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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In Chapter 11, "Life from the Inside," what does Foster call the "most famous" African American autobiography (171)?
(a) Between the World and Me.
(b) Dreams from My Father.
(c) Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass.
(d) The Autobiography of Malcolm X.

2. "Flu cases are 100% higher this year" is an example of what problematic use of data discussed by Foster in "Interrogating the Text"?
(a) Lack of context.
(b) Appeal to extremes.
(c) False analogy.
(d) Cherry-picking.

3. Based on Chapter 14, "The Universe of Ideas/Ideas of the Universe," what would Foster call a journalist writing a general survey of the field of string theory?
(a) Journalistic compilation.
(b) Interrogation of text.
(c) Expert testimony.
(d) Amateur profiles.

4. In Chapter 9, "Living the News," what does Foster say is responsible for Didion's characteristic style?
(a) Politics.
(b) Drugs.
(c) Education.
(d) Gender.

5. In Chapter 12, "Life from the Inside," what does Foster suggest that Ambrose loses by choosing to focus on Lewis?
(a) The chance to engage a wider audience of readers.
(b) The reader's trust.
(c) Information about what happened after Lewis's death.
(d) A variety of perspectives.

Short Answer Questions

1. In Chapter 12, "Life from the Inside," Foster calls Tom Brokaw's The Greatest Generation "pointillist" (179). What quality is he saying this book has?

2. Chapter 15, "Reading Internet Sources," ends with the date of singer Roy Orbison's birthday. What is Foster's purpose in placing this piece of information here?

3. In Chapter 9, "Living the News," what historical era does Foster tie New Journalism to?

4. In Chapter 10, "From the Inside Out," what aspect of Renaissance scholarship does Foster say the essay rebels against?

5. Based on Chapter 14, "The Universe of Ideas/Ideas of the Universe," what would Foster call a journalist writing about a biologist and her discoveries?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Chapter 9, "Living the News," why does Foster say that Woodward and Bernstein do not belong in the category of New Journalism?

2. In Chapter 9, "Living the News," why does Foster say that Hunter S. Thomson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is really a roman à clef?

3. In Chapter 15, "Reading Internet Sources," Foster reveals the central issue of the book. What does he say the issue is, and why does he believe it is worth devoting a book to?

4. In Chapter 13, "On the Stump," what concern does Foster say that other journalists have about Wolff's work?

5. In Chapter 13, "On the Stump," what criticism does Foster level at Fox News?

6. In Chapter 14, "The Universe of Ideas/Ideas of the Universe," what qualities does Foster say a genuine expert will have?

7. In Chapter 14, "The Universe of Ideas/Ideas of the Universe," what does Foster say motivates antiscientific beliefs?

8. In Chapter 11, "Life from the Inside," what does Foster say is the difference between autobiography and memoir?

9. In Chapter 9, "Living the News," what does Foster admire about the writing of John McPhee?

10. In "Interrogating the Text," what does Foster say the purpose of interrogating text is?

(see the answer keys)

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