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

Multiple Choice Questions

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

2. Does ZInsser give in to his editor's changes?
(a) Sometimes, only when they are worth it.
(b) No, and he never gives in.
(c) No. He tends to fight them constantly.
(d) Yes, they are the editors after all.

3. What should writers focus on when writing travel pieces?
(a) Style and substance.
(b) Substance and exaggerating adjectives.
(c) Information and substance.
(d) Style and sentence structure.

4. What is the biggest fear that nonfiction writers have?
(a) Not being able to bring off an assignment and get it dont with any justice.
(b) Having their computer break, mid story, without having saved a word.
(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.

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

6. Cliche words should be avoided at all costs. What else should be avoided?
(a) Not describing a place enough.
(b) Overly describing a single place.
(c) Cliched details.
(d) Assuming the writer has already been to a place.

7. What do people need to understand about science?
(a) It is a foundation that needs to be built upon.
(b) Only nerds can learn it.
(c) It can be learned at any point in life.
(d) It is easy to understand if given the chance.

8. What is a major problem with humorous writing?
(a) It can never be taken seriously.
(b) It gets dated, and what is funny in 1980 will not be funny in 2080.
(c) It is too hard to be funny in writing and takes a gifted person.
(d) Sarcasm does not come out in writing.

9. 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) He doesn't give deadlines, the gives very little guidance, and just lets people write and turn in first drafts.
(d) The power to decide what to write about, what angle to take, what perspective, and what to cut out.

10. Why do criticism writers have to be at a higher level than other writers?
(a) Only those able to understand the arts can write about them, and very little people can.
(b) Criticism writers are no different. They still need to use the same basic rules of writing.
(c) 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.
(d) Criticism is harder to write about because it tends to be less attractive than other writing.

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

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

13. What advice does Zinsser give to employees who want to change business writing?
(a) Write the way they want regardless of what their bosses say.
(b) Complain to HR.
(c) Keep trying to change it and make it better.
(d) Take their concerns to the board.

14. How much information should a writer provide to his or her readers?
(a) Very little. Readers need to be left in the dark so they can go see a show on their own.
(b) Everything about the show that he or she felt was worthwhile.
(c) Enought to make a show worth seeing, without spoiling it for the readers and viewers.
(d) Only dates and times of the show with a thumbs up or down.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What type of memoirs does Zinsser like reading?

2. Is sports writing different from any other form of good writing?

3. What is the best way to add humor into writing?

4. Did Zinsser always want to write?

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

(see the answer keys)

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