Deck 1: Introduction to Technical Communication

Question 1

Accessible and efficient technical documents include elements such as
and .

Answer 1

Any combination of the following is correct: worthwhile content, sensible organization, readable style, effective visuals, effective page design, and supplements.

Question 2

Technical communication seeks to
(a) anticipate and answer questions.
(b) help people perform a task.
(c) persuade people to do something.
(d) b and c
(e) All of these answers are correct.

Answer 2

E

Question 3

Most technical writing is done in teams.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

All documents have some persuasive aspect.

Question 5

Of the following statements, which is least accurate?

A) As long as a document is persuasive, it need not be clear and efficient.
B) Instructions and procedures are two types of technical documents.
C) At some point, all professionals engage in technical communication.
D) Technical documents focus on the reader.
E) Technical documents must account for cultural differences among readers.

Question 6

Few technical documents have a persuasive purpose.

Question 7

-centered documents focus on what people need to learn, do, or decide.

Question 8

Phone calls, conversations, and meetings have largely replaced the need for written documents.

Question 9

Which of the following statements is most accurate?

A) Technical communication helps us interact with technology in our daily lives.
B) Technical communication helps advance workplace goals.
C) Technical communication helps specialists solve complex problems.
D) Technical communication helps both to advance workplace goals and to assist specialists in solving complex problems.
E) All of these answers are correct.

Question 10

Employers seek technical communicators with portable skills.

Question 11

Four different types of technical communication documents are
, , , and
.

Question 12

Technical communication rarely focuses on the author's personal thoughts or feelings.

Question 13

Technical communication includes digital media such as podcasts and online videos.

Question 14

When trying to make sense of information, people should never

A) determine which information is relevant.
B) ask with whom the information should be shared.
C) verify the accuracy of the source.
D) let the data speak for themselves.
E) All of these answers are correct.

Question 15

In the United States, most people read documents from beginning to end.

Question 16

Effective technical documents

A) use obfuscation.
B) avoid combining text, visuals, and sound.
C) are easy to navigate.
D) a and c
E) None of these answers are correct.

Question 17

An effective technical communicator does all of the following except

A) works well as part of a team.
B) consistently applies one cultural perspective.
C) anticipates readers' questions.
D) considers global audiences as needed.
E) uses appropriate media.