CSR Foundational Concepts & Principles 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does the acronym 'CAT' stand for in court reporting technology?
- Computer-Assisted Transcription (Correct answer)
- Certified Audio Transcription
- Computerized Automatic Translation
- Court-Approved Terminology
Correct answer: Computer-Assisted Transcription
CAT (Computer-Assisted Transcription) software translates stenographic strokes into readable English text using a reporter's personal dictionary.
Question 2: A steno machine keyboard differs from a standard QWERTY keyboard primarily because it is designed for:
- Single-finger sequential typing
- Simultaneous chord-based key combinations (Correct answer)
- Voice recognition input
- Optical character recognition
Correct answer: Simultaneous chord-based key combinations
Steno machines use chording — pressing multiple keys simultaneously — to represent syllables, words, or phrases in a single stroke.
Question 3: Which component of a steno machine stores the reporter's stenographic strokes for later translation?
- The platen
- The translation engine
- The internal memory or storage media (Correct answer)
- The foot pedal
Correct answer: The internal memory or storage media
Modern steno machines store raw steno strokes on internal memory or removable media (e.g., SD card or USB drive) so they can be translated by CAT software.
Question 4: In a CSR examination, what is typically assessed in the 'jury charge' portion of the speed test?
- A judge's instructions to a jury read at a designated speed (Correct answer)
- A medical examiner's findings read in open court
- Questions posed by counsel to an expert witness
- A legislative bill read into the record
Correct answer: A judge's instructions to a jury read at a designated speed
The jury charge (or judicial dictation) segment tests the reporter's ability to capture a judge's instructions to a jury at a prescribed WPM rate.
Question 5: What does 'scopist' refer to in the court reporting profession?
- A trainee reporter still in school
- A professional who edits and proofreads a reporter's rough transcript using CAT software (Correct answer)
- A court officer who swears in witnesses
- A device that measures steno machine keystroke accuracy
Correct answer: A professional who edits and proofreads a reporter's rough transcript using CAT software
A scopist works with a reporter's raw CAT translation, resolving untranslated steno, correcting conflicts, and formatting the final transcript.
Question 6: Under most state CSR regulations, who holds the official record of a deposition?
- The hiring attorney
- The certified court reporter (Correct answer)
- The court clerk
- The judge assigned to the case
Correct answer: The certified court reporter
The certified reporter is the official custodian of the record and is responsible for the original stenographic notes and the certified transcript.
Question 7: What is the primary purpose of a reporter's 'personal dictionary' in CAT software?
- To store client contact information
- To map steno strokes to specific English words and phrases for accurate translation (Correct answer)
- To track billing hours per case
- To flag potentially confidential exhibits
Correct answer: To map steno strokes to specific English words and phrases for accurate translation
A personal dictionary is a customized database that links a reporter's unique steno outlines to their English equivalents, enabling accurate CAT translation.
CSR Foundational Concepts & Principles 3
What does the acronym 'CAT' stand for in court reporting technology?