Deck 14: Using Visuals to Make Your Point

Question 1

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

Answer 1

False

Question 2

Visuals that do not fit a specific part of the document should be placed in an appendix.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Totals must always be placed at the bottom of a table to columns and on the right side to rows.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

The primary function of visuals is to enhance a document's appearance.

Question 5

For the reader's convenience, all visuals in a report may be placed compactly together in the appendix.

Question 6

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

Question 7

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

Question 8

Scale distortion occurs when the zero at the beginning of the series in a graph is violated.

Question 9

A clustered bar chart logically could be used to effectively compare five or more variables.

Question 10

Tables are the only visuals that do not require titles or captions.

Question 11

In constructing the title to a visual, it is necessary to include all the five Ws in the title.

Question 12

Unlike column charts, a line chart cannot be used to compare two series on the same grid.

Question 13

In constructing a pictograph, report writers should use picture units equal in size.

Question 14

In all forms of the stacked bar or column chart, the differences in bar or column lengths lend meaning to the chart.

Question 15

Three-dimensional graphics are best used in science rather than in business.

Question 16

It is better to use asterisks (*) than to use numbers as footnote identifiers in tables.

Question 17

It is correct to number tables and figures separately.

Question 18

Writers are not ethically bound to present data and visuals in a way that enables readers to interpret them easily and accurately.

Question 19

Widths of the bars or columns in a simple chart may be varied to show differences in quantities.

Question 20

All visuals in a document should be numbered.

Question 21

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) Pull quotes, clip art, and other decorative visuals need to be numbered.
C) All visuals need to be numbered according to the order that 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 type of visual, there is only one scheme of numbering available for writers.

Question 22

Which of the following should typically be included in visuals?

A) Inaccurate data collected online
B) Information that stems from unknown sources and hence cannot be acknowledged in text
C) Negative contents that need to be de-emphasized
D) Information that is too detailed to be covered in words
E) Neutral messages that do not need to be emphasized

Question 23

Which of the following is true about source acknowledgments?

A) Source acknowledgments must always specify the who, what, where, when, and why of the five Ws.
B) Source acknowledgments are similar to talking headings which give a reader the main message of the 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 can either be omitted or be specified as "Primary" in the case of primary research data.

Question 24

Which of the following is true of footnotes?

A) Footnotes must always specify the who, what, where, when, and why of the five Ws.
B) Footnotes are similar to talking headings which give a reader the main message of the visual.
C) Footnotes, by convention, appear above the tabular displays or visuals that they refer to.
D) Footnotes are keyed to the part that they explain by means of a superscript number or symbol.
E) Footnotes are the top-most components of a visual.

Question 25

Which of the following guidelines should be followed when constructing visuals in a document?

A) The size of a visual should be arbitrary and be based on convenience.
B) The type used in visuals throughout a report should generally vary in terms of style and font.
C) When a document contains visuals from many categories, they should be grouped into maps and figures.
D) Borders should be used to distinguish one section or visual from another, while rules should be used to separate visuals from the text.
E) Background colors should provide high contrast with the data in a report.

Question 26

The selection of visuals in a particular document should:

A) be based on the communication purpose.
B) be independent of the content in the main document.
C) be independent of the size of the document.
D) be based on the prerogative of the presenter.
E) be independent of the context of the document.

Question 27

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

A) The size of a visual should be arbitrary and be based on convenience.
B) The type used in visuals throughout a report should generally vary in terms of style and font.
C) When a document contains visuals from many categories, they should be grouped into maps and figures.
D) Rules help distinguish one section or visual from another, while borders help separate visuals from the text.
E) The layout of visuals in a document should be independent of its size.

Question 28

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

A) Some visuals can stand alone but others need to supplement the writing or speaking.
B) Visuals that occupy less than a full page should not be given borders.
C) The layout of a visual in a document should be independent of its size.
D) The importance of a message should have no bearing on the time and money spent on creating visuals.
E) The size of a visual should be arbitrary and based on convenience.

Question 29

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

A) Titles and captions are not mandatory for all visuals within a document.
B) A title is typically used with visuals included in print documents.
C) A caption is typically used with visuals displayed in oral presentations.
D) A title must always specify the who, what, where, when, and why of the five Ws.
E) The title or caption of the visual has the objective of concisely covering the contents.

Question 30

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) Pull quotes, clip art, and other decorative visuals need to be numbered.
C) All visuals need to be numbered according to the order that they appear in a document.
D) By convention, tables are not grouped with other types of visuals in a document.
E) Irrespective of the type of visual, there is only one scheme of numbering available for writers.

Question 31

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

A) The size of a visual should be arbitrary and be based on convenience.
B) The layout of a visual in a document should be determined by considering its size and contents.
C) When a document contains visuals from many categories, they should typically be grouped together into maps and figures.
D) Visuals that occupy less than a full page do not need borders.
E) All types of color and cross-hatching distract readers from the main message of visuals.

Question 32

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

A) Titles and captions are not mandatory for all visuals within a document.
B) A title is typically used with visuals included in print documents.
C) A caption is typically used with visuals displayed in oral presentations.
D) A title must always specify the who, what, where, when, and why of the five Ws.
E) By convention, the title of a tabular display appears above it.

Question 33

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

A) The layout of a visual in a document should be independent of its size.
B) The size of a visual should neither be arbitrary nor be based on convenience.
C) The visuals in a document should constantly vary in terms of style and font.
D) Visuals that occupy less than a full page do not need borders.
E) When a document contains visuals from many categories, they should be grouped together into maps and figures.

Question 34

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

A) You should simplify complex information via visuals.
B) You should place all the visuals in an appendix to improve readability
C) You should emphasize the negative news contained in visuals so that the message retains its credibility.
D) You should ensure that the visuals accompanying a message use the we-viewpoint.
E) You should de-emphasize the positive contents of visuals so that the message appears balanced.

Question 35

Which of the following is true of clip art?

A) It is difficult to find good-looking clip art.
B) Despite its ease of availability, clip art is frequently underused by writers.
C) The primary purpose of adding clip art to a document should be to increase the document's aesthetic appeal.
D) Clip art can add interest and bring the reader into a visual effectively; it also can overpower and distract the reader.
E) Unlike other visuals, you do not require permission to use copyrighted clip art.

Question 36

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

A) The size of a visual should be arbitrary and be based on convenience.
B) The type used in visuals throughout a report should generally vary in terms of style and font.
C) When a document contains visuals from many categories, they should be grouped into maps and figures.
D) Borders help distinguish one section or visual from another, while rules help separate visuals from the text.
E) Colors and cross-hatching help readers see comparisons and distinctions and add to the attractiveness of the report.

Question 37

Which of the following is true about source acknowledgments?

A) Source acknowledgments must always specify the who, what, where, when, and why of the five Ws.
B) Source acknowledgments are similar to talking headings which give a reader the main message of the 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 regarding the construction of visuals in a document?

A) The size of a visual should be arbitrary and be based on convenience.
B) The type used in visuals throughout a report should generally vary in terms of style and font.
C) When a document contains visuals from many categories, they should be grouped into maps and figures.
D) Borders help distinguish one section or visual from another, while rules help separate visuals from the text.
E) Every visual should have a title or caption that adequately describes its contents.

Question 39

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

A) Titles and captions are not mandatory for all visuals within a document.
B) A title is used with visuals included in print documents.
C) A caption is used with visuals displayed in oral presentations.
D) A title must always specify the who, what, where, when, and why of the five Ws.
E) Titles and captions for visuals must be typed in title case.

Question 40

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

A) The size of a visual should be arbitrary and be based on convenience.
B) The type used in visuals throughout a report should generally be consistent in terms of style and font.
C) When a document contains visuals from many categories, they should be grouped into maps and figures.
D) Visuals that occupy less than a full page do not need borders.
E) The layout of visuals in a document should be independent of its size.

Question 41

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 42

Which of the following is true of a pie chart?

A) It compares differences in quantities using differences in the lengths of the bars to represent those quantities.
B) It compares quantities of two or three different values in one chart by clustering bars together.
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 especially good for showing percentage changes and any series in which plus and minus quantities are present.

Question 43

_____ are simple tables, usually with column heads and sometimes with rules and borders.

A) Scatter plots
B) Histograms
C) General-purpose tables
D) Special-purpose tables
E) Text tabulations

Question 44

Alan is the sales manager at Rosenco Inc. He wants a visual to help him track sales of three different products over a period of five years. Which of the following charts best suits Alan's purpose?

A) Simple bar or column chart
B) Flowchart
C) Line chart
D) Organization chart
E) Gantt chart

Question 45

Which of the following is a textual visual?

A) Leaderwork
B) Gantt chart
C) Clustered bar chart
D) Scatter plot
E) Table

Question 46

Which of the following is an orderly arrangement of rows and columns?

A) Leaderwork
B) Gantt chart
C) Clustered bar chart
D) Scatter plot
E) Table

Question 47

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

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

Question 48

David is the sales manager at a small firm. He wants a visual to compare the monthly sales figures of his subordinates, Sylvia and Mike, for the last six months. Which of the following charts best suits David's purpose?

A) Gantt chart
B) Clustered bar chart
C) Organization chart
D) Flowchart
E) Decision tree

Question 49

Which of the following is true of tables?

A) The zero symbol is typically used to indicate unavailable data in a table.
B) Column totals are typically placed at the side of each column in a table.
C) Unlike graphs and charts, which are actually textual visuals, tables are true visuals.
D) It is an orderly arrangement of information in rows and columns.
E) Tables that contain both rows and columns must either use row heads or column heads but never both.

Question 50

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

A) stacked column
B) simple bar
C) bilateral column
D) clustered bar
E) organization

Question 51

_____ is the presentation of tabular material in the text without titles or rules.

A) Leaderwork
B) Pull quote
C) General-purpose table
D) Special-purpose table
E) Text-tabulation

Question 52

Which of the following best defines a flowchart?

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

Question 53

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

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

Question 54

Ralph is a sales person at Vircom Inc. He wants a visual representation to compare his monthly sales figures for the last six months. Which of the following charts best suits Ralph's purpose?

A) Simple bar chart
B) Flowchart
C) Gantt chart
D) Organization chart
E) Decision tree

Question 55

Which of the following is true of a pictograph?

A) All picture units in a pictograph must be equal in size.
B) A pictograph is a pie chart whose slices are made of picture units.
C) A pictograph usually contains arbitrary picture units that have little or no resemblance to the items being compared.
D) A pictograph does not need a title or caption.
E) Varying the size of the picture units in a pictograph helps compare differences effectively.

Question 56

Mark is the sales manager at Miracle Inc. He wants a daily sales report displaying the difference between the actual sales figures for the day and average sales figures of the month, for the previous month. According to his instructions, the resulting visual would have plus and minus figures. Which of the following charts should the report team use?

A) Simple bar or column chart
B) Organization chart
C) Bilateral column chart
D) Gantt chart
E) Flowchart

Question 57

Which of the following best defines a Gantt chart?

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

Question 58

Which of the following is true of pull quotes?

A) They are pictorial representations of facts, figures, and statistics.
B) They are invariably the same as histograms.
C) They are usually created by enlarging key sentences from the text that are enhanced via formatting.
D) They are subsets of larger tables with no titles or rules.
E) They are used to present tabular data that can be presented more effectively as parts of the text.

Question 59

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

A) The question mark sign is used to indicate unavailable data in a table.
B) Footnote references to numbers in a table should be keyed with superscript numbers.
C) The zero (0) is used to indicate unavailable data in a table.
D) Totals and subtotals should always appear either at the right or at the bottom of a table.
E) The units in which the data are recorded must be explicitly mentioned in the table.

Question 60

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

A) stacked column
B) simple bar
C) simple column
D) bilateral column
E) clustered bar

Question 61

Which of the following is the best position to place a visual in a document?

A) Near the place where it is covered in writing
B) At the end of the document in an appendix
C) At the beginning of a document
D) In a separate document with extra material
E) On a page preceding the one that references it

Question 62

What is a table?

Question 63

What are bulleted lists?

Question 64

Where should visuals be placed for effective communication?

Question 65

_____ occurs when a visual is stretched excessively horizontally or vertically to change the meaning it conveys to the reader.

A) Scale distortion
B) Varied scale size
C) Zero-point error
D) Format error
E) Grid misplacement

Question 66

What are the primary aspects you need to consider when creating visuals?

Question 67

Describe the construction of an area chart.

Question 68

What are the different categories of errors in graphing data?

Question 69

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

A) Errors of scale
B) Errors of processes
C) Errors of size
D) Errors of font
E) Errors of interpretation

Question 70

Which of the following guidelines should be followed when placing visuals in a document?

A) Visuals that do not fit a specific part of the document must be placed in an appendix.
B) Visuals should be placed in an attachment or separate document.
C) Visuals that do not fit a specific part of the document should be placed after every important section in the document so that viewers do not have to flip back.
D) Visuals should always be placed at the beginning of the document.
E) Visuals should always be placed at the end of a document.

Question 71

How can business writers avoid misrepresenting concepts?

Question 72

Why shouldn't visuals be placed in an appendix?

Question 73

Describe the various schemes used in numbering visuals?

Question 74

Discuss the use of maps.

Question 75

Which of the following is an error of format?

A) Distracting use of grids and shading
B) Excessive expansion of the visual, either horizontally or vertically
C) Violation of the zero beginning in a series
D) Beginning the scale at a high number
E) Beginning the scale at a low number