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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 did his parents teach him that made him a fantastic writer?
(a) His mother taught him to spell, and his father taught him to write.
(b) His mother instilled in him a love and respect for good writing, and his father taught him to have a strong work ethic.
(c) His mother was a writer and went to career day at his school.
(d) HIs father took him to a field trip to a newspaper office.

2. Does Zinsser ever use humor in his writing?
(a) Yes, he uses it to humanize his writing and add his own personal voice.
(b) Never, he is against humorous writing.
(c) Sometimes, but only when he knows it will be perceived as funny.
(d) No, he is not a funny guy.

3. What does Zinsser make sure his paragraphs do?
(a) He proofreads and makes sure the right punctuation is used throughout.
(b) He makes sure each paragraph draws the reader onward through the entire story.
(c) He makes sure that the last paragraph references all the paragraphs before it.
(d) He makes sure they all flow and summarize themselves at the end.

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

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What do people forget about writing?

2. What is the advantage of a writer writing his or her own memoir?

3. How does Zinsser gain an edge over his competition?

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

5. What are Zinsser's four articles of faith to writing well?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. How is taste involved in writing?

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

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

6. Why are Americans scared to write about themselves?

7. What are some of the hardest parts of writing about performances?

8. Why does a writer's fear of new subjects keep him from taking original and interesting projects?

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

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

(see the answer keys)

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