COMM 313: Editorial Processes(13 wrong)
Midterm Exam, October 2012
Part I: multiple choice.
Select the best available answer.
1. “The Cass County Commission discussed taxes Tuesday.”
What is the biggest problem with this lead?
a. Passive voice.
b. Too general.
c. Too specific.
d. Too long.
e. Too short.
2. News values from a century ago that survive today include
a. timeliness.
b. proximity.
c. prominence.
d. Both a and b.
e. All of the above.
3. What is true about editing for the web?
a. Readers don’t like to scroll.
b. Readers tend to scan web text.
c. Readers prefer longer sentences.
d. Both a and b.
e. All of the above.
4. In most publications, the amount of space editors have to work with is determined by
a. the amount of advertising that day.
b. the amount of copy available that day.
c. the editor’s judgment.
d. the reporters’ judgments.
5. Which of the following sentences below is in passive voice?
a. The Cass County Commission met Tuesday.
b. Nern was hit with a cane.
c. A new CEO was named Friday.
d. Both b and c.
e. All of the above.
6. Duties of editors may include
a. acting as the “final gatekeeper.”
b. assigning stories.
c. making up advertisements.
d. Both a and b.
e. All of the above.
7. Editors try to establish consistency for their publications. Why?
a. To avoid reader complaints on social media.
b. To establish credibility.
c. To avoid libel lawsuits.
d. To comply with FCC regulations.
e. All of the above.
8. Which of these is correct, according to AP style?
a. War was declared Sept. 1, 1939.
b. Nern plans to arrive 6 p.m. Thursday.
c. The meeting is 2 p.m. Wed. in Minard 201.
d. Both a and b.
e. All of the above.
9. Among three levels of cliché, most objectionable in news writing is
a. the common phrase.
b. the pop culture phrase.
c. the stereotype.
d. None of the above.
10. Considering a publication’s “view of reality,” what would you not expect to see in a newspaper such as the Devils Lake (N.D.) Journal?
a. News about the state legislature in Bismarck.
b. A feature on the high school basketball tournament.
c. A review of a new Broadway play in New York.
d. An opinion regarding state property tax abatements.
e. All are likely to be featured.
11. The biggest constraint of editors working for large-circulation news publications usually is
a. conservative bias of the publisher.
b. lack of space.
c. union rules.
d. government regulation.
e. pressure from advertisers.
12. The biggest constraint of editors working for small-circulation news publications usually is
a. conservative bias of the publisher.
b. lack of space.
c. union rules.
d. government regulation.
e. pressure from advertisers.
13. The top five boring leads includes
a. the question lead.
b. the long lead.
c. the quote lead.
d. Both a and b.
e. All of the above.
14. To most effectively edit, it is recommended that an editor
a. read a story at least three times.
b. read a story at least six times.
c. ask an assistant to read the story.
d. carefully compose a lead using the rule of thirds.
e. Both c and d.
15. In English we use apostrophes in all cases below except
a. to indicate plural.
b to indicate possessive singular.
c. to indicate possessive plural.
d. to indicate contractions.
e. All of the above are correct.
16. If you copy and paste a paragraph from the internet but change the words slightly
a. it’s normally no longer considered plagiarism.
b. it’s normally still considered plagiarism.
c. it is plagiarism only if it’s longer than 100 words.
d. it’s not plagiarism if you change the font size.
17. You are editing copy filled with paraphrases, but not a single direct quote. Knowing that direct quotes add color and authority to media-style stories, you see this sentence:
CEO Erv N. Nern said the challenging economy may force industry-wide budget cuts.
a. You can put quote marks around this comment to improve the story.
b. You can put quote marks around “may force industry-wide budget cuts” to make the story more interesting.
c. You can’t put quote marks around anything, because it’s not a direct quote.
d. Both a and b are possible.
18. A writer can hide behind the passive voice if he is not sure of the facts. In which of the phrases below does he obviously do that?
a. The mayor hit the police chief with his cane.
b. The police chief was hit by the mayor with his cane.
c. The police chief was hit with a cane.
d. The police chief said nothing after the mayor hit him with a cane.
19. United States law makes it difficult for public figures to win a libel suit, because
a. they must prove actual malice.
b. they must prove negligence.
c. they must prove carelessness.
d. they must prove the statement is misleading.
20. “It was cloudy yesterday,” said West Shoe Mayor Irving Nern, “giving our farmers a needed break from the hot sun.” You recognize this quote as a
a. fact.
b. interpretation.
c. judgment.
d. slow lead.
21. The best example of non-linear information presentation might be
a. a textbook with an annotated table of contents.
b. a tabloid newspaper with at least two jumps.
c. a website with at least three links.
d. a flyer with at least two colors.
22. Media convergence in editing is usually defined as
a. evolution of editing from a single platform to multiple platforms.
b. editing newspaper copy that will be repurposed for the Web.
c. Bringing photos, illustrations, design and words together in one package.
d. Substituting video for still photos.
e. Both c and d.
23. Which of the following is correct usage?
a. A lightly traveled road.
b. A little-known politician.
c. A 15-point lead.
d. both b and c.
e. All are correct.
24. Which of the sentences below is grammatically correct?
a. I would rather stay home than dine out.
b. I would rather stay home then dine out.
c. I neither want to stay home or dine out.
d. Both a and c.
e. All are correct.
25. If you use a photo of Lady Gaga without her permission to help sell your new brand of pickles
a. it’s within acceptable usage laws, because the product is legal.
b. it’s within acceptable usage laws, because Lady Gaga is a public figure.
c. it’s unlawful, because you are using the image to sell a commercial product.
d. it’s unlawful, because the image will be distorted.
e. Both a and b.