Use Case Notation Quiz - Explanation

The correct answers are indicated below, along with text that explains the correct answers.

1.	The system icon is Please select the best answer.
	A.	A stick figure with a name
	B.	An oval with a name
	C.	A rectangle with a name
	D.	An arrow with an optional stereotype
	The correct answer is C. The system icon is a rectangle with a name. A is incorrect because the stick figure with a name is an actor icon. B is incorrect because the oval with a name is a use case. D is incorrect because an arrow with an optional stereotype is an association.

2.	The system element Please select the best answer.
	A.	Is unnecessary
	B.	Identifies the context of the system
	C.	Sets the scope for the project
	D.	Defines the interfaces of the system
	The correct answer is B. The system element identifies the context of the system. Regarding A, it could be argued that the system is unnecessary. In fact, some tools assume the system and do not show it. But the system plays a significant role in our understanding of the purpose of the use case diagram. C is incorrect. Although scope is important, scope is not defined by the system icon. Usually it is defined in the project initiation documents. Likewise, D is incorrect because although the use cases help us find the interfaces, that is not their primary purpose, and the system alone cannot provide this information.

3.	The actor icon is Please select the best answer.
	A.	A stick figure or box with a name
	B.	An oval with a name
	C.	A rectangle with a name
	D.	An arrow with an optional stereotype
	The correct answer is A. The actor icon is a stick figure or box with a name. B is incorrect because the oval with a name is the use case icon. C is incorrect because the rectangle with a name is the system icon. D is incorrect because an arrow with an optional stereotype is an association.

4.	The actor element Please select the best answer.
	A.	Describes a person responsible for the system
	B.	Identifies a person who provides input to the system and systems or devices that receive output from the system
	C.	Identifies a person, system, or device that uses the system
	D.	Equates to a job description
	The correct answer is C. The actor element identifies a person, system, or device that uses the system. A and D are incorrect because actors describe roles that people play, not a particular person or job description that may change over time. Use cases do not limit interactions to only input or only output, so B is also incorrect.

5.	The use case icon is Please select the best answer.
	A.	A stick figure with a name
	B.	An oval with a name
	C.	A rectangle with a name
	D.	An arrow with an optional stereotype
	The correct answer is B. The use case icon is an oval with a name. A is incorrect because the stick figure with a name is an actor icon. C is incorrect because the system icon is a rectangle with a name. An arrow with an optional stereotype is an association, so D is also incorrect.

6.	The use case element Please select the best answer.
	A.	Defines a goal of the system
	B.	Defines a process performed by the system
	C.	Identifies system workflows
	D.	Identifies dependencies between system goals
	The correct answer is A. The use case element defines a goal of the system. B and C are incorrect because use cases are not process specific, so processes and workflows are not the target of the use case element. D is incorrect because there is no notation for dependencies in the use case view.

7.	The association icon is Please select the best answer.
	A.	A stick figure with a name
	B.	An oval with a name
	C.	A rectangle with a name
	D.	A line
	The correct answer is D. The association icon is a line between an actor and a use case. A is incorrect because the stick figure with a name is an actor icon. B is incorrect because the use case icon is an oval with a name. The system icon is a rectangle with a name, so C is also incorrect.

8.	The association element identifies Please select the best answer.
	A.	System workflows
	B.	Dependencies between system goals
	C.	Screen flows for the application
	D.	An interaction between two model elements
	The correct answer is D. The association element identifies an interaction between two model elements. A and C are incorrect because system workflows and screen flow can be derived using the pre-conditions on use cases, but there is no explicit notation in the use case view. B is incorrect because there is no notation for dependencies in the use case view.

9.	The stereotype notation is Please select the best answer.
	A.	Quotes: "name"
	B.	Parentheses: (name)
	C.	French quotes: `<<name>>`
	D.	Text above the association line
	The correct answer is C. The stereotype notation is French quotes: `<<name>>`.

10.	The purpose of the `<<Uses>>` stereotype is to identify Please select the best answer.
	A.	Screen flows for the application
	B.	System workflows
	C.	One use case as a specialization of another use case
	D.	Delegation between use cases
	The correct answer is D. The purpose of the `<<Uses>>` stereotype is to identify delegation between use cases. A and B are incorrect because system workflows and screen flow can be derived using the pre-conditions on use cases, but there is no explicit notation in the use case view. Specialization is signified with the `<<Extends>>` stereotype, so C is also incorrect.