Question 1

At which of the following events would a formal, emotionally neutral presentation be most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Make sure your topic fits the tone of the occasion. An emotionally neutral, formal presentation is appropriate for conducting company business such as a stockholders' meeting or providing HR information to all employees but would not be appropriate in more relaxed, celebratory, or somber situations.

Question 2

Alison is planning a speech honoring her boss, who has received an industry award. The speech will be given at the monthly party their company holds to commemorate birthdays and special achievements. Alison's speech should be

Accepted Answer

Make sure your topic fits the tone of the occasion. An award dinner calls for a speech that is joyous and celebratory.

Question 3

As the firm's public relations liaison, Tahir is responsible for presenting his company's land development plans to the city planning commission for approval. What would his primary goal be in this type of speech?

Accepted Answer

When planning a presentation, ask yourself "Why am I speaking?"Is your goal to inform or persuade? Are you introducing or honoring someone? Seeking approval of his company's plan means that Tahir needs to persuade the commissioners of its value to the city.

Question 4

A 35-year veteran of an accounting firm, Lewis spoke at an intern orientation meeting on "How Computers Changed Accounting Tasks in the 1970s and 1980s." Which of the following reasons best explains why his speech was not well received by the audience?

Accepted Answer

Lewis did not ask himself how appropriate his topic would be for his audience. Topics that are appropriate for older adults, for instance, may not be appropriate for a younger audience, and those that are appropriate for an audience of experts may not be for an audience of non-experts.

Question 5

Which of the following offers the best description of audience analysis?

Accepted Answer

Savvy public speakers engage in audience analysis, which means thinking carefully about the characteristics of their listeners so they can address their audience in the most effective way.

Question 6

Which of the following presentation approaches would appeal most to visual learners?

Accepted Answer

Visual learners learn best from illustrations and simple diagrams that show relationships and key ideas. They also enjoy gestures and metaphors. Text-based PowerPoints do not appeal to them much, but slides rich in images and figures do help them respond to your message.

Question 7

When listening to a presentation, Penny prefers to focus on the sound of the speaker's voice and the passion with which the message is conveyed. What is Penny's learning style?

Accepted Answer

Auditory learners prefer loud, clear voices and believe emotion is best conveyed through voice.

Question 8

Laura was preparing a marketing presentation for a focus group that included a number of hands-on activities and group activities. What type of learning style was she anticipating in the group?

Accepted Answer

Kinesthetic learners need to participate in order to focus their attention on your message and learn best. They need group activities, hands-on activities, or breaks at least every 20 minutes.

Question 9

Which of the following learning methods is most appropriate for an audience composed of kinesthetic learners?

Accepted Answer

Kinesthetic learners need to participate in order to focus their attention on your message and learn best. They need group activities, hands-on activities, or breaks at least every 20 minutes.

Question 10

Which of the following statements about audience political orientation is true?

Accepted Answer

Audiences from urban areas tend to be more liberal, and audiences from rural areas tend to be more conservative. Knowing whether your audience is primarily conservative, primarily liberal, or a mix of the two can help you to tailor your message accordingly if your topic requires it.

Question 11

Which of the following statements about audience demographics is correct?

Accepted Answer

If you are speaking to a group of elderly retirees, many are likely to have impaired hearing or vision. To accommodate them, you need to speak clearly and at an appropriate volume, and your visual aids must be large enough to be easily seen. You may even need to describe your visual aids verbally for the benefit of those who cannot see them.

Question 12

In audience analysis, features such as the age, sex, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status of audience members are called

Accepted Answer

An important part of audience analysis is taking account of listeners' demographic characteristics, which include their age, sex and sexual orientation, culture, socioeconomic status, physical and mental characteristics, and political orientation.

Question 13

What do experts recommend as one of the most important questions to ask yourself when considering the context of a presentation you are preparing?

Accepted Answer

"How will audience members benefit from what I have to say?"is perhaps the single most important question you can use to guide you as you design your presentation. In particular, focus on benefits you can offer that fulfill an unmet need of your listeners.

Question 14

Which of the following can show a speaker's sensitivity toward an audience's differences in sexual orientation?

Accepted Answer

Effective presenters also bear in mind that listeners may vary in their sexual orientation. That matters because some forms of language reflect only the experiences of heterosexual people. Using the term "loved ones"instead of "wife"or "husband"shows greater sensitivity by including both legally recognized marriages and other committed relationships, whether with women or men.

Question 15

Which of the following correctly describes one way that age can affect how an audience will respond to a presentation?

Accepted Answer

Younger adults often appreciate presentations that use multiple forms of media. When speaking to such groups, you may thus choose to incorporate music, multimedia slides, and video clips. Some older adults or seniors, however, may find the use of media distracting and prefer a no-frills presentation style.

Question 16

Which of the following topics is more appropriate for higher-income audiences than for those with lower incomes?

Accepted Answer

Considering the economic status of your listeners can help you to tailor your message to their priorities and experiences. For instance, wealthy listeners are often older, more educated, and more widely traveled. They may be more likely to have certain markers of status, such as a home or an investment portfolio.

Question 17

Researchers have found that, in general, men are more interested than women in which of the following topics?

Accepted Answer

Although individual responses always vary, some research shows that men are often more interested than women in issues related to engineering, science, mathematics, and technology. Women, in contrast, are often more interested than men in social, artistic, and relationship issues. Research also shows that women and men are equally interested in many aspects of their working lives, including work hours, job security, and promotion opportunities.

Question 18

After you have decided on a topic for your presentation, it is important to know

Accepted Answer

When you are preparing your presentation it is helpful to consider the context of your speaking engagement: the audience's purpose, its size, the time available for your speech, the demands competing for your listeners' attention, and your audience's existing knowledge about your topic.

Question 19

Which of the following factors is important for analyzing the context of your speaking engagement?

Accepted Answer

It is important to consider the context of your speaking engagement: the audience's purpose, its size, the time available for your speech, the demands competing for your listeners' attention, and your audience's existing knowledge about your topic.

Question 20

Hannah prepared a speech for an upcoming business luncheon, taking into account the composition of her audience, the purpose of the event, and the demands competing for her listeners' attention. Which of the following factors about the context of her speech must she also consider for her presentation to be effective?

Accepted Answer

When preparing a speech, it is helpful to consider the context of your speaking engagement: the audience's purpose, its size, the time available for your speech, the demands competing for your listeners' attention, and your audience's existing knowledge about your topic.

Quiz 11: Major Goals for Presentations