Quiz for Chapter Seventeen
Student Self-Grading Multiple Choice
(Javascript must be enabled for this exercise.)
1. Impressive formal writing is ________.
a) pedantic
b) Latinate
c) concise
d) verbose
e) None of the above
Answer: c (407).
2. To present ideas directly, a writer should avoid ________.
a) circumlocutions
b) clarity
c) conciseness
d) None of the above
Answer: a (406).
3. ________ are redundant prepositional phrases.
a) Passive constructions
b) Phony phrases
c) Active constructions
d) A lazy subject
e) None of the above
Answer: b (409).
4. In a passive construction, the ________ is the part of the construction not doing the action.
a) object
b) subject
c) Both a and b
d) None of the above
Answer: b (411).
5. In English, direct, clear writing is ________.
a) geared toward the active voice
b) geared toward the passive voice
c) geared toward pedantic language
d) None of the above
Answer: a (412).
6. Passive constructions that are used inappropriately tend to have ________.
a) too many words
b) too few words
c) pedantic language
d) personal experience
e) None of the above
Answer: a (414).
7. Replacing die with pass away is an example of ________.
a) the passive voice
b) the active voice
c) euphemistic writing
d) None of the above
Answer: c (417).
8. ________ often employs contractions, colloquialisms, and idioms.
a) Formal writing
b) Informal writing
c) Both the above
d) None of the above
Answer: b (419).
9. ________ are often viewed as vain attempts to make writing flashy or more interesting.
a) Clichés
b) Allusions
c) Symbols
d) Italics
Answer: a (425).
10. Prepositional phrases begin with ________.
a) an article
b) a preposition
c) a subject
d) None of the above
Answer: b (427).
Short Answer Questions
11. If a writer uses more than one word when one is enough, he or she ____________ the impact of the word.
Answer: halves (407).
12. A phony phrase is a(n) ____________ prepositional phrase.
Answer: redundant (409).
13. A ____________ construction involves a subject which does not do the action.
Answer: passive (411).
14. ____________ constructions misplace stress and often use too many words.
Answer: Passive (414).
15. ____________ are sometimes used to ascribe a sense of importance to actions, vocations, or objects.
Answer: Euphemisms (417).
16. At the university and college levels, most assignments require ____________ writing.
Answer: formal (419).
17. Faulty ____________ occurs if there is no logical connection between a verb and its subject.
Answer: predication (421).
18. A phrase which begins with a preposition, followed by a noun or pronoun, is called a ____________ phrase.
Answer: prepositional (427).
19. Cumulative sentences begin with a(n) ____________ clause.
Answer: independent (427).
20. When a writer reviews his or her work by reading from the beginning and breaking words into syllables, he or she reads ____________.
Answer: syllabically (430).