
Page 22
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Chapter 21: Making Oral Presentations
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Q1) where on a presentation slide should you place the claim you are making?
A) in the headline area at the top
B) in the body of the slide
C) in a graphic in the middle of the slide
D) in the middle of the footer area
Q2) A presenter is preparing to deliver a presentation at an annual conference. Over 200 people are expected to attend this presentation. Which of the following is the least effective technique for making a lasting impression on the audience?
A) Open with a joke.
B) Focus on the audience's interests.
C) Describe the topic in human terms.
D) Use specific numbers, dollars, or percentages.
Q3) Maintaining eye contact is one way to use your body effectively. What is another technique discussed in the chapter?
Q4) Chapter 21 describes four types of oral presentations, including impromptu presentations. What are two of the other three?
Q5) In an oral presentation, what is an advance organizer?
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