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

2. How does Zinsser approach unusual words?
(a) He is very welcoming of a transforming English language.
(b) He is modern when it comes to English, but would rather keep it simple.
(c) He is very conservative and will never cross a proper word line.
(d) He accepts some, but not all.

3. What is another example of when a person HAS to read bad writing?
(a) Instruction manuals.
(b) Political Journals.
(c) Literature anthologies.
(d) Television captions.

4. Who are two authors that Zissner admires for solid writing and ornamentation?
(a) Sylvia Plath and Jane Austen.
(b) Normal Mailer and Virginia Wolfe.
(c) Virginia Woolfe and Sylvia Plath.
(d) Norman Mailer and Tom Wolfe.

5. Who is rivaling everything that Zissner is saying?
(a) Another writer.
(b) A doctor who writes for a hobby.
(c) The professor of the class.
(d) A student in the audience.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the mood or voice in a piece?

2. What does a Thesaurus help a writer with, besides finding alternate words?

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

4. Why do Americans have trouble writing?

5. A musician must practice scales, and a writer must practice ______________.

(see the answer key)

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