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 say is the purpose of the "four Ps?"
(a) To explain the structural design of the work.
(b) To establish the writer's credibility.
(c) To lay out the essentials of the work to follow.
(d) To fill the reader in on important context.

2. According to "The Building Blocks of Arguments," what are the "grounds" of a argument?
(a) Explanations of the relationship between facts and claims.
(b) The backing of a rebuttal or qualification.
(c) The conclusions that an argument is based on.
(d) Factual data and evidence.

3. In Chapter 7, "All in How You Look at Things," Foster uses as examples two books that have the same subject matter--Fear, and Fire and Fury. What subject matter do these books have in common?
(a) The Trump White House.
(b) Wilderness exploration.
(c) Watergate.
(d) World War II.

4. In Chapter 7, "All in How You Look at Things," Foster says that which type of nonfiction is usually better off starting at the beginning chronologically?
(a) Philosophy.
(b) History.
(c) Reportage.
(d) Biography.

5. 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) The newspaper sports section.
(d) Feature writing.

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

7. In Chapter 6, "Source Code," which is the only type of nonfiction that Foster says doesn't need "rock-solid" sources (69)?
(a) Biography.
(b) Memoir.
(c) Reportage.
(d) Philosophy.

8. In Chapter 6, "Source Code," where does Foster suggest writers should gather information about historical figures?
(a) History books.
(b) Newspaper archives.
(c) Primary sources.
(d) Biographies.

9. In Chapter 5, "It May Just Be Me, But..." what does Foster say about offering equal space and analysis to opposing arguments?
(a) It strikes the modern reader as dishonest.
(b) It is confusing to the reader.
(c) This can destroy a story.
(d) This is part of fair and balanced reporting.

10. 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 insightful but wordy.
(b) It is clever and concise.
(c) It is boring and mean-spirited.
(d) It is unoriginal and unimportant.

11. In Chapter 4, "The Parts You Don't Read," what advice does Foster give about the copyright page?
(a) This page is optional and readers should not expect to find it in every book.
(b) When reading as a part of research, never leave this page without recording the information it contains.
(c) This information is just a legal notice and most readers should just ignore it.
(d) This page contains important information about where the author got pieces of information used in the text.

12. 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 misunderstand the purpose of 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 expect the wrong things from the form they are reading.

13. 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.

14. 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) Prologue.
(b) Preface.
(c) Introduction.
(d) Foreward.

15. According to "The Building Blocks of Arguments," what is the only form of nonfiction that is not argumentative?
(a) Reportage.
(b) User manuals.
(c) History.
(d) Technical reports.

Short Answer Questions

1. What definition of "lede" does Foster give In Chapter 2, "The Ecology of the Nonfiction Biosphere"?

2. In Chapter 3, "The Power of the Prologue," what does Foster say distinguishes the prologue from a preface?

3. In Chapter 8, "Bringing the News," Foster describes the Larry Nassar scandal as an illustration of what?

4. According to Chapter 8, "Bringing the News," at what level are most news stories written?

5. In Chapter 6, "Source Code," what does Foster say about the proliferation of online sources?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 801 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample