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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Section 1: Chapter 1, "The Structure of Nonaction Information" through Chapter 4, "The Parts You Don't Read".

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In Chapter 2, "The Ecology of the Nonfiction Biosphere," Foster calls an expression a "bromide." What is he saying about this expression?
(a) It is unoriginal and unimportant.
(b) It is clever and concise.
(c) It is insightful but wordy.
(d) It is boring and mean-spirited.

2. In Chapter 3, "The Power of the Prologue," what does Foster give as the basic meaning of "preface," "prologue," and "foreward"?
(a) Leading.
(b) In front.
(c) Ahead of.
(d) First word.

3. The section of this book called "The Books in the Book" is what part of the book?
(a) A foreward.
(b) A preface.
(c) An appendix.
(d) The introduction.

4. In Chapter 2, "The Ecology of the Nonfiction Biosphere," Foster notes that the expectation for a writer to be engaging does not apply to which types of writing?
(a) Academic.
(b) Informational.
(c) Technical.
(d) Political.

5. In Chapter 2, "The Ecology of the Nonfiction Biosphere," what problem does Foster say can arise if readers do not understand the forms of writing?
(a) Readers may expect the wrong things from the form they are reading.
(b) Readers may have unreasonably high standards.
(c) Readers may be disappointed by the content of their reading.
(d) Readers may misunderstand the purpose of the form they are reading.

Short Answer Questions

1. Which form discussed in Chapter 3, "The Power of the Prologue," is generally not written by the author of the main piece of writing?

2. In Chapter 2, "The Ecology of the Nonfiction Biosphere," where does Foster say editorial content can usually be found in the newspaper?

3. According to "The Building Blocks of Arguments," what is the implicit argument of most nonfiction writing?

4. The section of this book called "What's Going on Around Here?" is what part of the book?

5. In Chapter 2, "The Ecology of the Nonfiction Biosphere," what does Foster say is the difference between "hard news" and "soft news"?

(see the answer key)

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