Deck 3: Using Visuals in Written and Oral Communication

Question 1

It is necessary to include all of the "journalist's five Ws" while constructing the title of a visual.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

When information is presented using a visual, it doesn't have to be supplemented with writing or speaking.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

Unlike column charts, a line chart cannot be used to compare two or more series on the same grid.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

A clustered bar chart can be used to effectively compare the quantities of five or more different values.

Question 5

Placing all the visuals in a report in the appendix, at the end of the document, makes the reader's task more convenient.

Question 6

The widths of the bars or columns in a simple bar or column chart may be varied to show differences in quantities.

Question 7

Visuals that do not fit a specific part of the document should be placed in an appendix.

Question 8

The use of formal tables is the only way to present tabular information in a business report.

Question 9

Three-dimensional visuals facilitate the analysis of large data sets with more than two variables.

Question 10

Column totals are generally placed at the top of the column, but they may be placed at the bottom when the writer wants to emphasize them.

Question 11

Scatter diagrams can be used to understand the degree of the relationship in terms of strength and weakness by examining the positions of the points.

Question 12

All the visuals in a document should be of the same size.

Question 13

Footnote references to numbers in a table should be keyed with asterisks (*) instead of numbers.

Question 14

If you need to compare subdivisions of columns, you can use bilateral column charts.

Question 15

In constructing a pictograph, you must make all the picture units equal in size.

Question 16

Pull quotes, clip art, and other decorative visuals in a document need to be numbered.

Question 17

Visuals are constructed to help the intended reader understand the information more quickly, easily, and completely.

Question 18

A source acknowledgment is the top-most component of a visual.

Question 19

Scale distortion occurs when intervals in data points on the X or Y axis are not consistent.

Question 20

The bars in a stacked column chart that is used to compare the percentages of subdivisions are unequal in length.

Question 21

Which of the following is true of clip art?

A) It is very difficult to find good-looking clip art.
B) Despite its wide availability, writers tend to underuse clipart.
C) The main purpose of using clip art in a document is to enhance its aesthetic appeal.
D) Sometimes clip art can overpower and distract the reader.
E) Unlike other visuals, you do not require permission to use copyrighted clip art.

Question 22

Which of the following is true of footnotes?

A) Footnotes are placed above the captions if the visuals contain captions.
B) Footnotes are detailed explanations placed below the visual by means of a subscript number or alphabet.
C) Footnotes, by convention, appear above the tables or visuals that they refer to.
D) Footnotes are keyed to the part that they explain by means of a symbol such as an asterisk.
E) Footnotes are the top-most components of a visual.

Question 23

Which of the following is true about numbering visuals in a document?

A) A lone table or figure in a document has to be numbered.
B) It is essential to number the decorative visuals in a document.
C) If you have many visuals that fall into two or three categories, you must avoid numbering each of these categories consecutively.
D) By convention, tables are numbered separately from other types of visuals in a document.
E) Irrespective of the types of visuals you have, there is only one scheme of numbering available for writers.

Question 24

Which of the following is true of the factors involved in the presentation of visuals?

A) The size of a visual is arbitrary and is based on convenience.
B) The size of a visual is determined by its contents and importance.
C) Visuals that are simple should be presented on a full page.
D) Visuals that occupy less than a full page do not need borders.
E) Color and cross-hatching tends to distract readers from the main message of visuals.

Question 25

Which of the following is true of source acknowledgments?

A) Source acknowledgments can either be omitted or be specified as "Primary" in the case of primary research data.
B) Source acknowledgments are created for the purpose of giving the reader a brief description of the visual.
C) Source acknowledgments must always specify the who, what, where, when, and why of the "five Ws."
D) Source acknowledgments are the top-most components of a visual.
E) Source acknowledgments, by convention, are typed in title case.

Question 26

Which of the following is true regarding the construction and placement of titles and captions in visuals?

A) It is mandatory for all the visuals within a document to have both captions and titles.
B) Titles and captions should always be placed below the visuals in a document.
C) Brief captions and titles should be typed in sentence case.
D) Both captions and titles should be placed above the tables in a document.
E) Titles and short captions for visuals must be typed using title case.

Question 27

Which of the following is true of titles in visuals?

A) A title must always specify the journalist's "five Ws": who, what, where, when, and why.
B) Titles are only required if the reader will need them to interpret or better understand the visual.
C) Titles are always placed above tables, but they may be placed below other visuals.
D) A title is used to give a substantial description of the visual.
E) When typing titles, you may opt to use sentence case.

Question 28

Which of the following is true about numbering visuals in a document?

A) A lone table or figure in a document has to be numbered.
B) Pull quotes, clip art, and other decorative visuals have to be numbered.
C) All visuals have to be numbered according to the order in which they appear in a document.
D) If your visuals comprise a wide mixture of types, you may number them in two groups: tables and figures.
E) Irrespective of the types of visuals you have, there is only one scheme of numbering available for writers.

Question 29

Which of the following should typically be covered through visual presentation?

A) Inaccurate data collected online
B) Information that is not related to the text
C) Simple information that can be easily inferred through words
D) Information that is too detailed to be covered in words
E) Irrelevant facts that do not need to be emphasized

Question 30

Which of the following guidelines should be followed when selecting visuals for a document?

A) You should look for complex information that visual presentation can make clear.
B) You should place all the visuals in an appendix to improve readability.
C) You should avoid using visuals to cover information that is too detailed.
D) You should plan the visuals for your document before you organize your findings.
E) You should use visuals to convey the main points in your message instead of words.

Question 31

_____ is a conservative color that conveys power, sophistication, dependability, reliability, and formality.

A) Beige
B) Red
C) Yellow
D) Purple
E) Blue

Question 32

Which of the following is true regarding the construction of titles and captions for visuals?

A) The use of captions is mandatory for all the visuals within a document.
B) Captions are generally placed above tables and other visuals.
C) The titles and brief captions for visuals should be typed using sentence case.
D) Titles must always specify the journalist's "five Ws": who, what, where, when, and why.
E) The title or caption of the visual should concisely describe the visual's contents.

Question 33

When constructing visuals in a document, you should _____.

A) avoid placing borders around visuals that occupy less than a full page
B) use a quarter page to display visuals presenting complex or detailed information
C) avoid determining the sizes of visuals on the basis of their contents
D) use borders to distinguish one section or visual from another
E) use background colors that provide high contrast with the data in a report

Question 34

Which of the following statements is true regarding the construction of visuals in a document?

A) All the visuals in a document should be included in an appendix or attachment to improve readability.
B) The type used in visuals throughout a report should generally be consistent in terms of style and font.
C) If a document contains visuals that fall into two or three categories, one must avoid numbering each of these categories consecutively.
D) The borders of visuals should be extended beyond the normal page margins.
E) The orientation of a visual in a document is not determined by its size or contents.

Question 35

Which of the following is true about source acknowledgments?

A) Source acknowledgements must always specify the journalist's "five Ws": who, what, where, when, and why.
B) Source acknowledgments are similar to talking headings which give the reader the main message of the visual.
C) Source acknowledgments, by convention, are typed in title case.
D) Source acknowledgments are keyed to the part that they explain by means of a superscript number or symbol.
E) Source acknowledgments are the bottom-most components of a visual.

Question 36

Visuals for communicating report information fall into two general categories: those that communicate primarily through visual elements (charts and graphs) and those that communicate primarily through _____.

A) symbols and figures
B) textual content
C) paintings
D) clipart
E) diagrams and pictures

Question 37

In selecting visuals, you should _____.

A) plan the visuals for your document keeping your reader in mind
B) place all visuals in the appendix of your document to improve readability
C) avoid using visuals to cover information that is too detailed
D) use visuals to convey the main points in your message instead of words
E) plan the visuals for your document before you organize your findings

Question 38

Which of the following is true about visuals in a document?

A) The size of a visual is independent of its contents and importance.
B) Visuals that occupy less than a full page should not be given borders.
C) Some visuals can stand alone, but others will supplement the writing or speaking.
D) Visuals depicting detailed information should be presented using quarter of the page.
E) The size of a visual should be arbitrary and based on convenience.

Question 39

Which of the following is true of the construction of visuals in a document?

A) Visuals that are created to present extremely complex and involved information are typically displayed using half a page.
B) The type used in visuals throughout a report should generally vary in terms of style and font.
C) Research has found that color in visuals makes it more difficult to comprehend, retain, and extract information.
D) It is mandatory to number pull quotes, clip art, and other decorative visuals in a document.
E) Colors and cross-hatching help readers see comparisons and distinctions and add to the attractiveness of the report.

Question 40

Which of the following is true regarding the general mechanics of constructing visuals in a document?

A) The borders of visuals should be extended beyond the normal page margins.
B) The type used in visuals throughout a report should generally vary in terms of style and font.
C) Color and cross-hatching tend to distract readers from the main message of the visuals in a document.
D) Rules help distinguish one section or visual from another while borders help separate visuals from the text.
E) The layouts of visuals in a document are generally independent of their sizes.

Question 41

A _____ is an orderly arrangement of information in rows and columns.

A) bulleted list
B) flowchart
C) pull quote
D) scatter diagram
E) table

Question 42

Which of the following is true of a pictograph?

A) All the picture units in a pictograph should be made equal in size.
B) A pictograph is a pie chart whose slices are made of picture units.
C) A pictograph usually contains arbitrary picture units that have little or no resemblance to the items being compared.
D) A pictograph does not need a title or a caption.
E) Varying the size of the picture units in a pictograph helps compare differences effectively.

Question 43

Which of the following is the best method for emphasizing a slice in a pie chart?

A) Placing the piece at the 12 o'clock position
B) Deleting the piece from the pie
C) Deleting other pieces from the pie
D) Pulling it out from the pie or enlarging it
E) Placing the piece at the 6 o'clock position

Question 44

Which of the following is true of bulleted lists?

A) Bulleted lists should always be presented with titles.
B) Bulleted lists are used to list points and sub-points within the text.
C) The secondary bullets should have the same color, size, shape, and weight as the primary bullets.
D) Bulleted points should not be made grammatically parallel.
E) Darts, check marks, squares, or triangles can be used for the primary bullets.

Question 45

Carlos is the sales manager at a small firm. He wants to use a visual to compare the monthly sales figures of his subordinates, Sylvia and Mike, for the last six months. Which of the following charts best suits Carlos's purpose?

A) A Gantt chart
B) A clustered bar chart
C) An organization chart
D) A flowchart
E) A decision tree

Question 46

Malik is the sales manager at Miracle Inc. He wants to create a daily sales report displaying the difference between the average sales figures for the current month and the average sales figures for the previous month. As per his instructions, the resulting visual will show plus and minus differences. Which of the following charts should the report team use?

A) A simple bar or column chart
B) An organization chart
C) A bilateral column chart
D) A Gantt chart
E) A flowchart

Question 47

A special form of _____ is used to compare the subdivisions of percentages.

A) stacked column chart
B) simple bar chart
C) simple column chart
D) bilateral column chart
E) clustered bar chart

Question 48

Which of the following rules should be followed when constructing tables?

A) The question mark sign should be used to indicate unavailable data in a table.
B) Footnote references to numbers in a table should be keyed with superscript numbers.
C) The zero (0) should be used to indicate unavailable data in a table.
D) Totals and subtotals should always appear either at the right or at the bottom of a table.
E) The units in which the data are recorded should be clearly mentioned in the table.

Question 49

Which of the following is typically used to indicate missing data in a table?

A) @
B) N.A.
C) Missing data
D) *
E) 0

Question 50

Which of the following is true of pull quotes?

A) They are pictorial representations of facts, figures, and statistics.
B) They are bar or column charts that use bars made of pictures.
C) They are usually created by enlarging key sentences from the text that are enhanced via formatting.
D) They are subsets of larger tables with no titles or rules.
E) They are used to present tabular data that can be presented more effectively as parts of the text.

Question 51

In the context of constructing text tables, if the rows in a table are long, the row heads may be repeated at the _____.

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

Question 52

Which of the following best defines a flowchart?

A) A flowchart is a chart that shows the hierarchy of levels and positions in an organization.
B) A flowchart is a chart that shows the sequence of activities in a process.
C) A flowchart is a visual presentation that shows planning and scheduling activities.
D) A flowchart is a chart that is used to show comparisons of qualities at a moment in time.
E) A flowchart is a chart that is used to compare the subdivisions of percentages.

Question 53

Ronaldo is a sales person at Vircom Inc. He wants to compare his monthly sales figures for the last six months using a visual representation. Which of the following charts best suits Ronaldo's purpose?

A) A simple bar chart
B) A flowchart
C) A Gantt chart
D) An organization chart
E) A decision tree

Question 54

A Gantt chart _____.

A) is a chart that is used to compare the subdivisions of percentages
B) is a visual that is used to present three or more variables in three dimensions
C) is a visual presentation that is used to show planning and scheduling activities
D) is a chart that is used to show the changes of information over time
E) is a chart that is used to show the hierarchy of levels and positions in an organization

Question 55

Which of the following is a textual visual that communicates primarily through textual content?

A) Table
B) Pictograph
C) Map
D) Scatter diagram
E) Pie chart

Question 56

Which of the following is a defining characteristic of a stacked (subdivided) column chart?

A) It compares differences in quantities using differences in the lengths of the bars to represent those quantities.
B) It compares the quantities of five or more different values in one chart.
C) It contains columns that are divided into parts and distinguished by different colors and cross-hatching.
D) It contains columns that begin at a central point of reference and either go up or down.
E) It is especially good for showing percentage changes and any series that includes plus and minus quantities.

Question 57

Which of the following is true of a pie chart?

A) It compares the quantities of two or three different values in one chart by clustering points together.
B) It compares differences in quantities using differences in the lengths of the bars to represent those quantities.
C) It contains columns that begin at a central point of reference and either go up or down.
D) It is the most frequently used chart in comparing the subdivisions of wholes.
E) It is used for any series in which plus and minus quantities are present.

Question 58

You want to show 2010 sales by product (you have three) for each of your seven districts; the chart you will most likely select is the _____.

A) simple column chart
B) pie chart
C) component part line chart
D) Gantt chart
E) multiple bar chart

Question 59

_____ are simple tables, usually with column heads and sometimes with rules and borders.

A) Leaders
B) Scatter diagrams
C) Matrices
D) Legends
E) Text tabulations

Question 60

If you need to compare subdivisions of columns, you should use a(n) _____.

A) stacked column chart
B) simple bar chart
C) bilateral column chart
D) clustered bar chart
E) organization chart

Question 61

Explain three rules for ensuring that color enhances an audience's understanding and a writer's communication.

Question 62

Give a brief account of flowcharts and decision trees.

Question 63

Which of the following is the best position to place a visual in a document?

A) At the end of the document in an appendix
B) Near the place where it is discussed
C) At the beginning of a document
D) In a separate attachment with extra material
E) On a page preceding the one that references it

Question 64

Which of the following is a category of common errors in graphs?

A) Errors of scale
B) Errors of processes
C) Errors of size
D) Errors of font
E) Errors of interpretation

Question 65

Describe the construction of an area chart.

Question 66

What are bulleted lists?

Question 67

Bernardo wants to use a visual to display the variation in population size across Texas by clearly outlining each district and using formatting techniques to indicate the differences. Which of the following visuals would best suit his purpose?

A) A pie chart
B) A bilateral bar chart
C) A scatter diagram
D) A statistical map
E) A line chart

Question 68

Which of the following is an error of format?

A) The violation of the zero beginning in a series
B) The excessive expansion of the visual, either horizontally or vertically
C) The distracting use of grids and shading
D) The inconsistency between data points on the X and Y axis
E) The use of unethical or inappropriate visual elements

Question 69

You are planning to use a one-quarter page bar chart in your business report. You should place it _____.

A) in the section preceding the text discussion
B) on the page following the discussion
C) on the page preceding the discussion
D) on the same page as the text to which it is related
E) in the appendix

Question 70

Which of the following guidelines should be followed when placing visuals in a document?

A) Visuals should always be placed in an attachment or a separate document.
B) Visuals that are not discussed in the document must be placed in an appendix.
C) Visuals that do not fit a specific part of the document should be placed after every important section in the document so that viewers do not have to flip back.
D) Visuals should always be placed at the beginning of the document.
E) Visuals should always be placed at the end of a document.

Question 71

Explain the rules regarding totals and subtotals in the construction of text tables.

Question 72

Explain visual communication.

Question 73

Explain the factor type that is important in the effective presentation of visuals.

Question 74

How can business writers preserve visual integrity?

Question 75

Why shouldn't visuals be placed in an appendix?

Question 76

Discuss the use of maps.

Question 77

In the context of visual integrity, which of the following is a common graphing error that occurs when a visual is stretched excessively horizontally or vertically to change the meaning it conveys to the reader?

A) Zero-point error
B) Varied scale size
C) Scale distortion
D) Format error
E) Grid misplacement

Question 78

Alan is a sales manager at Rosenco Inc. He wants to use a visual to help him track the sales of three different products over a period of five years. Which of the following charts best suits Alan's purpose?

A) A simple bar or column chart
B) A flowchart
C) A line chart
D) An organization chart
E) A Gantt chart

Question 79

_____ are useful when quantitative information is to be compared by geographic areas.

A) Line charts
B) Geo-statistical maps
C) Statistical maps
D) Combination charts
E) Three dimensional visuals