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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Why should companies learn to produce better writing?
(a) To produce more writing jobs.
(b) To appeal to educators.
(c) To get more clients to understand their terms.
(d) In a capitalistic world, there is always competition and good writing reduces it.

2. Does Zinsser ever use humor in his writing?
(a) Sometimes, but only when he knows it will be perceived as funny.
(b) No, he is not a funny guy.
(c) Yes, he uses it to humanize his writing and add his own personal voice.
(d) Never, he is against humorous writing.

3. Do writers need to write all the time?
(a) No, if they are not in the mood, it will come out in their writing.
(b) No, writers should only write when they are in the zone.
(c) Yes, even if they have to force it out.
(d) Yes, because writers are always able to write.

4. Why do criticism writers have to be at a higher level than other writers?
(a) Only those able to understand the arts can write about them, and very little people can.
(b) Criticism need to be stronger at literary elements because they need to recreate a scene or a song in the imagination of their readers with words only.
(c) Criticism is harder to write about because it tends to be less attractive than other writing.
(d) Criticism writers are no different. They still need to use the same basic rules of writing.

5. Why is it important for writers to practice?
(a) In order to stay ahead of other writers that are also looking for jobs.
(b) In order to make daily word counts.
(c) Writing is a craft, much like dancing and painting. All three need to do their thing.
(d) Writers dont need to practice, they just need to write.

6. What should writers focus on the most?
(a) Their editors.
(b) The final product.
(c) The writing process.
(d) Their audience.

7. Why is jargon, or corporate speak, so prevalent in business writing?
(a) There is a lack of writing skills learned in college because all the focus is on business.
(b) It is the industry standard.
(c) It is prevalent because subordinates think that the executives want jargon-filled writing in order to sound more professional.
(d) People lose their ability to write when they take a job since they stop writing.

8. What is a second approach Zinsser recommends that complements the first approach mentioned?
(a) Going outside and finding out how a place impacts others.
(b) Writing only in the first person, then deciding on a tense later.
(c) Going within people's homes and seeing what they feel about foreigners.
(d) Never reading other travel pieces, because this adds to cliched writing.

9. His article was supposed to be about his impressions of salt caravans, why didn't he write more about this?
(a) He was bored with the caravans, and would have bored his readers since he cannot fake his voice.
(b) He wasn't paying attention to the salt caravans.
(c) He never saw the salt caravans, and this was the humor in his article.
(d) Salt caravans are general knowledge and he didn't want to sound cliche.

10. What happens when writers do not stick to proper grammar rules?
(a) It creates more bad writers.
(b) It makes readers believe that all writing is bad, and they won't ever read again.
(c) It distracts the readers and show conempt for the language.
(d) It makes readers mad.

11. Did Zinsser always want to write?
(a) He always wanted to write for a newspaper.
(b) Yes, ever since he was a little boy.
(c) No, it was a random interest.
(d) No, his love of writing came after being deployed.

12. Why doesn't Zinsser teach people how to get published?
(a) He wants people to learn that themselves as part of a growing experience.
(b) He does not want any competition.
(c) Because he doesn't really know what editors want.
(d) Because he doesn't know how to get people published.

13. Where does a writer need to start to get his or her voice discovered?
(a) Sign up for a talent search.
(b) Read stories aloud at poetry clubs or book clubs.
(c) A writer needs to emulate other writers and see how they utlilize their voices in their writing.
(d) Go to a literary agent and ask how to get their voice out.

14. What is the problem with freelance writers and editors today?
(a) Editors treat freelance writers like hired help.
(b) Writers are pushovers and let their work become ruined.
(c) Editors are not as good as writers.
(d) Writers never listen to their editors.

15. What does Zinsser make sure his paragraphs do?
(a) He makes sure they all flow and summarize themselves at the end.
(b) He makes sure each paragraph draws the reader onward through the entire story.
(c) He makes sure that the last paragraph references all the paragraphs before it.
(d) He proofreads and makes sure the right punctuation is used throughout.

Short Answer Questions

1. What do people need to understand about science?

2. Why do structured classes miss the point of teaching good writing?

3. Cliche words should be avoided at all costs. What else should be avoided?

4. What type of memoirs does Zinsser like reading?

5. What did his parents teach him that made him a fantastic writer?

(see the answer keys)

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