WPM Touch Typing Fundamentals 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the recommended wrist position during touch typing to prevent injury?
- Wrists resting flat on the desk
- Wrists elevated slightly and floating above the keyboard (Correct answer)
- Wrists bent downward below keyboard level
- Wrists pressing against the keyboard edge
Correct answer: Wrists elevated slightly and floating above the keyboard
Wrists should float slightly above the keyboard rather than resting on the desk to allow free finger movement and reduce strain.
Question 2: Which keyboard layout is an alternative to QWERTY designed to reduce finger travel in touch typing?
- AZERTY
- Dvorak (Correct answer)
- QWERTZ
- Colemak
Correct answer: Dvorak
The Dvorak Simplified Keyboard layout places the most common English letters on the home row to minimize finger travel.
Question 3: What is the left pinky finger's primary responsibility on the QWERTY keyboard?
- The space bar
- Keys A, Q, Z, Tab, Caps Lock, and Shift (Correct answer)
- Keys S, W, X
- Only the A key
Correct answer: Keys A, Q, Z, Tab, Caps Lock, and Shift
The left pinky is responsible for A, Q, Z, Tab, Caps Lock, and Shift — a wide range including all leftmost column keys.
Question 4: What does 'muscle memory' mean in the context of touch typing?
- Memory stored in muscle tissue cells
- Automatic, unconscious execution of key presses without conscious thought (Correct answer)
- The ability to type with injured fingers
- Memorizing the keyboard layout visually
Correct answer: Automatic, unconscious execution of key presses without conscious thought
In typing, muscle memory refers to the unconscious, automatic execution of finger movements after sufficient practice.
Question 5: How many fingers does proper touch typing use?
- 2 fingers (index only)
- 4 fingers (index and middle)
- 8 fingers (excluding thumbs)
- All 10 digits (Correct answer)
Correct answer: All 10 digits
Proper touch typing uses all 10 digits — 8 fingers for letter/number keys and both thumbs primarily for the spacebar.
Question 6: Why is the QWERTY layout the dominant standard used in US typing tests and certifications?
- It is scientifically proven to be the fastest layout
- It became the historical standard through widespread adoption since the typewriter era (Correct answer)
- US law mandates its use
- It uses fewer keys than other layouts
Correct answer: It became the historical standard through widespread adoption since the typewriter era
QWERTY became the dominant standard due to widespread adoption from typewriters onward, creating a self-reinforcing installed base.
WPM Touch Typing Fundamentals 2
What is the recommended wrist position during touch typing to prevent injury?