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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Part III: Chapter 16 Business Writing: Writing in Your Job.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is a second approach Zinsser recommends that complements the first approach mentioned?
(a) Going within people's homes and seeing what they feel about foreigners.
(b) Going outside and finding out how a place impacts others.
(c) Writing only in the first person, then deciding on a tense later.
(d) Never reading other travel pieces, because this adds to cliched writing.

2. Should exclamation points be used in serious writing?
(a) They should be sprinkled into paragraphs like salt and pepper. The more the better.
(b) They should be used sparingly. One per paragraph is fine.
(c) They should be avoided unless absolutely necessary.
(d) Only serious writing has serious exclamation points. How else would people understand astonishment?

3. What is an example of a time when bad writing HAS to be read?
(a) In the newspaper.
(b) Online writing.
(c) Corporate memos or technical writing.
(d) In English class.

4. What is unity in writing?
(a) Unity is when the characters in a story are united and never disagree with one another.
(b) Unity is where the writer maintains consistency throughout an entire piece.
(c) Unity is when the writer sticks to one plot.
(d) Unity is when characters are unipolar and one dimensional.

5. What happens when a product of writing is never read?
(a) It becomes worthless and a waste of good time.
(b) It gets burned.
(c) It gets categorized under the bad books section.
(d) The author's reputation is harmed.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the main thing required to being a good writer?

2. What is a major job of a nonfiction writer?

3. What is Zissner's point of view on the debate between literature and journalism?

4. What is a misconception about writers and scientists?

5. Why does Zissner advise his clients to worry about the marketplace last?

(see the answer key)

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