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

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

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. Is there room for opinion when writing a sports article?
(a) Absolutely not.
(b) Writers should limit commentary and stick to the stats.
(c) Yes. Readers trust sports writers to make sports predictions about their favorite teams.
(d) There is always room for commentary.

5. Did Zinsser always want to write?
(a) No, his love of writing came after being deployed.
(b) Yes, ever since he was a little boy.
(c) No, it was a random interest.
(d) He always wanted to write for a newspaper.

Short Answer Questions

1. What do people need to understand about science?

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

3. Why is it important for writers to practice?

4. What is a second approach Zinsser recommends that complements the first approach mentioned?

5. What did he love about the New York Herald?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is taste involved in writing?

2. Does Zinsser think that scientists can write?

3. What is a good way to learn how to write with humor? How much humor should be used?

4. How does Zinsser react when editors want to change too much of his work?

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

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

7. Why is corporate speak the norm in business writing?

8. Why should writers forget about the final product when they are writing?

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

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

(see the answer keys)

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