CRC CRC Stenography Theory & CAT Software 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the minimum speed (in words per minute) required to pass the NCRA CRC exam's realtime captioning skills test?
- 160 wpm
- 180 wpm
- 200 wpm (Correct answer)
- 225 wpm
Correct answer: 200 wpm
The NCRA CRC exam requires candidates to caption at 200 words per minute with a minimum accuracy rate, demonstrating the speed necessary for effective realtime communication access.
Question 2: In CAT software, what is the purpose of a 'job dictionary' or 'session dictionary'?
- To record billing information for each job
- To store temporary custom entries specific to a particular job or event (Correct answer)
- To log errors encountered during the session
- To archive completed transcripts
Correct answer: To store temporary custom entries specific to a particular job or event
A job or session dictionary allows the captioner to add temporary custom entries—such as proper names or specialized terms—that apply only to a specific captioning job without altering the main dictionary.
Question 3: What does the term 'realtime feed' mean in the context of CART services?
- The captioner's physical connection to the steno machine
- The live transmission of stenographic strokes or translated text to a display device (Correct answer)
- The audio stream provided to the captioner
- The internet connection speed required for remote CART
Correct answer: The live transmission of stenographic strokes or translated text to a display device
A realtime feed refers to the live, simultaneous transmission of the captioner's translated steno text to a display screen or device, enabling the consumer to read captions as they are produced.
Question 4: Which steno theory concept describes writing words exactly as they sound phonetically, even when the spelling differs from standard English?
- Orthographic theory
- Phonetic writing (Correct answer)
- Suffix dropping
- Briefing
Correct answer: Phonetic writing
Phonetic writing in steno theory means writing words based on how they sound rather than how they are spelled, which is a core principle in most steno systems for capturing speech rapidly.
Question 5: A CART captioner uses a 'define' or 'fingerspell' mode in CAT software primarily to handle which situation?
- Defining legal terms for the consumer
- Spelling out proper names or unfamiliar words letter by letter (Correct answer)
- Creating new steno briefs on the fly
- Switching between English and Spanish output
Correct answer: Spelling out proper names or unfamiliar words letter by letter
Fingerspell mode allows the captioner to output individual letters to spell out unusual proper names, technical terms, or words not in the dictionary, ensuring accuracy even for unfamiliar vocabulary.
Question 6: What is the significance of maintaining a clean, organized steno dictionary in realtime captioning work?
- It reduces the file size of the CAT software
- It minimizes conflicts and untranslates, improving caption accuracy (Correct answer)
- It allows the steno machine to run faster
- It is required by NCRA certification rules
Correct answer: It minimizes conflicts and untranslates, improving caption accuracy
A well-maintained dictionary with few conflicts and comprehensive entries directly improves translation accuracy, reducing the number of errors that appear in the realtime caption feed.
CRC CRC Stenography Theory & CAT Software 2
What is the minimum speed (in words per minute) required to pass the NCRA CRC exam's realtime captioning skills test?