Deck 1: Human Communication

Question 1

Your textbook presents seven key elements of effective communication. The last (7th) element on that list is

A) Purpose.
B) Others.
C) Self.
D) Content.
E) Expression.

Answer 1

E

Question 2

The psychosocial context of communication includes

A) the cultural environment in which you live.
B) the place where you will be interacting with others.
C) the setting and occasion of a communicative act.
D) the number of people with whom you communicate.
E) none of the above.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Which key element of effective communication is represented in the following question: What do you want others to know, think, believe, feel, or do as a result of communicating with them?

A) Self
B) Others
C) Purpose
D) Content
E) Structure

Answer 3

C

Question 4

According to your textbook, _____________ communication refers to the interaction of three or more interdependent people who interact for the purpose of achieving a common goal.

A) intrapersonal
B) interpersonal
C) group
D) presentational
E) mediated

Question 5

When you ask the question, "Do I analyze and evaluate the meaning of the multiple and complex messages that bombard us every day in an ever-changing world?" which kind of communication is the focus of your question?

A) personal
B) professional
C) intercultural
D) intellectual
E) societal

Question 6

The key element of structure in communication refers to

A) the information itself.
B) the way in which you arrange the content of a message into a coherent message.
C) the symbolic nature of human language.
D) the circumstances and setting in which communication occurs.
E) the ways in which you understand and interpret messages from others.

Question 7

Which key element of effective communication is represented in the following question: How can I adapt to the communication circumstances and setting?

A) Self
B) Others
C) Content
D) Context
E) Structure

Question 8

In which interactional context does a limited number of people, usually two, interact for the purpose of sharing information, accomplishing a specific goal or maintaining a relationship?

A) logistical communication
B) interpersonal communication
C) group communication
D) presentational communication
E) mediated communication

Question 9

The logistical context of communication refers to

A) the cultural environment in which you live.
B) your emotional history, personal experiences, and cultural background.
C) the time, place, setting, and occasion in which you will interact with others.
D) whether communication occurs one-to-one, in groups, or between a speaker and an audience.
E) interpersonal, group, and presentational communication.

Question 10

Media Richness Theory examines how the qualities of different media affect communication. Which of the following media is the richest?

A) face-to-face communication
B) email communication
C) mediated communication
D) broadcast communication
E) vocal communication

Question 11

You generate meaning when you

A) speak.
B) write.
C) create visual images.
D) listen, read, and react to messages.
E) do all of the above.

Question 12

A study of human resource managers listed _____________ as the most important skill area for obtaining jobs and advancing in a career.

A) oral communication skills
B) written communication skills
C) listening skills
D) computer skills
E) proficiency in your field of study

Question 13

A study by the U.S. national Association of Colleges and Employers listed_____________ as the least important skill area for career preparation in college.

A) oral communication skills
B) written communication skills
C) listening skills
D) computer skills
E) proficiency in your field of study

Question 14

Which key element of effective communication is represented in the following question: What channels are most appropriate given your purpose, the other communicators, and the context?

A) Others
B) Purpose
C) Content
D) Structure
E) Expression

Question 15

Which of the following statements supports the textbook statement about the importance of content as a basic element of communication?

A) Humans are unique in their ability to communicate an open-ended volume of concepts.
B) Human language is symbolic.
C) Humans have the unique ability to generate meaning by combining letters and/or sounds.
D) Humans can invent new words, say sentences that have never been said before, and communicate new ideas.
E) All of the above

Question 16

Your textbook presents seven key elements of effective communication. The first element on that list is

A) Purpose.
B) Others.
C) Self.
D) Content.
E) Expression.

Question 17

Josh realizes that his presentation to a group of young men at a juvenile detention center will be difficult. He decides that they are more likely to take his advice if he shares past experiences from his own juvenile run-ins with the law. What element of communication has Josh taken into account as he prepares his talk?

A) Expression
B) Structure
C) Others
D) Purpose
E) Context

Question 18

According to your textbook's definition of culture, which of the following groups of people meet this definition?

A) Nigerians
B) Mormons
C) African Americans
D) Navaho tribal members
E) all of the above

Question 19

When you ask the question, "Do I critically analyze and appropriately respond to public and mediated messages that affect the quality of our own and other people's lives?" which kind of communication is the focus of your question?

A) personal
B) professional
C) intercultural
D) intellectual
E) societal

Question 20

Your _____________ context refers to the emotional and cultural environment in which you live and communicate.

A) logistical
B) interactional
C) group
D) mediated
E) psychosocial

Question 21

The key element expression asks:

A) Which channels are most appropriate given your purpose and content?
B) What skills will improve your ability to deliver your message?
C) How effectively do you convey and listen to verbal and nonverbal messages?
D) How can practice help you prepare to communicate effectively?
E) All of the above

Question 22

Which key element of communication is affected by noise in the following example: "When no one signed up to volunteer for the soup kitchen, Wendell realized he set his goal in a way that asked them to donate too much of their valuable time."

A) self
B) context
C) purpose
D) structure
E) channel

Question 23

In the textbook's definition of communication, the term context refers to the predominant characteristics, attitudes, and behavior of the communicators.

Question 24

Which principle in the National Communication Association Credo for Ethical Communication is violated if a political party knowingly misrepresents a bill before Congress to the public in order to frighten or mislead people into opposing that bill?

A) We advocate truthfulness, accuracy, honesty, and reason as essential to the integrity of communication.
B) We strive to understand and respect other communicators before evaluating and responding to their messages.
C) We promote access to communication resources and opportunities as necessary to fulfill human potential.
D) We advocate sharing information, opinions, and feelings when facing significant choices while also respecting privacy and confidentiality.
E) We are committed to the courageous expression of personal conviction in pursuit of fairness and justice.

Question 25

Which of the following channels do we use to express a message?

A) sight
B) sound
C) taste and smell
D) touch
E) all of the above

Question 26

Randy watches the Super Bowl game with his friends at a neighborhood party. Lucky Levar has tickets and goes to the game. When they see each other the next day, Randy complains that it was "no contest" while Levar thinks the game was thrilling. What is the most likely communication-related reason Randy and Levar experienced the game differently?

A) They supported different teams.
B) They received the game through different channels.
C) There was more noise at the Super Bowl party.
D) Fan feedback was missing at the Super Bowl party.
E) Randy and Levar always disagree about football.

Question 27

As you are making a presentation you notice that audience members are scowling and talking to one another as you speak. What component of the communication process are you noticing?

A) source
B) message
C) feedback
D) noise
E) channel

Question 28

In Latin, the word credo means

A) "I believe."
B) "I mean."
C) "I am."
D) "I create."
E) "I accuse."

Question 29

_______________ are the specific plans of action you select to help you communicate your intended message effectively.

A) Theories
B) Strategies
C) Skills
D) Resources
E) Rules

Question 30

Which principle in the National Communication Association Credo for Ethical Communication is violated if a close friend shares your most intimate secrets with people you don't know or like?

A) We advocate truthfulness, accuracy, honesty, and reason as essential to the integrity of communication.
B) We strive to understand and respect other communicators before evaluating and responding to their messages.
C) We promote access to communication resources and opportunities as necessary to fulfill human potential.
D) We advocate sharing information, opinions, and feelings when facing significant choices while also respecting privacy and confidentiality.
E) We are committed to the courageous expression of personal conviction in pursuit of fairness and justice.

Question 31

According to Stephen Covey, an enduring habit (such as effective listening) is the intersection of

A) theories, strategies, and skills.
B) knowledge, skill, and desire.
C) self, others, and purpose.
D) principles, practice, and perseverance.
E) encoding, decoding, and messages.

Question 32

The encoding process can be described as

A) the way you feel about others.
B) the process of minimizing internal noise.
C) effective listening.
D) converting a "code" sent by someone else into a meaningful message.
E) the decision-making process by which you create messages that generate meaning.

Question 33

Statements that describe, explain, and/or predict events and behavior are

A) theories.
B) strategies.
C) skills.
D) resources.
E) rules.

Question 34

In what way are transactional models of communication uniquely different from linear and interactive models?

A) They function in only one direction-source to receiver.
B) They include the concept of noise and feedback.
C) They recognize that communication is not an unobstructed one-way street the requires feedback between communicators.
D) They recognize that encoding requires decision making to create a meaning message.
E) They recognize that we send and receive messages at the same time within specific contexts.

Question 35

Which key element of communication is affected by noise in the following example: "Telling stories can be a great way to entertain others unless you ramble on and one without making a point or coming to some sort of conclusion."

A) self
B) context
C) others
D) structure
E) channel

Question 36

Linear models of communication

A) include the concepts of noise and feedback.
B) function in only one direction: a source creates a message and sends it through a channel to reach a receiver.
C) recognize that we send and receive messages simultaneously.
D) illustrate the interrelationships among the key elements and guiding principles of effective communication.
E) all of the above.

Question 37

A corporate CEO relates that when he fumbled his way through a speech and started to ramble, he noticed that he was losing listeners and then became even more unnerved. The CEO was reacting to

A) encoding.
B) the channel.
C) feedback.
D) noise.
E) the context.

Question 38

Colleagues who express respect for one another and argue constructively are more likely to enjoy productive interactions at work.

Question 39

If you are thinking about your upcoming vacation plans rather than listening carefully to your friend's problem, you are preoccupied by

A) encoding.
B) internal noise.
C) external noise.
D) internal feedback.
E) external feedback.

Question 40

Theories answer why; strategies answer what; skills answer how; and ethics answers ______________ questions.

A) who
B) where
C) when
D) whether
E) all of the above

Question 41

The concept of feedback refers to any verbal or nonverbal response you can see or hear from others.

Question 42

The concept of external noise in communication models can include a police siren outside the window or an uncomfortably warm room.

Question 43

The following question applies to the key communication element of self: "What is your ethical responsibility as a communicator?"

Question 44

The guiding principle "Determine your purpose" refers to how well you understand, respect, and adapt to others when you communicate.

Question 45

The concept of internal noise in communication models can include the temperature and odors inside a room that interfere with your ability to be an attentive and effective communicator.

Question 46

As is the case in scientific disciplines, communication studies focus on discovering and sharing "laws" that explain predictable outcomes under the same conditions.

Question 47

Because human language is symbolic, we create new words and say sentences that have never been said before.

Question 48

In a general sense, some communication occurs whether you intend it or not.

Question 49

The guiding principle "Practice Skillful Expression" refers to how well you deliver a presentation, how well you dress for an important interview, and how well you present PowerPoint slides.

Question 50

According to Media Richness Theory, Twitter is one of the richest communication media because you can see and respond instantly and simultaneously to others.

Question 51

Face-to-face communication is the richest medium of communication because you can see and respond instantly to others.

Question 52

Your sense of smell is a communication channel.

Question 53

The earliest type of communication model, known as the interactive communication model, functions only in one direction.

Question 54

Given the textbook's definition of culture, a rancher from Texas and a microbiologist from Massachusetts may represent different cultures.

Question 55

If you ask a Muslim friend to join you for lunch during the month of Ramadan, the "noise" that prevents you from achieving your purpose is that you don't know or have forgotten that Muslim's fast all day during that holy month.

Question 56

The four interactional contexts identified in your textbook are self, others, purpose, and content.

Question 57

A process is a set of constantly changing actions, elements, and functions that bring about a result.

Question 58

Intellectual communication refers to how you analyze and evaluate the meaning of multiple and complex messages in an ever-changing world.

Question 59

Encoding refers to the decision-making process you use to create and send messages that generate meaning.

Question 60

In a national study, employers were asked to rate the skills they seek in the college graduates they hire. The top three skills were (in order of preference): (1) written communication skills, (2) oral communication skills, and (3) computer skills.

Question 61

Whereas theories help you understand how to communicate, strategies and skills help you understand what and why to communicate.

Question 62

Stephen R. Covey, author of The Seven Habits of Effective People, states that a genuine habit requires knowledge, skills, and desire.

Question 63

The National Communication Association Credo for Ethical Communication advocates that you endorse freedom of expression only when the message avoids hurting or embarrassing another person.

Question 64

In a transactional model of communication, we send and receive messages at the same time.

Question 65

A soft speaking voice can create noise in a communication transaction.

Question 66

Whereas communication theories ask why, ethical communication asks whether.

Question 67

The National Communication Association Credo for Ethical Communication advocates that you promote a climate of caring and mutual understanding that respects others.