1. According to Chapter 1, most technical communication has six characteristics. One
characteristic is that technical communication helps readers solve problems. Which of
the following is another characteristic of technical communication?
A) Technical communication reflects an organization's goals and culture.
B) Technical communication uses technical vocabulary as often as possible.
C) Technical communication strives to both entertain and educate readers.
D) Technical communication is most often aimed at a general audience rather than at a
particular audience.
2. Chapter 1 states that effective technical communication is honest. The chapter then
presents three reasons it is important to be honest when communicating. Which of the
following is NOT one of the reasons listed in Chapter 1?
A) Dishonest documents are unethical.
B) If readers bring your dishonesty to the attention of your supervisor, your career
may be negatively affected.
C) Readers can get hurt if you are dishonest.
D) You and your organization could face serious legal repercussions if you are
dishonest.
3. 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
4. According to Chapter 1, people who are good at communicating in the workplace
possess four skills, including the abilities to speak and write clearly, solve problems, and
analyze information. Which of the following is the fourth skill?
A) the ability to perform research
B) the ability to lead a team
C) punctuality
D) efficiency
5. Chapter 1 identifies three sets of factors to consider when communicating technical
information. Which of the following is on this list?
A) image-related factors
B) technology-related factors
C) purpose-related factors
D) none of the above
Page 1
,6. 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
7. Chapter 1 identifies skills and qualities shared by successful workplace communicators.
Which of the following is NOT on this list?
A) ability to perform research
B) ability to write code
C) ability to analyze information
D) ability to solve problems
8. Chapter 1 identifies eight measures of excellence in technical communication. Which pair
in the following list might seem contradictory?
A) accuracy and correctness
B) conciseness and clarity
C) comprehensiveness and conciseness
D) accessibility and professional appearance
9. Chapter 1 identifies common reasons for creating technical documents. Which reason in
the following list is NOT mentioned in the chapter?
A) to help others carry out a task
B) to change attitudes about a technology or an issue
C) to establish common knowledge in the marketplace
D) to help others make a decision
Page 2
,10. Which quality in the list below is evident in the revised version of the following
paragraph?
Original: During our monthly meeting last month, we all came to the conclusion that
overtime procedures are inadequate and that new procedures need to be initiated. I
discussed this problem with our chief accountant, who was sympathetic and agreed to
consider any changes we would like to make to the present procedures. Please bring
your suggested changes to this month's departmental meeting scheduled for 2:30 P.M.
next Wednesday afternoon.
Revision: During last month's meeting, we concluded that our overtime procedures need
revision. Our chief accountant has agreed to consider any changes we would like to make
to the present procedures. Please bring your suggested changes to this month's
departmental meeting scheduled for 2:30 P.M. next Wednesday.
A) conciseness
B) accuracy
C) comprehensiveness
D) correctness
11. Which two things must you understand clearly in order to communicate successfully?
A) your audience and your purpose
B) your proposal and your audience
C) your documentation and the eight measures of excellence
D) your software and your hardware
12. Which of these activities is NOT essential as you begin to prepare communicating
technical information?
A) listening
B) reading
C) writing
D) speaking
13. Which of these is a document-related factor you must consider when communicating on
the job?
A) the amount of time you have to complete the document
B) the level of formality required in the final product
C) the type of document you need to produce
D) All responses are correct.
Page 3
, 14. When creating a technical document, you often have to make compromises. Which of
these is an example of a compromise related to technical communication?
A) Your boss tells you to create the document in English and Spanish, so you do.
B) You would prefer to create separate instruction sheets in English and Spanish, but
you create one sheet giving instructions in both languages to save on printing costs.
C) Your audience is not made up of technical experts, so you use common words in
place of technical vocabulary.
D) You place paper copies of your document in the boxes carrying your products, and
you post electronic copies online.
15. Which statement best explains how company branding is related to technical
communication?
A) Branding is concerned with making money, and employees are paid to help
companies make money.
B) Branding is concerned with the image that a company presents to the world, and
that image includes its documents.
C) Branding is largely concerned with color choices, so a document must contain the
company's colors.
D) Branding is concerned with slogans, and you might have to write a slogan for your
department.
16. Which of these is a measure of excellence in technical communication?
A) accuracy
B) terseness
C) plainness
D) celerity
17. The engineering firm you work for is submitting a proposal to create an amphitheater at
a state park. Proposals must be submitted in three-ring binders. You are in charge of
assembling the binders. You decide to put section divider tabs and an index into each
proposal binder. Which measure of excellence in technical communication does this
decision reflect?
A) honesty
B) clarity
C) comprehensiveness
D) accessibility
18. Which of these is a quality shown by a successful workplace communicator?
A) keeping new information about your field to yourself
B) prioritizing your own needs
C) displaying emotional intelligence
D) sharing proprietary information openly
Page 4
characteristic is that technical communication helps readers solve problems. Which of
the following is another characteristic of technical communication?
A) Technical communication reflects an organization's goals and culture.
B) Technical communication uses technical vocabulary as often as possible.
C) Technical communication strives to both entertain and educate readers.
D) Technical communication is most often aimed at a general audience rather than at a
particular audience.
2. Chapter 1 states that effective technical communication is honest. The chapter then
presents three reasons it is important to be honest when communicating. Which of the
following is NOT one of the reasons listed in Chapter 1?
A) Dishonest documents are unethical.
B) If readers bring your dishonesty to the attention of your supervisor, your career
may be negatively affected.
C) Readers can get hurt if you are dishonest.
D) You and your organization could face serious legal repercussions if you are
dishonest.
3. 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
4. According to Chapter 1, people who are good at communicating in the workplace
possess four skills, including the abilities to speak and write clearly, solve problems, and
analyze information. Which of the following is the fourth skill?
A) the ability to perform research
B) the ability to lead a team
C) punctuality
D) efficiency
5. Chapter 1 identifies three sets of factors to consider when communicating technical
information. Which of the following is on this list?
A) image-related factors
B) technology-related factors
C) purpose-related factors
D) none of the above
Page 1
,6. 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
7. Chapter 1 identifies skills and qualities shared by successful workplace communicators.
Which of the following is NOT on this list?
A) ability to perform research
B) ability to write code
C) ability to analyze information
D) ability to solve problems
8. Chapter 1 identifies eight measures of excellence in technical communication. Which pair
in the following list might seem contradictory?
A) accuracy and correctness
B) conciseness and clarity
C) comprehensiveness and conciseness
D) accessibility and professional appearance
9. Chapter 1 identifies common reasons for creating technical documents. Which reason in
the following list is NOT mentioned in the chapter?
A) to help others carry out a task
B) to change attitudes about a technology or an issue
C) to establish common knowledge in the marketplace
D) to help others make a decision
Page 2
,10. Which quality in the list below is evident in the revised version of the following
paragraph?
Original: During our monthly meeting last month, we all came to the conclusion that
overtime procedures are inadequate and that new procedures need to be initiated. I
discussed this problem with our chief accountant, who was sympathetic and agreed to
consider any changes we would like to make to the present procedures. Please bring
your suggested changes to this month's departmental meeting scheduled for 2:30 P.M.
next Wednesday afternoon.
Revision: During last month's meeting, we concluded that our overtime procedures need
revision. Our chief accountant has agreed to consider any changes we would like to make
to the present procedures. Please bring your suggested changes to this month's
departmental meeting scheduled for 2:30 P.M. next Wednesday.
A) conciseness
B) accuracy
C) comprehensiveness
D) correctness
11. Which two things must you understand clearly in order to communicate successfully?
A) your audience and your purpose
B) your proposal and your audience
C) your documentation and the eight measures of excellence
D) your software and your hardware
12. Which of these activities is NOT essential as you begin to prepare communicating
technical information?
A) listening
B) reading
C) writing
D) speaking
13. Which of these is a document-related factor you must consider when communicating on
the job?
A) the amount of time you have to complete the document
B) the level of formality required in the final product
C) the type of document you need to produce
D) All responses are correct.
Page 3
, 14. When creating a technical document, you often have to make compromises. Which of
these is an example of a compromise related to technical communication?
A) Your boss tells you to create the document in English and Spanish, so you do.
B) You would prefer to create separate instruction sheets in English and Spanish, but
you create one sheet giving instructions in both languages to save on printing costs.
C) Your audience is not made up of technical experts, so you use common words in
place of technical vocabulary.
D) You place paper copies of your document in the boxes carrying your products, and
you post electronic copies online.
15. Which statement best explains how company branding is related to technical
communication?
A) Branding is concerned with making money, and employees are paid to help
companies make money.
B) Branding is concerned with the image that a company presents to the world, and
that image includes its documents.
C) Branding is largely concerned with color choices, so a document must contain the
company's colors.
D) Branding is concerned with slogans, and you might have to write a slogan for your
department.
16. Which of these is a measure of excellence in technical communication?
A) accuracy
B) terseness
C) plainness
D) celerity
17. The engineering firm you work for is submitting a proposal to create an amphitheater at
a state park. Proposals must be submitted in three-ring binders. You are in charge of
assembling the binders. You decide to put section divider tabs and an index into each
proposal binder. Which measure of excellence in technical communication does this
decision reflect?
A) honesty
B) clarity
C) comprehensiveness
D) accessibility
18. Which of these is a quality shown by a successful workplace communicator?
A) keeping new information about your field to yourself
B) prioritizing your own needs
C) displaying emotional intelligence
D) sharing proprietary information openly
Page 4
