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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 a general rule for writing about sports?
(a) Using industry standards instead of creative terms when referencing sports topics.
(b) Writing only about one sports.
(c) Overeducating the reader about sports facts.
(d) Being as creative as possible to retain readership.

2. What happens when writers do not stick to proper grammar rules?
(a) It makes readers believe that all writing is bad, and they won't ever read again.
(b) It makes readers mad.
(c) It creates more bad writers.
(d) It distracts the readers and show conempt for the language.

3. 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 Evening News.
(d) The Today Show.

4. What is different about every writer's voice?
(a) The tenses taht a writer chooses.
(b) Everything. Every writer has a unique voice that needs to be discovered.
(c) The sounds of a writers voice when speaking.
(d) The characters that writers speak through.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. Why do structured classes miss the point of teaching good writing?

2. Do readers generally like knowing about athletes' personal lives?

3. What was the best advice Zinsser ever received about having opinions in writing?

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

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

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is there an attitude that certain people are only meant to learn certain subjects and skills like writing or science?

2. Why should exact details be avoided in memoirs? What approach should writers take instead?

3. Why do writers need to develop their own voice? How does writing compare to other art forms?

4. What needs to be described in a travel article?

5. Why is humor the most powerful tool for a nonfiction writer?

6. How does Zinsser feel about writing when a writer doesn't want to? Why do writers have this luxury?

7. Does he recommend this level of pride to other writers?

8. Why are Americans scared to write about themselves?

9. Why is bad to fall into cliches when travel writing?

10. Does Zinsser think that scientists can write?

(see the answer keys)

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