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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How does his writing help King financially?
(a) King's stories never made much, but every little bit helped.
(b) Often his stories would sell when they were in serious financial trouble.
(c) King's writing was a steady, but small source of income.
(d) King's writing didn't really help financially.

2. What does King do while editor of his school paper?
(a) He writes a satirical version of the paper.
(b) He creates one of the best versions of the paper ever.
(c) He copies other people's stories and publishes them.
(d) He wins a national contest for the paper.

3. The change that King made in his writing life after his wife's intervention is seen by King as a symbol. What does this symbol represent?
(a) A change to a deeper kind of symbolism in his writing.
(b) A change in the priorities of his life.
(c) A change in his writing style.
(d) A change in the meaning of his writing.

4. When does King begin to submit stories to magazines?
(a) While in junior high school.
(b) While in high school.
(c) While in college.
(d) While in elementary school.

5. In the chapter, C.V., King touches on the theme of the book. What is this theme?
(a) Writing as life support.
(b) Writing for money.
(c) Writing as a career.
(d) Writing as magic.

6. What is King's overall opinion on details in writing?
(a) Supply all major details, but let the reader fill in the minor ones.
(b) Only supply the minimum.
(c) Supply those the reader would never get on his own.
(d) Supply key details and a couple of minor ones for color.

7. Of the two reasons King gives for why people write, which one does he support?
(a) Writing for fame.
(b) Writing as a hobby.
(c) Writing as a passion.
(d) Writing for money.

8. What is King's overall opinion on writing as a profession?
(a) It is serious and straightforward.
(b) It is didactic.
(c) It is humorous.
(d) It is frivolous.

9. In the chapter, C.V., King makes a discovery about writing. What is this discovery?
(a) He discovers that writing is an obsession.
(b) He discovers that writing controls his life.
(c) He discovers that his writing is not very good.
(d) He discovers that writing was something he likes to do.

10. If a reader does not see an image the same way as the writer, how has the image changed?
(a) The image becomes more elaborated.
(b) The image doesn't change. It is the same image.
(c) The creative process changes the image to fit the story.
(d) As the reader reads about it, the details change.

11. What does one of King's babysitters do to him?
(a) Tortures King with a belt.
(b) Feeds him too many eggs and then locks him in a closet.
(c) Mistreats him and complains to his mother about his behavior.
(d) Forces him to stay in his room all day.

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

13. What is the first thing King requests in the second chapter that his readers accept about writing?
(a) Writing is creative.
(b) Writing is an exercise.
(c) Writing is a way to build on your senses.
(d) Writing is magic.

14. What is the location of the first item mentioned in the image?
(a) On the floor.
(b) In a chair.
(c) Over a counter.
(d) On a table.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. How does King's mother die?

2. What does King remember about his childhood with his brother Dave?

3. How does King describe the image discussed in chapter two?

4. Where does King discover horror stories?

5. The image in the second chapter is King's way of demonstrating to the readers his idea of _____.

(see the answer keys)

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