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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Part I: Chapter 4 Style.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Has the period of political euphemisms improved since the Vietnam War?
(a) No, it is the same.
(b) Yes, politicians know how to unclutter their writing now.
(c) Yes, politicians hire better speech writers.
(d) No, it has gotten worse.

2. Why is the above a problem?
(a) Writers end up editing too much.
(b) Usually the first two or three paragraphs of a piece can be cut.
(c) Writers don't put enough effort into their writing.
(d) Writers need to start at the end and work their way up.

3. Why doesn't he simply cross out clutter?
(a) Because underlining is easier on the eyes.
(b) Because highlighting is easier to see.
(c) So that his students will learn to recognize clutter.
(d) Because it uses too much ink to cross out than to bracket.

4. Where should the writer find his or her words?
(a) From modern euphanisms that people can relate to.
(b) From a dictionary.
(c) From within the subconscious to the writing consciousness
(d) From a thesaraus.

5. What is a natural inclination for writers when they start a piece?
(a) They assume the readers know what they are writing about.
(b) They ramble through an unnecessary introduction.
(c) They don't give enough background information.
(d) Writers assume readers know nothing about what they are writing about.

Short Answer Questions

1. Can a writer's style be affected to the reader?

2. What does Zissner use to highlight clutter in his students' writing?

3. What gives nonfiction books life?

4. What are Zissner's feelings about writing?

5. What is a common problem writers have?

(see the answer key)

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