Deck 3: Delivering Your Message

Question 1

Compared to German, English syntax is relatively flexible and open to style.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

When we follow the linguistic rules, miscommunication is not possible.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

The world of language only includes all the spoken languages of the world.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

In a message, the package consisting of the words arranged in a pattern are themselves the meaning.

Question 5

Telling your co-worker who stops by to ask you a question, "Here, have a seat," is an example of auxiliary message.

Question 6

"What does the sender or receiver need to know in order to understand its meaning?" is a typical question that the auxiliary rule attempts to address.

Question 7

Auxiliary rules govern meaning and word choice according to context and social custom.

Question 8

Unlike secondary messages, you have control over the impressions your audience forms about your primary messages.

Question 9

The principles of communication vary according to the context of the communication.

Question 10

"Is the statement true or false?" is a typical question that the syntactic rule attempts to address.

Question 11

While the attention statement may be used anywhere in your message, it is especially useful at the outset.

Question 12

Asking yourself, "What information do I want to have the audience retain or act upon?" is an important step in formulating your attention statement.

Question 13

"I'm going to explain how you can save up to five hundred dollars a year on car insurance" is an example of a residual message.

Question 14

Though there are regional differences in interpretation, words remain unchanged over time.

Question 15

Owing to cultural differences in interpretations, the dictionary is the most reliable repository of meanings) of words.

Question 16

Knowing what words will correspond to meanings that your audience holds within themselves will help you communicate more effectively.

Question 17

Primary messages do not carry the risk of being misunderstood.

Question 18

The dictionary entry for the meaning of a word changes because we change how, when, and why we use the word.

Question 19

"Does a given statement refer to other statements already communicated?" is a typical question that the semantic rule attempts to address.

Question 20

Perceptions of physical attractiveness, age, gender or ethnicity, or even simple mannerisms and patterns of speech may unintentionally influence the message.

Question 21

As an effective business communicator, you should try to define each and every term.

Question 22

Signposts are also called indicators.

Question 23

Your language determines your reality.

Question 24

Clichés are used among friends or members of a certain age group, rather than by professionals in a certain industry.

Question 25

Saying that a person "passed away" instead of the plain "died" is an example of doublespeak.

Question 26

According to the famous linguist Hayakawa, the meaning of words:

A) is ontological.
B) is etymological.
C) lies within us.
D) changes over time.
E) remains unchanged across time.

Question 27

Jargon is specific to occupations in the engineering and technology professions.

Question 28

Which of the following statements is not true about languages)?

A) Languages are living exchange systems of meaning.
B) Languages are not bound by context.
C) Words themselves hold no meaning.
D) Words change meaning over time.
E) People interpret language based on their framework of experience.

Question 29

In a presentation on emergency preparedness, holding up a dust mask is an example of body motion.

Question 30

"Phat" which means "cool" is an example of slang.

Question 31

"If the shoe were on the other foot you too would have an axe to grind" is an example of a cliché.

Question 32

Referring to adult women as "girls" is an example of slang.

Question 33

The most obvious way to convey the meaning of an unfamiliar term is to state the meaning directly or to rephrase the term in different words.

Question 34

Words often require us to negotiate their meaning.

Question 35

"On the one hand . . . on the other hand," "the solution to this problem is . . . ," "the reason for this is . . . ," are all examples of foreshadowing.

Question 36

A concept is most concrete at the base level of the abstraction ladder.

Question 37

The solution to ensure understanding of the meaning of the terms you use is to be aware of any words you are using that may be unfamiliar to your audience.

Question 38

Jargon is normally a product of formal education.

Question 39

Since the objective of business communication is to reach a wider audience, slang is advised as a means to achieve it.

Question 40

The paradigm, or worldview, may be individual or collective.

Question 41

Simon hears two young boys discussing a recent rock concert. While he could understand the dictionary meaning of most of the words he heard, he found it to understand the conversation. What aspect of the words is Simon missing here?

A) Syntactical rule
B) Connotative meaning
C) Auxiliary message
D) Denotative meaning
E) Collective meaning

Question 42

_____ messages refer to the intentional content, both verbal and nonverbal.

A) Directed
B) Explicit
C) Primary
D) Auxiliary
E) Secondary

Question 43

_____ messages refer to the intentional and unintentional ways a primary message is communicated.

A) Tertiary
B) Implied
C) Multidirectional
D) Auxiliary
E) Interpretative

Question 44

"I'm going to explain how you can save up to five hundred dollars a year on car insurance." This is an example of a good:

A) attention statement.
B) introduction.
C) body.
D) conclusion.
E) sequel message.

Question 45

Aldrin is short, dark, and a little obese and is lovingly called "Teddy" by his friends. Whenever he says something, most of his friends consider it with a lot of warmth and empathy. They have this "soft spot" for Aldrin. The impression caused by Aldrin is an example of _____ messages.

A) positive
B) tertiary
C) auxiliary
D) implicit
E) secondary

Question 46

_____ messages refer to the unintentional content, both verbal and nonverbal.

A) Secondary
B) Tertiary
C) Auxiliary
D) Implicit
E) Interpretative

Question 47

In trying to simplify concepts, we may use labeling to the point where distinctions are lost. Though this ability to simplify concepts makes it easier to communicate, it sometimes makes us lose track of the specific meaning we are trying to convey. The quality of words described here is:

A) connotation.
B) displacement.
C) abstraction.
D) denotation.
E) implication.

Question 48

"Please to the auditorium on Wednesday in the meeting at 12 noon come." Which of the following rules is this statement violating?

A) Ontological rule
B) Interpretative rule
C) Syntactic rule
D) Semantic rule
E) Etymological rule

Question 49

Which of the following is not part of a message?

A) An attention statement
B) An introduction
C) A body
D) A conclusion
E) A sequel message

Question 50

An) _____ is a once-clever word or phrase that has lost its impact through overuse.

A) oxymoron
B) jargon
C) axiom
D) paradigm
E) cliché

Question 51

Words have two types of meanings: _____ and _____.

A) implicit; explicit
B) societal; individual
C) syntactic; semantic
D) primary; auxiliary
E) denotative; connotative

Question 52

The _____ meaning can involve an emotional association with a word, positive or negative, and can be individual or collective, but is not universal.

A) connotative
B) auxiliary
C) semantic
D) societal
E) implicit

Question 53

_____ rules govern the meaning of words and how to interpret them.

A) Interpretative
B) Syntactic
C) Ontological
D) Etymological
E) Semantic

Question 54

Which of the following statements is not true about words and their meaning?

A) What we mean needs to be explained in more than one way.
B) Words often require us to negotiate their meaning.
C) When we follow the linguistic rules, miscommunication is not possible.
D) Words and their meanings are sometimes limited by factors beyond our control.
E) Words attempt to represent the ideas we want to communicate.

Question 55

When Rachel heard her supervisor, Jones, complaining of a bad patch in her life and its effect on her performance, Rachel comforted her by saying, "Stay the course. Every cloud has a silver lining." Which communication barrier might Rachel experience here?

A) Syntactical conflict
B) Usage of clichés
C) Usage of jargon
D) Paradigm shift
E) Denotative meaning

Question 56

The _____ is a message or thought that stays with your audience well after the communication is finished.

A) exhortation
B) continuity message
C) sequel message
D) afterthought
E) residual message

Question 57

Julia meets Kacey at the cafeteria and asks how work was proceeding. Kacey looks down for a few seconds, looks sideways, and after a long pause, says in a long, drawn-out monotone, "Yeah, work is good." Which communication rule influences Julia's thought that Kacey was not enjoying work for some reason?

A) Ontological rule
B) Interpretative rule
C) Syntactic rule
D) Semantic rule
E) Contextual rule

Question 58

_____ are clear points of view involving theories, laws, and/or generalizations that provide a framework for understanding.

A) Axioms
B) Etymological premises
C) Ideologies
D) Paradigms
E) Culture biases

Question 59

The one certain thing about the message you sent to the receiver is that the receiver will:

A) revise his/her premises according to the information sent.
B) process the information sequentially, not simultaneously.
C) not be able to interpret all the relevant information.
D) filter the information selectively.
E) interpret it based on their framework of experience.

Question 60

As you are preparing to go for lunch, you ask your colleague to join you by saying, "Zack, join me for lunch, will you?" This is an example of a _____ message.

A) direct
B) primary
C) explicit
D) auxiliary
E) active

Question 61

_____ show an actual person, event, or work of art.

A) Video stills
B) Sketches
C) Line drawings
D) Diagrams
E) Histograms

Question 62

_____ are key words that alert the audience to a change in topic, a tangential explanation, an example, or a conclusion.

A) Cues
B) Trigger words
C) Deflectors
D) Signposts
E) Alerts

Question 63

Perhaps the most important rule to remember in using visuals is this:

A) always present the visuals before the explanation of the data.
B) the visuals should reflect the diversity of the audience.
C) usage of colors should reflect universally accepted standards.
D) the visuals are to support your document or presentation.
E) animation and garish colors should be avoided.

Question 64

What is the advantage of oral communication in terms of understanding?

A) The tone or inflection gives added meaning.
B) Speech is easier to understand than text.
C) Speech reaches a wider audience than writing.
D) The rapport between the speaker and the audience aids in understanding.
E) You can ask clarifying questions.

Question 65

_____ show the amount of one or more variables at different time intervals.

A) Line drawings
B) Bar charts
C) Histograms
D) Line graphs
E) Pie charts

Question 66

_____ show the percentages of the whole occupied by various segments.

A) Sketches
B) Line graphs
C) Histograms
D) Pie charts
E) Bar charts

Question 67

Which of the following is not one of the suggestions to improve your tone?

A) Read your document loud before you deliver it.
B) Listen or watch others' presentations.
C) Use a speech synthesizer.
D) Seek out feedback from others.
E) Practice voice modulation

Question 68

"Cecelia's new boyfriend is a real airhead."-is an example of the usage of:

A) semantics.
B) slang.
C) axioms.
D) jargon.
E) cliché.

Question 69

____ is an occupation-specific language used by people in a given profession.

A) Slang
B) Spec speak
C) Jargon
D) Lingo
E) Cliché

Question 70

According to the text, there are _____ barriers to communication.

A) nine
B) six
C) five
D) three
E) seven

Question 71

In military terms civilian deaths are referred to as "collateral damage." This is an example of:

A) doublespeak.
B) cliché.
C) jargon.
D) slang.
E) euphemism.

Question 72

The following conversation from a military order-"Operation canked. Call jarheads to don their cammies. Gotta meet the brig rats"-is an example of the usage of:

A) abstraction.
B) clichés.
C) axioms.
D) jargons.
E) slang.

Question 73

After visiting her best friend, Samantha, who was pregnant, Moe came home and told her boyfriend that Samantha was in an interesting condition. Moe's words are an example of the usage of an):

A) slur.
B) cliché.
C) slang.
D) euphemism.
E) jargon.

Question 74

_____ is the use of existing or newly invented words to take the place of standard or traditional words with the intent of adding an unconventional, non-standard, humorous, or rebellious effect.

A) Lingo
B) Cliché
C) Axioms
D) Jargon
E) Slang

Question 75

A _____ involves substituting an acceptable word for an offensive, controversial, or unacceptable one that conveys the same or similar meaning.

A) euphemism
B) slang
C) cliché
D) slur
E) jargon

Question 76

Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech is a fine example for its usage of _____.

A) signposts.
B) repetition.
C) actual objects.
D) foreshadowing.
E) visual aids.

Question 77

_____ is the deliberate use of words to disguise, obscure, or change meaning.

A) Slang
B) Cliché
C) Euphemism
D) Doublespeak
E) Jargon

Question 78

_____ show the visual relationships among two or more things; a shape, a contrast in size, a process , or how something works.

A) Histograms
B) Pie charts
C) Line graphs
D) Photographs
E) Line drawings

Question 79

_____ show the change in one or more variables progressively across time.

A) Histograms
B) Pie charts
C) Line graphs
D) Bar charts
E) Diagrams

Question 80

_____ show the audience an item crucial to the discussion.

A) Photographs
B) Video stills
C) Sketches
D) Drawings
E) Actual objects