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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. Why does the doctor write?
(a) He writes for fun.
(b) He is writing a book.
(c) He writes to make extra money.
(d) He writes because he hates being a surgeon.

2. What does reading aloud do for the writer?
(a) It is a therapeutic process signifying the end of a story.
(b) Catches simple mistakes and clumsy constructions.
(c) It helps the writer compare their work to others.
(d) It allows writers to understand their own writing.

3. What was the best advice Zinsser ever received about having opinions in writing?
(a) To always second guess an argument and make a pro and con list.
(b) Take a stand and stick to it. One should never "go peeing down both legs."
(c) To never second guess a story.
(d) It was to argue both sides of a story.

4. What problem does a scientist have when writing about science?
(a) Not following basic grammar rules.
(b) Using jargon that only scientists can understand.
(c) He or she forgets to be human, and writes strictly about the science.
(d) Formatting simple sentences.

5. Why is the above a problem?
(a) Writers end up editing too much.
(b) Writers need to start at the end and work their way up.
(c) Writers don't put enough effort into their writing.
(d) Usually the first two or three paragraphs of a piece can be cut.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the purpose of colons?

2. Why do writers need to stick to rules?

3. What period of writing constantly used semicolons?

4. Where should the writer find his or her words?

5. Why is it so hard to write about places?

(see the answer key)

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