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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is the danger of overusing humor in writing?
(a) A writer's credibility will tank.
(b) It can get tiresome and jokes over time will become weaker.
(c) Rejection from not being funny enough, or at all.
(d) A writer will not be taken seriously.

2. 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.

3. What does Zinsser think about this misconception?
(a) He agrees with it and thinks writers can never understand complex scientific theories.
(b) He disagrees with it, but offers no reason why.
(c) He states anyone can write about anything if his approach is correct.
(d) He agrees with it and thinks scientists cannot write at all.

4. Writers should always look for ________________.
(a) Making places more accessible to other people.
(b) The unique aspects of a place.
(c) People to tell them about a place so they don't have to actually go anywhere.
(d) Things that relate places to another.

5. What problem does a scientist have when writing about science?
(a) He or she forgets to be human, and writes strictly about the science.
(b) Using jargon that only scientists can understand.
(c) Not following basic grammar rules.
(d) Formatting simple sentences.

6. What occurs when business writing is bad?
(a) Investors will agree to terms they do not understand.
(b) People will get fired for bad writing.
(c) Executives get fired for pawning off simple writing tasks.
(d) Customers will go elsewhere to buy their goods and services.

7. What did his parents teach him that made him a fantastic writer?
(a) His mother instilled in him a love and respect for good writing, and his father taught him to have a strong work ethic.
(b) HIs father took him to a field trip to a newspaper office.
(c) His mother was a writer and went to career day at his school.
(d) His mother taught him to spell, and his father taught him to write.

8. What is a major problem of business writing?
(a) Using long sentences.
(b) Not using proper wording to appeal to the business world.
(c) Using jargon that only other business people can understand.
(d) Using graphs and not labeling them.

9. What advice does Zinsser have for all writers?
(a) To write as much as they can and become a content mill.
(b) To never give up in the face of adversity.
(c) To write the best they can and defend their writing.
(d) To challenge their editors occasionally.

10. What does Zinsser make sure his paragraphs do?
(a) He makes sure each paragraph draws the reader onward through the entire story.
(b) He makes sure they all flow and summarize themselves at the end.
(c) He makes sure that the last paragraph references all the paragraphs before it.
(d) He proofreads and makes sure the right punctuation is used throughout.

11. What is a good way to edit a long story?
(a) Take a break and read it with fresh eyes.
(b) Break it into sections to make it more manageable.
(c) Have someone else read it aloud.
(d) Read it backwards.

12. What did he love about the New York Herald?
(a) He appreciated the fair and balanced reporting.
(b) He loved that it always came to his doorstep as a child.
(c) He loved how opinionated all the columnists were.
(d) The style which incorporated warmth, humor and the master of the English language.

13. How does Zinsser end his travel article that he wrote about Timbuktu?
(a) He generalizes the story.
(b) He ends with a joke about how hot it was in the desert.
(c) He ends by telling the truth and stating how satisfied he was with his desert experience.
(d) He repeats his first sentence, throws in a stat about the country, and mentions eveyrone should visit at one point in their life.

14. Why do writers need to stick to rules?
(a) Writers need to stick to rules because readers expect them to.
(b) In order to get taken seriously and get picked up by an agent.
(c) To impress their teachers with their adherance to rules.
(d) To get a copy past their editors on time.

15. What freedom does he give his students?
(a) He doesn't give deadlines, the gives very little guidance, and just lets people write and turn in first drafts.
(b) The power to decide what to write about, what angle to take, what perspective, and what to cut out.
(c) He lets everyone out early on Fridays.
(d) He doesn't give freedom. He is very demanding of his students.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is a memoir?

2. Where is there an opportunity for great creative writing?

3. Why doesn't Zinsser teach people how to get published?

4. What does Zinsser throw away in his writing classes?

5. How are writers like painters?

(see the answer keys)

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