Question 1

"During the month of April" is an example of ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  verb nominalization 
B)  imperative mood 
C)  passive voice 
D)  wordiness 
A)  verb nominalization 
B)  imperative mood 
C)  passive voice 
D)  wordiness

Question 2

Describe the meaning of the word "subject." Where should the subject go in a sentence? Why?

Accepted Answer

The word "subject" has two different mea

Question 3

Which of the following is true about passive voice?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is clear and concise. 
B)  It makes the writer seem more competent and objective. 
C)  It should be used when you need to address your reader directly. 
D)  It can be used when you don't care or don't know who the agent is. 
A)  It is clear and concise. 
B)  It makes the writer seem more competent and objective. 
C)  It should be used when you need to address your reader directly. 
D)  It can be used when you don't care or don't know who the agent is.

Question 4

Breaking up noun chains goes against a basic principle of technical writing.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

The passive voice communicates a writer's objectivity.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Which of the following sentences is in the active voice?

Accepted Answer

A)  In the last six months, no job offers were made by management. 
B)  The instrument was carefully calibrated by the engineer. 
C)  The workers wore protective gear. 
D)  The room was entered by the painting crew. 
A)  In the last six months, no job offers were made by management. 
B)  The instrument was carefully calibrated by the engineer. 
C)  The workers wore protective gear. 
D)  The room was entered by the painting crew.

Question 7

Select the correct sequence of activities when revising sentences:

Accepted Answer

A)  Check grammar and mechanics, edit for conciseness, edit for clarity, edit for gender-neutral language, find the real verb, find the real subject. 
B)  Find the real verb, find the real subject, edit for clarity, edit for conciseness, edit for gender-neutral language, check grammar and mechanics. 
C)  Find the real subject, find the real verb, edit for conciseness, edit for clarity, edit for gender-neutral language, check grammar and mechanics. 
D)  Check grammar and mechanics, find the real subject, find the real verb, edit for conciseness, edit for gender-neutral language, edit for clarity. 
A)  Check grammar and mechanics, edit for conciseness, edit for clarity, edit for gender-neutral language, find the real verb, find the real subject. 
B)  Find the real verb, find the real subject, edit for clarity, edit for conciseness, edit for gender-neutral language, check grammar and mechanics. 
C)  Find the real subject, find the real verb, edit for conciseness, edit for clarity, edit for gender-neutral language, check grammar and mechanics. 
D)  Check grammar and mechanics, find the real subject, find the real verb, edit for conciseness, edit for gender-neutral language, edit for clarity.

Question 8

Why are short sentences generally preferred over long ones? Name one situation in which making a sentence longer is acceptable.

Accepted Answer

Short sentences are generally preferred

Question 9

Which of the following sentences uses the imperative mood?

Accepted Answer

A)  You should refuse their offer today. 
B)  Please do not perform tie-ins during the summer months. 
C)  The report must be submitted in triplicate hardcopy. 
D)  All efforts should be made to ensure that water is discharged onto landscaped or pervious areas. 
A)  You should refuse their offer today. 
B)  Please do not perform tie-ins during the summer months. 
C)  The report must be submitted in triplicate hardcopy. 
D)  All efforts should be made to ensure that water is discharged onto landscaped or pervious areas.

Question 10

Technical writers tend to overuse the active voice.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

A technical writer should, whenever possible, make the grammatical subject a real person or something concrete.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Which of the following sentences does NOT contain verb nominalizations?

Accepted Answer

A)  The completion and submission of trip reports should be undertaken by team leaders. 
B)  Our firm is in agreement with the notion that we will give assistance to the external compliance-audit. 
C)  The research teams must discuss how best to analyze the soil samples. 
D)  This investigation recommends that modification be made to the product to increase consumer safety. 
A)  The completion and submission of trip reports should be undertaken by team leaders. 
B)  Our firm is in agreement with the notion that we will give assistance to the external compliance-audit. 
C)  The research teams must discuss how best to analyze the soil samples. 
D)  This investigation recommends that modification be made to the product to increase consumer safety.

Question 13

Technical sentences generally work best if the grammatical subject appears prominently in the middle of the sentence.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

"Police officer," "firefighter," and "actor" are all examples of ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  sexist language 
B)  inclusive language 
C)  gerunds 
D)  jargon 
A)  sexist language 
B)  inclusive language 
C)  gerunds 
D)  jargon

Question 15

When editing sentences, what does it mean to "find the real subject"? How can you achieve this? Why is finding the real subject important in technical writing?

Accepted Answer

Answers will vary, but should mention th

Question 16

Addressing the reader directly using "you" ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  should be avoided because it signifies lack of objectivity 
B)  is an example of active voice 
C)  is an example of passive voice 
D)  should be avoided because it is considered impolite 
A)  should be avoided because it signifies lack of objectivity 
B)  is an example of active voice 
C)  is an example of passive voice 
D)  should be avoided because it is considered impolite

Question 17

"Administer," "substantiate," and "ascertain" are all examples of _________.

Accepted Answer

A)  passive constructions 
B)  imperative voice 
C)  redundancies 
D)  big words 
A)  passive constructions 
B)  imperative voice 
C)  redundancies 
D)  big words

Question 18

Explain the difference between active and passive voice and the reasons why you might use one over the other in a technical writing scenario.

Accepted Answer

Answers will vary, but should mention th

Question 19

A weak expletive is ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  a meaningless expression that takes the place of the main noun and verb 
B)  an expression you use when the object of the sentence is unknown 
C)  a politically correct alternative to swearing 
D)  something that should never be used under any circumstances 
A)  a meaningless expression that takes the place of the main noun and verb 
B)  an expression you use when the object of the sentence is unknown 
C)  a politically correct alternative to swearing 
D)  something that should never be used under any circumstances

Question 20

The phrase "it has been noted that" is an example of ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  wordiness 
B)  redundancy 
C)  a passive construction 
D)  imperative construction 
A)  wordiness 
B)  redundancy 
C)  a passive construction 
D)  imperative construction

"During the month of April" is an example of ________.

Describe the meaning of the word "subject." Where should the subject go in a sentence? Why?

Which of the following is true about passive voice?

Breaking up noun chains goes against a basic principle of technical writing.

The passive voice communicates a writer's objectivity.

Which of the following sentences is in the active voice?

Select the correct sequence of activities when revising sentences:

Why are short sentences generally preferred over long ones? Name one situation in which making a sentence longer is acceptable.

Which of the following sentences uses the imperative mood?

Technical writers tend to overuse the active voice.

A technical writer should, whenever possible, make the grammatical subject a real person or something concrete.

Which of the following sentences does NOT contain verb nominalizations?

Technical sentences generally work best if the grammatical subject appears prominently in the middle of the sentence.

"Police officer," "firefighter," and "actor" are all examples of ________.

When editing sentences, what does it mean to "find the real subject"? How can you achieve this? Why is finding the real subject important in technical writing?

Addressing the reader directly using "you" ________.

"Administer," "substantiate," and "ascertain" are all examples of _________.

Explain the difference between active and passive voice and the reasons why you might use one over the other in a technical writing scenario.

A weak expletive is ________.

The phrase "it has been noted that" is an example of ________.

Why Technical People Neednt Fear Writing

Technical Paragraphs

Parallelism, Lists, Headings, and Layout

Emails, Letters, and Memos

Short Reports, Proposals, and Technical Documents

Formal Reports

Intercultural Communication, Collaborative Writing, and Document Control

References and Citations

Technical Graphics

Technical Definitions and Descriptions

Instructions, Procedures, and Manuals

Oral Presentations

Ethics

Job Application Packages

Filters

Exam 2: Technical Sentences

"During the month of April" is an example of ________.

Describe the meaning of the word "subject." Where should the subject go in a sentence? Why?

Which of the following is true about passive voice?

Breaking up noun chains goes against a basic principle of technical writing.

The passive voice communicates a writer's objectivity.

Which of the following sentences is in the active voice?

Select the correct sequence of activities when revising sentences:

Why are short sentences generally preferred over long ones? Name one situation in which making a sentence longer is acceptable.

Which of the following sentences uses the imperative mood?

Technical writers tend to overuse the active voice.

A technical writer should, whenever possible, make the grammatical subject a real person or something concrete.

Which of the following sentences does NOT contain verb nominalizations?

Technical sentences generally work best if the grammatical subject appears prominently in the middle of the sentence.

"Police officer," "firefighter," and "actor" are all examples of ________.

When editing sentences, what does it mean to "find the real subject"? How can you achieve this? Why is finding the real subject important in technical writing?

Addressing the reader directly using "you" ________.

"Administer," "substantiate," and "ascertain" are all examples of _________.

Explain the difference between active and passive voice and the reasons why you might use one over the other in a technical writing scenario.

A weak expletive is ________.

The phrase "it has been noted that" is an example of ________.

Why Technical People Neednt Fear Writing

Technical Paragraphs

Parallelism, Lists, Headings, and Layout

Emails, Letters, and Memos

Short Reports, Proposals, and Technical Documents

Formal Reports

Intercultural Communication, Collaborative Writing, and Document Control

References and Citations

Technical Graphics

Technical Definitions and Descriptions

Instructions, Procedures, and Manuals

Oral Presentations

Ethics

Job Application Packages

Filters