Article Writing Test 2015

1. The words 'and' and 'but' are examples of what?

Answers:

• Verbs

• Nouns

• Adverbs

• Conjunctions

2. An article that's intended to convince a reader to believe in your conclusion can be called what?

Answers:

• An argument

• A definition

• An interview

• An explanation

3. When writing an article, what must you NEVER do?

Answers:

• (All of these)

• Miss a deadline

• Proofread

• Copy with attribution

• Rewrite your article

4. Creating an outline is a good way to organize your ideas and research. True or false?

Answers:

• True

• False

5. Where should the most important part of a news story be?

Answers:

• Wherever it chronologically comes in telling the story.

• At the end.

• At the beginning.

• It depends on the news story.

6. choose the correct meaning of the word censor

Answers:

• to make certain that something will happen

• an official body that bans parts of a book or film

• to criticize strongly

7. True or false? You can never know who’s actually going to read your article, so you shouldn’t focus greatly on your audience when writing.

Answers:

• False

• True

8. True or False? You can quote “real people” as well as experts.

Answers:

• True

• False

9. Articles should be ____________.

Answers:

• grammatically correct

• unique

• both grammatically correct and unique

• any one

10. As the article writer, it's not really your job to edit or proofread. True or False?

Answers:

• True

• False

11. Which is the correct use of "whom"?

Answers:

• Whom has the right answer?

• Whom will be the one to rescue the princess?

• Whom is going to the party with her?

• Whom are you referring to?

12. Before interviewing someone for an article, prepare a list of questions but don't be afraid to simply "go with the flow" of the conversation. True or False?

Answers:

• False

• True

13. Which of the following is a benefit of including a story in your article?

Answers:

• Stories keep readers interested if your subject matter is advanced or technical.

• Stories help you fill space if you're having trouble reaching the word limit.

• Stories engage the reader by giving them an example of how the topic applies in real life.

• Stories don't have to be true, so they're easy to come up with.

14. Before submitting an article for a particular publication, you should first check the publisher’s style guide. True or false?

Answers:

• False

• True

15. choose the correct statement

Answers:

• my fathers mother is my grandmother.

• My father's mother is my grandmother.

• my father's mother is my grandmother.

• My farther's mother, is my grandmother

16. What information is commonly included in an article's byline?

Answers:

• The author's name and position

• The location of the events in the article

• The date of publication

• The section editor

17. Which is the proper use of "affect" and "effect"?

Answers:

• I didn't know how strongly my actions would effect others.

• How will this affect me?

• Your effection for me is overwheming.

• The affects of the pill are very strong.

18. Which is the correct use of "whose"?

Answers:

• Whose mitt is this?

• Whose Who? I can't tell.

• Whose on first?

• Whose ready to go to the baseball game?

19. Which of the following are advantages of the "inverted pyramid" style?

Answers:

• (all of these)

• Presents the most important facts quickly to busy readers.

• Allows the story to be easily edited for length by trimming the bottom.

• Lets the headline writer understand the story quickly.

20. Which of the following does NOT make for a good lead?

Answers:

• Specificity

• Passive voice

• Conflict

• Brevity

21. What is "the gutter"?

Answers:

• The space off the page to the right.

• The space off the page to the left.

• The top drawer of the editor's desk.

• The space between margins across facing pages.

22. What do you NOT normally do when querying an editor?

Answers:

• Submit your article on spec

• Familiarize yourself with the publication

• Pick the angle of your topic

• Conduct preliminary research

23. Which is the correct use of a semicolon?

Answers:

• She is survived by a daughter, Ariel, of New Jersey; a son, Eric, of North Carolina; and a cousin, Sebastian, of Florida.

• Why are you never on time; can't you do it just once?

• Redwoods, oaks, and pine trees all grow in the forest; along with tulips.

• "Hey;" she called,"Why won't you talk to me?"

24. Using the SVO (subject, verb, object) format in article does what?

Answers:

• Tends to bore readers and should be avoided.

• Ensures that your writing is grammatically sound

• Ensures that your sentences are constructed in passive voice.

• Keeps your writing tight and concise

25. Where do you place additional information in a general interest article?

Answers:

• Sidebars

• Endnotes

• Pull quotes

• Secondary articles

26. What are the explanations under photos called in an article?

Answers:

• trimlines

• Taglines

• photo explanations

• Piclines

• Cutlines

27. True or False: When referring to other magazine and newspaper article, you should place their titles in quotation marks.

Answers:

• False

• True

28. When should you use an ellipse?

Answers:

• When you're quoting material and you want to omit some words.

• To substitute a period.

• When you mean "to be continued."

• As a substitute for "so" at the end of a sentence.

29. Which should you strictly limit?

Answers:

• Semi colons—most people don’t know how to use them

• Exclamation marks—it’s like laughing at your own jokes

• Italics—they're hard to read

30. Why is a newspaper more likely to be sued for libel than for slander?

Answers:

• Libel applies to the written word, while slander is spoken.

• Libel is better defined in US case law.

• Slander is no longer illegal in the US.

• A newspaper is equally likely to be sued for slander.

31. Which of the following is grammatically correct?

Answers:

• The school has less teachers than schools in surrounding districts.

• The school has lesser teachers than schools in surrounding districts.

• The school has fewer teachers than schools in surrounding districts.

• The school has more fewer teachers than schools in surrounding districts.

32. How can you bring life to your writing?

Answers:

• Paint pictures

• Tell stories

• Involve as many senses as possible

• All of these

33. How long should an article length be?

Answers:

• 500 characters

• 500 words

• It's dependent on the article's context and writer

34. How can you tighten your articles?

Answers:

• (All of these)

• Shorten long sentences

• Remove redundant words and phrases

• Remove qualifying words and phrases

35. If the publisher's guidelines limit you to 500 words, you should:

Answers:

• Stick precisely to that guideline

• Write around 350 words so the editor can add things you forgot

• Don't worry about the guideline. It's more of a suggestion.

• Write at least 750 words so the editor can pare it down

36. Which one is the long part of an article?

Answers:

• Description

• All of the above

• Conclusion

• Introduction

37. In journalism, a "source" is:

Answers:

• A specific person.

• A public figure.

• All of these

• An anonymous person.

38. What type of article focuses on people and their achievements?

Answers:

• Service

• Manuscript

• Profile

• Ghostwritten

39. If you’re considering adding humor to your article, always remember:

Answers:

• Don't be afraid to be offensive, controversy will stir up interest in your writing

• Humor can be culturally dependent, so be cautious when using it.

• Humor can hurt your credibility, so you should avoid it.

• Everyone loves to laugh, so add humor whenever possible.

40. Which of the following would be the biggest negative to have in an article?

Answers:

• using lots of big words

• over-use of adjectives

• spelling and grammar mistakes

• cliche words and phrases

41. Which of the following is true when it comes to writing articles on common topics?

Answers:

• You don’t need a unique viewpoint, you just need to be a better writer.

• You should find something new to say or look for a fresh angle.

• You can skip doing your own research and just learn from what’s already been written

• If the topic is too common, discard it and find another one.

42. How are most articles structured?

Answers:

• Introduction, argument, conclusion

• Introduction, anecdote, conclusion

• Introduction, body, argument

• Introduction, body, conclusion

43. A news article is meant to convey facts, so  your writing should be:

Answers:

• Wordy

• Sophisticated

• Funny

• Objective

44. Which one is the format of MS word document?

Answers:

• .msd

• .doc

• .msdoc

• .xdoc

• .slx

45. Which uses the proper form of "you're" and "your"?

Answers:

• Your really pretty.

• Your the one who doesn't know the difference between "your" and "you're."

• You're the one who doesn't know the difference between "your" and "you're."

• You're fly is down.

46. How can you strengthen your writing?

Answers:

• Turn comma splices into separate sentences

• All of these

• Cut excessive use of "of"

• Shorten long clauses

47. Plagiarism occurs when you:

Answers:

• Use only government sources.

• Take a photograph without asking.

• Use another person's work as if it was yours.

• Quote someone incorrectly.

48. What’s the best long-term strategy to improve your writing?

Answers:

• Read more

• Take regular breaks

• Read more and write more

• Write more

49. Which sentence is correct?

Answers:

• Once Karen loses 10 pounds, her pants will be loose.

• Once Karen looses 10 pounds her pants will be lose.

50. "I" is ___________ person

Answers:

• 3rd

• 1st

• 2nd

51. Which of the following is true about conducting online research for your article?

Answers:

• Anyone can post anything online, so you should only use printed sources.

• The availability of information online has made other forms of research unnecessary.

• Depending on the subject matter, you might be able to do all your research online.

• You must be extra attentive to the reliability of the source.

52. What is the most neutral way to end a quotation?

Answers:

• "...he insisted."

• "...he argued."

• "...he said."

• "...he noted."

53. I will be looking forward to--

Answers:

• hear from you.

• hearing from you.

• hearding you.

• heard that.

54. If after completing an article, you still haven't met the word count, what is the best thing to do?

Answers:

• Elaborate a few key points

• Add quotations

• Write a filler paragraph repeating what you've already written, in different words

• Add adjectives before every noun

55. What is an “anonoblog”?

Answers:

• A blog about people who used to be famous

• All of the above

• A general blog with multiple authors

• A blog written and maintained by an anonymous author, often under a pseudonym or pen name

56. The classic "inverted pyramid" approach to writing a news article means what?

Answers:

• Drawing the reader in by teasing out details throughout the article.

• Including as many details as possible in the first three paragraphs.

• The most important information appears at the top of the story with additional details appearing in lower paragraphs.

• Balancing essential information with supporting details throughout the article.

57. Which of the following options is correct?

Answers:

• Peanut Butter tastes better on apples then bananas.

• Apples are healthier for you then bananas.

• I used to like bananas, than I decided I like apples better.

• I like apples better than bananas.

58. Which of the following is the proper use of the hyphen?

Answers:

• 20 year-sentence

• 20-year sentence

• 20-year-sentence

• well known-student

59. e.g. means ______ and i.e. means ________.

Answers:

• in other words; in other words

• in other words; for example

• for example; in other words

• for example; for example

60. The continuation of a story from one page to another is called a:

Answers:

• Bookmark

• Fold

• Jump

• Lead

61. What voice is commonly used in general-interest articles?

Answers:

• Active

• Terse

• Passive

62. How does a quote differ from an attribution?

Answers:

• Quotes and attributions are the same.

• An attribution is only used for photographs.

• A quote reproduces the precise words of a subject; an attribution tells a reader where information came from.

• A quote can be anonymous; an attribution is always from a named source.

63. What's the best way to handle verb tense within a paragraph?

Answers:

• Never change tenses

• Same tense unless there's a reason to change tenses

• You can switch tenses at will

64. What is the difference between "further" and "farther"?

Answers:

• Farther is incorrect grammar. Further is always correct.

• Further is an extension of time or degree. Farther refers to physical distance.

• Further refers to physical distance. Farther is an extension of time or degree.

• Further is incorrect grammer. Farther is always correct.

65. What is a "pull quote"?

Answers:

• A quote pulled from a source during an interview

• A quote pulled from government statistics

• A prominently displayed quote that is pulled from the article

66. How can you use an inarticulate quote that contains good information?

Answers:

• Use it exactly as quoted

• There’s no way to use it

• Clean it up and use it as a quote

• Paraphrase it as an indirect quote

67. Which of the following sources would be considered the LEAST credible by current academic standards?

Answers:

• Scholarly articles

• Research results

• Sites like JSTOR

• Wikipedia

68. Select the correct sentence.

Answers:

• I use my left hand most frequently, so I refer to myself as left handed.

• I use my left-hand most frequently, so I refer to myself as left handed.

• I use my left-hand most frequently, so I refer to myself as left-handed.

• I use my left hand most frequently, so I refer to myself as left-handed.

69. After the first use, how do you refer to a source?

Answers:

• Last name

• First and last name

• First name

70. What person is "you"?

Answers:

• Second

• Third

• First

71. Once you've selected a topic for your article, it's important that you:

Answers:

• Stay on topic and don't let your writing stray

• Find a way to include a personal anecdote related to the topic

• Explore as many avenues as possible within that topic

• Feel free to to expand the topic if it seems more interesting

72. Which statement is in passive voice?

Answers:

• He would not stand up for himself.

• No good seats were available.

• The last good seat was taken by the friend.

• She would not save a seat.

73. The particular way in which a writer has approached a topic is known as what?

Answers:

• Style

• Angle

• Opinion

• Structure

74. Which word is spelled incorrectly?

Answers:

• forfit

• accommodate

• embarrass

• chauffeur

75. Which of the following is grammatically correct?

Answers:

• The pouring rain didn't faze the marathon runners.

• The pouring rain didn't phase the marathon runners.

• The pouring rain didn't phrase the marathon runners.

• The pouring rain didn't fays the marathon runners

76. What is a “nut graph”?

Answers:

• Part of an article that's meant to be funny or "nutty"

• A paragraph in which the main points of a story are summarized.

• An illustration used to convey facts in the form of a graph

77. If a paper is "put to bed," it means:

Answers:

• Every copy of a particular issue was sold.

• The pages are all complete and headed to the printer.

• The newspaper's edition has been canceled by the editor.

• The paper has been bought out by another company.

78. When a story "jumps," that means it:

Answers:

• Captures the reader's attention.

• Continues on another page.

• Continues in a different edition.

• Is picked up by the wire services.

79. When would you use Roman numerals?

Answers:

• All of these

• Sequence for people

• Wars

• Sequence for animals

80. A sidebar story:

Answers:

• Runs as opposition to an opinion piece.

• Wraps around a feature photograph.

• Is only printed in a narrow column.

• Supports or makes more clear a larger story.

81. What is a deck?

Answers:

• Text pulled from the article that appears in a large font

• Biographical information at the end of the article

• A short, one or two line summary that expounds on the headline

• The same thing as a conclusion

82. What's a lead?

Answers:

• An exclusive interview

• The first paragraph of your article or news story.

• The concluding paragraph of your article

• Lead is another name for source.

83. Which of the following is an example of a features article?

Answers:

• A fact-based accounting of a recent crime

• A fictional short story

• A profile of a local musician

• An editorial on changes to a county ordinance

84. Which of the following is the defining characteristic of a "feature" story?

Answers:

• Will be placed prominently on the front page.

• Is broken up into several sections.

• Has news value, but is also meant to entertain a reader.

• Is presented in several newspapers at once.

85. What's a byline?

Answers:

• The date and city from which the story originates

• The name of the writer

• A blank line left between the title and the first paragraph of the article

• Byline is another word for headline.

86. When would you spell out the name of a nation's state or province?

Answers:

• When it's a state that can not be abbreviated

• When it's in a dateline

• When it stands alone

• When it follows a city name

87. A features article differs from a news article in what way?

Answers:

• Because it's written in the first person using "I" and "me"

• By giving a more in depth look at a subject

• By including opinions

• By relying more on interviews and stories than facts

88. What's a query?

Answers:

• A letter to an editor or publisher proposing an article you want to write.

• A word that describes the process of researching an article.

• A more formal term for the questions asked during an interview.

• The process of having your article reviewed by fellow writers.

89. A newspaper's physical archive is sometimes called a:

Answers:

• Plate

• Morgue

• Proof

• Backup

90. A publication's circulation is measured by:

Answers:

• The number of cities where it is available.

• The number of copies distributed to subscribers.

• The number of people who have access to it.

• The number of copies sold.

91. What is a "service piece"?

Answers:

• An article about caring for vehicles and electronic devices

• A review of the service of a company

• A self-help article

• An article explaining services of a company

92. A lead that uses a quote, anecdote or other literary device to attract the reader is called a(n):

Answers:

• Impact lead

• Ramp lead

• Soft Lead

• Hard Lead

93. What is a "lede"?

Answers:

• The author’s bio

• The first paragraph

• Everything before the first subhead

• The first sentence

94. A magazine-length article that paints a picture of a particular place and the people who work or live there is called what?

Answers:

• Live-In

• News Feature

• Trend Story

• Profile