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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," how does Foster define "specialty journalism"?
(a) Forms of journalism devoted to a single subject area.
(b) Editorial writing.
(c) Feature writing.
(d) The newspaper sports section.

2. In Chapter 3, "The Power of the Prologue," Foster mentions a "squib." What is a squib, in this context?
(a) A short, satirical piece of writing.
(b) A miniature explosive device.
(c) The misfire of a gun due to insufficient force.
(d) A non-magical person born to wizards.

3. 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) Time.
(c) Accuracy.
(d) Appealing to different readers.

4. Which form discussed in Chapter 3, "The Power of the Prologue," is generally not written by the author of the main piece of writing?
(a) Preface.
(b) Introduction.
(c) Foreward.
(d) Prologue.

5. In Chapter 3, "The Power of the Prologue," what does Foster say distinguishes the prologue from a preface?
(a) The word preface is generally only used with narratives.
(b) The word prologue is generally only used with narratives.
(c) The word prologue is generally only used for fiction.
(d) The word preface is generally only used for fiction.

6. In Chapter 6, "Source Code," what type of writing does Foster say relies heavily on eyewitness testimony?
(a) Op-eds.
(b) History.
(c) Journalism.
(d) Science.

7. In Chapter 6, "Source Code," what consequence does Foster say the rise of the internet has had?
(a) A new respect for minority opinions.
(b) A rise in people's awareness of current events.
(c) A decline in the average American's reading ability.
(d) A lack of respect for, and recognition of, expertise.

8. 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 the middle of things.
(b) In narrative form.
(c) In strict chronological order.
(d) In the form of a circle.

9. 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) Informational.
(b) Political.
(c) Academic.
(d) Technical.

10. 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) Because they are traditional.
(b) To sell newspaper advertising.
(c) To fill up space not needed for daily news.
(d) Because readers can not live without them.

11. 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 misunderstand the purpose of the form they are reading.
(c) Readers may have unreasonably high standards.
(d) Readers may be disappointed by the content of their reading.

12. 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.

13. In Chapter 4, "The Parts You Don't Read," what is a piece of information that Foster says we can infer from the notes?
(a) The intended audience.
(b) Potential biases.
(c) The author's education.
(d) The author's purpose.

14. In Chapter 7, "All in How You Look at Things," what does Foster say beginning writers often get too caught up in?
(a) Dialogue.
(b) Narrative.
(c) Description.
(d) Exposition.

15. In Chapter 2, "The Ecology of the Nonfiction Biosphere," what does Foster call the rules governing different forms of nonfiction?
(a) Laws.
(b) Precepts.
(c) Syntax.
(d) Grammar.

Short Answer Questions

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

2. In Chapter 8, "Bringing the News," what reason does Foster give for journalists generally being proved correct despite public mistrust?

3. In Chapter 7, "All in How You Look at Things," what does Foster say the term "Fake News" originally referred to?

4. In Chapter 6, "Source Code," which is the only type of nonfiction that Foster says doesn't need "rock-solid" sources (69)?

5. In Chapter 7, "All in How You Look at Things," Foster makes what point about newspaper articles?

(see the answer keys)

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