View a FREE sample

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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How does Zinsser gain an edge over his competition?
(a) He holds tons of interviews before writing a word.
(b) He does extensive research and is always right.
(c) He writes in an entertaining way.
(d) It is just luck and a good voice.

2. Why do criticism writers have to be at a higher level than other writers?
(a) Criticism need to be stronger at literary elements because they need to recreate a scene or a song in the imagination of their readers with words only.
(b) Only those able to understand the arts can write about them, and very little people can.
(c) Criticism is harder to write about because it tends to be less attractive than other writing.
(d) Criticism writers are no different. They still need to use the same basic rules of writing.

3. What is a requirement for good literary criticism?
(a) Having a comparitive literature degress.
(b) Knowing the subject that the writer wants to write about.
(c) Subscribing to arts magazines.
(d) Frequenting the theatre often.

4. His article was supposed to be about his impressions of salt caravans, why didn't he write more about this?
(a) He never saw the salt caravans, and this was the humor in his article.
(b) He wasn't paying attention to the salt caravans.
(c) He was bored with the caravans, and would have bored his readers since he cannot fake his voice.
(d) Salt caravans are general knowledge and he didn't want to sound cliche.

5. How are writers like painters?
(a) Writers and painters will destory their work if it is not to their expectations.
(b) They both have the freedom of creativity with no rules that bind them.
(c) Painters start with models and then learn to create in they own way. Writers use formulas then find their own voice.
(d) Writing isn't like painting at all. Neither has anything in common with the other.

6. Why doesn't Zinsser teach people how to get published?
(a) Because he doesn't really know what editors want.
(b) He wants people to learn that themselves as part of a growing experience.
(c) He does not want any competition.
(d) Because he doesn't know how to get people published.

7. What is the problem with freelance writers and editors today?
(a) Editors treat freelance writers like hired help.
(b) Writers never listen to their editors.
(c) Editors are not as good as writers.
(d) Writers are pushovers and let their work become ruined.

8. What is the best way to learn to write with humor?
(a) Hang out with funny people.
(b) Go to comedy shows.
(c) Read other humorous writing and emulate those styles.
(d) Practice saying funny things aloud to friends and family.

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

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

11. What is the best way to add humor into writing?
(a) Adding asterisks to funny lines.
(b) Making all funny lines italicized.
(c) Making a funny sentence sneak up on a reader to get an unexpected laugh.
(d) Making seperate paragraphs that only have the funny line in them.

12. What does Zinsser throw away in his writing classes?
(a) Books.
(b) Story webs.
(c) Deadlines.
(d) Story prompts.

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

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

15. Where is there an opportunity for great creative writing?
(a) LIterary journals.
(b) Writing for the arts is the best opportunity to write creatively.
(c) At the local library.
(d) Online at freelance job web sites.

Short Answer Questions

1. What advice does Zinsser give to employees who want to change business writing?

2. Did Zinsser always want to write?

3. Why is it so hard to write about places?

4. What is a misconception about writers and scientists?

5. What is the biggest fear that nonfiction writers have?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 919 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample