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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. 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 writing process than the final product.
(c) They focus less on talent and more on getting good grades.
(d) They focus more on the final product than the writing process.

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

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

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

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

Short Answer Questions

1. Where does a writer need to start to get his or her voice discovered?

2. What does the process of memoir writing do for a writer?

3. What advice does Zinsser have for all writers?

4. What occurs when business writing is bad?

5. Should a writer use different voices for different types of writing?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is a strategy to making sure the above choices fit?

2. Explain some of the choices that writers have to take when editing?

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

4. Why are Americans scared to write about themselves?

5. Who does Zinsser blame when it comes to focusing on the final prize instead of the work of an article?

6. Does Zinsser think that scientists can write?

7. Should sports writers add their opinions in sports articles?

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

9. What tense do business writer stend to use that hurts their writing?

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

(see the answer keys)

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