Deck 5: Designing Documents

Question 1

Visual communication and document design have little effect on how readers understand the information being presented.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

In regard to business communications, the design of a document should primarily reflect and reinforce a company's

A) ethics.
B) profitability.
C) long-term ambitions.
D) image or brand.
E) hiring practices.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Azucena recently finished writing an assignment for an end-of-year project. If she used a sans serif font for her headings, which of the following did she choose?

A) New Courier
B) Elite
C) Times New Roman
D) Palatino
E) Arial

Answer 3

E

Question 4

The design of a document conveys a specific image of the

A) subject of the document.
B) reader.
C) document's creator.
D) global economy.
E) culture in which the document was produced.

Question 5

According to communications expert Charles Kostelnick, document creators should consider four levels of design: individual letters and words, blocks of text, graphics, and the document as a whole.

Question 6

Cesario is an employee at a web design company. His current project is about designing an online shopping site for a client. For the content, Cesario chose the Verdana and Calibri fonts and boldfaced the details regarding terms and conditions and membership fees. In addition, he used the color blue to emphasize details on discounts offered and gift vouchers available. According to Charles Kostelnick's four levels of design, which of the following levels of design apply to Cesario's choices on this project?

A) extra
B) intra
C) outer
D) inter
E) supra

Question 7

The same design conventions work well with all audiences.

Question 8

Which of the following statements about design conventions is true?

A) They provide a design language and shape audience expectations.
B) They work equally well with all audiences.
C) They are unaffected by changes in technology.
D) They are static in nature and stay constant over long periods of time.
E) There are no risks associated with violating them.

Question 9

Infographics have become less common in the digital age.

Question 10

Which of the following instructions regarding font choices should be followed while designing a document?

A) Twelve-point type should be used for letters, memos, emails, and reports.
B) Italics should be used for headings rather than bold since italicized text is easier to read.
C) Bold should be used only if more than one method is needed to emphasize text.
D) In complex documents, headings and subheadings should be of the same font size.
E) If content does not fit in the available space, use smaller type to make it fit.

Question 11

The majority of website visitors will read or scan a page for 10 seconds or less.

Question 12

Margaret, who runs a small lifestyle store in Michigan, recently designed a website to publicize her products and increase her customer base. While designing the site, she used snapshots of her products and photos of local celebrities who visited her store. In addition, she used a bar chart to show that her eco-friendly products are better than other regular items available in the market. According to Charles Kostelnick's four levels of design, Margaret's choices belong to the ________ of design.

A) supra-level
B) intra-level
C) extra-level
D) outer-level
E) inter-level

Question 13

The information on the back of a brochure should be as interesting and engaging as the information on the front.

Question 14

The design process should be planned and implemented only after one has completed writing a document.

Question 15

The style of a font shapes the reader's response to a document as much as the size of the font.

Question 16

Esma is creating a brochure for an office tour. She plans to use headings like "Day 1" to differentiate the events planned on different days. She also uses bullets to list the plan for each day. According to Charles Kostelnick's levels of design, Esma's choices belong to the ________ of design.

A) inter-level
B) extra-level
C) outer-level
D) intra-level
E) supra-level

Question 17

Jovina is currently preparing a report on "The Education System in Ghana." She understands that she has a lot of content and decides to use a large page size of 841 × 1189 mm. She also places the page numbers on the bottom right corner where she feels they will be easily noticeable. Given these facts, we can conclude that Jovina is concentrating on Charles Kostelnick's ________ of design.

A) extra-level
B) intra-level
C) supra-level
D) inter-level
E) outer-level

Question 18

Which of the following is a common design convention associated with online shopping sites?

A) long introductory videos on the home page
B) keeping prices hidden until checkout
C) a mailing address for sending checks or cash as payment
D) a shopping cart or basket to add items for purchase
E) text-free site navigation

Question 19

A document that looks appealing always works well with an audience.

Question 20

Accessible design is preferable, but not required.

Question 21

Which of the following are aspects of the rhetorical situation that should be analyzed prior to researching or drafting content?

A) purpose, budget, competition
B) competition, medium, audience
C) budget, medium, competition
D) purpose, medium, audience
E) purpose, medium, deadline

Question 22

Angie is designing a brochure for an upcoming career fair that she hopes will help attract a more diverse set of job candidates to her company, which currently employs only 20% women and 10% people of color. When selecting visuals for the brochure, which of the following strategies should she use?

A) Use a photo of workers featuring only white men to underscore the company's need for diversity.
B) Use a photo featuring 40% women and people of color to maintain authenticity while reflecting the company's hiring goals.
C) Use a photo featuring exclusively women and people of color to make the brochure more appealing to the desired candidates.
D) Use only photos of machinery or other objects to avoid drawing attention to the company's lack of diversity.
E) Avoid using visuals in the brochure at all.

Question 23

Which of the following terms refers to the act of making a document inviting and usable for all users, without treating people who need special accommodations differently from other users?

A) diversity
B) accessibility
C) eccentricity
D) inclusivity
E) equality

Question 24

Kai has just finished writing a draft of the instructions that will be included with the new electronic device produced by his company. Which of the following processes is likely to reveal the most flaws in the document's design?

A) Read through the document a minimum of five times before publishing.
B) Observe and interview a diverse group of users while they read the document.
C) Have Kai's boss read through the instructions and provide feedback.
D) Send the instructions to a highly educated reader for analysis.
E) Compare the document to a successful set of instructions for a similar product.

Question 25

Which of the following guidelines should be followed to create white space?

A) Use a mix of paragraph lengths, most not more than seven typed lines.
B) Make the first and last paragraph longer than other paragraphs.
C) Use spacing instead of tabs to arrange items vertically.
D) Use bullets to follow a specific sequence or pattern.
E) Use numbered lists when the sequence of items does not matter.

Question 26

Headings should

A) group information into a minimum of ten chunks.
B) be ambiguous so that a large range of data is covered.
C) overlap so that they cover certain parts of other headings.
D) make readers slow down and read carefully to discover main points.
E) allow readers to compare and contrast points easily.

Question 27

From a design perspective, when drafting text for a business communication, it is important to consider how the text is tethered to

A) previous publications by the company.
B) accompanying graphic content.
C) a strict production deadline.
D) language used in competitors' communications.
E) the cost of printing.

Question 28

Lola is a sales manager at a bank. She recently received an email from a team member, Dario, requesting leave during Christmas. Though the mail was framed well, she felt as though Dario was shouting at her. Which of the following is most likely the reason for Lola's reaction?

A) sentences in green font among other text in black
B) short and brief headings
C) important sentences in all capitals
D) long, descriptive sentences
E) white space between text

Question 29

Which of the following printing options will look best but also incur the highest cost?

A) black printing on colored paper
B) two-color printing on matte paper
C) two-color printing on glossy paper
D) four-color printing on matte paper
E) four-color printing on glossy paper

Question 30

The best way to capture an audience's attention with a brochure is to

A) maximize the amount of text.
B) include shocking imagery.
C) give them something to aspire to.
D) use five or more colors of text.
E) speak to their needs.

Question 31

Kayla needs to write a report for a class assignment, and she has already finished planning and gathering all the necessary information for the report. Which of the following fonts should Kayla use if she wants all letters to take an equal amount of space?

A) Times Roman
B) Palatino
C) Helvetica
D) Courier
E) Arial

Question 32

Aniyah has designed a brochure and is not happy with the alignment of the graphics and the text. She feels that the headings, graphics, and the text are not unified. Which of the following is the best way to align them?

A) Use a grid.
B) Use proportional font.
C) Use ragged right margins.
D) Place the graphics in a Z pattern.
E) Place the graphics at the top left-hand corner.

Question 33

Who is most likely to be able to identify design flaws in a document?

A) the author
B) the author's colleagues and superiors
C) people who are most likely to have trouble reading the document
D) highly educated readers who are familiar with the subject matter
E) usability experts

Question 34

Which of the following is an example of inclusive design?

A) printing a braille version of a brochure so that it can be read by people with vision impairments
B) using appropriate contrast and legible fonts to make images and text easier to read
C) adding alt tags to images so that they can be described by screen readers
D) including closed captioning on video messages for individuals with hearing impairments
E) having an equal number of men and women in a photograph

Question 35

Full justification should be used when

A) one must use fixed typefaces.
B) one wants to use as few pages as possible.
C) one wants to establish an informal look.
D) one uses very short line lengths.
E) one wants to have lines ending in different places.

Question 36

The design of a document should be used to control and optimize

A) the audience's experience.
B) the cost of producing the product.
C) the competition's ability to respond.
D) the design of future communications.
E) the types of people who will have access to the document.

Question 37

Which of the following is a guideline that should be followed when using colors and decorative devices?

A) Use colors to highlight minor points or information in the body of a text.
B) Use as many highlighting devices as possible to make the document look appealing.
C) Analyze an audience before making color choices because the meanings of colors may vary.
D) Avoid the usage of color to highlight points because it deemphasizes remaining information.
E) Use a lot of decorative devices to make a document attractive to the audience.

Question 38

How many people need to test a document to reveal 85% of its flaws?

A) 1
B) 5
C) 25
D) 50
E) 85

Question 39

Tina works at a On a Roll Tires. Her manager asks her to design a promotional item to increase sales of the company's new flagship line of all-weather tires. After some thought, Tina decides to create a brochure featuring several pictures of vehicles using the tires in a variety of extreme weather situations, since photographs are more likely to excite customers than complex charts and statistics. Which aspect of the rhetorical situation has Tina analyzed?

A) purpose
B) profitability
C) medium
D) legal obligations
E) audience

Question 40

Rachel is writing a report on "Impacts of Deforestation in the Amazon." Among the many impacts, she wants to emphasize global warming as the most critical one. She wants to place this information in the most important part of the page. In which section of her report should Rachel place this information?

A) top right
B) center
C) bottom right
D) top left
E) bottom left

Question 41

The primary purpose of infographics is to

A) encourage readers to do their own research on a topic.
B) break up large blocks of text and create white space.
C) create a separate space for an interesting side story or anecdote.
D) turn complex statistics into a simple story.
E) force readers to slow down and pay more attention to the content of the message.

Question 42

Where should the source of data presented in an infographic be cited?

A) in the title of the infographic
B) in a footnote at the bottom of the page
C) on the page opposite the infographic
D) on the front page of the document
E) in an unobtrusive location on the infographic

Question 43

A website that was created with mobile-first design will

A) be accessible only to people using mobile phones to browse the Internet.
B) restrict the number of visitors and prioritize those who use mobile devices.
C) present different information to visitors depending on their geographic location.
D) provide a functional experience no matter which type of device used to access it.
E) regularly change web addresses.

Question 44

Elaine is designing a brochure to encourage people to consider her town as a destination for their next vacation. Which of the following should have the most influence over where she places textual and visual elements?

A) the audience's viewing tendencies
B) the amount of space on the page
C) text and image colors, with darker elements first
D) the location where the brochure will be displayed
E) the author's writing ability

Question 45

Explain the risks associated with violating design conventions.

Question 46

With the help of an example, explain how poor document design can lead to unintended, and potentially disastrous, consequences.

Question 47

List the eight guidelines that should be followed while designing documents.

Question 48

Lesley works for Stop Now, a clothing boutique, and has been asked by her manager to write a report on "Growth of Stop Now in the last 5 Years." What can Lesley do to create white space in her document and make it easier to read? Explain with examples.

Question 49

Which of the following is a way to ensure that a reader stays long enough on a home page?

A) Avoid letting the reader know about the organization sponsoring the page.
B) Make completion of tasks difficult to challenge readers and increase interest.
C) Include at least two screens of text.
D) Make clear what readers will get if they click on a certain link.
E) Provide vertical navigation bars at the center of a screen.

Question 50

Before combining the visual and textual elements of an infographic, one should first

A) ensure that the data has not been presented differently elsewhere.
B) sketch the layout to make sure everything is legible.
C) determine the color of font to use.
D) assemble a focus group to determine how the audience will react to the information.
E) manipulate the data to strengthen the intended point.

Question 51

Edwin is writing a report on climate change for a conference on alternative energy technologies. To make clear the relationship between carbon dioxide emissions and climate change, Edwin's report includes an infographic showing the increasing concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere as well as the growth in global temperature averages since 1950. Which of the following is the most effective title for this infographic?

A) Climate Change
B) Carbon Emissions and Global Temperatures
C) The Role of Carbon Dioxide in Causing Climate Change
D) Global Climate Change Since 1950
E) Increase in Atmospheric Carbon and Global Temperatures, 1950-2018

Question 52

James is a student with visual impairment who regularly accesses his university website. Which of the following steps should the designer of this website undertake to make it useful for viewers with visual impairment like James?

A) Provide navigation bars vertically on the top of the screen.
B) Provide alternative text or "ALT tag" for all applets.
C) Label hypertext links "Click here" so that users can navigate easily.
D) Provide links that do not change color when visited.
E) Place an Off button if a document has music or sound effects.

Question 53

Henri has finished designing a website for the airline where he works. He now needs to test its usability. According to usability consultant Jakob Nielsen, which of the following steps should Henri take?

A) Spend ten or more hours using the site himself.
B) Observe and interview people using the site at various stages of design.
C) Compare the site to that of his employer's closest competitor.
D) Download usability testing software.
E) Hire an expert to run through the website.

Question 54

When designing a website, it is a good design strategy to

A) use a constant font size and design throughout the document.
B) ensure that links do not change color when they are visited.
C) use large blocks of text and as much animation as possible.
D) use a black, dark grey, or dark blue background for visual variety.
E) provide visual variety through bullets and indentations.

Question 55

When choosing a visual representation for data in an infographic, it is most important to make sure the representation

A) is exciting or eye-catching.
B) corresponds with the content.
C) is a well-known symbol or object.
D) contains two or more colors.
E) does not contain any sharp angles.

Question 56

Which of the following types of websites is best suited for adaptive design?

A) a government tax website containing reports, contact information, and a payment portal
B) a page containing the resume and contact information of a new college graduate
C) a simple image-hosting site
D) a site for a local take-out restaurant
E) a site for conducting basic audience surveys

Question 57

Alanza designed a web page. In order to make it usable by people with vision impairments, she placed navigational links, a search box, and a link to a text-only version of the site in the upper left-hand corner. She also arranged the navigational links alphabetically and provided alternative text for all images and animations. She used a light background color for the site and three different fonts. Finally, she used phrases like "Click here" for hyperlinks. When people with vision impairments used this website, there was a common problem experienced by them. Which of the following is most likely the cause of the problem faced by these users?

A) use of three different fonts
B) use of phrases like "Click here" for hypertext links
C) placement of the search box in the upper left-hard corner
D) placement of navigational links in the upper left-hand corner
E) placement of the text-only version in the upper left-hand corner

Question 58

According to usability consultant Jakob Nielsen, the audience's tendency to view webpages in an F-shaped pattern means that

A) the center of a page must contain the most important information.
B) the bottom left half of a page is where a reader starts reading.
C) the center of a page is where an audience starts reading a document.
D) the top of a page must contain the most important information.
E) the left side of a page is always skipped by a reader.

Question 59

Lucas designed a web page with large blocks of text, small graphics, minimum animation, and a light background. He had also included links that change color when visited and a page overview. When he presented the web page to his clients, they found a major problem in the web page. Which of the following is most likely the problem with Lucas's web page?

A) large blocks of text
B) lack of animation
C) light background color
D) small graphics instead of large ones
E) overly simple interface

Question 60

Explain how full justification is different from ragged right margins and when each should be used.

Question 61

What are some ways to make a home page easy to use so that visitors stay long enough on the page?

Question 62

Why is usability testing an important step in document design?

Question 63

What are some key design principles to keep in mind while creating an infographic?

Question 64

Explain at which stage or stages of the writing process the design of the document should be considered.

Question 65

What is the difference between adaptive design and responsive design, and when is it appropriate to use each?