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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which genre does King feel Misery will belong to when he begins to write the story?
(a) A short story.
(b) A screenplay.
(c) A novel.
(d) A novella.

2. How does King paint the main character from The Dead Zone?
(a) He is too perfect.
(b) As a nice, normal boy who is flawed.
(c) He is evil but loving.
(d) He has his flaws and is thoroughly evil.

3. What are King's feelings on grammar study?
(a) Lengthy grammar study is unnecessary.
(b) Grammar should be studied at length.
(c) Grammar should be studied only through high school.
(d) Grammar should be learned intuitively.

4. Why does King emphasize the importance of reading?
(a) He feels that writers need to widen their horizons.
(b) He believes a writer learns his craft from reading.
(c) He wants writers to appreciate different styles of writing.
(d) He thinks that writers need to see what other writers are writing about.

5. What is a common characteristic of adverbs?
(a) Most adverbs end in -ed.
(b) Many adverbs end in -ly.
(c) Oftentimes adverbs end with -ier.
(d) Frequently adverbs end in -ness.

6. From whom does King's uncle inherit something?
(a) From his mother.
(b) From his grandfather.
(c) From his brother.
(d) From his father, King's grandfather.

7. What does King's uncle take with him when he works?
(a) Only a couple of his favorite tools.
(b) Usually his screwdriver, a hammer, a few nails and screws.
(c) His entire toolbox.
(d) The specific tools needed for the job.

8. Why does King feel that plotting out a novel is not wise?
(a) He likes for his story to develop, and then he tries to mold the plot when necessary.
(b) He believes it would be dishonest to the characters.
(c) He wants his characters to be free to act.
(d) He feels that the story creates the plot.

9. According to King, what is the best technique to use with description?
(a) Describe people completely, but scenes sparingly.
(b) Describes scenes completely.
(c) Try to describe fully without omitting key details.
(d) Use as little as possible.

10. What lesson does the experience with his uncle teach King?
(a) He learns to appreciate physical labor.
(b) He learns the importance of having the right tool for the job.
(c) He learns to have the toolbox handy and ready for odd jobs around the house.
(d) He always remembers the advice and learned to be prepared.

11. What kind of material should a writer read in order to learn the most from his reading?
(a) Poetry.
(b) Action drama.
(c) In the same genre that he writes.
(d) Bad prose.

12. In addition to comments on paragraphs, King mentions one other feature of the page. What is it?
(a) The amount of white space on a page.
(b) How one physical paragraph relates to the others.
(c) The borders of the page.
(d) How the type looks on the page.

13. What does King say about adverbs?
(a) To use colorful adverbs to make the writing more vivid.
(b) To limit their use.
(c) To use them to intensify meaning.
(d) To include them when characters are being emotional.

14. Why does King's uncle carry the whole toolbox with him?
(a) Because lifting it gives him a workout.
(b) Because he says a person could never be sure what tools he would need.
(c) Because he can't go back home between jobs.
(d) Because it is a habit.

15. According to King, what characteristic should a writer's space have?
(a) A quiet place with a radio and a computer.
(b) A simple place with little or no distractions.
(c) A calming venue with only a telephone and a computer.
(d) An office space with files, computer, printer, and a telephone.

Short Answer Questions

1. According to King, what characteristics should all characters possess?

2. What advice does King give on paragraphs?

3. What does King help his uncle fix as a child?

4. On certain occasions, King believes that grammar rules _________ .

5. How does King suggest writers improve their vocabulary?

(see the answer keys)

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