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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. What is a major problem of business writing?
(a) Using graphs and not labeling them.
(b) Not using proper wording to appeal to the business world.
(c) Using long sentences.
(d) Using jargon that only other business people can understand.

2. Where did Zinsser learn how to write?
(a) He learned while he was deployed during WWII.
(b) He taught himself.
(c) From reading the New York Herald.
(d) From reading good books.

3. What are Zinsser's four articles of faith to writing well?
(a) Clarity, simplicity, brevity and humanity.
(b) Brevity, quick turnaround, clever sentences and little humanity.
(c) Clarity, simplicity, elasticity and minimalism.
(d) Simplicity, brevity, busy sentences and proper grammer.

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

5. Writers should always look for ________________.
(a) People to tell them about a place so they don't have to actually go anywhere.
(b) The unique aspects of a place.
(c) Things that relate places to another.
(d) Making places more accessible to other people.

Short Answer Questions

1. What problem does a scientist have when writing about science?

2. What approach to a place should writers take?

3. Why does this misconception exist?

4. His article was supposed to be about his impressions of salt caravans, why didn't he write more about this?

5. What do people need to understand about science?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is bad to fall into cliches when travel writing?

2. Why is humor the most powerful tool for a nonfiction writer?

3. Does he recommend this level of pride to other writers?

4. How does Zinsser feel about writing when a writer doesn't want to? Why do writers have this luxury?

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

6. Why are Americans scared to write about themselves?

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

8. What are some of the hardest parts of writing about performances?

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

10. Why do writers need to develop their own voice? How does writing compare to other art forms?

(see the answer keys)

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