Deck 1: A First Look at Interpersonal Communications

Question 1

Which of the following best defines the meaning of the "environments" that communicators occupy?

A) the social systems in which they communicate
B) the physical locations in which they communicate
C) the space that they require to communicate effectively
D) the fields of experience that affect how they understand others' behaviour

Answer 1

D

Question 2

What is the main source of a sense of identity?

A) self-reflection
B) genetic inheritance
C) cultural background
D) interaction with others

Answer 2

D

Question 3

What needs to occur in order for communication to take place between two people?

A) They must be in close proximity to each other.
B) They must experience similar environments.
C) There must be minimal external and psychological noise.
D) They must be sending and receiving some type of message.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Psychologist Abraham Maslow arranged human needs on a hierarchy.According to Maslow,which statement best describes the most basic (lowest level)need in the hierarchy?

A) It is the fundamental need of self-actualization.
B) The nature of this need differs from person to person.
C) It needs to be satisfied before people are concerned with other needs.
D) It is generated by other people in interpersonal communication.

Question 5

Which statement best describes interpersonal relationships?

A) Most people are very successful at managing their interpersonal relationships.
B) Most people are satisfied with their interpersonal relationships
C) Most people are not very successful at managing their interpersonal relationships.
D) Most people are not satisfied with their interpersonal relationships.

Question 6

What do some theorists claim is the most important reason for fulfillment and emotional well-being?

A) career fulfillment
B) physical fitness
C) social popularity
D) positive relationships

Question 7

What is someone doing when they decode?

A) putting thoughts into words
B) interpreting particularly obscure messages
C) choosing the appropriate way to send messages
D) making sense out of the messages sent by others

Question 8

Bart and Monique meet in the cafeteria and talk about the concerns they have with a client of theirs at the youth club.What is NOT likely to occur in their discussion?

A) noise
B) encoding
C) linear communication
D) transactional communication

Question 9

According to Maslow's hierarchy,what is the most fundamental need?

A) esteem
B) physical
C) safety
D) social

Question 10

Many studies have researched happiness.Which factor is linked with happiness?

A) a satisfying job
B) health and fitness
C) positive interactions with others
D) standard of living and lifestyle

Question 11

Scott needs to provide feedback to Stephanie on her performance as a nursing student on placement at a long-term care facility.Scott is very careful in how he words his feedback so he doesn't offend or discourage Stephanie.What is Scott doing?

A) encoding
B) decoding
C) linear communication
D) transactional communication

Question 12

What was the most significant deficit found in the "Wild Boy of Aveyron?"

A) social skills
B) language skills
C) physical coordination
D) sense of human identity

Question 13

What social needs do people strive to fulfill by communicating?

A) identity and physical
B) control and affection
C) talking and listening
D) self-esteem and self-actualization

Question 14

Steve is struggling to pay all of his bills and he is worried he may be evicted from his apartment.According to Maslow's hierarchy,what type of need is Steve concerned about?

A) physical
B) safety
C) social
D) self-esteem

Question 15

Jessica sends an email to her Member of Parliament to communicate her concerns about an issue.What is Jessica's action an example of?

A) linear communication
B) interactive communication
C) interpersonal communication
D) transactional communication

Question 16

What is a person doing when he/she carefully plans the words he/she will use to avoid offending someone?

A) decoding
B) encoding
C) providing feedback
D) reducing physiological noise

Question 17

The Conference Board of Canada identified a set of characteristics required for success in the workplace.Which characteristic was identified by the Conference Board of Canada?

A) willingness to work extra hours
B) strong work ethic
C) technical competence
D) positive attitudes and behaviours toward others

Question 18

Why is Maslow's hierarchy of needs important to the study of interpersonal communication?

A) Communication can help people meet each of the needs.
B) Communication is one of the needs in the hierarchy.
C) People can't understand their needs without communication.
D) Maslow considered the need for communication as the sixth "hidden" need.

Question 19

Jonah,a Police Sergeant,decides that the new police officer didn't mean to insult him by using slang.What has Jonah just done?

A) encoded
B) decoded
C)metacommunicated
D) self-monitored

Question 20

How are identity and communication related?

A) People control communication with our identity.
B) People are drawn to communicators who test and challenge our identity.
C) People take aspects of others' identities as our own through communication.
D) People gain an idea of who we are from the way others communicate with us.

Question 21

Which of the following describes "noise" in the communication process?

A) more than one communicator talking at a time
B) nonverbal behaviours that hinder communication
C) any force that interferes with effective communication
D) a communication channel that interferes with the clear flow of communication

Question 22

What are the three types of noise that can hinder communication?

A) internal, external, and transactional
B) linear, interactional, and transactional
C) external, physiological, and psychological
D) sociological, physiological, and psychological

Question 23

Day after day,Jeff and Simon argue about where they will go for the Christmas holidays.It seems that the more they try to resolve the problem,the more irritable and distant they become.What communication misconception does this scenario illustrate?

A) Meanings are not in words.
B) It is impossible not to communicate.
C) More communication is always better.
D) Communication can be intentional or unintentional.

Question 24

Stacey is planning to ask her Mom for a big favour.Stacy spends extensive time planning out exactly what she is going to say in the hopes that her Mom will say yes.What communication misconception does this scenario illustrate?

A) Meanings are in words.
B) Communication is unrepeatable.
C) More communication is always better.
D) Communication can be intentional or unintentional.

Question 25

Which of the following is an example of a relational dimension?

A) "I'll have a large coffee."
B) "I'll have a large coffee," says Jason in a demanding tone.
C) Jason decides to go through the drive-through for his coffee instead of going in so he won't have to talk to the cashier.
D) Jason decides to make his coffee at home because he is in a bad mood and doesn't want to interact with people.

Question 26

A jet flying low overhead interferes with your conversation with a friend.What is this an example of?

A) noise
B) feedback
C)external disruption
D) transactional disruption

Question 27

Jane,a cashier at a grocery store,tells a customer to have a nice day.What type of interpersonal communication is this?

A) dyad
B) quantitative
C) polite
D) impersonal

Question 28

Anuk tells a joke in economics class and the class laughs uproariously.Encouraged by this response,Anuk tells the joke in his Canadian Studies class later that afternoon,and no one laughs.What communication principle does this scenario illustrate?

A) Communication is irreversible.
B) Communication is unrepeatable.
C) More communication is not always better.
D) Communication can be intentional or unintentional.

Question 29

Marjorie is upset with her neighbour,Gord.Instead of talking through the problems with Gord she talks about Gord behind his back to other people in the neighbourhood.Gord is hurt by this and,although Marjorie apologizes and their relationship is cordial,Gord does not forget what Marjorie has said about him behind his back.Which communication principle does this scenario demonstrate?

A) Communication is irreversible.
B) It's impossible not to communicate.
C) Communication can be intentional or unintentional.
D) Communication is unrepeatable.

Question 30

Which term is similar in meaning to decoding?

A) channeling
B) interpreting
C) cognitive complexity
D) linear communication

Question 31

Jesse tells Joy about a crane that has been visiting his neighbourhood."I just love the crane's visits!" Jesse exclaims.Joy thinks it's strange that Jesse enjoys a construction crane in his neighbourhood; however,Jesse is actually talking about a bird.Which communication misconception does this illustrate?

A) More communication is always better.
B) Meanings are in words.
C) Successful communication always involves shared understanding.
D) A single person or event causes another's reaction.

Question 32

What is common in almost all interactions?

A) a proximity and temporal dimension
B) a kinetic and geographical dimension
C) a content and relational dimension
D) a semantic and syntactic dimension

Question 33

Which element is included in the transactional communication model?

A) relational
B) linear
C) environment
D) noise

Question 34

What are two friends likely doing while they are communicating?

A) primarily sending messages
B) primarily receiving messages
C) taking turns sending and receiving messages
D) sending and receiving messages at the same time

Question 35

Janie decides not to tell her friend Anne that she hates her new haircut; however,Bill thinks that Janie should be honest with Anne and tell her what she really thinks.Which communication misconception does this illustrate?

A) A single person or event causes another's reaction.
B) Communication can solve all problems.
C) Successful communication always involves shared understanding.
D) More communication is always better.

Question 36

Peter is trying to explain how to complete a complex police report to a new trainee.He is having trouble focusing because he feels like he might be coming down with the flu.What type of noise is this an example of?

A) external noise
B) physiological noise
C) psychological noise
D) environmental noise

Question 37

Ian is scowling as he does his reading for Interpersonal Communications.Which communication principle is his scowling an example of?

A) It's impossible not to communicate.
B) Communication is irreversible.
C) Communication has a content and relational dimension.
D) Communication is unrepeatable.

Question 38

Which term is defined as "the fields of experience that affect how a communicator understands another's behaviour?"

A) decoding
B) empathy
C) encoding
D) environment

Question 39

What is a channel for communication?

A) walking
B) gesturing
C) self-talk
D) self-awareness

Question 40

What is an example of physiological noise?

A) cars driving by your home
B) a headache
C) fear of this afternoon's test
D) feeling happy about tonight's date

Question 41

Which statement best describes the relational dimensions of a message?

A) They deal with emotional needs.
B) They are expressed verbally.
C) They communicate the nature of the relationship.
D) They communicate how each party feels about himself or herself in the relationship.

Question 42

What are the two main types of control exercised in relationships?

A) conversation and decision-making
B) conversation and emotional
C) decision-making and social
D) emotional and social

Question 43

Which term is defined as the degree to which the partners in an interpersonal relationship like or appreciate one another?

A) affinity
B) appreciation
C) immediacy
D) respect

Question 44

James and Dan are in an intimate relationship together.Using a demanding tone of voice,James tells Dan that it is his turn to do the dishes.What type of message is James sending to Dan?

A) content
B) relational
C) impersonal
D) inappropriate

Question 45

Val,a nurse,feels embarrassed when she gets an angry response after asking a doctor she is working with at the hospital a question.She apologizes profusely and believes she has done something wrong.What communication misconception best explains the error in Val's thinking?

A) Meanings are in words.
B) A single event causes another's reaction.
C) Communication can solve all problems.
D) Successful communication always involves shared understanding.

Question 46

Jeremy and Sasha are talking about how they have gotten along in their friendship over the past few weeks.Which term best describes what they are doing?

A) self-disclosing
B) metacommunicating
C) positive confrontation
D) relational enhancement

Question 47

In a demanding tone of voice,your nursing supervisor says "It's your turn to fill the medical supplies." What should a person do to clarify the relational dimension of her message?

A) Tell your supervisor how defensive she sounds.
B) Ask your colleague to explain the real problem.
C) Point out the tone of voice and ask if your supervisor if she is upset with you.
D) Negotiate other ways of dealing with the medical supply problem which may lead to a discussion of the real problem.

Question 48

Which term is defined as the degree of interest and attention that we feel toward and communicate to others?

A) affinity
B) appreciation
C) immediacy
D) respect

Question 49

Which statement best characterizes interpersonal relationships?

A) They develop unique qualities.
B) They are generally similar to one another.
C) They have more relational talk than content talk.
D) It is desirable to have more of them than impersonal relationships.

Question 50

Which term is defined as the degree to which the parties in a relationship have the power to influence one another?

A) affinity
B) appreciation
C) immediacy
D) control

Question 51

Johan discusses nutrition issues with one of his fellow nursing classmates.What type of message is this?

A) relational
B) content
C) affinity
D) immediacy

Question 52

Which of the following best defines qualitative interpersonal communication?

A) communication in which the parties consider one another as unique individuals rather than as objects
B) impersonal communication, usually face to face, between two individuals
C) behaviour that treats others as objects rather than as individuals
D) two people interacting

Question 53

What is the best thing to do when you are unsure of the relational dimension of a message?

A) Accept the verbal statement at face value.
B) Interpret the nonverbal behaviour.
C) Describe the behaviour and ask what it means.
D) Go back to the content dimension of the message to find meaning.

Question 54

Which scenario below is an example of disclosure in qualitative interpersonal relationships?

A) Monique tells Gord that he did a great job on his presentation at work.
B) Andy informs Ernie that he parked in the wrong spot.
C) Sarah shares details of a fight she had with her boyfriend with her friend Elisa.
D) Yvonne introduces Tara to her friend Linda.

Question 55

Which statement best describes impersonal relationships?

A) Most relationships are impersonal.
B) Impersonal communication plays an important role in our lives.
C) It is desirable to communicate impersonally as much of the time as possible.
D) Our closest relationships have a relatively stable amount of impersonal communication over time.

Question 56

Jan thinks highly of Dr.Lee's knowledge and teaching abilities.Jan shows this by regularly attending classes,listening intently,and telling others how good the classes are.What type of relational message is Jan sending?

A) affinity
B) control
C) esteem
D) respect

Question 57

In a relationship,what type of relation message is the party that talks,interrupts the other,and changes the topic of discussion the most sending?

A) affinity
B) control
C) disrespect
D) immediacy

Question 58

How are the relational dimensions of messages usually expressed?

A) verbally
B) nonverbally
C) through metacommunication
D) within the content dimension of the message

Question 59

What are the two dimensions included in the majority of interpersonal messages?

A) content and relational
B) defensive and supportive
C) semantic and syntactic
D) verbal and contextual

Question 60

What are some of the characteristics that make relationships more interpersonal than impersonal?

A) intrinsic rewards and proximity
B) scarcity, disclosure and intimacy
C) higher levels of self-disclosure and intimacy
D) uniqueness, irreplaceability, and interdependence

Question 61

What is characteristic of the behaviour of effective communicators?

A) They have a wide range of behaviours from which to choose.
B) They exhibit behaviours that are predictable by their partners.
C) They exhibit unique behaviours more often than less effective communicators.
D) They have a consistent set of a few best communication behaviours they can draw upon as needed.

Question 62

Jane,your best friend,seems angry with you.At first you wonder if you have done something to upset her.Then you think about how stressed she has been with work,and then you consider that perhaps she isn't angry at all,perhaps you have been overly sensitive.What are you displaying?

A) empathy
B) self-monitoring
C) cognitive complexity
D) commitment

Question 63

Kim is volunteering as a nurse for three months in an African country.What mindful strategy she should use to be more effective in her intercultural communication?

A) active engagement
B) ambiguity
C) direct communication
D) passive observation

Question 64

What is a person doing when he/she pays attention to his/her behaviour in relationships?

A) controlling
B) integrating
C) self-monitoring
D) ego-centric behaviour

Question 65

Why does social media enhance interpersonal communication?

A) The messages are leaner, allowing people who are busy to communicate effectively.
B) Technology is becoming more affordable, providing more people with access.
C) Social media eliminates the distractions of nonverbal responses.
D) The asynchronous nature of email allows people to communicate across widespread time zones.

Question 66

Why are integrated communicators able to express themselves in skillful ways with little effort?

A) They have had more experience.
B) their communication is a self-conscious act.
C) Effective behaviour has become an unconscious habit.
D) The skills they use are basic elements of interpersonal communication.

Question 67

According to research,how do competent communicators achieve effectiveness?

A) They give lots of feedback.
B) They adjust their behaviours to the person and situation.
C) They use an appropriate balance of seriousness and humour.
D) They consistently use the same types of behaviour in a wide variety of situations.

Question 68

What is a characteristic of integrated communicators?

A) a greater degree of sociability
B) a conscious focus on communicating effectively
C) exposure to a wide range of communication styles
D) communicating competently without constant self-monitoring

Question 69

You want to let a close friend know how much she/he means to you in a way that is sincere and doesn't embarrass either of you.Using the characteristics of communication competence,what is the best approach to achieve your goal?

A) Follow the methods that you saw another friend use successfully.
B) Avoid sending any message until you are sure it will be well received.
C) Follow the methods you used successfully with others in the past as closely as possible.
D) Consider a variety of alternatives, choosing the one that you think will be most successful.

Question 70

Marcus believes that he has a great sense of humour.He makes offensive jokes at work regularly; he is unaware that many of his colleagues are uncomfortable with his jokes.What is Marcus demonstrating?

A) high cognitive complexity
B) high self-monitoring
C) low self-monitoring
D) low empathy

Question 71

According to research,which statement best describes social media communication?

A) It enhances both the quantity and quality of interpersonal communication.
B) It diminishes both the quantity and quality of interpersonal communication.
C) It enhances the quantity but decreases the quality of interpersonal communication.
D) It enhances the quality but decreases the quantity of interpersonal communication.

Question 72

What sequence of stages would you expect to move through when learning a new communication behaviour?

A) awareness, awkward, skillfulness, integration
B) awkward, integration, skillfulness, awareness
C) awareness, initiation, skillfulness, competence
D) initiation, skillfulness, competence, awareness

Question 73

Carter was recently promoted to a supervisor position at the counselling centre he has worked at for the past 10 years.He now supervisors his former colleagues and he has found that both his communication with his former colleagues and their communication with him has changed.Which communication characteristic does this demonstrate?

A) Communication competence is situational.
B) Communication competence can be learned.
C) Communication competence is relational.
D) There is no ideal way to communicate.

Question 74

Steve has taken a job as a police officer in remote northern town close to a First Nations community.He is surprised that many of the First Nations people he talks to do not make eye contact with him.He recognizes that this is a cultural difference and he decides that in order to be more effective at his job he needs to learn more about the people he will be working with.What is this an example of?

A) open mindedness
B) tolerance for ambiguity
C) motivation
D) empathy

Question 75

Why did Steve Jobs,co-founder of Apple,suggest that personal computers be renamed "interpersonal computers"?

A) Some users have exchanged interpersonal relationships for computer use.
B) Computers have advanced to the point that they function as a companion or friend to some users.
C) Using social media forces us to be more precise in our interpersonal messages.
D) Social media can enhance the quantity and quality of interpersonal relationships.

Question 76

As it relates to social media,what does the term "leaner messages" mean?

A) Mediated messages lack nonverbal cues.
B) Mediated messages tend to use a simple vocabulary.
C) Mediated messages are generally much briefer than face-to-face messages.
D) Mediated messages tend to be more superficial and lacking in detail than face-to-face messages.

Question 77

Which term can be described as the ability to construct a variety of different frameworks for viewing an issue?

A) cognitive complexity
B) communication competence
C) metacommunicating
D) perceptual pluralism

Question 78

Why is tolerance for ambiguity an important quality for intercultural competence?

A) Without it one is closed-minded.
B) There is more than one right way to do things.
C) Many messages in other cultures are equivocal.
D) We need to be open-minded to the ways of others.

Question 79

There are three factors that influence a person's decisions about what communication skills to use in a particular situation in order to be effective.What are these factors?

A) empathy, knowledge of the other person, and situation
B) communication context, the goal, and knowledge of the other person
C) communication context, the other person's mood, and self- monitoring.
D) empathy, the goal, and cognitive complexity

Question 80

According to the text,what is a challenge when using social media?

A) distraction
B) leaner messages
C) technological difficulties
D) deficient self-disclosure