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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Anne warn about doing with your characters?
(a) Placing them in an improper set.
(b) Letting them speak in dialect.
(c) Getting them to do something because it is convenient to the plot.
(d) Giving them only one page of description.

2. What movie line does Anne suggest as a good one to tape to the wall of your office?
(a) "From sun up to sun down I am the best writer in town."
(b) "Jeremiah was a bullfrog."
(c) "Hey - lighten up, Francis."
(d) "Climb every mountain."

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

4. What is on Anne's desk that reminds her of short assignments?
(a) A pair of shorts.
(b) A short stubby pencil.
(c) A one-inch picture frame.
(d) A ruler.

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

6. What image does Anne use to help her gather dialog for characters?
(a) Broccoli.
(b) Dr. Suess.
(c) One-inch picture frame.
(d) Hammers.

7. 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) Watch them for a year.
(c) Compassionately knowing who you are.
(d) Visit with them for a few hours.

8. What does the title, False Starts, mean?
(a) Set design never turns out like you think it will.
(b) When you start writing too soon, without doing your research.
(c) You think you know about the character, but as you start writing, you can find out you were wrong.
(d) When you have to scrap your bad first draft.

9. Anne's editor loved the characters in her book, but what was the problem with the book?
(a) She had false starts all over the place.
(b) The garden was not believable.
(c) She had not brought them all together.
(d) The dialect was all wrong.

10. What is Anne's first useful concept about?
(a) Having lots of wine and chocolate around.
(b) Sharp pencils.
(c) Ergonomic keyboards.
(d) Short assignments.

11. In Part 1, Section 6, Polaroids, what was Anne's finished article about?
(a) The runners.
(b) The girl on crutches.
(c) Tragedy transfromed to joy and sheer effort.
(d) The "cool man" game.

12. The school lunches writing assignment combines which two pieces of writing advice from Anne?
(a) Short assignments and bad first drafts.
(b) Get started and consult a hypnotist.
(c) Eat chocolate and take plenty of naps.
(d) Read poetry and drink wine.

13. Aside from talking to people, what are other ways to gather ideas for set design?
(a) Going to visit and reading books about the set your are trying to design.
(b) Take a nap and dream about it, or watch a movie.
(c) You need only to look to the plot for your set design.
(d) Reading a book on the subject and then meditating.

14. When Anne showed up at the Special Olympics to write an article, did she know what she was going to write?
(a) No, she was not even very interested.
(b) Yes, about a girl on crutches.
(c) She had no idea of what the finished article would be.
(d) Yes, she was going to write a food review about the hot dogs there.

15. What are great language tools that explain the unknown in terms of the known to the reader?
(a) A garden and river.
(b) Similes.
(c) Metaphors.
(d) Plots.

Short Answer Questions

1. How did Anne feel after the basketball game?

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

3. When a character takes on a characteristic that you have no good experience in, what should you do?

4. What is the basic formula for drama?

5. What is Anne's response to her students question about knowing when they are done?

(see the answer keys)

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