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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Is sports writing different from any other form of good writing?
(a) No, good writing is good writing.
(b) Yes, it isn't as comprehensive.
(c) No, it is just as good as other writing.
(d) Yes, it isn't as important.

2. What occurs when business writing is bad?
(a) Executives get fired for pawning off simple writing tasks.
(b) People will get fired for bad writing.
(c) Investors will agree to terms they do not understand.
(d) Customers will go elsewhere to buy their goods and services.

3. Why is it important for writers to stick to industry standards?
(a) To sell magazines.
(b) The industry wants everything to be the same so they can catalogue writing more easily.
(c) To be good writers, since the industry sets the standard.
(d) Readers likely played the sport they are reading about and want to know what happened from a standard perspective.

4. Does ZInsser give in to his editor's changes?
(a) Yes, they are the editors after all.
(b) No, and he never gives in.
(c) No. He tends to fight them constantly.
(d) Sometimes, only when they are worth it.

5. What approach to a place should writers take?
(a) Reading other travel pieces and compare them.
(b) To go around asking the locals questions.
(c) Just writing ambiguously.
(d) To go within a place and see how it impacts the writer.

Short Answer Questions

1. What advice does Zinsser give to employees who want to change business writing?

2. How is humor used in writing nonfiction?

3. What is the problem with freelance writers and editors today?

4. What is a misconception about writers and scientists?

5. What is a requirement for good literary criticism?

Short Essay Questions

1. What needs to be described in a travel article?

2. What is a major pitfall of sports writers?

3. Why does a writer's fear of new subjects keep him from taking original and interesting projects?

4. Why is corporate speak the norm in business writing?

5. Why should exact details be avoided in memoirs? What approach should writers take instead?

6. Why are Americans scared to write about themselves?

7. How does Zinsser react when editors want to change too much of his work?

8. Should sports writers add their opinions in sports articles?

9. Does Zinsser think that scientists can write?

10. Why do critics need to be well versed in the art they are writing about?

(see the answer keys)

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