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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In Chapter 2, "The Ecology of the Nonfiction Biosphere," what does Foster call the "second draft of history"?
(a) Magazine stories.
(b) Textbooks.
(c) Editorial columns.
(d) Newspaper articles.

2. According to Chapter 4, "The Parts You Don't Read," what are the sidebar discussions found in the book's back matter called?
(a) Content notes.
(b) The appendix.
(c) Callouts.
(d) The index.

3. In Chapter 2, "The Ecology of the Nonfiction Biosphere," what does Foster say is true of the sports section?
(a) Its box scores are an example of soft news.
(b) It contains every type of writing found in a newspaper.
(c) It contains primarily editorial columns.
(d) It excludes features.

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) The last page or pages of the front section.
(c) Throughout most sections.
(d) At the very end of the last section.

5. In Chapter 5, "It May Just Be Me, But..." what does Foster say about offering a source the chance to correct themselves if they claim that they misspoke?
(a) This in unethical.
(b) This can make a story stronger.
(c) This is part of the fair treatment of sources.
(d) This creates inaccuracies.

6. In Chapter 5, "It May Just Be Me, But..." what kind of person does Foster say is likely to be biased?
(a) Everyone.
(b) Republicans.
(c) Uneducated people.
(d) Older people.

7. In Chapter 6, "Source Code," what does Foster call the "gold standard" of sources (63)?
(a) Statistics.
(b) Eyewitness testimony.
(c) Professional expertise.
(d) Expert sources.

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

9. According to "The Building Blocks of Arguments," what purpose do warrants serve?
(a) Warrants explain counterclaims.
(b) Warrants link claims and grounds.
(c) Warrants provide evidence.
(d) Warrants are like conclusions.

10. In Chapter 6, "Source Code," what does Foster say about the proliferation of online sources?
(a) They democratize media.
(b) They offer marginalized voices a chance to be heard.
(c) They are often carefully sourced.
(d) They make everything seem like nonsense.

11. In Chapter 1, "The Structure of Nonfiction Information," what does Foster say is the purpose of the "four Ps?"
(a) To fill the reader in on important context.
(b) To explain the structural design of the work.
(c) To establish the writer's credibility.
(d) To lay out the essentials of the work to follow.

12. In Chapter 8, "Bringing the News," Foster maintains that types of newspaper writing like advice columns and human interest stories exist for what reason?
(a) To fill up space not needed for daily news.
(b) Because readers can not live without them.
(c) To sell newspaper advertising.
(d) Because they are traditional.

13. In Chapter 2, "The Ecology of the Nonfiction Biosphere," what implicit assertion about online writing does Foster make?
(a) It is susceptible to fewer hidden biases and is therefore more objective.
(b) It is nearly always lower quality than the writing in print sources.
(c) It is often more accurate and more engaging than print media.
(d) It is capable of presenting hard news in a more timely fashion than print media can.

14. Based on Chapter 2, "The Ecology of the Nonfiction Biosphere," how would Foster sum up the place of newspapers in today's world?
(a) Because we have invested heavily in modern newspapers, they have grown in popularity.
(b) Although they are losing popularity, they are still an essential form of news media.
(c) Print newspapers may be obsolete, but online newspapers serve the same purpose.
(d) In a connected world, newspapers are simply irrelevant.

15. In Chapter 2, "The Ecology of the Nonfiction Biosphere," what does Foster say is the point of having a variety of media sources?
(a) Depth of coverage.
(b) Appealing to different readers.
(c) Accuracy.
(d) Time.

Short Answer Questions

1. In Chapter 7, "All in How You Look at Things," Foster discusses Pollan's How to Change Your Mind as an example of what?

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

3. In Chapter 6, "Source Code," where does Foster suggest writers should gather information about historical figures?

4. In Chapter 7, "All in How You Look at Things," what does Foster say is the purpose of the academic five-paragraph essay?

5. In Chapter 1, "The Structure of Nonfiction Information," what does Foster mean when he uses the word "dichotomy"?

(see the answer keys)

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