(A while back, I posted a series of pieces about how authors of fiction (and non-fiction) can use the “journalistic method” when it comes to learning the critical skill of observation. I recently received a couple of requests to republish that series. I posted Part Two yesterday. Here is Part Three.)

When I was teaching journalism at the University of Illinois, I often gave my students a test designed to see how observant they were. As I have pointed out in previous posts, observation is a critical skill all writers need to master IF they are to provide clear and vivid descriptions in their stories or novels.

There are 25 questions in the quiz. The average number of questions students were able to answer correctly was 8. You can beat that, right? I am sure you will because many of you reading my blog are writers; I expect you will score higher than my students did.

But let’s see how you do. Write down your answers as you go. Check your answers at the end AFTER completing all the questions.

REMEMBER — NO CHEATING!!! BE HONEST!!! That means no looking at your i-phone, computer, your i-pad, or any reference books on your desk.

LET’S SEE HOW OBSERVANT YOU ARE.

Here we go!

1. Is the green on the top or bottom of a standard traffic light?

2. How many states are there in the USA? (Don’t laugh, some people don’t know)

3. In which hand is the Statue of Liberty’s torch?

4. What six colors are on the classic Campbell’s soup label?

5. What two numbers on the telephone dial don’t have letters by them?

6. When you walk, does your left arm swing with your right or left leg? (Don’t you dare get up to see!)

7. How many matches are in a standard pack?

8. Is the top stripe red or white on the United States flag?

9. What is the lowest number on a U.S. FM radio Dial?

10. Which way does the water go down the drain, counter or clockwise?

11. Which way does a “no smoking” sign’s slash run?

12. Coca-Cola. Scan the text in the small poster below. Do you notice something strange?

13 On which side of a women’s blouse are the buttons?

14. Which way do fans rotate?

15 How many sides does a stop sign have?

16. Do books have even-numbered pages on the right or left side?

17 How many lug nuts are on a standard car wheel?

18. How many sides are there on a standard pencil?

19. Sleepy, Happy, Sneezy, Grumpy, Dopey, Doc. Who’s missing?

20. How many hot dog buns are in a standard package?

21 On which playing card is the card maker’s trademark?

22 On which side of a Venetian blind is the cord that adjusts the opening between the slats?

23. There are 12 buttons on a touch-tone phone. What two symbols bear no digits?

24. How many curves are there in the standard paper clip?

25. Does a merry-go-round turn counter or clockwise?

26. (BONUS QUESTION) Carefully read the article below and detect an incongruity!

 

 

SCROLL FOR THE ANSWERS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANSWERS

1. Is the green on the top or bottom of a standard traffic light? BOTTOM

2. How many states are there in the USA? (Don’t laugh, some people don’t know) 50

3. In which hand is the Statue of Liberty’s torch? RIGHT

4. What six colors are on the classic Campbell’s soup label? BLUE, RED, WHITE, YELLOW, BLACK & GOLD.

5. What two numbers on the telephone dial don’t have letters by them? 1, 0

6. When you walk, does your left arm swing with your right or left leg? RIGHT

7. How many matches are in a standard pack? 20

8. Is the top stripe red or white on the United States flag? RED

9. What is the lowest number on the F.M. dial? 88

10. Which way does the water go down the drain, counter or clockwise?
CLOCKWISE (NORTH OF THE EQUATOR, COUNTER-CLOCKWISE TO THE SOUTH)

11. Which way does a “no smoking” sign’s slash run?
TOWARDS BOTTOM RIGHT

12. Are you a fan of Coca–Cola? Then it is time to check out this new brand of
Coca-Coda

13 On which side of a women’s blouse are the buttons? LEFT

14. Which way do fans rotate? CLOCKWISE AS YOU LOOK AT IT

15 How many sides does a stop sign have? 8

16. Do books have even-numbered pages on the right or left side? LEFT

17 How many lug nuts are on a standard car wheel? 5

18. How many sides are there on a standard pencil? 6

19. Sleepy, Happy, Sneezy, Grumpy, Dopey, Doc. Who’s missing? BASHFUL

20. How many hot dog buns are in a standard package? 8

21 On which playing card is the card maker’s trademark? ACE OF SPADES

22 On which side of a Venetian blind is the cord that adjusts the opening between the slats? LEFT

23. There are 12 buttons on a touch-tone phone. What two symbols bear no digits?  *, #

24. How many curves are there in the standard paper clip? 3

25. Does a merry-go-round turn counter or clockwise? COUNTER

26. If the Mulan disappeared and there were no survivors to tell what happened, how could the journalist who wrote this report what the captain and crew did the night before?

Now send it to some of your friends or colleagues and put your score in the subject box!!!