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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Alice Adams' ABDCE formula stand for, in writing a short story?
(a) Alice's Books Do Create Excitement.
(b) Action, Background, Characters, Drama, and Ending.
(c) Action, Background, Development, Climax, and Ending.
(d) Asides, Background, Drama, Characters, and Encoding.

2. What does Anne say must first happen before we can recognize others for who they are?
(a) Ask them who they think they really are, it is so telling.
(b) Compassionately knowing who you are.
(c) Visit with them for a few hours.
(d) Watch them for a year.

3. Where does plot grow from?
(a) A one-inch picture frame.
(b) A good topsoil.
(c) A good outline.
(d) Characters.

4. What is the basic formula for drama?
(a) Setup, buildup, payoff.
(b) Buildup, payoff, setup.
(c) There is no formula, drama naturally occurs.
(d) Setup, switch, sendoff.

5. Paying attention is a powerful antidote for what?
(a) A hangover.
(b) Sleepless nights.
(c) Paranoia.
(d) The rational mind.

6. What is Anne's response when her students ask her for the best writing advice?
(a) She picks up a piece of paper and pantomimes writing on it.
(b) She twirls a flower in the air.
(c) She quotes a Buddhist disciple.
(d) She tells them to meditate.

7. How does Anne define perfectionism?
(a) The only way to write.
(b) An abundantly jealous form of writing.
(c) A mean, frozen form of idealism.
(d) Chewing gum will relieve it.

8. How else does Anne say you might you know you are done?
(a) Your editor tells you that you are done.
(b) Your check arrives in the mail.
(c) You have done the best you can do, and have no more to give.
(d) The plot has come together beautifully.

9. What magazine did Anne write food reviews for, before it folded?
(a) Food News Review.
(b) Sacramento.
(c) California.
(d) Pots and Pans.

10. What was Anne writing about when she contacted an expert to help her with the set design?
(a) A kitchen.
(b) A Special Olympics race.
(c) A garden.
(d) A vegetable medley.

11. How does a writer end up with a good second draft or a terrific third draft?
(a) By hiring an excellent editor.
(b) By drinking lots of wine.
(c) By writing a bad first draft.
(d) By getting a good agent.

12. Where did Anne's father teach his class?
(a) On the street to hippies.
(b) The local community college to kids.
(c) Elementary school to children.
(d) San Quentin to the prisoners.

13. What is Anne's first suggestion about writing dialogue?
(a) Read your words out loud.
(b) Always write in dialect.
(c) Secretly record your friends talking and use their words exactly, without asking permission.
(d) Copy conversations you hear in public.

14. What is Anne's third suggestion about putting together good dialogue?
(a) Put two people, who would never want to be together, in a close situation. They will have lots to say.
(b) Insert clever dialogue whenever possible.
(c) Put two people who have lots in common together for teatime.
(d) Dialogue emerges entirely from the plot. Listen to the plot.

15. How did Anne feel after the basketball game?
(a) Joyful.
(b) Like she could write all day.
(c) Thankful for what she and her son had.
(d) Depressed and hungry.

Short Answer Questions

1. Anne tells her students they can use paranoia as wonderful material, and then recites a poem. Who is the author of the poem?

2. When Anne showed up at the Special Olympics to write an article, did she know what she was going to write?

3. When Anne is participating in the school lunch writing assignment, what does she say about hers?

4. In Part 1, Section 6, Polaroids, what was Anne's finished article about?

5. Where does the image of putting an octopus to bed come from?

(see the answer keys)

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