Answer: A. The story’s central summary. The nut graf, or nut paragraph, summarizes the story’s overall point in general terms.
Where should a nut graf usually appear?
A Only beneath the headline
B Near the story’s top
C At the end only
D Inside the source list
Answer: B. Near the story’s top. The writing textbook recommends placing the nut or summary paragraph near the top of the article.
Why does a nut graf matter to readers?
A It identifies every editor
B It lists all page numbers
C Explains why readers should care
D It replaces the reporting
Answer: C. Explains why readers should care. A nut graf tells readers why they should care and explains the story’s central significance.
How does a nut graf often connect to the lead?
A It repeats the headline exactly
B It replaces the opening paragraph
C It lists unused quotations
D It transitions into the story
Answer: D. It transitions into the story. A nut graf often links the lead to the rest of the story and clarifies how they connect.
According to the cited writing textbook, what is a standard nut-graf length?
A One to two sentences
B One full page
C Five short paragraphs
D A single headline
Answer: A. One to two sentences. The textbook describes one or two sentences in a single paragraph as standard, while noting complex stories may need more.
Which format orders hard-news facts by importance?
A Chronological diary
B Inverted pyramid
C Question-and-answer format
D Circular narrative
Answer: B. Inverted pyramid. The inverted pyramid starts with the most important information and moves toward less important details.
Why put the strongest information near the start?
A Sources become unnecessary
B The ending becomes a headline
C Readers grasp key facts quickly
D Chronology is always required
Answer: C. Readers grasp key facts quickly. Readers can quickly understand the main development even if they stop before reaching the end.
What is the hourglass story structure?
A Headline followed by captions
B Interview followed by a quiz
C Chronology followed by a dateline
D Pyramid followed by narrative
Answer: D. Pyramid followed by narrative. The hourglass combines an inverted-pyramid opening with a later chronological narrative.
What usually appears at the top of an hourglass story?
A Summary lead and key facts
B A long chronological scene
C Only a final quotation
D The reporter’s conclusion
Answer: A. Summary lead and key facts. The top begins with a summary lead and several paragraphs answering readers’ most pressing questions.
At the hourglass turn, how does the story shift?
A From reporting to advertising
B From summary to chronology
C From headline to byline
D From fact to speculation
Answer: B. From summary to chronology. The turn moves from the inverted-pyramid section into a chronological narrative.
In the five-box technique, what goes in box one?
A The ending quote
B The nut graf
C The lead
D The narrative finish
Answer: C. The lead. The first box is the lead, designed to draw readers into the story.
Which element belongs in the second five-box section?
A A final correction
B A headline rewrite
C A photo caption
D The nut graf
Answer: D. The nut graf. The second box contains the nut graf or summary of the story.
What does box three add in the five-box technique?
A New facts and transition
B A writer biography
C An unrelated quote
D A correction notice
Answer: A. New facts and transition. The third box adds new facts and signals a transition toward the narrative section.
In the five-box outline, what happens in box four?
A The headline is chosen
B The narrative is completed
C The lead is repeated
D Sources are listed alphabetically
Answer: B. The narrative is completed. The fourth box finishes the narrative portion of the outline.
How can the final five-box section end?
A With a source’s phone number
B With the lead repeated verbatim
C With a quote or image
D With an unrelated advertisement
Answer: C. With a quote or image. The fifth box may end with a quote or image that leaves a strong impression.
Which tools can narrative journalism use?
A Only dates and statistics
B Only short headlines
C Unverified rumors and guesses
D Scenes, characters, and dialogue
Answer: D. Scenes, characters, and dialogue. Narrative writing can use scenes, characters, time, descriptive writing, and dialogue while remaining accurate.
What defines a basic news lead?
A States the key news directly
B It hides the central event
C Starts with a long anecdote
D It gives the reporter’s opinion
Answer: A. States the key news directly. A basic news lead concisely tells readers the most important part of the story.
How does a summary lead differ from a basic lead?
A It removes the central facts
B It summarizes several points
C It starts with a correction
D It uses only dialogue
Answer: B. It summarizes several points. A summary lead uses one or two sentences to summarize two or three points in the story.
Which lead delays naming the person described?
A Scene-setter lead
B Direct-address lead
C Delayed-identification lead
D Question lead
Answer: C. Delayed-identification lead. A delayed-identification lead describes a person in the opening before giving the person’s name later.
What is the defining feature of an anecdotal lead?
A It starts with a dateline
B It lists three sources
C It summarizes every fact
D Opens with a related story
Answer: D. Opens with a related story. An anecdotal or narrative feature lead begins with a short story related to the larger theme.
Which feature lead first describes the place or setting?
A Scene-setter lead
B Attribution lead
C Summary lead
D Double-negative lead
Answer: A. Scene-setter lead. A scene-setter lead describes the scene where the story takes place.
How does a direct-address lead engage readers?
A It delays every name
B It uses the word “you”
C It quotes an anonymous source
D It lists background facts
Answer: B. It uses the word “you”. A direct-address lead uses “you” to address the reader directly.
What does a blind feature lead deliberately do?
A Names every source first
B Lists all dates in order
C Withholds a key detail
D Explains the ending immediately
Answer: C. Withholds a key detail. A blind lead teases readers by holding back a key piece of information.
Which approach characterizes a startling-statement lead?
A It begins with a question
B It starts with the byline
C It uses an ordinary greeting
D Opens with a shocking fact
Answer: D. Opens with a shocking fact. A startling-statement lead begins with a striking fact intended to attract attention.
What makes a wordplay lead distinctive?
A Clever, unconventional wording
B A list of source names
C A chronological timeline
D A paragraph of corrections
Answer: A. Clever, unconventional wording. A wordplay lead uses clever wording or presents phrases unconventionally.
Which opening is called a question lead?
A A question in the headline
B A story-opening question
C A quote followed by context
D A final-paragraph question
Answer: B. A story-opening question. A question lead begins the story by asking readers a question; the cited textbook lists it among leads to avoid.
What does a quote lead do?
A Begins with a direct quote
B Ends with a data table
C Introduces the story’s setting
D Lists the interview date
Answer: A. Begins with a direct quote. A quote lead opens with a direct quotation; the cited textbook recommends avoiding this as a default news lead.
Why can an attribution lead weaken a news opening?
A It names the main event
B It clarifies the news immediately
C It leads with the source
D It removes unnecessary background
Answer: C. It leads with the source. An attribution lead starts with the person who supplied the news instead of the news itself, which can weigh down the opening.
What is the problem with a “yesterday” lead?
A It gives too much context
B It quotes a source accurately
C It explains the latest development
D It can emphasize stale timing
Answer: D. It can emphasize stale timing. The textbook advises focusing on the latest development rather than foregrounding information that happened too long ago.
Which lead focuses on what did not happen?
A Scene-setter lead
B Double-negative lead
C Delayed-identification lead
D Startling-statement lead
Answer: B. Double-negative lead. A double-negative lead emphasizes what did not happen or what is missing.
What makes a fanciful lead unsuitable for news?
A It exaggerates or misleads
B It identifies the main fact
C It gives accurate context
D It uses a clear verb
Answer: A. It exaggerates or misleads. A fanciful lead exaggerates, misleads, or relies on half-truths to make a story seem more interesting.
When revising a hard-news lead, what should come first?
A The publication date
B A source’s job title
C The latest verified development
D A routine background detail
Answer: C. The latest verified development. The textbook advises starting with the latest information, not the date, time, or attribution.
Why should a news lead not read like a headline?
A It must include every source
B It should hide the event
C It cannot use active verbs
D It needs a complete sentence
Answer: D. It needs a complete sentence. A lead should read as a fluid, complete sentence, not merely as headline wording.
Should a lead force all six reporting prompts into it?
A Yes, every time
B No, choose key details
C Only the two names
D Only dates and locations
Answer: B. No, choose key details. Not all five Ws and H fit naturally in a lead; writers should select the most important facts.
Before drafting a lead, what materials should a reporter review?
A Notes, research, and documents
B Only the headline options
C Only the final page layout
D Only a social media caption
Answer: A. Notes, research, and documents. The textbook recommends having interview notes, research, and documents ready before composing a lead.
What is a useful rule for each news sentence?
A Several unrelated opinions
B A different source each time
C One new, important idea
D A long string of adjectives
Answer: C. One new, important idea. Clear news writing uses simple sentences, with each sentence adding one new and important idea.
Which words can introduce unnecessary subjectivity in a news story?
A Names, dates, and places
B Said, asked, and wrote
C Who, what, when, where
D “Just,” “very,” and “unique”
Answer: D. “Just,” “very,” and “unique”. The textbook flags words such as “just,” “very,” and “unique” as potentially subjective or unnecessary.
Where should a direct quotation generally appear in the cited textbook’s guidance?
A Inside the headline only
B In its own paragraph
C Hidden in a footnote
D In the source list
Answer: B. In its own paragraph. The textbook advises placing quotes in their own paragraphs for readability.
How long should paragraphs generally be in the cited beginner guide?
A One or two sentences
B Ten or more sentences
C Exactly one sentence always
D A full page each
Answer: A. One or two sentences. The beginner guide recommends short paragraphs, generally no more than one or two sentences.
Which phrase should a reporter usually avoid in a news story?
A “The mayor said”
B “According to the report”
C “I interviewed the mayor”
D “Records show”
Answer: C. “I interviewed the mayor”. The textbook advises keeping the writer out of the story and focusing on facts and sources.
What does a careful final proofread check?
A Only the story’s length
B Only the headline font
C Only the source’s popularity
D Spelling, names, and titles
Answer: D. Spelling, names, and titles. A final edit should verify source names and titles along with spelling and other factual details.
During editing, what must happen to quotations?
A Add words for emphasis
B Check them against the source
C Remove the speaker’s meaning
D Convert every quote to opinion
Answer: B. Check them against the source. The writing checklist says to check quote accuracy, and AP requires quotations to be precise.
Why should a writer check attribution throughout the story?
A Readers need source context
B It replaces fact-checking
C It removes editing
D It guarantees equal paragraph lengths
Answer: A. Readers need source context. Attribution helps readers see where information came from and assess its support.
How should a news ending differ from an essay conclusion?
A Repeat the strongest facts
B State the reporter’s opinion
C Avoid adding personal conclusions
D Summarize every paragraph
Answer: C. Avoid adding personal conclusions. A news ending should not simply recap or add the writer’s thoughts; it should continue providing reported information.
Which ending may provide a strong finish?
A An unrelated personal opinion
B A repeated headline
C An unsupported prediction
D A new fact or quote
Answer: D. A new fact or quote. The textbook suggests ending with a new quote or statistic, returning to the lead, or pointing to a supported future development.
When can a lead need revision?
A Only after publication
B As the story develops
C Never once drafted
D Only when the headline changes
Answer: B. As the story develops. A lead may need several revisions as reporting develops and the story changes.
Which writing choice makes a news story easier to follow?
A Clear outline and transitions
B Frequent unexplained shifts
C Long sentences with many ideas
D Unlabeled changes in viewpoint
Answer: A. Clear outline and transitions. The editing checklist recommends a discernible outline and transitions so readers do not feel lost.
Why should disputed facts carry attribution?
A It makes claims automatically true
B It hides who supplied information
C Readers can evaluate the source
D It removes context
Answer: C. Readers can evaluate the source. Attributing disputed facts tells readers whose information is being reported and supports transparent evaluation.
What is a safe way to use online information in a news story?
A Copy it without checking
B Use the most-shared version
C Remove the original source
D Verify it, cite its source
Answer: D. Verify it, cite its source. AP requires internet information to be vetted for accuracy and attributed to its original source.
Which claim about news-story structure is most accurate?
A Every story must use chronology
B The inverted pyramid is common
C Features cannot use narrative
D All endings require a summary
Answer: B. The inverted pyramid is common. The inverted pyramid is common for hard news, but narrative and hourglass structures also serve some stories.