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RMR Registered Merit Reporter study materials
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RMR Registered Merit Reporter practice questions

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Question 1Reporting and Transcription Technology

On a standard stenotype machine, how many keys are there in total when the number bar is counted along with the letter keys?

  1. 22
  2. 24
  3. 21
  4. 23 Correct answer.

Explanation

A standard stenotype keyboard has 22 letter keys arranged in a left bank, a vowel/asterisk bank, and a right bank. Adding the number bar that runs across the top brings the total to 23 keys. Machine designs with extra auxiliary keys are variations on this basic layout.

Question 2Reporting and Transcription Technology

In computer-aided transcription software, a steno stroke is converted into an English word by looking the stroke up in

  1. a style sheet
  2. a thesaurus
  3. a dictionary Correct answer.
  4. a key map

Explanation

CAT software translates by matching each written stroke against entries stored in the reporter's steno dictionary. If a stroke has no entry, the software outputs the raw steno or flags it as untranslated. Style sheets and other settings affect appearance, not word translation.

Question 3Reporting and Transcription Technology

Which audio file format stores sound without lossy compression, preserving the original recorded samples?

  1. WAV Correct answer.
  2. Ogg Vorbis
  3. AAC
  4. MP3

Explanation

WAV is an uncompressed container that keeps the audio samples as recorded, which is why it is favored for archival and for accurate review. MP3, AAC, and Ogg Vorbis all use perceptual compression that discards data. Lossy formats save space but can make speech harder to verify in unclear passages.

Question 4Reporting and Transcription Technology

A transcriptionist working from an audio recording uses a foot pedal primarily to

  1. control playback and rewind Correct answer.
  2. print the transcript remotely
  3. adjust microphone gain
  4. mark exhibits for the record

Explanation

A foot pedal lets the transcriptionist start, stop, rewind, and resume playback without removing hands from the keyboard. This keeps typing rhythm steady and reduces time lost reaching for on-screen controls. It has no role in audio levels, exhibit marking, or output.

Question 5Reporting and Transcription Technology

In the conventional United States transcript page format, each numbered page generally contains how many numbered lines of text?

  1. 20
  2. 22
  3. 25 Correct answer.
  4. 28

Explanation

The customary transcript page carries 25 numbered lines, a convention that allows uniform citation by page and line. Courts and counsel routinely refer to testimony as 'page 42, line 7' based on this layout. Formats differing from 25 lines require adjustment to local rules.

Question 6Reporting and Transcription Technology

Which PDF variant is standardized for long-term archiving because it embeds fonts and prohibits reliance on external content?

  1. PDF/VT
  2. PDF/E
  3. PDF/A Correct answer.
  4. PDF/X

Explanation

PDF/A is the ISO 19005 archival profile: it requires embedded fonts and forbids features that depend on outside files or software, so the document renders the same years later. The other profiles target print exchange, engineering documents, and variable-data printing. Courts and records custodians often specify PDF/A for permanent retention.

Question 7Reporting and Transcription Technology

The CAT function that displays the reporter's words on a viewer's screen as the proceeding is being reported is called

  1. editing
  2. captioning
  3. scoping
  4. realtime Correct answer.

Explanation

Realtime translation converts strokes to text and pushes it to a viewer's monitor with only a brief delay. Scoping and editing are post-reporting correction processes performed after the draft exists. Captioning is a related but distinct broadcast accessibility service.

Question 8Reporting and Transcription Technology

The most dependable safeguard against losing an entire day's transcript data stored on a reporter's laptop is

  1. saving to a separate drive Correct answer.
  2. defragmenting weekly
  3. printing paper copies hourly
  4. renaming the file each night

Explanation

Redundancy is the core principle: keeping a copy on a separate physical or cloud location means a single device failure cannot destroy the work. Renaming changes only the label, and paper or disk maintenance does not create a recoverable second copy of the current file. Frequent incremental backup is the standard practice.

Question 9Reporting and Transcription Technology

When a reporter writes a stroke that the steno dictionary already maps to a different word, the CAT software flags the stroke as a

  1. brief
  2. conflict Correct answer.
  3. hesitation
  4. macro

Explanation

A conflict arises when one stroke is asked to produce two different outputs, and the software cannot know which meaning was intended. The reporter resolves it by choosing one definition and writing the other word with a different stroke or brief. Leaving conflicts unresolved produces recurring mistranslations throughout the transcript.

Question 10Reporting and Transcription Technology

The CAT feature that changes every occurrence of a word throughout the entire transcript in a single operation is called

  1. audio synchronizing
  2. stroke lookup function
  3. global replace Correct answer.
  4. page merge utility

Explanation

Global replace performs a find-and-change across the whole file rather than the visible page or a single instance. It is efficient but must be used cautiously, since an overbroad term can alter unrelated text and quoted matter. Reviewing the hit list before committing is standard practice.

Question 11Reporting and Transcription Technology

For a realtime feed to a laptop at counsel table, the reporter's writer is most commonly connected today by

  1. a parallel printer cable
  2. a USB cable Correct answer.
  3. a VGA cable
  4. an Ethernet crossover cable

Explanation

Modern writers connect to a laptop through USB, with Bluetooth as a wireless alternative. Parallel ports are legacy printer interfaces, VGA carries video only, and a crossover Ethernet cable is a network link rather than a standard writer connection. Serial connections persist mainly on older equipment.

Question 12Reporting and Transcription Technology

A reporter who wants to revert an already translated English word back to the raw steno strokes uses the

  1. untranslate Correct answer.
  2. define
  3. reformat the page
  4. translate

Explanation

Untranslate reverses translation for a selected passage so the underlying strokes are displayed, which helps diagnose why a misstroke produced the wrong word. Translate runs in the opposite direction, converting strokes into English. Neither define nor page reformatting exposes the steno behind existing text.

Question 13Reporting and Transcription Technology

A single short steno stroke or brief combination that produces an entire word or phrase is called a

  1. brief Correct answer.
  2. homophone
  3. prefix
  4. macro

Explanation

Briefs are memorized shortcuts that let the reporter write a lengthy word or stock phrase in one stroke, improving speed and consistency. Homophones are words that sound alike, prefixes are word beginnings, and macros are programmed command sequences. Building a personal brief list is a standard part of dictionary development.

Question 14Reporting and Transcription Technology

Embedding timestamps in a deposition audio recording is chiefly valuable because it allows a later reader to

  1. compress the audio file
  2. convert audio to text automatically
  3. verify the reporter's certification
  4. jump straight to audio for a line Correct answer.

Explanation

Timestamps tie a recorded moment to a specific point in the transcript, so a reader can play the exact passage when checking accuracy or resolving a dispute about what was said. They do not compress files, substitute for the reporter's certificate, or generate text. Many CAT programs use the timestamps to synchronize audio with page and line.

Question 15Reporting and Transcription Technology

Before producing a transcript that will be filed publicly, a reporter redacts material in order to

  1. withhold protected material Correct answer.
  2. reduce the audio file size
  3. speed up realtime translation
  4. shorten the page count

Explanation

Redaction removes or conceals information that a protective order, statute, or rule keeps out of the public record, such as identifiers of minors or sensitive personal data. It is a substantive legal filtering process, not an efficiency measure. The original unredacted transcript is retained as required by the applicable rules.

Question 16Reporting and Transcription Technology

A condensed transcript differs from the full transcript in that it

  1. removes every line number from the text
  2. fits multiple pages onto one page Correct answer.
  3. omits all of the questions
  4. contains only the index

Explanation

A condensed version reproduces the complete text but reduces it so several original pages appear on a single sheet, which saves paper and shelf space. It remains a full, citable record because page and line references are preserved. Condensed transcripts are frequently used for appellate or review copies.

Question 17Reporting and Transcription Technology

Which of the following is a symmetric block cipher widely used to protect stored transcript files?

  1. RSA-2048
  2. MD5
  3. SHA-256
  4. AES-256 Correct answer.

Explanation

AES is a symmetric cipher, meaning the same key encrypts and decrypts, and it is the standard choice for protecting data at rest. RSA is an asymmetric public-key algorithm, while SHA-256 and MD5 are hash functions used for integrity checks rather than encryption. Hash values cannot be reversed to recover the file.

Question 18Reporting and Transcription Technology

A scopist working on a draft transcript primarily

  1. creates the audio recording
  2. edits text against the audio Correct answer.
  3. maintains the steno machine
  4. administers oaths to witnesses

Explanation

Scoping is the editorial pass in which punctuation, spelling, and untranslated strokes are corrected by comparing the draft against the audio and the reporter's notes. The reporter retains responsibility for the final certified product. Administering oaths, recording, and equipment maintenance are distinct functions.

Question 19Reporting and Transcription Technology

When a document is marked as an exhibit during a deposition, the officer should

  1. photograph the document
  2. scan the document into every transcript
  3. read the document aloud in full
  4. note the exhibit number and description Correct answer.

Explanation

The exhibit number and a brief identifying description must appear on the record so that later references are unambiguous. The physical or electronic exhibit is retained according to the governing rules and the noticing attorney's instructions. The officer does not ordinarily photograph, read aloud, or insert the document itself.

Question 20Reporting and Transcription Technology

A deponent who wishes to correct errors in a completed deposition transcript ordinarily does so by

  1. filing a motion to suppress
  2. paying for a re-transcription
  3. signing an errata sheet Correct answer.
  4. requesting a new deposition

Explanation

The deponent reviews the transcript and lists changes, with reasons, on an errata sheet, which is then attached to the original. Under the civil rules the deponent may sign the deposition with those corrections noted. This procedure is distinct from a motion or a fresh deposition.

Question 21Reporting and Transcription Technology

A reporter using a Bluetooth link between writer and laptop for realtime may see dropped characters chiefly because

  1. the writer's battery is fully charged
  2. packet loss from radio interference Correct answer.
  3. the laptop is on a wired network
  4. the dictionary file is too small

Explanation

Wireless links are vulnerable to interference from other devices and physical obstacles, and lost packets can appear as gaps or garbled output. A cabled USB connection avoids this class of problem and is preferred when reliability is critical. Battery charge and dictionary size do not cause transmission loss.

Question 22Reporting and Transcription Technology

A reporter preparing to distribute a PDF transcript electronically should be aware that embedded metadata may

  1. alter the transcript text
  2. change the page numbering
  3. prevent the file from opening in any reader
  4. reveal author and editing history Correct answer.

Explanation

PDF files carry hidden properties such as author name, software used, creation and modification dates, and revision history. These can disclose information the reporter or parties did not intend to circulate, particularly under a protective order. Scrubbing metadata before delivery is a recognized confidentiality step.

Question 23Reporting and Transcription Technology

Two reporters share one CAT dictionary. One has defined a stroke to write 'their' and the other has defined it to write 'there.' The cleanest long-term solution is

  1. reinstalling the software entirely
  2. deleting both entries from the shared dictionary permanently
  3. keeping a separate dictionary per writer Correct answer.
  4. disabling realtime output

Explanation

Stroke-to-word mappings reflect an individual's theory, so sharing a single dictionary invites recurring conflicts. Maintaining a personal base dictionary avoids overriding another writer's definitions and keeps each reporter's translation predictable. Deleting entries or reinstalling software does not address the underlying collision of theories.

Question 24Reporting and Transcription Technology

When a transcript is filed through a federal court's CM/ECF system, the document is typically submitted as

  1. a printed paper original delivered by courier
  2. a steno note file
  3. a PDF with the required filed-by header Correct answer.
  4. a word-processing file

Explanation

Electronic case filing accepts PDF documents that follow the court's formatting requirements, including the header identifying the filer. Native word-processing files and steno files are not accepted as the official filed version. Paper filing survives only in narrow circumstances permitted by the court.

Question 25Reporting and Transcription Technology

Which practice best protects confidentiality when emailing a transcript to counsel?

  1. placing 'confidential' in the subject
  2. compressing the file into a ZIP archive
  3. using encryption or a secure portal Correct answer.
  4. sending it to all parties at once

Explanation

Encryption, whether applied to the attachment or supplied through a secure delivery portal, prevents interception from exposing the content in readable form. A label in the subject line is a courtesy notice only, and compression offers no protection because archives open without a key. Broad distribution can itself breach a protective order.

Question 26Reporting and Transcription Technology

In computer-aided transcription, the process of converting a series of steno strokes into English text using a dictionary is called

  1. proofreading
  2. translation Correct answer.
  3. scoping
  4. transcription

Explanation

CAT software compares groups of steno strokes against the dictionary and outputs the matching English; that dictionary-matching step is called translation. Editing the resulting draft for punctuation, spelling and speaker identification is a separate step.

Question 27Reporting and Transcription Technology

On a stenotype machine, the asterisk key is used chiefly to

  1. delete the previous stroke from writer memory
  2. signal capitalization or to form a prefix stroke Correct answer.
  3. switch the writer between stenotype and QWERTY input modes
  4. enter a numeral when held with the number bar

Explanation

In most CAT dictionaries the asterisk is used to mark a word for capitalization or combines with other keys to build prefixes such as 'con-' or 'com-'. It does not erase writing, and it does not change the writer's mode.

Question 28Reporting and Transcription Technology

A dictionary that a reporter creates for a particular assignment to hold case-specific names, spellings and technical terms is known as a

  1. main dictionary
  2. job dictionary Correct answer.
  3. backup dictionary
  4. personal dictionary

Explanation

A job dictionary holds only the names, spellings and terms for one assignment and is loaded alongside the main dictionary. It is usually merged into the reporter's personal dictionary or discarded after the job.

Question 29Reporting and Transcription Technology

Modern stenotype writers preserve strokes when power is interrupted because the strokes are written to

  1. nonvolatile internal memory such as flash Correct answer.
  2. removable floppy media
  3. the laptop's hard drive over the realtime cable
  4. a cloud service in real time

Explanation

Strokes are written to flash memory that keeps its contents without power, so a power failure or a pulled cable does not erase them. The realtime link to a laptop is a second copy, not the primary store.

Question 30Reporting and Transcription Technology

Which audio file format stores sound without lossy compression and is therefore preferred when deposition audio may later be transcribed or enhanced?

  1. MP3
  2. WMA
  3. WAV Correct answer.
  4. AAC

Explanation

WAV stores PCM samples without compression, so no audio detail is discarded. MP3, AAC and WMA are lossy codecs that remove data to reduce file size.

Question 31Reporting and Transcription Technology

After a realtime translation, strokes that are not found in the dictionary are

  1. converted to phonetic English by a speech engine
  2. silently deleted from the transcript
  3. automatically replaced with the nearest dictionary match
  4. shown as raw steno for the scopist to resolve Correct answer.

Explanation

Strokes with no dictionary match are carried through translation as raw outlines, usually highlighted, so a human can resolve them. The software neither deletes nor guesses at them, because either would compromise the verbatim record.

Question 32Reporting and Transcription Technology

Placing a black rectangle over confidential text in a PDF without removing the underlying characters is unsafe because

  1. the rectangle will not print on some printers
  2. the PDF will fail to open in court viewers
  3. the rectangle enlarges the file beyond e-filing limits
  4. the covered text can still be selected and copied Correct answer.

Explanation

A drawn rectangle is only a graphic laid over live text, and the characters remain in the file where they can be extracted. True redaction deletes the text itself and, where required, the associated metadata.

Question 33Reporting and Transcription Technology

To provide a realtime text feed to a client attending remotely over the internet, the reporter most often uses

  1. a null-modem serial cable run to the client's table
  2. a fax gateway
  3. a shared floppy disk
  4. a web-based streaming service Correct answer.

Explanation

Remote viewers receive realtime text through an internet streaming service to which the reporter's software publishes. Cables and removable media only reach equipment in the same room.

Question 34Reporting and Transcription Technology

A reporter follows the 3-2-1 backup rule by keeping

  1. three copies on three identical USB drives kept in one bag
  2. three copies, on two media types, one stored off-site Correct answer.
  3. one copy on the writer and one on the laptop
  4. two copies on the laptop and one printed copy

Explanation

The 3-2-1 rule calls for three copies, on two different types of media, with one copy kept off-site. Three drives carried in the same bag fail the different-media and off-site parts of the rule.

Question 35Reporting and Transcription Technology

A reporter needs to confirm that every occurrence of a party's unusual surname is spelled consistently throughout a 300-page transcript. The most efficient CAT tool is

  1. the page-numbering utility
  2. a word index or concordance search Correct answer.
  3. the automatic paragraphing function
  4. the line-numbering feature

Explanation

A word index or concordance lists every occurrence of a term with its page and line references. That makes it possible to confirm or correct each spelling in a single pass.

Question 36Reporting and Transcription Technology

At the end of a multi-day job, a reporter who wrote each day to a separate file should do what before delivering the transcript?

  1. translate each file separately and deliver three files
  2. merge the daily files into one transcript Correct answer.
  3. print each day and scan the pages together
  4. rename all files with the same name

Explanation

Appending the daily files into one transcript gives continuous page and line numbering and lets global edits and the index be applied once. Delivering disconnected files breaks pagination and the index.

Question 37Reporting and Transcription Technology

When a transcript must be sent to a court over the internet, SFTP is preferred to plain FTP because SFTP

  1. encrypts credentials and transferred data Correct answer.
  2. compresses the file more efficiently
  3. works without a password
  4. is faster on slow connections

Explanation

SFTP runs over SSH, so the login credentials and the transcript are encrypted in transit. Plain FTP transmits both in clear text, where anyone on the network path can read them.

Question 38Reporting and Transcription Technology

During a deposition a doctor says 'sphygmomanometer.' The reporter writes it once and wants a single stroke for future use. The reporter should

  1. type the word manually into the transcript every time it recurs
  2. define the new stroke in the job dictionary Correct answer.
  3. add it to the audio file's metadata
  4. ask the witness to spell it after each use

Explanation

Defining a stroke for the word in the job dictionary lets the reporter write it with one stroke for the rest of the case. The entry should be tested before it is relied on, since an untested definition can garble the realtime feed.

Question 39Reporting and Transcription Technology

A compressed electronic transcript format that packages the text with a hyperlinked index and is commonly used for deposition distribution is the

  1. e-transcript (.ptx/.pdx) file Correct answer.
  2. scanned image PDF
  3. word processor draft (.docx)
  4. a plain ASCII text (.txt) file

Explanation

E-transcript formats such as .ptx and .pdx compress the text and carry a hyperlinked index with word-search functions. ASCII carries text only, and a scanned PDF has no searchable text layer unless OCR is run.

Question 40Reporting and Transcription Technology

Counsel hands the reporter a scanned, image-only PDF of a contract to attach as an exhibit. To make the exhibit's text searchable in the delivered transcript, the reporter should

  1. run optical character recognition on the scanned pages Correct answer.
  2. increase the scan resolution and leave it as an image
  3. convert the PDF to audio and listen for the text
  4. print the PDF and rescan it

Explanation

An image-only PDF has no text layer, so search, the word index and realtime use all fail. OCR analyzes the page images and adds an invisible text layer that makes the exhibit searchable.

Question 41Reporting and Transcription Technology

A reporter wants to show that a transcript file has not changed since it was delivered. The standard technique is to

  1. record the word count in the certificate
  2. publish a hash (checksum) of the file Correct answer.
  3. rename the file with the delivery date
  4. compress the file into a ZIP archive

Explanation

A cryptographic hash is a fixed-length value computed from the file's contents, so any later change produces a different value. The recipient recomputes the hash and compares it with the one published at delivery.

Question 42Reporting and Transcription Technology

During a deposition a reporter's backup digital recorder is placed near an air-conditioning vent, and the transcript is later hard to verify because of constant background noise. The best remedy is to

  1. record in a lossy format to filter noise
  2. increase the recording level to maximum and leave it
  3. relocate the recorder and test the level first Correct answer.
  4. rely solely on the writer's memory

Explanation

Steady background noise from a vent masks speech and makes the backup audio hard to use for verification. Moving the recorder and checking levels with a short test avoids the problem.

Question 43Reporting and Transcription Technology

A reporter repeatedly saves drafts as 'transcript_final,' 'transcript_final2' and 'transcript_final2REAL.' The main risk of this practice is

  1. CAT software cannot open files with numbers in the name
  2. the files will exceed the storage limit of the writer
  3. the transcript will fail to translate
  4. the wrong version may be delivered to counsel Correct answer.

Explanation

Inconsistent file names make it hard to tell which draft is current, and the wrong file can be sent or further edited. Date- and revision-based names keep the record of versions clear.

Question 44Reporting and Transcription Technology

To write the number 5 on a stenotype machine, the reporter typically

  1. types it on the laptop keyboard during realtime
  2. presses the letter S alone
  3. holds the number bar with the key for 5 Correct answer.
  4. presses the asterisk key twice

Explanation

The number bar is held down together with the key in the position that stands for the desired digit. This keeps numerals inside the steno stroke stream rather than on a separate keyboard.

Question 45Reporting and Transcription Technology

When a deposition is both videotaped and stenographically reported, syncing the transcript to the video is easiest if the reporter

  1. pauses the audio recorder between questions
  2. uses a different writer for each hour
  3. notes the start time and records continuously Correct answer.
  4. transcribes from memory and adds times later

Explanation

Verifying a videotaped deposition depends on being able to jump from a transcript line to the matching video. Recording the start time and running both devices continuously preserves a single, unbroken timeline.

Question 46Reporting and Transcription Technology

During a bench conference the reporter must keep writing for the record but must not send that discussion to the realtime viewers. The correct action is to

  1. toggle the no-transmit (exclude) function Correct answer.
  2. unplug the writer from the laptop
  3. lower the microphone gain on the recorder
  4. delete the strokes and rely on memory

Explanation

A no-transmit setting keeps the strokes in the file for the transcript while withholding them from the realtime output. Unplugging the writer interrupts the feed and can disrupt the connection without protecting the record.

Question 47Reporting and Transcription Technology

A reporter digitally signs a PDF transcript, and the client later adds a bookmark and re-saves the file. The effect on the signature is that

  1. the signature converts to an encrypted attachment
  2. the signature will report the document as modified Correct answer.
  3. the signature remains valid because bookmarks do not change text
  4. the timestamp is removed but the signature stays valid

Explanation

A digital signature covers the document's bytes, so any later change, including a bookmark or a comment, invalidates it. Viewers then report that the document has been altered since signing.

Question 48Reporting and Transcription Technology

A reporter's realtime feed freezes mid-session, but the writer continues to accept strokes and the laptop shows no new text. The strokes written during the freeze are

  1. lost, because the writer keeps no local copy
  2. still in the writer's memory and transferable later Correct answer.
  3. automatically re-sent when the cable is reconnected
  4. written to the laptop's audio track instead

Explanation

The writer keeps writing to its internal memory even when the realtime link fails, and the strokes can be transferred to the software afterward. Only the live feed stops, not the record.

Question 49Reporting and Transcription Technology

A court wants reporters to send encrypted transcripts without first exchanging a shared secret with each sender. The appropriate approach is

  1. AES with one password shared by every reporter
  2. a ZIP archive with no password
  3. public-key encryption with the court's key Correct answer.
  4. ROT13 encoding of the file

Explanation

Public-key encryption lets anyone encrypt with the court's published public key, while only the court's private key can decrypt. That avoids the need to distribute a shared secret to every reporter.

Question 50Reporting and Transcription Technology

A transcript containing accented names is exported as 7-bit ASCII, and the accents appear as question marks in the delivered file. The best fix is to

  1. compress the file into a ZIP archive
  2. re-export the transcript using UTF-8 Correct answer.
  3. convert to an older version of the word processor
  4. increase the point size of the font

Explanation

Seven-bit ASCII has no code points for accented characters, so they are replaced or lost on export. A Unicode encoding such as UTF-8 can represent them correctly.