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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What are the two components of the original Roget's Thesaurus?
(a) A dictionary listing of words, and a numberd section with synonyms arranged in broad concepts.
(b) A dictionary of antonyms, and one of synonyms.
(c) Antonyms with very in depth definitions.
(d) A list of synonyms and their definitions with pictures on one side.

2. What is Zissner's point of view on the debate between literature and journalism?
(a) He agrees that literature is the only true form of good writing.
(b) He believes it doesn't matter, and that good writing is good writing.
(c) He wants to go back to the pre-WWII form of writing.
(d) He agrees that journalism is bad writing.

3. What period of writing constantly used semicolons?
(a) The 19th century.
(b) Only 18th century England.
(c) All modern writing uses semicolons constantly.
(d) The 17th century.

4. What does Zissner think of gimmicky writing?
(a) It is worth a try to sell a book or article.
(b) It never works.
(c) It is the secret to selling a book.
(d) It is what gets writers through the door.

5. What is one of Zissner's biggest pet peeves?
(a) When people leave the toilet seat up.
(b) When people dog ear the pages of a book.
(c) When people say they can write a book as if it is easy.
(d) When people write in their books.

6. How does a thesaurus help with brainstorming?
(a) The book gives a list of unrelated words that weeds out the bad choices.
(b) There are pictures of mindmaps within each thesaurus.
(c) The book provides brainstorming exercises.
(d) Looking up a word leads to a list of related words and gives overal word choices and concepts.

7. What is the main thing required to being a good writer?
(a) Hard work.
(b) Passion.
(c) Good editing.
(d) All answers are correct.

8. How many people are in the American Heritage Dictionary Usage Panel?
(a) 104 writers, poets, editors, and teachers.
(b) 10 writers.
(c) 14 writers and poets.
(d) 1000 writers, poets, and editors.

9. What method of writing does Zissner use?
(a) Bold paragraph approach.
(b) Cluster writing.
(c) Old Journalism.
(d) New Journalism.

10. Why does he recommend starting in the preferred tense?
(a) It creates a teacher student relationship.
(b) It makes it easier for people to relate to.
(c) It causes writer's to think about the reader.
(d) It brings out the natural voice.

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

12. What is the old view of nonfiction?
(a) That it is the best form of writing because it is factual and real.
(b) That it is all commentary that means nothing to anyone but the writer.
(c) That it is only journalism which isn't a respectable form of writing.
(d) That it is the only respectable form of writing.

13. When should a writer choose the point of view in a piece of writing?
(a) A writer should determine the point of view before writing a new piece.
(b) The point of view can be determined after the writer figures out who will be the main character.
(c) It doesn't matter when the point of view is established.
(d) THe point of view should be determined once the writing is finished and ready for editing.

14. A musician must practice scales, and a writer must practice ______________.
(a) The marketplace.
(b) Spelling.
(c) Sentences.
(d) Grammar.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. Does skipping grammar check save a writer time?

2. Why do Americans have trouble writing?

3. What does Zissner believe authors are fearful of in their writing?

4. Which is the simplest sentence?

5. What is one way of saving time?

(see the answer keys)

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