Deck 6: Verbal Communication Skills

Question 1

The meaning of a symbol such as a word

A) is consistent across cultures.
B) is culturally independent.
C) is consistent within a culture.
D) can change from culture to culture.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

The word bus brings to your mind a dependable vehicle that delivers you to campus in all kinds of weather safely and in relative comfort.The triangle of meaning has been completed with a

A) symbol.
B) referent.
C) word.
D) thought.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

If we are unable to experience the referent of a word with one of our senses,we say the word is

A) denotative.
B) abstract.
C) connotative.
D) concrete.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

In general,the more ________ the language,the easier it is for others to understand.

A) abstract
B) concrete
C) denotative
D) powerful

Question 5

The word that indicates a person,thing,event,or feeling is the

A) symbol.
B) referent.
C) thought.
D) connotative meaning.

Question 6

The two levels on which language conveys meaning are

A) low-context and high-context.
B) denotative and connotative.
C) symbolically and thoughtfully.
D) confirming and disconfirming.

Question 7

If you call the container in which you carry your lunch a bag and your roommate calls the container in which he transports lunch a sack,you are demonstrating that

A) words are context bound.
B) words are culturally bound.
C) words have denotative meaning.
D) words are arbitrary.

Question 8

Referents refer to

A) words.
B) symbols.
C) what symbols represent.
D) connotations.

Question 9

Which of the following words is most concrete?

A) catfish
B) fish
C) animal
D) living thing

Question 10

Thinking of a sister as "a person who will be there for you through thick and thin" conveys which level of meaning for the word sister?

A) denotative
B) connotative
C) jargon
D) malapropism

Question 11

The actual vehicle that the word bus represents is a

A) symbol.
B) referent.
C) thought.
D) abstract.

Question 12

Which of the following words is most abstract?

A) celery
B) vegetable
C) edible vegetation
D) food

Question 13

If we can experience the referent of a word with one of our senses,then we say the word is

A) concrete.
B) denotative.
C) abstract.
D) connotative.

Question 14

You see the word bus and have a mental picture of the large vehicle that delivers you to campus each morning.The word is a

A) referent.
B) symbol.
C) thought.
D) category.

Question 15

The study of words and meaning is called

A) symbolic interaction.
B) linguistic determinism.
C) referent interaction.
D) semantics.

Question 16

A school is an institution for instruction.This is an example of

A) connotative meaning.
B) denotative meaning.
C) abstract meaning.
D) culture-bound meaning.

Question 17

A word's connotative meaning

A) can be found in a dictionary.
B) is personal and subjective.
C) is literal and restrictive.
D) creates content.

Question 18

"Nova," the name of a car sold by General Motors,means bright star in English,but in Spanish it translates to "It does not go." This illustrates that the meaning of a symbol such as a word

A) is consistent across cultures.
B) can change from culture to culture.
C) is universal.
D) will remain unchanged during translation.

Question 19

If you can see it,touch it,smell it,taste it,or hear it,then a word refers to something that is

A) connotative.
B) concrete.
C) ambiguous.
D) affective.

Question 20

A word's denotative meaning

A) conveys feelings.
B) is a subjective response to the word.
C) is the literal description of what the word means.
D) varies from person to person.

Question 21

The fact that the Inuit have more words for snow than residents of Florida do is an example of

A) allness.
B) static evaluation.
C) the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis.
D) bypassing.

Question 22

Using one word or phrase when you meant to say one that sounds like it is

A) an inference.
B) a connotation.
C) a restricted code.
D) a malapropism.

Question 23

The notion that language shapes your culture and your culture shapes your language is called

A) the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis.
B) linguistic determinism.
C) linguistic relativity.
D) symbolic interactionism.

Question 24

Which two principles form the underlying elements in the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis?

A) linguistic determinism and symbolic interactionism
B) bypassing and linguistic determinism
C) linguistic determinism and linguistic relativity
D) linguistic relativity and bypassing

Question 25

There is evidence to suggest that we have the ability to control our emotions based on our ability to control what we think about,as well as the choice of words we use to describe our feelings.This illustrates that

A) words create perceptions.
B) words communicate denotative and connotative meaning.
C) words communicate concrete or abstract meaning.
D) words have power to affect the quality of our interpersonal relationships.

Question 26

A restricted code is

A) illegal word choices.
B) words having a unique meaning to a subgroup or culture.
C) words used to reveal classified information.
D) terminology that causes psychological interference.

Question 27

You and your cousin have arranged to meet in front of the greenhouse.If you go to the florist and your cousin waits in front of the house down the street that was just painted green,what word barrier has occurred?

A) lack of precision
B) allness
C) bypassing
D) fact-inference confusion

Question 28

The theory stating that "as a society we are bound together because of our common use of symbols" is known as

A) symbolic interaction.
B) linguistic determinism.
C) referent interaction.
D) bypassing.

Question 29

Responses such as "Yes,I see" and "Uh-huh" are called

A) small talk.
B) word barriers.
C) indexing.
D) backchannel talk.

Question 30

The nervous speaker who confused the word organism with orgasm used

A) indexing.
B) a malapropism.
C) restricted code.
D) static evaluation.

Question 31

Bypassing,static evaluation,and allness are

A) ways to make words more positive.
B) examples of the levels of abstraction.
C) barriers created by language.
D) how we interpret what we experience.

Question 32

The theory that each language includes some unique features that are not found in other languages is called

A) linguistic relativity.
B) linguistic determinism.
C) the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis.
D) symbolic interaction.

Question 33

Lack of precision is a word barrier that occurs when

A) change is not considered when labelling people and events.
B) people and things are lumped together.
C) language reflects bias.
D) words are used inappropriately or imprecisely.

Question 34

The theory of symbolic interaction illuminates

A) how language determines or influences thoughts or perceptions.
B) how we use our common understanding of symbols to form interpersonal relationships.
C) how the meaning of messages is dependent on context and nonverbal cues.
D) how the meaning of messages is dependent on language.

Question 35

How we interpret what we experience is called

A) bypassing.
B) world view.
C) high-context.
D) linguistic determinism.

Question 36

One researcher estimated that the 500 words we use most often have over ________ different dictionary meanings.

A) 14 000
B) 16 000
C) 13 000
D) 20 000

Question 37

The proud pet owner who announces that all her female cats have been sprayed is displaying what lack of clarity?

A) biased language
B) polarization
C) bypassing
D) malapropism

Question 38

Researchers found that the most frequent topic of conversation between couples during the course of a week was

A) news and current events.
B) the couples themselves.
C) money.
D) entertainment.

Question 39

Bypassing occurs when

A) language reflects an ethnic bias.
B) objects have been labelled without considering change.
C) description occurs in terms of extremes.
D) the same word means different things to different people.

Question 40

When we label someone,it changes our attitude towards that person.This demonstrates that

A) words shape and reflect culture.
B) words create perceptions.
C) words affect the quality of our interpersonal relationships.
D) words influence thoughts.

Question 41

The statement "All Maritimers rely on the sea for their livelihood" is an example of the word barrier of

A) bypassing.
B) allness.
C) static evaluation.
D) polarization.

Question 42

People who work in specialized areas need to take extra caution so as not to use

A) a restricted code.
B) polarization.
C) static evaluation.
D) malapropisms.

Question 43

Using words that disparage a person's age,mental or physical ability,or social standing are examples of

A) bypassing.
B) demeaning language.
C) polarization.
D) static evaluation.

Question 44

The jargon used by a group or culture may

A) break the cohesiveness of the group or culture.
B) cause the group or culture to break into splinter groups.
C) create cohesiveness within the group or culture.
D) cause the group or culture to develop new terms.

Question 45

Your parents' assumption that you will still enjoy activities that you enjoyed as a child is an example of

A) dating.
B) static evaluation.
C) polarizing.
D) bypassing.

Question 46

People who use either-or language or words like never or always are using

A) dating.
B) indexing.
C) allness.
D) polarization.

Question 47

Reflecting non-sexist attitudes,helping you become more other-oriented,making your speech more contemporary,and confirming the value of all individuals are benefits of

A) non-sexist language.
B) allness.
C) bypassing.
D) static evaluation.

Question 48

Using language to make unqualified,possibly untrue generalizations is the word barrier of

A) static evaluation.
B) allness.
C) fact-inference confusion.
D) polarization.

Question 49

Jargon is an example of

A) a malapropism.
B) a restricted code.
C) judgment.
D) static evaluation.

Question 50

You call your 2year-old nephew a "juvenile delinquent" because he spray-painted your fence when he was 11.This is an example of the word barrier of

A) polarization.
B) bypassing.
C) static evaluation.
D) lack of clarity.

Question 51

"This particular instructor is known for her difficult tests" is an example of

A) bypassing.
B) indexing.
C) polarizing.
D) dating.

Question 52

Static evaluation is

A) lumping things or people into all-encompassing categories.
B) using words inappropriately or imprecisely.
C) the unnecessary use of many abstract words.
D) labelling people, objects, or events without considering change.

Question 53

Jargon refers to

A) a shared language of terms understood only by a particular group.
B) the confusion of one word or phrase for another.
C) psychological interference.
D) the use of language to make unqualified generalizations.

Question 54

Static evaluation is a statement that

A) evokes different meanings for different people.
B) fails to recognize change.
C) reflects gender or ethnic bias.
D) lumps people together into categories.

Question 55

A way to avoid static evaluation is to

A) index statements.
B) use words the receiver will interpret similarly to you.
C) date your observations.
D) avoid stereotyping.

Question 56

"You never listen to my suggestions" is an example of which word barrier?

A) allness
B) lack of clarity
C) indexing
D) polarization

Question 57

When you announce that "everybody did poorly on the exam," you are using the word barrier of

A) indexing.
B) bypassing.
C) allness.
D) static evaluation.

Question 58

Polarization is a word barrier that involves

A) describing and evaluating in extremes.
B) labelling people, objects, and events without considering change.
C) pronouncing something as fact without verification.
D) a reflection of gender, ethnic, or racial bias.

Question 59

According to your text,to acknowledge each individual's uniqueness is to engage in

A) indexing.
B) allness.
C) fact or inference confusion.
D) bypassing.

Question 60

The statement "You're wrong,I'm right.You're going to do it my way or else," is likely to result in

A) a quality relationship with others.
B) a positive communication climate.
C) a defensive climate.
D) establishing agreement.

Question 61

One way to avoid problems caused by the use of you statements is to

A) keep the focus on problem solving rather than control.
B) use the word I and describe your feelings and thoughts.
C) show you understand the other person's viewpoint.
D) present yourself as an equal rather than a superior.

Question 62

Accusations that begin with you may result in

A) supportiveness.
B) allness.
C) defensiveness.
D) indexing.

Question 63

A brief preface to a feedback statement,intended to communicate that you don't want your listener to take the message in an overly critical way,is called

A) an "I" message.
B) a word picture.
C) an apology.
D) an extended "I" statement.

Question 64

When describing others' sexual orientation

A) people should be sensitive to their own comfort first.
B) use polarization to describe your perceptions.
C) maintain the goal of being a dominant communicator.
D) you should always be sensitive to how others wish to be addressed and discussed.

Question 65

When individuals are indifferent or apathetic,they convey

A) control.
B) neutrality.
C) manipulation.
D) evaluation.

Question 66

The words amazed,ambivalent,sentimental,and vulnerable are all examples of

A) neutral terms.
B) positive terms.
C) negative terms.
D) genuine terms.

Question 67

A manipulative person

A) is controlling.
B) considers the uniqueness of each individual.
C) has hidden agendas.
D) is rigid in his or her thinking.

Question 68

A manner of speaking that allows others the opportunity to express their viewpoints is

A) problem orientation.
B) empathy.
C) being flexible.
D) description.

Question 69

The underlying principle to avoid biased language is

A) to be other-oriented and imagine how others will react to your words.
B) to keep abreast of changes in labels.
C) to adopt designations currently preferred by members of ethnic groups themselves.
D) to use the words and terms you are most comfortable using.

Question 70

Being yourself and taking an honest interest in others is to be

A) manipulative.
B) genuine.
C) defensive.
D) flexible.

Question 71

Using non-sexist language

A) does not necessarily reflect non-sexist attitudes.
B) such as stewardess and mankind will assist you in becoming more other-oriented.
C) confuses people because it doesn't let others know your biases.
D) reflects a non-sexist attitude and helps you become more other-oriented..

Question 72

When others tell us what is good for us,we resent being

A) stereotyped.
B) controlled.
C) evaluated.
D) manipulated.

Question 73

When you provide an explicit,but not condescending,message to someone from another culture,it is called

A) jargon.
B) a restricted code.
C) an elaborated code.
D) indexing.

Question 74

Pulling rank conveys

A) evaluation.
B) rigidity.
C) neutrality.
D) superiority.

Question 75

The ability to understand others' feelings and their emotional responses is

A) problem solving.
B) empathy.
C) description.
D) genuineness.

Question 76

The words weatherman,chairman,and stewardess are examples of

A) bypassing.
B) allness.
C) static evaluation.
D) sexist language.

Question 77

Rather than using words like mailman,chairman,or alderman

A) substitute the word woman.
B) use words that are not gender specific.
C) use appropriate labels when you know the gender of the subject.
D) use the word one.

Question 78

Describing your feelings allows you to

A) be genuine rather than manipulative.
B) make yourself feel better.
C) own the problem, which in turn leads to openness and trust.
D) keep the focus on problem solving.

Question 79

The essence of being other-oriented is

A) neutrality.
B) genuineness.
C) empathy.
D) flexibility.

Question 80

A viewpoint that says one answer is right and all other answers are wrong conveys

A) control.
B) neutrality.
C) evaluation.
D) rigidity.