Technical Writer Test

Name: Position:

Date:

Results

Carefully read each question and then answer.

1. The plural of the word “matrix” is:

a. Matrices

b. Matrixs

c. Matrics

d. Matrixes
2. The plural of the word “hardware” is:

a. hardwares

b. hardware

c. hardware’s

d. hardwares’
3. Pick the correct noun to fill in the blank of this sentence:
The ____________ are beautiful today.

a. Flower

b. trees

c. verdant

d. grassy
4. Pick the correct article to fill in the blank of this sentence:
Please open ______ door.

a. those

b. an

c. the

d. none
5. Pick the sentence that demonstrates correct parallel construction.

a. The book is new or interesting.

b. I am holding and read the books.

c. The books and magazines are in the box.

d. Choose either the book and the magazine.

6. Select the text that has correct capitalization and punctuation.

a. From the Acme Professional File Menu select new.

b. From the Acme Professional file Menu select New.

c. From the Acme Professional File menu, select New.

d. From the Acme Professional file menu, select new.

7. Select the text that has correct capitalization and punctuation.

a. On Monday January 31, Acme Software Corporation Inc. released its new product, Acme professional.

b. On Monday January 31, Acme Software Corporation, Inc. released its new product, Acme Professional.

c. On Monday January 31, Acme Software Corporation, Inc. released it’s new Product, Acme Professional.

d. On monday January 31, Acme software corporation, Inc. released its new product, Acme Professional.
8. Select the text that has correct capitalization and punctuation.

a. In the Reports dialogue box click, Print.

b. In the Reports dialogue box, click print.

c. In the reports dialogue box click, Print.

d. In the Reports dialogue box, click Print.

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9. Select the sentence that shows the best use of an imperative verb.

a. At this time, the program wants you to click the Start Button.

b. I want you to click the Start button.

c. Click the Start button.

d. The Start button must be clicked at this time.

10. Select the sentence that shows the best use of an imperative verb.

a. Do not type “exit”.

b. “Exit” must not be typed.

c. If you type “Exit”, there will be unexpected results.

d. I do not think that you should type “exit”.

11. Select the sentence that shows the best use of an imperative verb.

a. The Start button must be clicked.

b. By clicking the Start button, the program will start.

c. Starting the program is achieved by clicking the Start button.

d. Click the Start button.

12. Select the phrase that is most appropriate for technical documentation.

a. The system lets you make a widget.

b. The system also provides you with the opportunity to create a widget.

c. You can create a widget.

d. You have the opportunity to provide a widget.

13. Select the phrase that exemplifies best practices in technical writing.

a. You can see the information on the screen.

b. The information is displayed.

c. The information is also displayed on the screen.

d. The information is also on the screen.

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14. Select the most appropriate and correct phrase.

a. To provide faster processing, the feature was designed.

b. The feature has been designed to provide faster processing.

c. Faster processing is provided by the feature.

d. The feature provides faster processing.

15. Select the phrase most suited to a technical document.

a. Modify the text.

b. The text can be modified by you.

c. In the required manner, modify the text.

d. The text can be modified in the required manner.

16. Select the most appropriate phrase for a technical instruction.

a. To run the process, invoke the command “foo”

b. Type “foo”.

c. By typing “foo”, you can run the process.

d. Invoke the command to run the process by typing “foo”.

17. Choose the best rule for reducing ambiguity in your writing for international audiences:

a. Avoid using helping verbs such as may be, shall be, would have, should have, can have, or might have been.

b. Use helping verbs to show that you are being polite.

18. Choose the best rule for reducing ambiguity in your writing for international audiences:

a. Avoid using the relative pronoun “that” because it is an extra word.

b. Include the relative pronoun “that” to be more precise.

19. Choose the best rule for reducing ambiguity in your writing for international audiences:

a. If there are multiple words that mean the same thing, pick one and use it consistently.

b. To make the subject more interesting, use a lot of synonyms.

20. Mark the correct answer.

a. Thank you for replying so soon. I am (anxious, eager) to begin studying next week.

b. The new CTO is (adverse, averse) to that type of technical solution.

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21. API stands for

a. Application Programming Information

b. Application Programming Interface

c. Application Programming Inheritance

22. Select the correct sentence from the following sentences.

a. It consisted of four tests; Spelling, Arithmetic, Word Identification, and Passage Comprehension.

b. It consisted of four tests: Spelling, Arithmetic, Word Identification, and Passage Comprehension.

c. It consisted of four tests; Spelling, Arithmetic, Word Identification and Passage Comprehension.

d. It consisted of four tests; Spelling, Arithmetic, Word Identification, and Passage Comprehension.

23. Rewrite the following sentences.

a. Solicited proposals are those that have been requested in some way or other by a potential customer, for
example, when they request an RFP form us. Unsolicited proposals have not been requested as they just come
in by standard mail or through the front door completely, totally unexpected, and completely "out of the blue."

b. Business writing skills such as those presented here, are useful for the various types of documents you prepare
for your other courses.