Question 1

Photograph is a popular visual because it can be relied upon to be a true record of a real event.

Accepted Answer

Photographs in particular have received close attention for accuracy and ethics concerns. Photographers have always been able to frame their pictures in ways that cut objects they do not want. Adobe Photoshop and similar photo editing software have added a new dimension to the problem with their easy photo-altering aids.

Question 2

A bar chart can be used to:
A) focus on specific numbers related to seven companies.
B) show a company's growth in net sales over time.
C) identify the contribution of each division to a company's total revenue.
D) show the item in use.
E) show timelines for proposals or projects.

Accepted Answer

A bar chart can be used to compare one item to another item, to compare items over time, to show frequency or distribution, and to show correlations.

Question 3

Three-dimensional graphs give some perspective to data,and this makes visuals more accurate and easier to interpret.

Accepted Answer

To make your data displays more accurate, avoid perspective and three-dimensional graphs.

Question 4

Maps can be used as visuals to specify and emphasize locations or to compare items in different locations.

Accepted Answer

Use maps to emphasize location or to compare items in different locations.

Question 5

Jordan,the sales manager of a local car rental service,wants to write a report describing the decrease in the number of customer complaints.He is trying to decide between using a bar chart or a line graph to supplement his discussion in the report.Which of the guidelines for visual design is he following?
A) Use color and decoration with restraint.
B) Follow the conventions for designing typical visuals.
C) Choose the right visual for the story.
D) Check the quality of the data.
E) Be accurate and ethical.

Accepted Answer

Visuals are not interchangeable. Good writers choose the visual that best matches the purpose of the communication.

Question 6

Which of the following is a good practice when telling stories through visuals?
A) Simplify the data on a selected topic and convert numbers to easy-to-understand units.
B) Present all of the data collected, discuss what is relevant, and allow the audience to interpret the rest on their own.
C) Combine the data from several important stories into one visual.
D) Tell all of the stories that a data set allows in order not to waste any information.
E) Focus on all the stories and topics related to the primary topic of research.

Accepted Answer

To find stories, focus on a single topic and simplify the data on that topic and convert the numbers to simple, easy-to understand units. Also, look for relationships and changes and process the data to find more stories.

Question 7

Histograms use images to create the bars on a bar graph.

Accepted Answer

Histograms or pictograms use images to create the bars.

Question 8

If the material is new to the audience,you must provide a fuller explanation than if similar material is presented to this audience every week or month.

Accepted Answer

How much discussion a visual or data display needs depends on the audience, the complexity of the visual, and the importance of the point it makes. Hence, if the material is new to the audience, provide a fuller explanation than if similar material is presented to this audience every week or month.

Question 9

Five companies contributed different amounts to a local charity.Which of the following visuals could best illustrate the percentage of each company's contribution of the total amount?
A) A table
B) A bar chart
C) A line graph
D) A pie chart
E) A dot chart

Accepted Answer

A pie chart should be used to compare a part to the whole.

Question 10

Bar charts are easy to interpret because they ask people to compare distance along a common scale,which most people judge accurately.

Accepted Answer

Bar charts are easy to interpret because they ask people to compare distance along a common scale, which most people judge accurately. Bar charts are useful in a variety of situations: to compare one item to another, to compare items over time, and to show correlations.

Question 11

Elena,a proofreader,is checking if any information is missing from key locations or demographic areas before creating a visual for an annual report.Which of the guidelines for visual design is she following?
A) Follow the conventions for designing typical visuals.
B) Determine the story you want to tell.
C) Be sure the visual is ethical.
D) Check the quality of the data.
E) Choose the right visual for the story.

Accepted Answer

Your data display is only as good as the underlying data. Check to be sure that your data come from a reliable source. Also check that you have data for all factors you should consider. If the data may not be reliable, you're better off not using visuals. The visual picture will be more powerful than verbal disclaimers, and the audience will be misled.

Question 12

A complex visual requires relatively little discussion since all the information is contained in the graphics.

Accepted Answer

If the visual is complex, help the reader find key points. If the point is important, discuss its implications in some detail.

Question 13

It is a good idea to combine graphs with different scales so that readers can make valid comparisons.

Accepted Answer

To make your data displays more accurate, avoid combining graphs with different scales.

Question 14

Since part of the scale is missing in truncated graphs,small changes seem like major ones.

Accepted Answer

Since part of the scale is missing in truncated graphs, small changes seem like major ones.

Question 15

Which of the following is a design element that helps make data meaningful and supports arguments in your proposals and reports?
A) Software
B) Modem
C) Internet
D) Visual
E) Desktop

Accepted Answer

Visuals and data displays are design elements that help make data meaningful and support arguments in your proposals and reports. They can also help communicate your points in documents such as brochures, newsletters, reports, and other business messages, where they can add color and emotional appeal, as well as new information.

Question 16

A photograph is more effective for focusing in on details than a drawing is.

Accepted Answer

The richness of detail in photos makes them less effective than drawings for focusing on details. With a drawing, the artist can provide as much or as little detail as is needed to make the point; different parts of the drawing can show different layers or levels of detail.

Question 17

When you want the audience to compare a segment to another segment of the whole,use a:
A) pie chart.
B) table.
C) drawing.
D) bar chart.
E) line graph.

Accepted Answer

Use a bar chart to compare one item to another item.

Question 18

When you want the audience to be able to identify exact values,use a:
A) pie chart.
B) table.
C) line graph.
D) bar chart.
E) dot chart.

Accepted Answer

Use a table when the audience needs to be able to identify exact values.

Question 19

The bars on a single bar chart should all be the same width.

Accepted Answer

When constructing bar charts, you must make all the bars the same width.

Question 20

Pie charts are most appropriate when one section is being compared to another section of the whole.

Accepted Answer

The data in any pie chart can be put in a bar chart. Therefore, use a pie chart only when you are comparing one segment to the whole. When you are comparing one segment to another segment, use a bar chart, a line graph, or a map-even though the data may be expressed in percentages.

Quiz 16: Creating Visuals and Data Displays

Photograph is a popular visual because it can be relied upon to be a true record of a real event.

A bar chart can be used to:

Three-dimensional graphs give some perspective to data,and this makes visuals more accurate and easier to interpret.

Maps can be used as visuals to specify and emphasize locations or to compare items in different locations.

Which of the following is a good practice when telling stories through visuals?

Histograms use images to create the bars on a bar graph.

If the material is new to the audience,you must provide a fuller explanation than if similar material is presented to this audience every week or month.

Five companies contributed different amounts to a local charity.Which of the following visuals could best illustrate the percentage of each company's contribution of the total amount?

Bar charts are easy to interpret because they ask people to compare distance along a common scale,which most people judge accurately.

Elena,a proofreader,is checking if any information is missing from key locations or demographic areas before creating a visual for an annual report.Which of the guidelines for visual design is she following?

A complex visual requires relatively little discussion since all the information is contained in the graphics.

It is a good idea to combine graphs with different scales so that readers can make valid comparisons.

Since part of the scale is missing in truncated graphs,small changes seem like major ones.

Which of the following is a design element that helps make data meaningful and supports arguments in your proposals and reports?

A photograph is more effective for focusing in on details than a drawing is.

When you want the audience to compare a segment to another segment of the whole,use a:

When you want the audience to be able to identify exact values,use a:

The bars on a single bar chart should all be the same width.

Pie charts are most appropriate when one section is being compared to another section of the whole.