Question 1

What happens to the description for the 42-acre parcel T39N, R23W, Sec. 4, NW ¼ SE ¼ when a comma is inserted after NW ¼?
A)Area described is decreased.
B)Area described is increased.
C)Answers A and B
D)No resultant change to parcel description

Accepted Answer

The area described as T39N, R23W, Sec. 4, NW ¼ SE ¼ increases in size when a comma is inserted after NW ¼. Because legal descriptions are read backwards, the additional comma changes the initial aliquot section from NW ¼ SE ¼ to SE ¼, increasing the overall size from a quarter-quarter to a quarter of a section.

Question 2

Which of the following sentences provides a reader with a logical transition?
A)Every effort was made to find the source of the error, however, no conclusive evidence was found.
B)We searched high and low to find why the error occurred in the data that we collected and recorded in the field book notes that were done well.
C)The field notes were reviewed repeatedly to find the source of the error that was not found by those who were looking at the details.
D)None of the above

Accepted Answer

The sentence "Every effort was made to find the source of the error, however, no conclusive evidence was found" provides a reader with a logical transition. It is important to provide readers with transitional phrases to help them understand the logical relationships between ideas. Transitional phrases include words such as however, therefore, furthermore, and nevertheless.

Question 3

Which of the following is an example of "jargon"?
A)Win-win scenario
B)Thinking outside the box
C)Shotgun approach
D)All of the above

Accepted Answer

All of the answers provide examples of jargon. The use of jargon in most forms of professional communication may annoy readers, particularly when simpler, more common words will suffice.

Question 4

Which of the following sentences contains a redundant word or phrase?
A)The best parts of her previous proposals were included in this presentation.
B)He could always be relied upon to show up for work on time.
C)We are now using GPS surveying technology combined together with GIS mapping.
D)All of the above

Accepted Answer

The sentence "We are now using GPS surveying technology combined together with GIS mapping" contains a redundant phrase. To avoid redundancy the word "together" should be eliminated. It is important to avoid any word or phrase that conveys an idea already stated or implied in a sentence.

Question 5

Which of the following problems best describes what is wrong with the given sentence?
Few surveyors who are practicing in the industry recognize their responsibility to the public for providing well written and clear documents for the sake of future generations who will be using the information to determine important things such as land ownership, property boundaries, as well as many other things.
A)Too many prepositional phrases
B)Too brief
C)Too much jargon
D)All of the above

Accepted Answer

The sentence is filled with too many prepositional phrases. Like most things, prepositional phrases are fine when used in moderation. Using too many prepositional phrases may result in sentences that are too wordy and unclear.

Question 6

The use of which of the following phrases will result in the most effective version of the given sentence?
The watershed group's board announced their anonymous approval of the new contract during the quarterly membership meeting.
A)their anonymous approval
B)its anonymous approval
C)their unanimous approval
D)its unanimous approval

Accepted Answer

The use of the phrase "its unanimous approval" results in the most effective version of the given sentence. In the original sentence, the pronoun their does not agree in number with its antecedent board and should be changed to its. Anonymousappears to be used inappropriately, and therefore it should be changed to unanimous.

Question 7

Which of the following sentences provides an example of the correct usage of a semicolon?
A)The surveys performed included the following; topographic, bathymetric, and structural.
B)Every employee should have access to the park; furthermore, access to the park should be free.
C)The new system will encourage the public to conduct research online; thus streamlining the approval process.
D)All of the above

Accepted Answer

The sentence "Every employee should have access to the park; furthermore, access to the park should be free" provides an example of the correct usage of a semicolon.
The correct punctuation for the other sentences is as follows:
A. The surveys performed included the following: topographic, bathymetric, and structural.
C. The new system will encourage the public to conduct research online, thus streamlining the approval process.

Question 8

When providing a reference in a bibliography for a USGS topographic map, what information should be included?
A)author, sheet title, and date
B)author, sheet title, number, edition, and scale
C)author, sheet title, series title, place of publication, publisher, and date
D)author, sheet title, number, edition, scale, series title, place of publication, publisher, and date

Accepted Answer

When providing a reference in a bibliography for a USGS topographic map, the following information should be included: author, sheet title, number, edition, scale, series title, place of publication, publisher, and date.
Maps referenced in written documentation should be referenced in two locations:
• A complete bibliographic citation at the end of the work
• A brief inline citation to help readers locate the full citation in the bibliography

Question 9

Which of the following formulas is used to determine true intent?
A)True intent = intent of the surveyor + intent of the grantor
B)True intent = intent of the grantor + the intent of the grantee
C)True intent = intent of the grantor + intent of the Court
D)True intent = intent of the grantee + intent of the Court

Accepted Answer

The formula used to determine true intent is True intent = intent of the grantor + intent of the grantee. A written conveyance is considered indispensable evidence in the claim and proof of ownership, and therefore the value of the written word cannot be overstated. If there is any ambiguity in any of the words used in a written conveyance, the true intent is elusive and subject to the interpretation of the Courts.

Question 10

Which of the following common errors is typical of the given sentences?
Each of these patterns coordinate with the others.
There is two main reasons to conduct that poll.
The survey chief or a field crew member check the setting every day.
A)Sentence fragment
B)Wrong tense or verb form
C)Lack of subject-verb agreement
D)Fused sentence

Accepted Answer

The error typical of the given sentences is the lack of subject-verb agreement.
Each of these patterns coordinates with the others.
There isare two main reasons to conduct that poll.
The survey chief or a field crew member checks the setting every day.

Question 11

Which of the following sentences includes a comma splice?
A)We detested the assignment, the supervisor gave it to us as a punishment.
B)With the correct equipment, the field crew could measure the extent of the problem.
C)Coyotes eat mostly small rodents, birds, and the occasional Pomeranian.
D)None of the above.

Accepted Answer

The sentence "We detested the assignment, the supervisor gave it to us as a punishment" includes a comma splice. A comma splice occurs when only a comma separates clauses that could stand alone as sentences. To correct a comma splice, a semicolon or period can be inserted, the clauses can be connected, or the sentence can be restructured.
For example: We detested the assignment that the supervisor gave to us as a punishment.

Quiz 8: Written Communication

What happens to the description for the 42-acre parcel T39N, R23W, Sec. 4, NW ¼ SE ¼ when a comma is inserted after NW ¼?

Which of the following sentences provides a reader with a logical transition?

Which of the following is an example of "jargon"?

Which of the following sentences contains a redundant word or phrase?

The use of which of the following phrases will result in the most effective version of the given sentence? The watershed group's board announced their anonymous approval of the new contract during the quarterly membership meeting.

Which of the following sentences provides an example of the correct usage of a semicolon?

When providing a reference in a bibliography for a USGS topographic map, what information should be included?

Which of the following formulas is used to determine true intent?

Which of the following common errors is typical of the given sentences? Each of these patterns coordinate with the others. There is two main reasons to conduct that poll. The survey chief or a field crew member check the setting every day.

Which of the following sentences includes a comma splice?