Deck 8: Holding Effective Conversations

Question 1

_____ are interactive, locally managed, sequentially organized, and extemporaneous interchanges of thoughts and feelings between two or more people.

A) Conversations
B) Cultural exchanges
C) Greetings
D) Small talks

Answer 1

A

Question 2

According to your text, what cannot be said about conversations?

A) Only those involved in the conversation determine the topic, who will speak, the order of speaking, and how many turns each will take.
B) Conversations are very similar to other forms of communication like speeches, interviews, group meetings, and debates.
C) Conversations are sequentially organized.
D) Conversations are largely extemporaneous.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

One strategy in starting a conversation is to

A) make a comment
B) ask a question
C) introduce yourself
D) all of the above

Answer 3

D

Question 4

When we say that conversations are "locally managed," we mean that

A) messages are exchanged about other people who are not present
B) topics are preplanned
C) partners produce and monitor every aspect of the conversation
D) the conversation topics arise from local current events

Question 5

The characteristic of a conversation that describes it as having a beginning, middle, and end is

A) conversations are interactive
B) conversations are extemporaneous
C) conversations are sequentially organized
D) conversations are locally managed

Question 6

Social conversations are typically uttered in the spur of the moment without lengthy preplanning; therefore, we say such conversations are

A) casual
B) introductory
C) impromptu
D) extemporaneous

Question 7

As Luke and Erick begin a conversation, they are likely to engage in

A) casual social conversation
B) a greeting
C) small talk
D) pragmatic problem-consideration conversation

Question 8

Formality refers to the degree to which a conversation follows scripted

A) norms
B) rules
C) procedures
D) all of the above

Question 9

One way to sustain a conversation is to ________, which involves verbally sharing personal ideas and feelings with each other.

A) ask ritualized questions
B) use scripted messages
C) self-disclose
D) use free information

Question 10

In some types of conversation, people adhere to their canned plans without much conscious thought, and the sequence becomes ________, or highly routinized

A) scripted
B) other-focused
C) conversationally varied
D) extemporaneous

Question 11

______ is the extent to which the comments made by a person relate to those made by another previously in the same conversation.

A) Positive politeness
B) Conversational coherence
C) Balanced speaking
D) Empathy

Question 12

The only time it is appropriate to interrupt during a conversation is

A) never: interruptions are always a violation of turn-taking
B) when you want to talk and take a turn
C) to end a conversation
D) for clarification or agreement

Question 13

Margaret interrupted Terrence while he was talking to ask him to clarify what he just said; in doing so she

A) violated the golden rule of never interrupting
B) had one of the few acceptable reasons for interrupting
C) took an ineffective turn-taking strategy
D) violated a turn-taking rule

Question 14

After Selena's comment concerning the budget deadlines, Sharon started talking about her vacation plans, therefore violating the idea of

A) conversational coherence
B) practicing politeness
C) balanced speaking
D) crediting sources

Question 15

We show conversational coherence by

A) taking turns
B) crediting sources
C) connecting what is said between you and the other person
D) not interrupting

Question 16

Which of the following actions should we take in closing a conversation?

A) Notice and use leave-taking cues.
B) Verbalize your desire to end the conversation.
C) Close with a brief stock message.
D) All of the above

Question 17

Which of the following is most reflective of research findings on turn-taking?

A) Interruptions are always a violation of turn-taking.
B) Interruptions are a common aspect of conversation and should be tolerated.
C) No matter what the motivation, interrupting is damaging to interpersonal relationships.
D) Interrupting for clarification or agreement is considered acceptable.

Question 18

When participants are more familiar with each other, conversations are more ________.

A) informal
B) formal
C) sequential
D) irrelevant

Question 19

Karen and Kelly are discussing their relationship in a busy location in the student center. Karen suggests to Kelly that they move the conversation to his dorm room. Karen is likely concerned about

A) the quality maxim
B) protecting their privacy
C) being ethical
D) delivering an FTA indirectly

Question 20

If your nonverbal behavior (eye contact, nodding, positive facial expression) suggests that you're ________, you will likely encourage the other person to continue talking, making your side of the conversation easier.

A) daydreaming
B) committing a benign violation
C) listening
D) self-disclosing

Question 21

Sometimes humor is a(n) ________, when we become amused when we observe something unexpected but not harmful.

A) codeswitch
B) benign violation
C) conversation piece
D) ethical dialogue

Question 22

We should handle humor with care because

A) something you consider to be unexpected may be taken for granted by others, making your humor attempt seem boring or childish
B) we don't always know what others consider harmful
C) you might underestimate the hurtfulness of "humor" based on gender, ethnicity, or sexual orientation
D) all of the above

Question 23

________ occurs when conversational partners act in ways that are authentic, empathic, confirming, present, equal, and supportive.

A) Conversational coherence
B) Ethical dialogue
C) Privacy protection
D) Turn-taking

Question 24

Which conversation guideline involves keeping confidences and paying attention to any unintended audience to a conversation?

A) conversational coherence
B) ethical dialogue
C) protecting privacy
D) turn-taking

Question 25

In low-context cultures

A) silence is valued
B) silence is seldom considered good
C) people will sit in groups without talking
D) they often rely on the context to express meaning in communication

Question 26

In high-context cultures

A) you are more likely to see greater use of qualifiers
B) you are more likely to see less use of qualifiers
C) you are likely to see more to the point responses
D) the quality maxim operates by truth-telling

Question 27

Which of the following is a good reason one person in a conversation may have more talk time than another?

A) The person is of a higher status.
B) The person is a politician.
C) The person is younger and has more to say.
D) The person is not aware of conversational rules.

Question 28

Marcus and Janet have been married for 10 years. When they tell stories about their travels at dinner parties, they often co-narrate, which means

A) they often stop short of finishing the story
B) they take turns telling individual parts of the story
C) they often finish each other's sentences when telling the story
D) they follow highly routinized, canned scripts to tell the story

Question 29

The way a conversation feels emotionally when you are inside the interaction is known as

A) the tone of the conversation
B) the script of a conversation
C) the purpose of a conversation
D) the appropriateness of a conversation

Question 30

Questions that require no more than a "yes" or "no" answer are called

A) open-ended questions
B) closed-ended questions
C) no-ended questions
D) multiple-choice questions

Question 31

When closing a conversation, it is important that you

A) ask open-ended questions
B) notice and use leave-taking cues
C) self-disclose appropriately
D) actively listen

Question 32

Kylie is having a cell phone conversation with a friend. She does not realize it but she is on speaker phone and several others can hear the conversation. What aspect of digital conversations did Kylie fail to realize?

A) awareness of audience
B) social presence
C) abruptness of disengagement
D) multiplicity of conversations

Question 33

Your personal sense that in a particular moment your conversational partners are immediately available to you-even if they aren't-is ________.

A) awareness of audience
B) social presence
C) abruptness of disengagement
D) multiplicity of conversations

Question 34

Cody is texting with his brother Dylan about an important upcoming family event. They swap several texts back and forth in a relatively short time frame. Then, all of a sudden, Dylan no longer replies. Cody is frustrated by

A) awareness of audience
B) social presence
C) abruptness of disengagement
D) multiplicity of conversations

Question 35

While the group is meeting face-to-face, Mary may briefly disengage from the group to take a quick phone call; Sean may exchange a few text messages with friends he plans to meet afterwards; Maggie may use her laptop to reply to an e-mail from her mom; and Charlie may announce that their professor just posted exam grades online. These examples represent ________.

A) awareness of audience
B) social presence
C) abruptness of disengagement
D) multiplicity of conversations

Question 36

Which of the following media represents a strong social presence?

A) Email
B) Text messaging
C) FaceTime
D) none of the above

Question 37

In high-context cultures, a speaker's comments are likely to be indirect and seemingly irrelevant.

Question 38

Low-context cultures are characterized by speaking one's mind and telling the truth.

Question 39

All characteristics of ethical dialogue must be present in every conversation.

Question 40

Interrupting is never acceptable.

Question 41

Finishing each other's sentences is known as co-narration.

Question 42

Sometimes the purpose of a conversation isn't evident until it's over.

Question 43

Alternating between listening and speaking in a conversation is called co-narration.

Question 44

A benign violation happens when someone is offended by your use of humor.

Question 45

Gossip is always unethical.

Question 46

In high-context cultures, periods of silence are perceived as uncomfortable.

Question 47

There are no ritualized or recognized messages to end a conversation.

Question 48

Free information is information you can use because it is unlikely to be copyrighted.

Question 49

Open-ended questions require a "yes" or "no" answer.

Question 50

We are more likely to perceive our partners as fully present in conversations through Skype rather than through text messages.

Question 51

Researchers have found that a shared laugh can ease the initial awkwardness between strangers.

Question 52

In low-context cultures, silence in a conversation is seen as uncomfortable.

Question 53

A ritual question is one that requires the other person to elaborate and fully explain their answers.

Question 54

A ritual question is a question about the other person or the situation that is easy to answer and doesn't pry into personal matters.

Question 55

It is unacceptable to allocate more floor time to higher-status people.

Question 56

A willingness to share some of your personal experiences and perspective can result in more stimulating and meaningful conversation.

Question 57

How do conversations differ from other forms of communication like speeches, interviews, group meetings, or debates?

Question 58

From the article excerpt "Conversational Ballgames," how do Japanese and Western-style conversations differ? Be sure to discuss examples such as turn-taking.

Question 59

How do we know when to take a turn in a conversation? Discuss the various verbal and nonverbal methods of allowing a turn.

Question 60

What does it mean when we say, in some types of conversation, the sequence becomes scripted? Give an example of a scripted exchange

Question 61

What is the difference between closed-ended questions and open-ended questions and are some advantages and disadvantages of each type? Give an example of each type.

Question 62

What does it mean to focus on your partner in a conversation? What are some specific strategies skilled conversationalists use to focus on the other person instead of themselves?

Question 63

What is social presence, and how does it affect interactions on social media? Give an example of both strong social presence and weak social presence.