MOS Excel: Charting Data 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In Excel, 'Sparklines' differ from regular charts in which key way?
- Sparklines are miniature charts inside a single cell, not separate chart objects (Correct answer)
- Sparklines support all 20+ chart types available in Excel
- Sparklines can be printed independently of the worksheet
- Sparklines automatically update only when the workbook is manually recalculated
Correct answer: Sparklines are miniature charts inside a single cell, not separate chart objects
Sparklines are tiny, cell-embedded charts that provide an at-a-glance data trend without taking up chart object space.
Question 2: What is the purpose of the 'Hidden and Empty Cells' option in the Select Data Source dialog?
- To control how the chart handles missing or hidden data points (Correct answer)
- To hide specific data series from the chart permanently
- To lock chart data so it cannot be edited
- To apply a filter that removes outliers from the chart
Correct answer: To control how the chart handles missing or hidden data points
This setting determines whether the chart gaps, connects with a line, or plots zero for cells that are blank or in hidden rows/columns.
Question 3: Which chart sub-type should you choose to plot financial stock data that shows Open, High, Low, and Close prices?
- Open-High-Low-Close Stock chart (Correct answer)
- Candlestick Bar chart
- Floating Bar chart
- High-Low Line chart
Correct answer: Open-High-Low-Close Stock chart
The Open-High-Low-Close (OHLC) Stock chart type is specifically designed for four-series financial price data.
Question 4: When would you use an Error Bar on a chart?
- To visualize the variability or uncertainty around each data point (Correct answer)
- To mark data points that fall outside the chart's axis range
- To indicate that a data series has missing values
- To add a statistical regression line to the chart
Correct answer: To visualize the variability or uncertainty around each data point
Error bars display the margin of error, standard deviation, or confidence interval around plotted values, communicating data uncertainty.
Question 5: If you want to reverse the order of categories on the horizontal axis so that the last category appears first, you would:
- Check 'Categories in reverse order' in the Format Axis pane (Correct answer)
- Sort the source data in descending order
- Change the chart type to a horizontal bar chart
- Uncheck 'Show axis' in the Format Axis pane
Correct answer: Check 'Categories in reverse order' in the Format Axis pane
The 'Categories in reverse order' checkbox in the Format Axis pane flips the display order without altering the source data.
Question 6: Which of the following is NOT an available trendline type in Excel charts?
- Harmonic trendline (Correct answer)
- Exponential trendline
- Polynomial trendline
- Moving Average trendline
Correct answer: Harmonic trendline
Excel offers Linear, Exponential, Logarithmic, Polynomial, Power, and Moving Average trendlines, but not a Harmonic trendline.
Question 7: To display data labels as percentages on a Pie chart, which option must be checked in the Format Data Labels pane?
- Percentage (Correct answer)
- Value
- Series Name
- Category Name
Correct answer: Percentage
Checking 'Percentage' in the Label Contains section calculates and displays each slice's proportional share of the total.
MOS Excel: Charting Data 4
In Excel, 'Sparklines' differ from regular charts in which key way?