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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Part IV: Chapter 20 The Sound of Your Voice.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is a strange but effective way of proofreading to check for errors?
(a) Reading through a window.
(b) Reading under a blacklight.
(c) Reading a piece backwards.
(d) Reading a story upside down.

2. What is an example of a dead language?
(a) Spanish because its roots are disintegrating.
(b) Latin is dead because nobody speaks it anymore.
(c) Italian because there is only one country that speaks it.
(d) Chinese because it never changes.

3. What is the main attitude that writers have today?
(a) To write literature, the way it was defined before WWII.
(b) To be published in the New Yorker.
(c) To write well, regardless of whether it is fiction or nonfiction.
(d) To write modern literature and be the next best author.

4. What are Zinsser's four articles of faith to writing well?
(a) Clarity, simplicity, elasticity and minimalism.
(b) Brevity, quick turnaround, clever sentences and little humanity.
(c) Clarity, simplicity, brevity and humanity.
(d) Simplicity, brevity, busy sentences and proper grammer.

5. What is another important characteristic of a writer?
(a) To sound out simple sentences.
(b) To sound out simple syllables.
(c) To be aware of the rhythm and sound of words together.
(d) To be aware of the way words are spelled.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does the etymology of words mean?

2. Why is the English language so easy to use when writing?

3. What is the danger of overusing humor in writing?

4. What is the main thing required to being a good writer?

5. What type of memoirs does Zinsser like reading?

(see the answer key)

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