Question 1

Professional books are sold mostly through mail order, the Internet, or specialized sales representatives.

Accepted Answer

Professional books are often targeted towards specific audiences and may not have widespread availability in traditional bookstores. Therefore, they are typically sold through alternative channels such as mail order, the Internet, or specialized sales representatives who can market and sell directly to their target audience.

Question 2

The Chinese were printing books using strips of wood and bamboo long before Gutenberg printed his Bible using movable type.

Accepted Answer

The Chinese were indeed printing books using woodblock and bamboo strip printing techniques dating back to the Tang dynasty (618-907), long before the invention of movable type by Gutenberg in the 15th century.

Question 3

University presses are usually very small presses and produce over 100 titles a year.

Accepted Answer

University presses are typically small presses, but they usually do not produce over 100 titles a year. They tend to focus on publishing high-quality academic works, rather than a high quantity of books.

Question 4

Once strongly influenced by books, television and film now look elsewhere for most of their story ideas.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Once strongly influenced by books, television and...

Question 5

Most of the original publishing houses in America, such as J. B. Lippincott (founded in 1792), Harper & Bros. (1817), and Houghton Mifflin (1832), are still independent companies unaffiliated with any other media firms.

Accepted Answer

Most original publishing houses in America have been acquired or merged with larger media conglomerates, losing their independent status.

Question 6

Gutenberg developed the printing press in the fifteenth century.

Accepted Answer

Johannes Gutenberg is credited with developing the printing press in the fifteenth century, which revolutionized the production of books and played a significant role in the dissemination of knowledge and ideas.

Question 7

Sales of religious books have dropped substantially over the past twenty years.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Sales of religious books have dropped substantially...

Question 8

In about 89 percent of the states, local school districts determine which textbooks will be used by their students.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In about 89 percent of the states,...

Question 9

Parchment is a kind of paper made from plant reeds found along the Nile River.

Accepted Answer

Parchment is made from animal skin, not plant reeds. Papyrus, not parchment, is made from plant reeds found along the Nile River.

Question 10

Trade books refers to the category of books sold to the general reader at commercial retail outlets.

Accepted Answer

Trade books are specifically marketed towards the general reader and are sold in commercial retail outlets.

Question 11

The first printed books were so inexpensive and modest that they were primarily sold to the middle and lower classes.

Accepted Answer

The first printed books were actually quite expensive and mainly available to the wealthy upper classes. It wasn't until later that cheaper and more modest books were produced for wider distribution.

Question 12

Graphic novels are composed of only graphic sex and violence.

Accepted Answer

Graphic novels cover a wide range of genres and themes, including non-violent and non-sexual content. While some graphic novels may contain explicit content, it's not an inherent characteristic of the medium.

Question 13

The idea of the e-book was born when Michael Hart typed up the text of the U.S. Declaration of Independence on his computer in 1971.

Accepted Answer

The statement is true. Michael Hart is credited with creating the first e-book by typing up the text of the U.S. Declaration of Independence on his computer and making it available for free distribution online in 1971.

Question 14

Papyrus is a kind of paper made from treated animal skin.

Accepted Answer

Papyrus is actually made from the stems of the papyrus plant, not animal skin.

Question 15

The Harry Potter series gave an enormous boost to the juvenile books segment of the trade industry.

Accepted Answer

The Harry Potter series became a worldwide phenomenon, and its success significantly contributed to the growth of the juvenile books segment of the trade industry. Sales of children's and young adult books surged during and after the release of each installment of the series.

Question 16

University presses are the smallest division in the book industry.

Accepted Answer

University presses are typically smaller than trade or commercial publishers and often have a more specialized focus on academic or scholarly works.

Question 17

Pulp fiction was another name for the popular paperbacks and dime novels of the 1880s.

Accepted Answer

Pulp fiction was indeed another name for the popular paperbacks and dime novels of the 1880s.

Question 18

Despite the rise of digital textbooks, the price of college textbooks continues to rise.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Despite the rise of digital textbooks, the...

Question 19

Because books are such an old and traditional medium, they are no longer very influential.

Accepted Answer

While books may be an old medium, they continue to be influential and impactful in shaping ideas, culture and society. Many people still prefer to read physical books and the publishing industry is still a significant contributor to the economy. Additionally, books continue to inspire adaptations into other forms of media such as movies and TV shows.

Question 20

McGuffey's The Electric Reader taught most nineteenth-century elementary school children to read.

Accepted Answer

McGuffey's Readers, not "The Electric Reader," were widely used in the 19th century to teach children to read.

Quiz 10: Books and the Power of Print