Question 1

What technique is used to clarify the term inflammable in this definition: "An inflammable substance is not a substance that cannot catch fire; to the contrary, an inflammable substance catches fire quite easily"?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What technique is used to clarify the...

Question 2

According to Chapter 14, what is an effective way to conclude a description?

Accepted Answer

A)   with a restatement of key points from the introduction
B)   with a summary of major points and, in some cases, a brief description of how the parts or process steps work together
C)   with information on maintenance or troubleshooting
D)   with distinguishing characteristics

Question 3

According to Chapter 14, an effective process description fully describes which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)   a glossary
B)   substeps
C)   subplots
D)   frames of reference

Question 4

Several organizations have issued guidelines and standards for communicating information about safety. Which of the following is NOT one of these organizations?

Accepted Answer

A)   Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSH
A)  
B)   American National Standards Institute (ANSI) 
C)   International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 
D)   Institute of Safety Ordinances (ISO)

Question 5

Part of the challenge of deciding where to put a definition lies in the fact that several places are viable options.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Which of the following is the most effective title for part of a set of instructions on bicycle repair?

Accepted Answer

A)   Caliper Brake Shoe Yaw Angle Adjustment
B)   Adjusting the Yaw Angle of Caliper Brake Shoes
C)   Fixing Caliper Brake Shoes
D)   How-to Adjusting Brake Shoes Yaw Angle

Question 7

Placing definitions directly in the text is a common practice. According to Chapter 14, what are two other acceptable locations for definitions?

Accepted Answer

The other places to put defini...

Question 8

Which two types of organizational patterns are most common for mechanism descriptions?

Accepted Answer

A)   comparison and contrast
B)   functional
C)   spatial
D)   radial

Question 9

Which of the following is an effective sentence definition?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 10

Which of the following best describes this definition: "A conjunctive adverb is an adverb that has a conjunctive function between two clauses"?

Accepted Answer

A)   This is a simple, but effective, sentence definition.
B)   This is a circular definition.
C)   This sentence definition describes its item with clear distinguishing characteristics.
D)   This is a stipulative definition.

Question 11

According to Chapter 14, many companies are uneasy about using instructional videos and rely on printed documentation instead.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Read the following instructions for creating an automated index of web files. Then indicate which step or steps are NOT CORRECTLY written.
1)  Open Windows Explorer to c:\program files\autoindex\.
2)  Copy the folders containing your web files to the folder named "indexer." If autoindex does not contain an indexer folder, you must reinstall the software. See the installation booklet.
3)  Type the appropriate path, for instance, c:\program files\autoindex\indexer\indexer.exe webfolder1, webfolder2, etc.
4)  Indexer now has a folder called IndexSearch. The executable file, index.exe, may be run to view the searchable index of your web files.

Accepted Answer

A)   step 1
B)   steps 2 and 3
C)   steps 3 and 4
D)   steps 2 and 4

Question 13

According to Chapter 14, there is no absolute distinction between a set of instructions and a manual.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

To minimize product-liability lawsuits in the event of improper use of Phillips lawn mowers, which of the following instructions should the lead technical writer at Phillips, Inc. NOT give to the team writing the company's user manual?

Accepted Answer

A)   Repeat safety information if you think that the repetition will increase the probability of its being read.
B)   If our company does not have an appropriate safety symbol, create your own text symbol through the use of highlighting, larger point size, and a text box.
C)   For ease of use, place all safety information in the introduction so that users can read through all of it at once before using the product. Then, in the instruction steps, merely cross-reference to the introduction.
D)   Do not choose safety labels arbitrarily.

Question 15

What are the four signal words commonly used to indicate the levels of seriousness in comments?

Accepted Answer

The four signal word...

Question 16

Which of the following provides the best conclusion to a set of instructions on assembling a toy airplane for children under age 10?

Accepted Answer

A)   Have fun!
B)   --End Of Page--
C)   Use your toy carefully.
D)   The propeller should turn as you roll the airplane's wheels.

Question 17

In what way is the definition "Booting a computer is when you turn it on" flawed?

Accepted Answer

It uses a phrase beg...

Question 18

What is the function of a conventions section?

Accepted Answer

To help the reader u...

Question 19

A writer is creating an employee handbook for assembly-line workers and their supervisors. One particular extended definition is approximately a page long. Where should the writer place this definition if it will be of interest to only the supervisors?

Accepted Answer

A)   in a marginal gloss
B)   in a footnote
C)   in an appendix
D)   in the text

Question 20

A set of instructions is a type of definition.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 14: Writing Definitions, Descriptions, and Instructions

What are the four signal words commonly used to indicate the levels of seriousness in comments?

Correct Answer
verified
The four signal word...
View Answer

According to Chapter 14, there is no absolute distinction between a set of instructions and a manual.

Correct Answer
verified

According to Chapter 14, an effective process description fully describes which of the following?

Correct Answer
verified

Placing definitions directly in the text is a common practice. According to Chapter 14, what are two other acceptable locations for definitions?

Correct Answer
verified
The other places to put defini...
View Answer

A set of instructions is a type of definition.

Correct Answer
verified

In what way is the definition "Booting a computer is when you turn it on" flawed?

Correct Answer
verified
It uses a phrase beg...
View Answer

According to Chapter 14, what is an effective way to conclude a description?

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following is the most effective title for part of a set of instructions on bicycle repair?

Correct Answer
verified

Which two types of organizational patterns are most common for mechanism descriptions?

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following is an effective sentence definition?

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

A writer is creating an employee handbook for assembly-line workers and their supervisors. One particular extended definition is approximately a page long. Where should the writer place this definition if it will be of interest to only the supervisors?

Correct Answer
verified

What is the function of a conventions section?

Correct Answer
verified
To help the reader u...
View Answer

What technique is used to clarify the term inflammable in this definition: "An inflammable substance is not a substance that cannot catch fire; to the contrary, an inflammable substance catches fire quite easily"?

Correct Answer
verified

To minimize product-liability lawsuits in the event of improper use of Phillips lawn mowers, which of the following instructions should the lead technical writer at Phillips, Inc. NOT give to the team writing the company's user manual?

Correct Answer
verified

Several organizations have issued guidelines and standards for communicating information about safety. Which of the following is NOT one of these organizations?

Correct Answer
verified

According to Chapter 14, many companies are uneasy about using instructional videos and rely on printed documentation instead.

Correct Answer
verified

Part of the challenge of deciding where to put a definition lies in the fact that several places are viable options.

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following provides the best conclusion to a set of instructions on assembling a toy airplane for children under age 10?

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following best describes this definition: "A conjunctive adverb is an adverb that has a conjunctive function between two clauses"?

Correct Answer
verified

Exam 14: Writing Definitions, Descriptions, and Instructions

What are the four signal words commonly used to indicate the levels of seriousness in comments?

Correct AnswerverifiedThe four signal word...View AnswerShow Answer

According to Chapter 14, there is no absolute distinction between a set of instructions and a manual.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

According to Chapter 14, an effective process description fully describes which of the following?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Placing definitions directly in the text is a common practice. According to Chapter 14, what are two other acceptable locations for definitions?

Correct AnswerverifiedThe other places to put defini...View AnswerShow Answer

A set of instructions is a type of definition.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In what way is the definition "Booting a computer is when you turn it on" flawed?

Correct AnswerverifiedIt uses a phrase beg...View AnswerShow Answer

According to Chapter 14, what is an effective way to conclude a description?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following is the most effective title for part of a set of instructions on bicycle repair?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which two types of organizational patterns are most common for mechanism descriptions?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following is an effective sentence definition?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A writer is creating an employee handbook for assembly-line workers and their supervisors. One particular extended definition is approximately a page long. Where should the writer place this definition if it will be of interest to only the supervisors?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What is the function of a conventions section?

Correct AnswerverifiedTo help the reader u...View AnswerShow Answer

What technique is used to clarify the term inflammable in this definition: "An inflammable substance is not a substance that cannot catch fire; to the contrary, an inflammable substance catches fire quite easily"?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

To minimize product-liability lawsuits in the event of improper use of Phillips lawn mowers, which of the following instructions should the lead technical writer at Phillips, Inc. NOT give to the team writing the company's user manual?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Several organizations have issued guidelines and standards for communicating information about safety. Which of the following is NOT one of these organizations?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

According to Chapter 14, many companies are uneasy about using instructional videos and rely on printed documentation instead.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Part of the challenge of deciding where to put a definition lies in the fact that several places are viable options.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following provides the best conclusion to a set of instructions on assembling a toy airplane for children under age 10?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following best describes this definition: "A conjunctive adverb is an adverb that has a conjunctive function between two clauses"?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct Answer
verified
The four signal word...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified
The other places to put defini...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified
It uses a phrase beg...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified
To help the reader u...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified