Technical Communications 7th Canadian Edition By John M. Lannon – Test Bank

1) Breaking a topic into sub-topics is called
a. classification.
b. partition.
c. restriction.
d. logic.

Answer: b
Diff: 1
Type: MC
Page Reference: 168
Topic: Topical Arrangement
LO: create an outline that best organizes a given document according to its content,
purpose, and intended audience

2) Most paragraphs in technical documents use
a. general-to-specific patterns.
b. specific-to-general patterns.
c. chronological patterns.
d. indirect patterns.

Answer: a
Diff: 1
Type: MC
Page Reference: 180
Topic: General to Specific
LO: choose appropriate paragraph structures

3) A reader’s expectations about document organization depend on
a. the length of the document.
b. the reader’s cultural background.
c. the reader’s age and gender.
d. the headings system preferred by the company responsible for the document.

Answer: b
Diff: 3
Type: MC
Page Reference: 174
Topic: Organizing For Cross-Cultural Audiences
LO: create an outline that best organizes a given document according to its content,
purpose, and intended audience

4) A paragraph’s topic statement should be placed
a. only in the paragraph’s first sentence.
b. only in the paragraph’s first or second sentence.
c. anywhere in the paragraph.
d. only in the paragraph’s first, second, or last sentence.

Answer: d
Diff: 3
Type: MC
Page Reference: 176-77
Topic: The Topic Sentence
LO: distinguish between standard paragraphs and paragraphs that place the topic
sentence in an alternate position

5) Decimal notation heading systems use the following pattern to designate headings
a. multiples of 10 (section 10, section 20, section 30, and so on).
b. main sections (such as 2.0) break down into sub-sections (2.1; 2.2; 2.3; and so on), which in turn break down into sub-sub-sections (2.1.1; 2.1.2; 2.1.3; and so on).
c. main headings use 20 font size and sub-headings use 10 font size.
d. main sections use 100, 200, 300, and so on, while sub-sections use 100.01, 100.02, and so on.

Answer: b
Diff: 2
Type: MC
Page Reference: 174
Topic: The Formal Outline
LO: create an outline that best organizes a given document according to its content,
purpose, and intended audience

6) A paragraph that places its topic in the paragraph’s last sentence uses
a. a general-to-specific pattern.
b. a specific-to-general pattern.
c. a chronological pattern.
d. an emphatic pattern.

Answer: b
Diff: 1
Type: MC
Page Reference: 182
Topic: Specific To General
LO: distinguish between standard paragraphs and paragraphs that place the topic
sentence in an alternate position

7) The sequence of sections in an outline should be determined by
a. the reader’s needs and expectations.
b. previous documents on a similar subject.
c. the writer’s preferences.
d. the length of the document.

Answer: a
Diff: 3
Type: MC
Page Reference: 172
Topic: Outlining
LO: create an outline that best organizes a given document according to its content,
purpose, and intended audience

8) Chronological paragraph sequences do not include
a. past tense narratives.
b. present tense instructions.
c. present tense process description.
d. emphatic sequences.

Answer: d
Diff: 1
Type: MC
Page Reference: 183-84
Topic: Chronological
LO: choose appropriate paragraph structures

9) An emphatic sequence that supports its topic statement with reasons or evidence arranges those support statements
a. in a decreasing or increasing order of importance.
b. in a chronological sequence.
c. in no particular order.
d. in parallel sequences.

Answer: a
Diff: 1
Type: MC
Page Reference: 180
Topic: Emphatic Sequence
LO: choose appropriate paragraph structures

10) Detailed formal outlines for technical documents have the following feature
a. they never employ the basic pattern of introduction, body, and conclusion.
b. they sub-divide the body into sections that represent the document’s main sub-topics.
c. they organize material primarily to meet the writer’s persuasive purpose.
d. they always include recommendations in the Conclusion section.

Answer: b
Diff: 3
Type: MC
Page Reference: 171
Topic: Outlining
LO: create an outline that best organizes a given document according to its content,
purpose, and intended audience