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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is the biggest fear that nonfiction writers have?
(a) Having their computer break, mid story, without having saved a word.
(b) Not being able to bring off an assignment and get it dont with any justice.
(c) Having people laugh at their article, that wasn't a humorous piece.
(d) Not being able to sell their story that they worked so hard on.

2. Do criticism writers need to take a stance on a show?
(a) Opinions should always be left out of writing.
(b) No, that should be left up to the audience.
(c) Absolutely. They have the power to make or break a show.
(d) Yes, but they should mind their wording to not offend those in the show.

3. What do writers focus on most?
(a) The final product.
(b) The writing process.
(c) Their editors.
(d) Their audience.

4. What is an example of American television shows that use humor to talk about serious issues?
(a) The View.
(b) Saturday Night Live.
(c) The Today Show.
(d) The Evening News.

5. Where did Zinsser learn how to write?
(a) He learned while he was deployed during WWII.
(b) He taught himself.
(c) From reading good books.
(d) From reading the New York Herald.

6. What does Zinsser think about writing memoirs?
(a) He thinks memoirs are tacky writers.
(b) He likes memoirs and reads them constantly.
(c) He is against memoirs and thinks writers should never write about themselves.
(d) He encourages them and wants writers to stop being afraid about writing about themselves.

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

8. Is there room for opinion when writing a sports article?
(a) There is always room for commentary.
(b) Yes. Readers trust sports writers to make sports predictions about their favorite teams.
(c) Absolutely not.
(d) Writers should limit commentary and stick to the stats.

9. Why should companies learn to produce better writing?
(a) To get more clients to understand their terms.
(b) To produce more writing jobs.
(c) In a capitalistic world, there is always competition and good writing reduces it.
(d) To appeal to educators.

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

11. Why do structured classes miss the point of teaching good writing?
(a) They focus more on talent and less on grades.
(b) They focus more on the final product than the writing process.
(c) They focus less on talent and more on getting good grades.
(d) They focus more on the writing process than the final product.

12. What type of memoirs does Zinsser like reading?
(a) He does not read memoirs.
(b) He likes reading memoirs about other writers and their experiences.
(c) He likes reading immigrant memoirs.
(d) He only reads novels.

13. Why is it important for writers to stick to industry standards?
(a) To sell magazines.
(b) Readers likely played the sport they are reading about and want to know what happened from a standard perspective.
(c) The industry wants everything to be the same so they can catalogue writing more easily.
(d) To be good writers, since the industry sets the standard.

14. How is humor used in writing nonfiction?
(a) It is never used. Nonfiction should always be serious.
(b) It is used to bring out points that cannot be made in a straight forward manner.
(c) It is used to practice jokes for stand up comedians.
(d) It is used to make fun of people without them every knowing.

15. Where does a writer need to start to get his or her voice discovered?
(a) A writer needs to emulate other writers and see how they utlilize their voices in their writing.
(b) Sign up for a talent search.
(c) Read stories aloud at poetry clubs or book clubs.
(d) Go to a literary agent and ask how to get their voice out.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is a major problem with humorous writing?

2. Why is it important for writers to practice?

3. What are Zinsser's four articles of faith to writing well?

4. What approach to a place should writers take?

5. What does the fear cause writers to do?

(see the answer keys)

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