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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. According to "The Building Blocks of Arguments," what are the "grounds" of a argument?
(a) Explanations of the relationship between facts and claims.
(b) Factual data and evidence.
(c) The conclusions that an argument is based on.
(d) The backing of a rebuttal or qualification.

2. In Chapter 2, "The Ecology of the Nonfiction Biosphere," how does Foster define "specialty journalism"?
(a) The newspaper sports section.
(b) Editorial writing.
(c) Forms of journalism devoted to a single subject area.
(d) Feature writing.

3. In Chapter 1, "The Structure of Nonfiction Information," what does Foster mean when he uses the word "dichotomy"?
(a) A narrative told in the order in which events really happened.
(b) A division between opposite things.
(c) Something relatively unknown.
(d) The study of social policy.

4. In Chapter 7, "All in How You Look at Things," Whome does Foster say is "our greatest living thinker about writing nonfiction" (81)?
(a) Bob Woodward.
(b) John McPhee.
(c) Michael Pollan.
(d) Malcolm Gladwell.

5. In Chapter 3, "The Power of the Prologue," what does Foster give as the basic meaning of "preface," "prologue," and "foreward"?
(a) First word.
(b) In front.
(c) Ahead of.
(d) Leading.

6. In Chapter 4, "The Parts You Don't Read," what is a piece of information that Foster says we can infer from the notes?
(a) The intended audience.
(b) The author's purpose.
(c) Potential biases.
(d) The author's education.

7. In Chapter 6, "Source Code," what type of writing does Foster say relies heavily on eyewitness testimony?
(a) Journalism.
(b) Science.
(c) History.
(d) Op-eds.

8. In Chapter 5, "It May Just Be Me, But..." what does Foster say about offering a source the chance to correct themselves if they claim that they misspoke?
(a) This in unethical.
(b) This creates inaccuracies.
(c) This can make a story stronger.
(d) This is part of the fair treatment of sources.

9. In Chapter 3, "The Power of the Prologue," Foster uses the word "etymologically" to describe what?
(a) The origins of words.
(b) The definitions of words.
(c) The opposites of words.
(d) Similar sounding words.

10. Based on Chapter 2, "The Ecology of the Nonfiction Biosphere," how would Foster sum up the place of newspapers in today's world?
(a) In a connected world, newspapers are simply irrelevant.
(b) Because we have invested heavily in modern newspapers, they have grown in popularity.
(c) Print newspapers may be obsolete, but online newspapers serve the same purpose.
(d) Although they are losing popularity, they are still an essential form of news media.

11. In Chapter 2, "The Ecology of the Nonfiction Biosphere," what problem does Foster say can arise if readers do not understand the forms of writing?
(a) Readers may expect the wrong things from the form they are reading.
(b) Readers may have unreasonably high standards.
(c) Readers may misunderstand the purpose of the form they are reading.
(d) Readers may be disappointed by the content of their reading.

12. According to Chapter 4, "The Parts You Don't Read," what are the sidebar discussions found in the book's back matter called?
(a) The appendix.
(b) Content notes.
(c) Callouts.
(d) The index.

13. In Chapter 1, "The Structure of Nonfiction Information," Foster introduces the term "structural design," saying that it is similar to which term related to fiction?
(a) Storyboard.
(b) Narrative strategy.
(c) Plot structure.
(d) Story plan.

14. In Chapter 1, "The Structure of Nonfiction Information," what does Foster say is the purpose of the "four Ps?"
(a) To explain the structural design of the work.
(b) To fill the reader in on important context.
(c) To lay out the essentials of the work to follow.
(d) To establish the writer's credibility.

15. In Chapter 8, "Bringing the News," what reason does Foster give for journalists generally being proved correct despite public mistrust?
(a) Intelligence.
(b) Professionalism.
(c) Strategy.
(d) Stubbornness.

Short Answer Questions

1. In Chapter 8, "Bringing the News," Foster says that All the President's Men is sui generis. He is saying that this book is what?

2. In Chapter 7, "All in How You Look at Things," what is the purpose of Foster's discussion of structure in Coming into the Country?

3. In Chapter 4, "The Parts You Don't Read," what advice does Foster give about the copyright page?

4. In Chapter 6, "Source Code," which is the only type of nonfiction that Foster says doesn't need "rock-solid" sources (69)?

5. In Chapter 6, "Source Code," what does Foster say about the proliferation of online sources?

(see the answer keys)

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