Deck 15: Speaking to Inform

Question 1

What type of benefit is derived from an informative presentation's value step that helps your audience appreciate and understand an intriguing scientific discovery?

A) intellectual benefits
B) economic benefits
C) social benefits
D) professional benefits
E) physical benefits

Answer 1

A

Question 2

"Rather than wasting or throwing away cracked eggs, proper cooking procedures will make sure that you can cook a perfect hard-boiled egg." This statement is an example of a(n)

A) purpose statement.
B) value step.
C) central idea.
D) topic.
E) organizational structure.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

According to Rowan's Theory of Informatory and Explanatory Communication, in which type of informative communication should you quiz the audience to assess their comprehension?

A) reporting new information
B) clarifying difficult terms
C) explaining quasi-scientific phenomena
D) overcoming confusion and misunderstanding
E) all of the above

Answer 3

B

Question 4

An informative presentation about how to make a soufflé would fall into which subtype of an informatory presentation?

A) objects
B) people
C) procedures
D) events
E) values

Question 5

According to Katherine Rowan's Theory of Informatory and Explanatory Communication, which of the following presentation purposes is more informatory than explanatory?

A) overcoming confusion and misunderstanding
B) clarifying a difficult term
C) explaining a quasi-scientific concept
D) reporting new information
E) All of the above are examples of informatory communication.

Question 6

In Teaching Tips, Wilbert McKeachie notes that the typical attention span of college students peaks within the first __________ minutes of class and then decreases after that point.

A) 10
B) 15
C) 20
D) 25
E) 30

Question 7

Which of the following informative speaking topics would benefit from using the textbook's strategies for explaining quasi-scientific phenomena?

A) determining the carbohydrate content of food products
B) public speaking in the 21st century
C) how heuristics affect persuasion
D) the vocal mechanism of speech
E) the origins of the Internet

Question 8

If your informative presentation helps audience members resolve interpersonal problems with family members and friends, your value step focuses on

A) intellectual benefits.
B) economic benefits.
C) social benefits.
D) professional benefits.
E) physical benefits.

Question 9

Which one of the following topics is not an example of an explanatory presentation?

A) baking principles
B) academic lecture
C) in-depth news story
D) game analysis
E) sports trivia

Question 10

According to Katherine Rowan's Theory of Informatory and Explanatory Communication, which of the following topic areas is best suited for an informatory presentation?

A) quantum mechanics
B) biographies
C) computer game strategy analysis
D) economics theory and recessions
E) philosophies

Question 11

Researchers have found that if a professor speaks 150 words per minute in class, college students only hear about __________ of them.

A) 15
B) 25
C) 40
D) 50
E) 75

Question 12

Informative presentations are designed to

A) instruct and describe.
B) change beliefs and attitudes.
C) entertain and amuse.
D) inspire and motivate.
E) enhance good will and trust.

Question 13

Effective __________ presentations answers questions such as "Why" or "What does that mean?"

A) explanatory
B) informatory
C) descriptive
D) exploratory
E) persuasive

Question 14

A motivational strategy that explains why your informative presentation is important to audience members is referred to as a

A) stimulus step.
B) credibility step.
C) value step.
D) preview step.
E) needs step.

Question 15

An informative presentation about the World Cup would fall into which subtype of an informatory presentation?

A) objects
B) people
C) procedures
D) events
E) values

Question 16

Which of the following answers best represents a value statement for an informative presentation on fire ants?

A) I want to familiarize audience members with the external anatomy of fire ants.
B) Besides inflicting painful, sometimes deadly, stings, fire ants can eat up your garden, damage your home, and harm your pets and local wildlife.
C) Fire ants have an integument, a head, a thorax, and an abdomen.
D) Fire ants are dangerous.
E) A tour of the fire ant's external anatomy will help you understand why fire ants are so hard to exterminate.

Question 17

Sheri is giving her speech on mesothelioma. She is aware that her audience might not recognize the term. To ensure that she delivers a clear speech, which of the following strategies should Sheri use?

A) Keep repeating the word.
B) Contrast examples and non-examples.
C) Use clear and frequent transitions.
D) Acknowledge its believability.
E) State and explain the more acceptable or accurate belief or theory.

Question 18

Which of the following examples calls for explanatory communication strategies in an informative presentation?

A) how to shift gears on a bicycle
B) how to replace a flat tire on a bicycle
C) how to ride a bicycle safely on a busy highway
D) how bicycles are used as a major means of transportation in other countries
E) how bicycle gears are constructed and calibrated

Question 19

Simple instructions about how to change a tire or iron a shirt would be considered __________ communication.

A) explanatory
B) informatory
C) descriptive
D) exploratory
E) persuasive

Question 20

Informative presentations can

A) report new information.
B) clarify difficult terms.
C) explain quasi-scientific phenomena.
D) overcome confusion and misunderstanding.
E) do all of the above.

Question 21

Which type of explanatory communication may require elements of persuasion to achieve its purpose?

A) explaining quasi-scientific phenomena
B) reporting new information
C) overcoming confusion and misunderstanding
D) explaining difficult terms
E) reporting old information in a new way

Question 22

The primary goal of informatory communication is to create or increase audience awareness about a topic area.

Question 23

What kind of humor did President Ronald Reagan use when he said, "I want to begin by saying how grateful I am that you've asked me here to participate in the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Knights of Columbus. Now, it isn't true that I was present at the first anniversary."

A) teasing audience members
B) using a humorous quotation
C) telling a joke about his family
D) using self-effacing humor
E) making fun of old people

Question 24

In The Three Little Pigs, which story component is represented in the following excerpt? "The wolf was very angry. 'I'm going to climb down your chimney and eat all of you up,' he laughed, 'including your chinny chin chins.'"

A) background information
B) character development
C) action or conflict
D) high point or climax
E) punch line

Question 25

Which of the following strategies should be avoided when asking audience members to actively participate in a presentation?

A) Ask questions even if your listeners do nothing more than nod their heads.
B) Encourage interaction among audience members.
C) Do an exercise or simple game to break up your presentation.
D) Tease or badger someone in the audience to alert others that they may be next.
E) Invite feedback from your audience during or after your presentation.

Question 26

In informative presentations, inexperienced speakers often do not spend enough time talking about features and functions rather than benefits.

Question 27

The various "infomercials" on television may claim they are only sharing information, when in fact, their one and only purpose is to persuade. Which principle in the National Communication Association's Credit for Ethical Communication should be applied to infomercials?

A) We endorse freedom of expression, diversity of perspective, and tolerance of dissent.
B) We strive to understand and respect other communicators.
C) We advocate truthfulness, accuracy, honesty, and reason as essential to the integrity of communication.
D) We condemn communication that degrades individuals through intimidation, coercion, and violence.
E) We accept responsibility for the consequences of our own communication.

Question 28

The terms informative communication and informatory communication have different definitions and functions in Rowan's Theory of Informatory and Explanatory Communication.

Question 29

During his speech about immigration, Daniel tells a joke that refers to immigrants using a derogatory term. Which tip for using humor did Daniel ignore?

A) Focus your humor on the message.
B) Make sure the humor suits you.
C) Avoid offensive humor.
D) Don't tease anyone in your audience.
E) Limit your funny content.

Question 30

What is the best order for using the strategies for overcoming confusion and misunderstanding in an informative presentation?

A) State the belief, acknowledge its believability, create dissatisfaction with the misconception, and explain a more acceptable belief or theory.
B) State the belief, create dissatisfaction with the misconception, acknowledge its believability, and explain a more acceptable belief or theory.
C) Create dissatisfaction with the misconception, acknowledge its believability, explain a more acceptable belief or theory, and state the belief.
D) Explain a more acceptable belief or theory, create dissatisfaction with the misconception, acknowledge its believability, and state the belief.
E) Acknowledge its believability, state the belief, explain a more acceptable belief or theory, and create dissatisfaction with the misconception.

Question 31

Informative presentations are the most common type of presentation speaking.

Question 32

In a presentation about complexity theory, a speaker compares the concepts of order, complexity, and chaos to different states of water: ice, liquid, and steam. What strategy for explaining a quasi-scientific phenomena did the speaker use?

A) Provide clear key points.
B) Use analogies and metaphors.
C) Use presentation aids.
D) Use frequent connectives-transitions, previews, summaries, signposts.
E) Discuss non-examples.

Question 33

In his speech about their vacation to Alaska, Eddie tells a story about how he and his sister climbed a glacier. While telling the story, he moved his hands in a wide sweeping motion to mimic how large the glacier was compared to them. This gesture demonstrates which best practice for telling a story?

A) Use a simple story line.
B) Use numerous characters to make the story interesting.
C) Exaggerate both content and delivery.
D) Provide a link to audience experiences and interests.
E) Practice your story until you can tell it without notes.

Question 34

According to Walter Fisher's Narrative Theory, there are two essential qualities to a good story: probability and fidelity. Which of the following explains story fidelity?

A) whether the facts and incidents in the story seem realistic and logical
B) whether the characters behave in a consistent way
C) whether the plot and actions are plausible
D) whether the elements of the story "hang together"
E) All of the above are elements of story probability.

Question 35

According to research reported by The Chronicle of Higher Education, most college students tune out of a 50-minute lecture around 40 percent of the time.

Question 36

The primary goal of explanatory communication is to deepen audience understanding about a topic area.

Question 37

According to Walter Fisher's Narrative Theory, which of the following terms refers to whether the elements of a story, such as the consistency of characters and actions, hang together and make sense?

A) story fidelity
B) story coherence
C) story apprehension
D) story probability
E) story consistency

Question 38

Most good stories follow an effective organizational pattern, as illustrated in the textbook's story-building chart. Which phase of the story-building chart answers the questions, "What did you or the characters see, hear, feel, smell, or taste?" and "How are the characters reacting to what's happening?"

A) background information
B) character development
C) action or conflict
D) high point
E) punch line

Question 39

The clear dividing line between informative and persuasive presentations is the speaker's purpose.

Question 40

Which of the following is not a technique for involving the audience in your presentation?

A) ask questions
B) encourage interaction
C) tell an entertaining story
D) do an exercise
E) ask for volunteers

Question 41

A value step should be included in all informative presentations.

Question 42

If there's a good reason for you to make a presentation, there should be a good reason for your audience to listen.

Question 43

When explaining a quasi-scientific phenomenon in an explanatory informative presentation, you should use analogies and metaphors and, if appropriate, presentation aids.

Question 44

Storytelling can be an effective tool for reducing a speaker's nervousness.

Question 45

When clarifying a difficult term in an explanatory informative presentation, you should use analogies and metaphors to overcome confusion and misunderstanding.

Question 46

When explaining a quasi-scientific phenomenon in an explanatory informative presentation, it is particularly important to use frequent previews, summaries, signposts, and transitions.

Question 47

When reporting new information, relate the information to audience interests and contrast examples with non-examples.

Question 48

Informatory communication reports new information.

Question 49

Speakers who use a value step tell audience members WIIFT.

Question 50

You should use only typical examples when explaining a difficult term.

Question 51

As long as your overriding purpose is to instruct, explain, clarify, or correct-rather than to persuade-your presentation is informative.

Question 52

Through a series of well-ordered steps, demonstration speeches show an audience how to do something and/or how something functions.

Question 53

Clarifying a difficult term requires the same informative speaking strategies as explaining a quasi-scientific phenomenon.

Question 54

Despite the fact that the prefix info is in the word infomercials, their only purpose is to persuade you to buy a product.

Question 55

When reporting new information, use a clear organizational pattern and a variety of supporting materials.

Question 56

The terms "informatory" and "explanatory" can be used interchangeably.

Question 57

You are a living, breathing collection of stories.

Question 58

When trying to overcome confusion and misunderstanding in an explanatory informative presentation, the first two steps are to state the belief and then acknowledge its believability and the reasons it is believed.

Question 59

Informative presentations can be used to clear up an audience's misconceptions or confusion about a topic.

Question 60

The biggest challenge when explaining a quasi-scientific phenomenon is identifying the key components of the phenomenon.

Question 61

The more characters you put in a story, the more interesting and effective it will be.

Question 62

In general, American humor is more aggressive and sexual than humor in other countries.

Question 63

When asking for volunteers from the audience, cooperation is very difficult to achieve.

Question 64

Self-effacing humor is often much more effective than using a made up funny story in a speech.

Question 65

Asking the audience to actively participate in a presentation keeps them alert and interested.

Question 66

Every good story avoids having a lesson you want the audience to understand, appreciate, and remember.

Question 67

You should always wait until the end of a presentation before asking audience members if they have any questions.

Question 68

Identify and describe the difference between explanatory and informative communication. In your response, include a discussion of their respective functions.

Question 69

To ensure that you are using humor effectively, make sure that your humor is relevant-that it supports the central idea and key points of your presentation.

Question 70

The correct order for the three middle sections of a story in the textbook's Story-Building Chart is: action/conflict, high point or climax, and punch line.

Question 71

Using humor that is borrowed from a book, or made up, is easier to share than are humorous stories based on your personal experiences.

Question 72

Walter Fisher's Narrative Theory claims that stories have two essential qualities: character development and a high point or climax.

Question 73

In the textbook's Story-Building Chart, character development should come before the climax of the story.

Question 74

According to research published in The Chronicle of Higher Education, most college students tune out of a 50-minute lecture about 40 percent of the time. Also, if a professor speaks 150 words per minute, students only hear about 50 of them. Wilbert Keachie, the author of Teaching Tips, notes that the typical attention span of college students peaks within the first ten minutes of a class session, but then decreases after that point. Respond to these statistics by answering two questions: (1) What factors account for this lack of attention and comprehension by college students? and (2) What strategies should professors use to improve student attention and comprehension?

Question 75

"Each little pig built a home. One was made of straw and one was made of sticks. The most industrious pig built a house of bricks…" is an example of character development.

Question 76

Regardless of the type, stories should have a point that directly relates to your purpose.

Question 77

According to Gene Perret, author of Using Humor for Effective Business Speaking, humor is not a good means of generating respect for the speaker.

Question 78

In Walter Fisher's Narrative Theory, story probability refers to the apparent truthfulness of a story, whether it rings true with the stories audience members know to be true in their lives.

Question 79

Audiences usually remember presentations in which they have participated.

Question 80

Your textbook describes four good sources of stories: front page newspaper stories, another person's most embarrassing moment, reference books of stories for speakers, and children's books.