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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

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

2. What are two tools every writer should use?
(a) Thesaraus and dictionary.
(b) Thesaraus and grammar check.
(c) Spell check and grammar check.
(d) Spell check and dictionary.

3. Why does Zissner advise his clients to worry about the marketplace last?
(a) Because the marketplace always needs books and will take anything.
(b) Because the marketplace never changes.
(c) Because nobody knows what is going to sell.
(d) Writing a good piece for the marketplace is easy when they know what sells.

4. How many people are in the American Heritage Dictionary Usage Panel?
(a) 14 writers and poets.
(b) 1000 writers, poets, and editors.
(c) 104 writers, poets, editors, and teachers.
(d) 10 writers.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does he recommend starting in the preferred tense?

2. What is one of Zissner's biggest pet peeves?

3. Does Zissner believe in the journalism model for good writing?

4. Why do Americans have trouble writing?

5. Why is consistency in verb tense so important?

Short Essay Questions

1. What political period was the worst as far as bad writing?

2. What skills does an interviewer need to possess?

3. Why are rhythm and sound important in writing? What should writers do to improve this aspect of their writing?

4. When is it acceptable for a new word to enter the English languages American Heritage Dictionary? Can you give an example?

5. What happens to the reader when he or she reads cluttered writing?

6. Do gimmicks usually work in good writing?

7. In what point of view should a writer start writing? Why?

8. Why are interviews so important to an article?

9. Why does Zinsser avoid using journalism as a model for good writers?

10. What is the major problem with American writing in terms of simplicity?

(see the answer keys)

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