View a FREE sample

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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In Chapter 1, "The Structure of Nonfiction Information," what does Foster mean when he uses the word "dichotomy"?
(a) A narrative told in the order in which events really happened.
(b) The study of social policy.
(c) Something relatively unknown.
(d) A division between opposite things.

2. In Chapter 1, "The Structure of Nonfiction Information," Foster introduces the term "structural design," saying that it is similar to which term related to fiction?
(a) Narrative strategy.
(b) Plot structure.
(c) Storyboard.
(d) Story plan.

3. In Chapter 2, "The Ecology of the Nonfiction Biosphere," Foster calls a certain kind of reader the "cognoscenti." What kind of a reader is her referring to?
(a) Snobbish readers.
(b) Well-informed readers.
(c) Skeptical readers.
(d) Young readers.

4. In Chapter 2, "The Ecology of the Nonfiction Biosphere," where does Foster say editorial content can usually be found in the newspaper?
(a) In its own section.
(b) At the very end of the last section.
(c) The last page or pages of the front section.
(d) Throughout most sections.

5. The section of this book called "What's Going on Around Here?" is what part of the book?
(a) The introduction.
(b) An appendix.
(c) A preface.
(d) A foreward.

6. In Chapter 2, "The Ecology of the Nonfiction Biosphere," Foster says that rules are determined by content, not codex. What does this mean?
(a) The rules for each form are determined by subject matter, not by the medium of transmission.
(b) The rules for each form are determined by historical precedent, not by the topic under discussion.
(c) The rules for each form are determined by the purpose of the writing, not by traditions.
(d) The rules for each form are determined by the type of writing, not the physical format that is used to convey the writing.

7. In Chapter 8, "Bringing the News," Foster says that All the President's Men is sui generis. He is saying that this book is what?
(a) Revealing.
(b) Uplifting.
(c) Unique.
(d) Challenging.

8. In Chapter 6, "Source Code," Foster talks about the change in value over time of a reporter's eyewitness testimony. What does Foster call this change in value?
(a) The economy of information.
(b) The transfer of source validity.
(c) The decline of presence.
(d) The price of detail.

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

10. In Chapter 7, "All in How You Look at Things," Foster uses the Latin expression in media res. What does this expression mean?
(a) In narrative form.
(b) In the form of a circle.
(c) In strict chronological order.
(d) In the middle of things.

11. According to Chapter 8, "Bringing the News," at what level are most news stories written?
(a) The college sophomore level.
(b) The ninth to eleventh grade levels.
(c) The twelfth grade level.
(d) The fourth to sixth grade levels.

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

13. In Chapter 8, "Bringing the News," what reason does Foster give for journalists generally being proved correct despite public mistrust?
(a) Professionalism.
(b) Strategy.
(c) Stubbornness.
(d) Intelligence.

14. In Chapter 5, "It May Just Be Me, But..." what does Foster say is true about quotes attributed to anonymous sources?
(a) There are likely to be good reasons for the source to stay anonymous.
(b) There is never a good reason to use a quote from an anonymous source.
(c) These quotes are often made up.
(d) These quotes are often just the reporter's interpretation of a source's meaning.

15. In Chapter 8, "Bringing the News," one of the main points that Foster wants to make about All the President's Men is that it is a kind of writing he calls what?
(a) Reportage.
(b) Meta-journalism.
(c) Investigative journalism.
(d) Exposé.

Short Answer Questions

1. In Chapter 8, "Bringing the News," Foster makes the point that during the Nassar scandal, the Lansing State Journal did what?

2. In Chapter 5, "It May Just Be Me, But..." what does Foster say about offering equal space and analysis to opposing arguments?

3. In Chapter 1, "The Structure of Nonfiction Information," what does Foster say is the purpose of the "four Ps?"

4. In Chapter 5, "It May Just Be Me, But..." what does Foster say about disclaimers like "I don't dislike soccer" (52)?

5. According to Chapter 4, "The Parts You Don't Read," what are the sidebar discussions found in the book's back matter called?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 845 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample