Elance Technical Writing Test Answers 2015



Choose the best technical sentence from the following:
The exercise expedited energy expenditures.
The exercise caused the people to use more energy than they might have otherwise used in normal circumstances.
The exercise increased energy expenditures.
The exercise was increasing energy expenditures.


What is the most common way to present task-oriented instructions in written documentation?
Step-by-step instructions in numbered lists
In context-sensitive help
Step-by-step instructions in bulleted lists
Video demos


How does technical writing differ from expository writing?
Technical writing uses flowery language, whereas expository does not
Grammar and formatting are not important
Technical writing does not involve proving arguments
A conclusion does not need to be reached


When documenting a piece of software and referring to a particular feature, you should follow the spelling…
...used in the software's user interface.
...prescribed by your chosen dictionary.
...suggested by an applicable style guide.
...most commonly used by the target audience.


Where can explanatory information appear?
Below a step
Before the instructions
All of these
After the instructions


What does p.r.n. Stand for?
Per registered nurse
As needed
Per rectum


______ refers to the veracity of data, while _______ refers to the degree of exactness used in the measurements.
reliability; validity
accuracy; precision
intentional; incidental
precision; accuracy


Which voice should be used for explaining instructional steps?
Active
Passive
First person
Second person


Which of the following is the equivalent of a hyperlink in written documentation?
An appendix
Endnotes
A cross reference
A glossary of terms


Which verb tense is most effective in technical writing?
Present progressive
Regular verbs
Present perfect
Present


When technical writers talk about "single-source publishing," what do they mean?
Only one person or department source writes and maintains all the documentation.
It is the system that allows technical writers to write once, then use and re-use and deploy the same content in various formats, and even languages.
Writers convert paper manuals to online formats.
Software developers write explanatory documentation into their source codes.


Which of these is NOT a true statement about documents following a linear (paper) model?
They are designed to be read in their entirety.
The 'optimal' path through the information is not defined by the writer.
They are designed to be read sequentially.


What level of user will most likely read a technical white paper?
Experts
Rank novices with no prior knowledge
Intermediate to expert users


When dealing with a help guide on a computer, when a user presses F1 from a field, what kind of help does the user usually receive?
Two or three options to complete the task
Scenarios
Context-sensitive help
All of these


What is the FOG test?
The test for Forensic Ocular Graphing
A readability test
A test on fog density
A test to make sure your graphs are easily understood


What person is primarily responsible for editing a technical manual for style and grammar?
The quality assurance team
The programming team
All of these
The writer


What does a schematic illustrate?
Detailed instructions of how to use a product
How an object appears from different angles
The way in which something works
The feel of a product


Which of the following is the best way to summarize a list of software functions in written documentation?
Charts
Endnotes
Using Images
In a table


When writing a technical manual for software, what preliminary meetings are best to attend, if possible?
Software design meetings
Quality assurance meetings
Editorial review meetings
Management meetings


True or false? In order to be a technical writer, you must have a technical background.
False
True


What is a functional description?
A description that provides typical uses, details, and the purpose of the subject.
A description that provides warranty information on the subject.
A description that provides step-by-step details on using the subject.


Which of the following uses INCORRECT capitalization?
The tests were performed at Madison Square Garden.
The test concluded last Winter.
The test concluded last winter.
The scientist used a Bunsen burner to heat the compound.


What does "SME" refer to?
Systematic math entry
Scientific metric effect
Scientific method exercise
Subject-matter expert


What is a secondary source?
An interpretation of data from a primary source
The second group of people interviewed
Sources that are less relevant to your paper
The second resource referenced


Which of the following is correct?
The machine's principle component is the engine.
Both are correct
The machine's principal component is the engine.


Which of the following is NOT used to markup and/or style technical writing?
CSS
WWW
HTML
XML


What portion of a manual addresses issues that can occur with the product?
Appendix section
Tech support section
Addendum section
Troubleshooting section


If the document relies heavily on technical terms, which of the following should be included?
An appendix
Footnotes
Glossary of Terms
A link to an online technical dictionary


Which of the following traits embody the ideal technical writing style?
Concise
Authoritative tone
All of these
Parallel sentence structure


As a general rule of thumb technical writers should use _______.
Active voice
Passive voice


What is RoboHelp?
A database of technical terms and tools
An HTML5 publishing tool
That paperclip from Word
A Python publishing tool


What is the purpose of a white paper?
To list the features of the product
To offer solutions to problems
All of these
To explain the product


What is the abstract?
A theoretical framework
A brief summary of the article
A conclusive statement
A dataset


What is cross-browser, cross platform compatibility?
Compatibility across multiple smart phones and computers
Compatibility across multiple technologies, operating systems, and browsers
Compatibility across PCs and Macs
Compatibility across multiple browsers


Suppose you are citing an author who is citing another author's work. Which author should you cite in your paper?
You should formally cite the author of the original experiment
You do not need to cite either author
You should formally cite both authors
You should formally cite the author you are actually reading


How many iterations of your original document will a technical writer generally be expected to write?
It depends on how many times the product changes
At least four interations
At least three iterations
At least two iterations


In the context of technical writing, what does SME typically stand for?
Source Material Engagement
Source Manager Evaluation
Subject Matter Error
Subject Material Error
Subject Matter Expert


Which of these is NOT an XML-based document format?
DITA
TEI
DocBook
LaTeX


Which of the following is the best wording to appear in end user documentation?
If the program crashes…
If the program abends…
If the program shuts down unexpectedly…
If the program dies...


Which of the following is the most comprehensive definition of technical writing?
Creating a document designed for engineers
Documenting tasks, scenarios, and tools
Presenting complex information in an understandable manner
Presenting features and benefits in a difficult manner


When documenting an unfamiliar subject, which of the following people would be the best to consult?
Your manager
The subject-matter expert
The programmers
The marketers


Technical writing refers to:
All of these
Writing about technology
Explaining tech communication
Providing instructions on how to do something


Which is the proper way to express a temperature in Kelvin?
10 Kelvins
10˚ K
10 Kelvin
10 K


Why are quick-start guides popular?
All of these
They're cost effective
They reduce calls to tech support for initial setup
Customers want them and read them


Which of the following is the best procedure for testing documentation?
The beta testers completing the testing
The programmers and the QA team completing the testing
Working one's way through the documentation
Following a written test plan


What grammatical person is most often used in steps?
First person
Implied second person
Third person
Second person


What is the proper terminology for creating multiple outputs from one document?
All sourcing
Multiple sourcing
Single sourcing
Dual sourcing


True or false? It is always best to use complex technical terms because it makes the document more credible.
False
True


What form of style is most often used in software documentation?
AP
MLA
Chicago
APA


Which of these are examples of technical writing?
Training manuals
White papers
All of these
Online help files


In addition to spelling, grammar, and punctuation, what should a technical writer also check in the document?
Formatting
Accuracy
Consistency
All of these


Which of the following is the most important step in writing an online help manual?
Testing the documentation against the program
Writing the steps
Planning the system
Testing the program