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Multiple Choice
Identify the letter of the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question. |
| | 1. | Which of the following is probably the single most important characteristic for a professional agricultural communicator? | a. | Being a people person | | b. | Public speaking skills | | c. | Writing | | d. | Having expertise in all areas of agriculture | | | | |
| | 2. | The first paragraph of a news story is called the ___________. | a. | Lead | b. | Introduction | c. | Kicker | d. | Eye-opener | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 3. | Which of the following issues is of great concern to consumers today? | a. | Agricultural chemical contamination of their food supply | | b. | Agricultural chemical contamination of drinking water | | c. | The use of genetically engineered materials in their food supply | | d. | All of these are correct | | | | |
| | 4. | Which of the following sentences is not punctuated correctly? | a. | Moser said,”We believe in the program because we think it will help Ohio farmers”. | | b. | “We believe in the program because we think it will help Ohio farmers,” Moser said. | | c. | “We believe in the program,” Moser said, “because we think it will help Ohio farmers.” | | d. | All of the sentences are punctuated correctly. | | | | |
| | 5. | “Style rules” refers to: | a. | Ways to make your writing more distinctive from other writers | | b. | Techniques to add creativity to your writing | | c. | Rules of capitalization, abbreviation and English usage | | d. | A and B only | | | | |
| | 6. | Why is it important to remove unneeded words in journalistic writing? | a. | Because space is often limited and there is no room for unnecessary words | | b. | Concise writing is easier for readers to understand | | c. | Removing unneeded words is probably the most well-known rule of good writing | | d. | All of these are correct | | | | |
| | 7. | Which of the following statements is true in comparing today’s farms and farmers with those from 25 years ago? | a. | Today, farms are larger, and there are fewer farmers | | b. | Today, farms are larger, and there are more farmers | | c. | Today, farms are smaller, and there are fewer farmers | | d. | Today, farms are smaller, and there are more farmers | | | | |
| | 8. | Why do agricultural communicators include quotations and information from scientists and other experts in their news stories? | a. | To give the stories more credibility | | b. | So readers will know where the information came from | | c. | Because this is standard practice in journalism | | d. | All of these are correct | | | | |
| | 9. | When interviewing a source for a story, which of the following should you never do? | a. | Ask the source if it’s OK for you to use a tape recorder | | b. | Ask the source to confirm the correct spelling of his or her name | | c. | Ask the source whether it’s OK to call them later if you have any other questions | | d. | All of these are correct are acceptable practices during the interview | | | | |
| | 10. | Which of the following types of 35-mm film would be best to use for shooting photos in low-light situations without a flash? | a. | 800 speed | b. | 400 speed | c. | 200 speed | d. | 100 speed | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 11. | Why should agricultural communicators try to avoid passive voice in their writing? | a. | Passive voice is usually less concise than active voice | | b. | Passive voice often does not provide as much information as active voice | | c. | Both A and B | | d. | Agricultural communicators should not try to avoid passive voice in their writing | | | | |
| | 12. | Which of the following sentences contains a common spelling error? | a. | The school principle said she would try to acommodate all of the students’ requests | | b. | The adviser complemented Sarah on her excellent test scores. | | c. | Both A and B contain at least one spelling error. | | d. | Neither A nor B contains a spelling error. | | | | |
| | 13. | The best reason to avoid sexist language in professional writing is that: | a. | It often is factually incorrect because it does not include women | | b. | It is grammatically incorrect | | c. | Sexist language is not concise | | d. | None of these are correct | | | | |
| | 14. | Which of the following sentences is incorrect as written (Hint: may contain a dangling modifier)? | a. | Watching from the upstairs window, she could see the parade on the adjacent street. | | b. | After reviewing all of the applications, Tom was selected to receive the agricultural scholarship. | | c. | Pleased with the students’ high grades on the exam, the instructor dismissed class early. | | d. | All of the sentences are incorrect as written | | | | |
| | 15. | Which of the following sentences is incorrect as written (Hint: may contain a pronoun error)? | a. | Would you like to ride to the state convention with Bob and me? | | b. | Neither Tom nor she could find a copy of the club’s constitution. | | c. | Both Mary and I arrived at the meeting early. | | d. | All of the sentences are incorrect as written. | | | | |
| | 16. | Which of the following is the most important source of general agricultural information for most farmers today? | a. | Television | c. | The internet and the world wide web | | b. | Farm magazines | d. | Farm shows and fairs | | | | | | |
| | 17. | Which of the following statements is true? | a. | Nearly all farmers own a computer and use it to send and receive email and access the Internet daily. | | b. | Communication experts believe that computers will take the place of farm magazines in the next five years. | | c. | Most full-time farmers receive several farm magazines. | | d. | All of these are correct are true. | | | | |
| | 18. | Agricultural communicators can lose credibility with farm and nonfarm audiences by: | a. | Misspelling people’s names | | b. | Providing incorrect or outdated information | | c. | Failing to report on issues that are interesting and relevant to their audiences | | d. | All of these are correct | | | | |
| | 19. | Which of the following is not a characteristic of the inverted pyramid style of news writing? | a. | Attracting the reader’s attention early in the story | | b. | Placing the most important fact or facts in the first paragraph of the story | | c. | Saving at least one important fact for the last paragraph to provide a strong ending | | d. | Using quotes from interviewed sources early in the story | | | | |
| | 20. | Which of the following periods did agricultural journalism begin in the United States? | a. | Early 1700’s | b. | Early 1800’s | c. | Early 1900’s | d. | Mid-1900’s | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 21. | Which of the following sentences contains sexist language or usage? | a. | Successful farmers today have to be good businessmen. | | b. | Mankind has always depended on agriculture. | | c. | A good farm manager always takes care of his equipment. | | d. | All of these are correct contain sexist language or usage | | | | |
| | 22. | Ohio’s state farm magazine is titled: | a. | Ohio Farmer | c. | Buckeye Farmer | | b. | Ohio’s Farm Journal | d. | Ohio Country Living | | | | | | |
| | 23. | Which of the following skills and abilities are important for farm broadcasters? | a. | Ability to speak understandably and with ease | | b. | Skill in operating radio and television equipment | | c. | Knowledge of agriculture | | d. | All of these are correct | | | | |
| | 24. | Farm magazines today generate most of their income from: | a. | Reader subscriptions | | b. | Advertising | | c. | Fees paid by public relations companies | | d. | Both advertising and fees paid by public relations companies are correct | | | | |
| | 25. | A person with a college degree in agricultural communications might be likely to do which of the following: | a. | Work at an advertising agency or public relations firm | | b. | Work in corporate communications for an agribusiness | | c. | Work in a communications department for a government agency | | d. | All of these are correct | | | | |