Deck 4: Communicating With Visuals

Question 1

Visuals are constructed to help the intended reader understand the information more quickly,easily,and completely.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

If a chart is supposed to show store sales over a period of three years,but the Y-axis is labeled Sales (US dollars)and the X-axis is labeled Store Locations,an error of format was made in creating the chart.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

A scatter diagram can be used to understand the strength of the relationship between the variables on its X- and Y-axes by examining the position of the points on the diagram.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

If you need to compare subdivisions of columns,you should use a bilateral column chart.

Question 5

A source acknowledgment is the top-most component of a visual.

Question 6

A line chart is the type of chart most frequently used to compare subdivisions of a whole.

Question 7

When using a stacked column chart to compare the percentages of subdivisions across different variables,the bars can vary in length.

Question 8

Pull quotes,clip art,and other decorative visuals in a document need to be numbered.

Question 9

Scale distortion occurs when the scale begins at some number other than zero.

Question 10

A clustered bar chart can be used to effectively compare the quantities of five or more different values.

Question 11

When information is presented using a visual,it doesn't have to be supplemented with writing or speaking.

Question 12

Footnote references to numbers in a table should be keyed with asterisks (*),or a similar symbol,instead of numbers.

Question 13

The use of formal tables is the only way to present tabular information in a business report.

Question 14

Visuals should never be placed in an appendix.

Question 15

In constructing a pictograph,you must make all the picture units equal in size.

Question 16

All of the visuals in a document should be of the same size.

Question 17

The widths of the bars or columns in a simple bar or column chart may be varied to show differences in quantities.

Question 18

Column totals are generally placed at the top of the column,but they may be placed at the bottom when the writer wants to emphasize them.

Question 19

Three-dimensional visuals facilitate the analysis of large data sets with more than two variables.

Question 20

The title of a visual needs to contain all of the information necessary to answer the five Ws.

Question 21

Which of the following is true regarding the construction of titles and captions for visuals?

A) The use of captions is mandatory for all the visuals within a document.
B) Captions are generally placed above tables and other visuals.
C) The titles and brief captions for visuals should be typed using sentence case.
D) Titles must always specify the five Ws: who,what,where,when,and why.
E) The titles or captions of each visual should concisely describe their contents.

Question 22

Visuals for communicating report information fall into two general categories: those that communicate primarily through visual elements (charts and graphs)and those that communicate primarily through

A) symbols and figures.
B) textual content.
C) color and shading.
D) clip art.
E) diagrams and pictures.

Question 23

Which of the following should typically be covered through visual presentation?

A) data collected online
B) information that is not essential to the text
C) simple information that can be easily conveyed through words
D) information that is too detailed to be covered in words
E) supporting material for your main points

Question 24

Which of the following statements is true regarding the construction of visuals in a document?

A) All the visuals in a document should be included in an appendix or attachment to improve readability.
B) The type used in visuals throughout a report should generally be consistent in terms of style and font.
C) If a document contains visuals that fall into two or three categories,one must avoid numbering each of these categories consecutively.
D) The borders of visuals should be extended beyond the normal page margins.
E) The orientation of a visual in a document is not determined by its size or contents.

Question 25

Which of the following is true of titles for visuals?

A) A title must always specify the five Ws: who,what,where,when,and why.
B) Titles are only required if the reader will need them to interpret or better understand the visual.
C) Titles are always placed above tables,but they may be placed below other visuals.
D) A title is used to give a substantial description of the visual.
E) When typing titles,you may opt to use sentence case.

Question 26

Which of the following guidelines should be followed when selecting visuals for a document?

A) You should look for complex information that visual presentation can make clear.
B) You should place all the visuals in an appendix to improve readability.
C) You should avoid using visuals to cover information that is too detailed.
D) You should plan the visuals for your document before you organize your findings.
E) You should use visuals to convey the main points in your message instead of words.

Question 27

Which of the following is true about numbering visuals in a document?

A) A lone table or figure in a document has to be numbered.
B) It is essential to number the decorative visuals in a document.
C) Visuals should be numbered based on their importance to the document's topic,with the most important having the lowest number.
D) By convention,tables are numbered separately from figures,which includes all other types of visuals in a document.
E) Irrespective of the types of visuals you have,there is only one scheme of numbering available for writers.

Question 28

Which of the following needs to be numbered?

A) pull quotes
B) a lone table in a document
C) clip art
D) a series of graphs
E) a series of decorative visuals

Question 29

Angelique is writing a report in which she discusses,in detail,how the company's capital expenses have changed over the past 10 years.What type of visual would be most helpful to her readers as part of this discussion?

A) a visual with summarizing data
B) a visual designed to persuade
C) a visual to provide interest
D) no visual
E) a visual to entertain

Question 30

Which of the following is true about numbering visuals in a document?

A) Even when you have a single table or figure in a document,it has to be numbered.
B) Pull quotes,clip art,and other decorative visuals have to be numbered.
C) All visuals have to be numbered according to the order in which they appear in a document.
D) If your visuals comprise a wide mixture of types,you may number them in two groups: tables and figures.
E) Irrespective of the types of visuals you have,there is only one scheme of numbering available for writers.

Question 31

When you have created a visual based on data that you or your staff gathered

A) you may omit a source acknowledgment.
B) you must specify this in a source acknowledgment.
C) you must specify this in a subtitle.
D) you must specify this in a caption.
E) you must specify this as part of the title.

Question 32

Which of the following is true of the factors involved in the presentation of visuals?

A) The size of a visual is arbitrary and is based on convenience.
B) The size of a visual is determined by its contents and importance.
C) Visuals that are simple should be presented on a full page.
D) Visuals that occupy less than a full page do not need borders.
E) Color and cross-hatching tends to distract readers from the main message of visuals.

Question 33

Which of the following is true of footnotes?

A) Footnotes are placed above the captions if the visuals contain captions.
B) Footnotes are detailed explanations placed below the visual by means of a subscript number or symbol.
C) Footnotes,by convention,appear above the tables or visuals that they refer to.
D) Footnotes are keyed to the parts that they explain by means of a superscript number or symbol.
E) Footnotes are the top-most components of a visual.

Question 34

Which of the following statements about color and cross-hatching is true?

A) They help readers see comparisons and distinctions.
B) They are more likely to harm than help your professional image.
C) They have no place in a professional business document.
D) They add interest,but can hinder comprehension and retention because they are distracting.
E) They should be reserved for logos and photographs.

Question 35

When creating and placing a visual,rules can be

A) used to highlight key information within the visual.
B) placed around the edges of the visual to set it apart from the text.
C) placed below the visual to explain items found within it that require elaboration.
D) used to distinguish one section of the visual from another.
E) used to indicate whether the visual is horizontal or vertical.

Question 36

Which of the following is true about visuals in a document?

A) The size of a visual is independent of its contents and importance.
B) Visuals that occupy a full page must be given borders.
C) Some visuals can stand alone,but others only supplement the writing or speaking.
D) Visuals depicting detailed information should be presented using a quarter of the page.
E) Color and cross-hatching tend to make complex visuals too busy and hinder comprehension.

Question 37

Which of the following is true about source acknowledgments?

A) Source acknowledgments must always specify the five Ws: who,what,where,when,and why.
B) Source acknowledgments are used to give credit to anyone who helped you to create the your visual.
C) Source acknowledgments,by convention,are typed in title case.
D) Source acknowledgments are keyed to the part that they explain by means of a superscript number or symbol.
E) Source acknowledgments are the bottom-most components of a visual.

Question 38

Which of the following is true of the construction of visuals in a document?

A) Visuals that are created to present extremely complex and involved information are typically displayed using half a page.
B) The type used in visuals throughout a report should generally vary in terms of style and font.
C) Research has found that color in visuals makes it more difficult to comprehend,retain,and extract information.
D) It is mandatory to number pull quotes,clip art,and other decorative visuals in a document.
E) Color in reports can improve reader comprehension,retention,and extraction of information.

Question 39

Which of the following is true regarding the construction and placement of titles and captions for visuals?

A) All visuals within a document should have both captions and titles.
B) Captions and titles should always be placed below their associated visuals.
C) Brief captions and titles should be typed in sentence case.
D) Captions and titles for tables should be placed above their associated visuals.
E) Short captions and titles for visuals must be typed using title case.

Question 40

When constructing visuals in a document,you should

A) always place borders around visuals that occupy less than a full page.
B) use a quarter page to display visuals presenting complex or detailed information.
C) determine the size of visuals primarily based on their importance.
D) use borders to distinguish one section of a visual from another.
E) use background colors that provide high contrast with the data in the document.

Question 41

Tomoyuki has added a simple table to his document.The table is meant to be read with the text and has column heads and borders,but no title.What type of table is Tomoyuki using?

A) a leader
B) a scatter diagram
C) a matrix
D) a legend
E) a text tabulation

Question 42

Tam is an office manager in charge of ordering and managing the use of office supplies.Lately,the office has been going through boxes of paper and copier ink very quickly,so Tam wants to compare the number of copies made during each of the last three months using the printing codes of the three executives in the office.Which type of chart would best help Tam make this comparison?

A) a bilateral column chart
B) a clustered bar chart
C) an organizational chart
D) a flowchart
E) a decision tree

Question 43

Which of the following is the best method for emphasizing a slice in a pie chart?

A) placing the piece at the 12 o'clock position
B) deleting the piece from the pie
C) deleting other pieces from the pie
D) pulling it out from the pie or enlarging it
E) placing the piece at the 6 o'clock position

Question 44

Where should the row heads be repeated if the rows in a table are long?

A) in the center
B) on the bottom
C) at the top
D) on the left
E) on the right

Question 45

Which type of chart shows the hierarchy of levels and positions within a business or group?

A) a decision tree
B) a flowchart
C) an organizational chart
D) a pull quote chart
E) a text tabulation

Question 46

Which of the following is true of pull quotes?

A) They are pictorial representations of facts,figures,and statistics.
B) They are bar or column charts that use bars made of pictures.
C) They are usually created by enlarging key sentences from the text and enhancing them via formatting.
D) They are subsets of larger tables with no titles or rules.
E) They are used to present tabular data as part of the text of a document.

Question 47

A _____ is an orderly arrangement of information in rows and columns.

A) bulleted list
B) flowchart
C) pull quote
D) scatter diagram
E) table

Question 48

A company that manufactures and sells three different types of tires wants to compare its yearly sales of each type of tire for the last four years.What type of graph or chart would best suit this purpose?

A) a simple column chart
B) a pie chart
C) a component part line chart
D) an organizational chart
E) a clustered bar chart

Question 49

Sylvia wants to compare her company's sales figures for the last five years using a visual representation.Which of the following types of charts best suits Sylvia's purpose?

A) a simple bar chart
B) a flowchart
C) a map
D) an organizational chart
E) a decision tree

Question 50

Which of the following rules should be followed when constructing tables?

A) The question mark sign should be used to indicate unavailable data.
B) Footnote references to numbers within tables should be keyed with superscript numbers.
C) A title and subtitle should appear above every table.
D) Totals and subtotals should always appear either at the right or at the bottom of tables.
E) Tables should clearly mention the units in which their data are recorded.

Question 51

Which of the following is true of a pie chart?

A) It compares the quantities of two or three different values in one chart by clustering points together.
B) It compares differences in quantities using differences in the lengths of the bars to represent those quantities.
C) It contains columns that begin at a central point of reference and either go up or down.
D) It is the most frequently used chart in comparing the subdivisions of wholes.
E) It is used for any series in which plus and minus quantities are present.

Question 52

Which of the following is true of a pictograph?

A) All the picture units in a pictograph should be made equal in size.
B) A pictograph is a pie chart whose slices are made of picture units.
C) A pictograph is intended to show trends or changes in information over time.
D) A pictograph does not need a title or a caption.
E) Varying the size of the picture units in a pictograph helps compare differences effectively.

Question 53

Which of the following is true of bulleted lists?

A) Bulleted lists should always be presented with titles.
B) Bulleted lists are used to list points and sub-points within the text.
C) The secondary bullets should have the same color,size,shape,and weight as the primary bullets.
D) Bulleted points should do not need to be grammatically parallel.
E) Bulleted lists are textual visuals that should be set off from the main body of the documents in which they appear.

Question 54

Which of the following is typically used to indicate missing data in a table?

A) @
B) N.A.
C) Missing data
D) *
E) 0

Question 55

If you need to compare subdivisions of columns,you should use

A) a stacked column chart.
B) a simple bar chart.
C) a bilateral column chart.
D) a clustered bar chart.
E) an organizational chart.

Question 56

A special form of _____ is used to compare the subdivisions of percentages.

A) stacked column chart
B) simple line graph
C) pictograph
D) bilateral column chart
E) pie chart

Question 57

Which of the following is a defining characteristic of a stacked (subdivided)column chart?

A) It compares differences in quantities using differences in the lengths of the bars to represent those quantities.
B) It compares the quantities of five or more different values in one chart.
C) It contains columns that are divided into parts and distinguished by different colors and cross-hatching.
D) It contains columns that begin at a central point of reference and either go up or down.
E) It is especially good for showing percentage changes and any series that includes plus and minus quantities.

Question 58

Which of the following best defines a flowchart?

A) A flowchart is a chart that shows the hierarchy of levels and positions in an organization.
B) A flowchart is a chart that shows the sequence of activities in a process.
C) A flowchart is a visual presentation that shows planning and scheduling activities.
D) A flowchart is a chart that is used to show comparisons of qualities at a moment in time.
E) A flowchart is a chart that is used to compare the subdivisions of percentages.

Question 59

Roberta works for a company that manufactures furniture.Over the last year,a couple of the company's plants have ramped up production,while others have slowed production.Roberta wants to compare the increase or reduction in production as a percentage of last year's production numbers for each plant.Which type of chart would be fit her purpose?

A) a simple bar or column chart
B) an organizational chart
C) a bilateral column chart
D) a clustered bar chart
E) a flowchart

Question 60

Which of the following is a visual that communicates primarily through textual content?

A) a table
B) a pictograph
C) a map
D) a scatter diagram
E) a pie chart

Question 61

Explain why color can be an important addition to a report.

Question 62

Myron has written a report discussing his company's latest project,and he has several visuals that he mentions and wants to include.Ideally,where should he place these visuals?

A) at the end of the document in an appendix
B) near the places where they are discussed in the document
C) at the beginning of the document
D) in a separate document devoted to extra material
E) in a special section in the middle of the document

Question 63

Why is placing visuals in an appendix less than ideal?

Question 64

Discuss how to use maps as visuals in a document.

Question 65

Which of the following is an error of format?

A) failure to use zero at the beginning of a series
B) excessive expansion of a visual,either horizontally or vertically
C) distracting use of grids and shading
D) inconsistent intervals between data points on the X- and Y-axes
E) unethical or inappropriate use of visual elements

Question 66

Delia owns a company that makes metal and cement garden art.She is meeting with a small group of business people in the hopes of convincing some of them to invest in her company so that she can hire more employees and expand production.One of the things she wants to show them is how sales have risen consistently over the last five years.What type of chart would best help her do this?

A) a pie chart
B) a flowchart
C) a line chart
D) a pictograph
E) a bilateral column chart

Question 67

Give a brief account of flowcharts and decision trees.

Question 68

You are planning to use a one-quarter page bar chart in your business report.If possible,you should place it

A) on the page before where it is discussed in the text.
B) on the page following where it is discussed in the text.
C) in a special section at the beginning of the document.
D) on the same page as the text to which it is related.
E) in an appendix.

Question 69

Kali is pitching her company's streamlined data management service to a company.It is important for Kali's presentation that her listeners see that the costs of traditional data management systems have risen over the last five years,so she stretches the vertical axis of her line graph so that it looks like the costs have skyrocketed,even though they have only gone up by a small percentage.This is an example of

A) the missing zero beginning.
B) varied scale size.
C) scale distortion.
D) a format error.
E) grid misplacement.

Question 70

Describe the construction of an area chart.

Question 71

Juan's company owns and operates a chain of fast food restaurants.The company is looking to open a store in a new state and is trying to determine which county in that state would be most appropriate for the new store.They will look at many factors,including population.Juan wants to create a visual to show the population of different counties in the state by clearly outlining each area and using formatting techniques to indicate the differences.Which of the following types of visual would best suit his purpose?

A) a pie chart
B) a bilateral bar chart
C) a scatter diagram
D) a statistical map
E) a line chart

Question 72

What are some basic guidelines you should follow when deciding whether you should use a visual?

Question 73

Explain the rules regarding totals and subtotals in the construction of tables.

Question 74

Explain how type (font,style,and size)should be used in the effective presentation of visuals.

Question 75

Which of the following is a category of common errors in graphs?

A) errors of scale
B) errors of processes
C) errors of integrity
D) errors of font
E) errors of interpretation

Question 76

Rafe is writing a report for his boss.One of his visuals provides useful,relevant baseline data,but Rafe does not discuss it explicitly in the report.How should he deal with this visual?

A) He should add it wherever he feels it could be helpful.
B) He should place it in an appendix.
C) He should insert it after every important section in the document so that viewers do not have to flip back.
D) He should place it at the beginning of the document.
E) He should not include it in the document.

Question 77

How can business writers preserve visual integrity?

Question 78

What are bulleted lists?

Question 79

To demonstrate which markets could use additional attention,Lorenzo wants to show his company's board of directors how the company's sales have changed in each state since the previous year.To do this,Lorenzo would most likely use

A) a line chart.
B) a pie chart.
C) a statistical map.
D) a combination chart.
E) a three-dimensional graph.