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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What happens with the electromagnet experiment?
(a) It darkens his entire apartment building.
(b) It shocks Stephen and Dave King, and sends them to the hospital.
(c) It is too big and blows out a neighborhood transformer.
(d) It burns up their house.

2. Whom does King meet while in college?
(a) His future agent.
(b) His writing mentor.
(c) His future wife.
(d) His future publisher.

3. Why does King throw the story Carrie in the trash can?
(a) Because he feels he doesn't know enough about the events that went on in a girl's locker room.
(b) Because his wife hates the story.
(c) Because he is too busy to continue.
(d) Because he doesn't like the main character Carrie.

4. The image in the second chapter is King's way of demonstrating to the readers his idea of _____.
(a) How to entice a reader to read more.
(b) What writing is.
(c) The use of description to fully set up a scene.
(d) The importance of the reader's creativity.

5. What does King remember about his childhood with his brother Dave?
(a) Always being in trouble.
(b) Their pets.
(c) How his brother hit him.
(d) Many adventures.

6. How can the book, On Writing, be described?
(a) A masterpiece.
(b) A poorly conceived hack job.
(c) Clever, formulistic, but inspiring.
(d) Poignant, educated and inspiring.

7. What is the unusual item attached to the animal?
(a) An eye.
(b) A letter.
(c) A number.
(d) A Chinese symbol.

8. What is a major theme in the second chapter of King's book?
(a) The importance of studying grammar and vocabulary.
(b) Reasons or motivations for writing.
(c) The writer's life.
(d) The necessity of studying other authors.

9. Why does it prove valuable to King to work for a local newspaper?
(a) Because the job with the paper earns King a lot of money.
(b) Because the editor keeps him so busy he didn't have time to get into trouble.
(c) Because he wins a national sports writing contest while there.
(d) Because the editor teaches King how to edit his work.

10. Why does King miss his first year of school?
(a) Because he moves too many times.
(b) Because of his father.
(c) Because of chronic ear and throat infections.
(d) Because his mother homeschools him.

11. .What is the first specific item King states his book on writing will NOT be about?
(a) Theme and plot.
(b) Symbolism.
(c) Writing mechanics.
(d) Writing exercises.

12. King's early addiction soon added another one. What is it?
(a) Over the counter pain-killers.
(b) Cocaine.
(c) Marijuana.
(d) Heroin.

13. Why does King describe the image in the second chapter the way he does?
(a) So that the reader creates an image different from the one King describes.
(b) To allow the reader to see the image in their own way.
(c) King wants to trick the reader into seeing a different image.
(d) King believes the reader will see the image as he does anyway.

14. What kind of a book is On Writing?
(a) A novel.
(b) Part biography and part how-to.
(c) A book on writing a biography.
(d) A book on writing.

15. Where does King get a job to help pay for college?
(a) At Massachusetts Mills and Dye Co.
(b) At West Point Peppermill Mfg Co.
(c) At Canon Mills and Mfg. Co.
(d) At Worumbo Mills and Weaving.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does his writing help King financially?

2. Of the two reasons King gives for why people write, which one does he support?

3. What does King suggest that readers who do not take writing seriously do?

4. What is one reason for reading the book, On Writing?

5. What is King's overall opinion on writing as a profession?

(see the answer keys)

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