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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Part II: Chapter 9 The Lead and the Ending.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Do good writers decorate their writing?
(a) Yes, with good punctuation.
(b) No, only bad writers do this to sell more copies.
(c) No, good writers dont need ornamentation.
(d) Yes, always with lots of extra words.

2. What is the transaction in writing?
(a) How much a writer gives of themselves rather than of facts.
(b) How much a writer talks about themselves.
(c) How much facts a writer uses.
(d) The bookbuying process.

3. What does it convey when anyone says he can write a book if he wanted to?
(a) It shows that people are ignorant.
(b) It reveals the misconception that writing is easy.
(c) It reveals how easy it is to write a book.
(d) It shows that there are many talented people in the world.

4. What does Zinsser do before submitting a piece of writing?
(a) He has his wife read his work.
(b) He reads everything aloud.
(c) He submits his writing to his family.
(d) He edits everything three times.

5. How can uncluttered writing help fiction?
(a) It keeps people's attention longer.
(b) It highlights the impotant parts of the story.
(c) It keeps books smaller and people like smaller books.
(d) It keeps the meaning of the story clear and the prose worth the reader's time.

Short Answer Questions

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

2. What is a common problem writers have?

3. Why do Americans have trouble writing?

4. Chapter 3 is about __________.

5. Why does he recommend starting in the preferred tense?

(see the answer key)

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