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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

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

2. Do criticism writers need to take a stance on a show?
(a) No, that should be left up to the audience.
(b) Yes, but they should mind their wording to not offend those in the show.
(c) Absolutely. They have the power to make or break a show.
(d) Opinions should always be left out of writing.

3. Why do criticism writers have to be at a higher level than other writers?
(a) Criticism writers are no different. They still need to use the same basic rules of writing.
(b) Only those able to understand the arts can write about them, and very little people can.
(c) 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.
(d) Criticism is harder to write about because it tends to be less attractive than other writing.

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

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What type of memoirs does Zinsser like reading?

2. What do writers focus on most?

3. What do sports writers forget to do when writing about sports for so long?

4. What problem does a scientist have when writing about science?

5. What is the biggest fear that nonfiction writers have?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Zinsser react when editors want to change too much of his work?

2. Why do writers need to develop their own voice? How does writing compare to other art forms?

3. Why should exact details be avoided in memoirs? What approach should writers take instead?

4. What needs to be described in a travel article?

5. What is a good way to learn how to write with humor? How much humor should be used?

6. Why is there an attitude that certain people are only meant to learn certain subjects and skills like writing or science?

7. Why do critics need to be well versed in the art they are writing about?

8. Does Zinsser think that scientists can write?

9. Why should writers forget about the final product when they are writing?

10. Who does Zinsser blame when it comes to focusing on the final prize instead of the work of an article?

(see the answer keys)

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