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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 rules governing different forms of nonfiction?
(a) Precepts.
(b) Syntax.
(c) Laws.
(d) Grammar.

2. 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) Reportage.
(b) Philosophy.
(c) History.
(d) Biography.

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

4. 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) Meta-journalism.
(b) Exposé.
(c) Investigative journalism.
(d) Reportage.

5. In Chapter 7, "All in How You Look at Things," what is the purpose of Foster's discussion of structure in Coming into the Country?
(a) To show how chronological structure can be adapted to a particular message.
(b) To show that cause and effect structure can be used for narrative.
(c) To demonstrate the limits of chronological structure.
(d) To demonstrate that theme is dependent on detail.

6. 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.

7. In Chapter 3, "The Power of the Prologue," why is "foreward" spelled with an "e" instead of as we usually see it, "forward"?
(a) Without the "e," the word means a direction; with the "e," it means a piece of writing that comes ahead of another.
(b) This is a proofreading error in the text.
(c) The spelling "foreward" is a British spelling, like "flavour," and is therefore an accepted alternate spelling.
(d) Foster is using an unconventional spelling to draw attention to the idea "fore," which means "ahead."

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

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

10. In Chapter 1, "The Structure of Nonfiction Information," what does Foster say the first job of the writer is, on page one?
(a) To get the reader to page two.
(b) To tell the truth.
(c) To be clear and concise.
(d) To create a personal bond with the reader.

11. According to "The Building Blocks of Arguments," what is the implicit argument of most nonfiction writing?
(a) That the reader should change their beliefs or behavior.
(b) That the writer's angle on the subject is the correct one.
(c) That the writer has the authority to write about the subject.
(d) That the subject matter is important enough to read about.

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

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

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) In a connected world, newspapers are simply irrelevant.
(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) Because we have invested heavily in modern newspapers, they have grown in popularity.

15. 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) Wilderness exploration.
(b) The Trump White House.
(c) Watergate.
(d) World War II.

Short Answer Questions

1. In Chapter 7, "All in How You Look at Things," what does Foster say beginning writers often get too caught up in?

2. In Chapter 6, "Source Code," what type of writing does Foster say relies heavily on eyewitness testimony?

3. 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?

4. In Chapter 8, "Bringing the News," Foster maintains that types of newspaper writing like advice columns and human interest stories exist for what reason?

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

(see the answer keys)

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