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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

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

2. Why is nonfiction more popular than fiction?
(a) It is what modern editors like to read.
(b) Entertainment alternatives makes nonfiction more popular, even if it is a trend.
(c) It is more entertaining since it is true.
(d) It isn't more popular, it is just more widespread.

3. What is the main thing required to being a good writer?
(a) Hard work.
(b) All answers are correct.
(c) Passion.
(d) Good editing.

4. What does Zissner believe authors are fearful of in their writing?
(a) Stating their true opinions, ideas, and judgments.
(b) Stating where they live.
(c) The reader not relating to them.
(d) Writing poorly.

5. What could cause a writer to write unclear?
(a) Not having brainstormed enough.
(b) Not taking any writing classes.
(c) Not having enough experience.
(d) Not knowing what they want to say.

6. What is the biggest mistake a writer can make when creating sentences?
(a) Not creating sentences that readers want to read.
(b) Packing in too much information into one sentence.
(c) Not reading their sentences aloud.
(d) Overediting sentences.

7. What does reading aloud do for the writer?
(a) It helps the writer compare their work to others.
(b) Catches simple mistakes and clumsy constructions.
(c) It allows writers to understand their own writing.
(d) It is a therapeutic process signifying the end of a story.

8. What do interviews do for the writer?
(a) They make a writer feel stupid since he or she does not know that much about a subject.
(b) They make the writer an expert in a given subject.
(c) Interviews humanize a topic, making a boring topic interesting.
(d) They make a writer less valid, since he or she needs to interview several people to create one article.

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

10. What does Zissner think of gimmicky writing?
(a) It is what gets writers through the door.
(b) It is worth a try to sell a book or article.
(c) It is the secret to selling a book.
(d) It never works.

11. What are Zissner's feelings about writing?
(a) Writing is easy and anyone can do it.
(b) Writing is a craft that is developed over time.
(c) Writing can easily be taught.
(d) Writing is difficult, but with the right tools, anyone can do it.

12. Why does he recommend starting in the preferred tense?
(a) It causes writer's to think about the reader.
(b) It brings out the natural voice.
(c) It makes it easier for people to relate to.
(d) It creates a teacher student relationship.

13. What is an example of a dead language?
(a) Italian because there is only one country that speaks it.
(b) Chinese because it never changes.
(c) Spanish because its roots are disintegrating.
(d) Latin is dead because nobody speaks it anymore.

14. A musician must practice scales, and a writer must practice ______________.
(a) Grammar.
(b) The marketplace.
(c) Sentences.
(d) Spelling.

15. What is the response previous students have to his style of edits?
(a) They say they never liked the highlighting.
(b) They like it much better than red pen all over a paper.
(c) They hated it, and have nightmares about his style.
(d) They say then can still see the brackets.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does Zinsser approach unusual words?

2. Why is consistency in verb tense so important?

3. What does the etymology of words mean?

4. When does the writing start for a nonfiction article?

5. What makes a good first sentence?

(see the answer keys)

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