Deck 15: Speaking Persuasively

Question 1

Which of the following is NOT an example of persuasion?

A) Convincing someone to buy a car you wish to sell
B) Supporting a political cause you care about
C) Sharing how relaxing your vacation was
D) Rallying support for a local charity

Answer 1

Sharing how relaxing your vacation was

Question 2

What type of speaking aims to influence listeners' beliefs, attitudes, and actions?

A) Persuasive
B) Informative
C) Coercive
D) Public

Answer 2

Persuasive

Question 3

We can think of _______________ as communicating in an attempt to motivate others to adopt a specific manner of thinking or doing.

A) coercion
B) persuasion
C) public speaking
D) propaganda

Answer 3

persuasion

Question 4

Which of the following is NOT a realistic goal for most persuasive speeches?

A) To get an audience to do something
B) To persuade an audience to believe that a claim we're making is true
C) To convince an audience to believe an opinion about a particular issue
D) To convince listeners to alter their lives drastically

Question 5

Kim is giving a persuasive talk about organ donation. She wants to share the benefits of organ donation and she hopes that some audience members will be persuaded to fill out the organ donor card she brought with her. What persuasive goal is Kim trying to achieve?

A) To persuade her audience to believe that the claim she's making is true
B) To get her audience to do something
C) To convince an audience to believe her opinion about a particular issue
D) To convince her audience to believe in a social cause

Question 6

Phil is giving his persuasive speech about legalizing stem cell research. He knows some of his audience members might have an issue with whether stem cells are taken from viable fetuses, so he knows his first job as a persuasive speaker is to influence their __________ about where stem cells come from.

A) thoughts
B) actions
C) beliefs
D) values

Question 7

Which term best describes our perceptions about what is true or false, accurate or inaccurate?

A) Beliefs
B) Opinions
C) Actions
D) Norms

Question 8

An attorney arguing his or her side of a case before a judge is trying to influence the judge's ________ about the case, or what the judge trusts to be true or false.

A) opinions
B) actions
C) ruling
D) beliefs

Question 9

Tyrone has always been opposed to the war in Iraq. He's always thought the United States had no right to be there, and he wants to see troops withdrawn immediately. He thinks that the U.S. presence only holds the country back, and that the U.S. is wrong to keep troops in place. Tyrone decides to give a speech at a peace rally on campus, hoping to use his persuasive skills to influence other students' ____________ about the justness of the war.

A) beliefs
B) feelings
C) opinions
D) actions

Question 10

A(n) __________ is an evaluation about what's good and bad.

A) opinion
B) action
C) belief
D) value

Question 11

If you see an infomercial on a product late one night and are persuaded to order that product, the infomercial has succeeded in influencing what?

A) Your opinions
B) Your actions
C) Your beliefs
D) The way you spend your time

Question 12

Liza is surfing the Internet when she sees an ad for a weight loss product. Although she usually ignores such ads, this one is a large ad that specifically states what the product can do. Liza is intrigued, so she "clicks through" the ad to get the details of the advertised weight loss product. Liza's _________ have been influenced by the online ad.

A) behaviors
B) beliefs
C) opinions
D) norms

Question 13

In his Treatise on Rhetoric, which Greek philosopher described three forms of rhetorical proof?

A) Socrates
B) Thales
C) Aristotle
D) Plato

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT a rhetorical proof that can support persuasive messages?

A) Mythos
B) Logos
C) Pathos
D) Ethos

Question 15

Which proof refers to a speaker's respectability, trustworthiness, and moral character?

A) Pathos
B) Mythos
C) Logos
D) Ethos

Question 16

Singer and social activist Bono has established a charity called One, which is dedicated to fighting poverty and preventable diseases in the world. He has frequently called on other celebrities such as Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, and Ellen DeGeneres to make commercials on behalf of the cause, and politicians such as President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have been interviewed about the issues the organization battles. The One organization seems to realize the persuasive power that __________ can have.

A) pathos
B) ethos
C) mythos
D) logos

Question 17

Which of the following is NOT a quality a speaker should display for ethos?

A) Integrity
B) Goodwill toward the audience
C) A false sense of humility
D) Knowledge and experience with the topic

Question 18

Tia is very passionate about raising money for a Haitian relief fund. She e-mails her family and friends soliciting donations after a major earthquake in Haiti, encouraging them to send money to the organization. When Tia's brother asks about how much money goes to the cause versus how much is kept for administration costs, Tia ignores his concerns and again urges him to donate. Tia's brother feels that Tia is just using him for the donation and decides to donate his money elsewhere. What could Tia have done to better establish her ethos?

A) Tia could have had more goodwill toward her audience.
B) Tia could have demonstrated more integrity.
C) Tia could have had more virtue.
D) Tia could have displayed more experience with the topic.

Question 19

Judgments about ethos belong to whom?

A) The speaker
B) Everyone
C) The orator
D) The audience

Question 20

Aristotle used which term to refer to listeners' emotions?

A) Ethos
B) Pathos
C) Logos
D) Mythos

Question 21

Appeals to positive _____________ are often most effective at persuading people to change their attitudes or opinions, whereas appeals to negative ones are frequently most effective at inducing behavioral change.

A) thoughts
B) beliefs
C) emotions
D) values

Question 22

Pathos appeals are usually focused on generating _____________ emotions because people generally dislike them and are motivated to respond to the appeal to reduce those feelings.

A) positive
B) ambivalent
C) uncomfortable
D) negative

Question 23

Maggie is giving a persuasive speech on vegetarianism. In her pathos appeals, Maggie decides to appeal to ___________ by showing a graphic video of a cow being slaughtered. As the audience watches the cow suffer and struggle before it dies, Maggie can see they are appalled, and she is sure her pathos appeal was effective.

A) irritation
B) disgust
C) shame
D) frustration

Question 24

Brent knows his persuasive speech on helping orphans from New Orleans has to be emotional to motivate his audience to assist. Brent shows pictures of several orphans crying, and he quotes several of them talking about how difficult their lives have been and how they suffered after Hurricane Katrina in 2009. Brent is hoping to use these images and words to appeal to ______________ as part of his use of pathos.

A) sadness
B) disgust
C) fear
D) anger

Question 25

The sale of blood diamonds-diamonds that are mined in a war zone and then sold to support an insurgency or warlord's activities-is an issue that Owen has long fought against. He is asked to speak at a bridal show, where he knows his audience is composed not only of brides, but jewelers as well. Owen uses the opportunity to discuss how children are often used in the mining of blood diamonds. At the conclusion of his speech, Owen shows a picture of a child missing a hand and says, "Next time someone tells you a diamond cost an arm and a leg, ask yourself if there might be some truth to that. Don't support this horrific practice just so you can have something sparkly on your hand". Which type of pathos appeal is Owen using?

A) Fear
B) Humor
C) Sadness
D) Guilt

Question 26

If you are appealing to your listeners' sense of reason, you are using which type of appeal?

A) Ethos
B) Pathos
C) Logos
D) Mythos

Question 27

To ________________ means to make judgments about the world based on evidence rather than emotion or intuition.

A) examine
B) reason
C) analyze
D) deduct

Question 28

What are the two types of reasoning?

A) Inductive and productive
B) Reductive and deductive
C) Reductive and productive
D) Inductive and deductive

Question 29

When a doctor listens to a patient's symptoms, analyzes blood tests, and then provides a diagnosis, the doctor has used ____________________ reasoning.

A) deductive
B) inductive
C) productive
D) logical

Question 30

Tonya tries to persuade her listeners that all swans in the world are white because no one has ever seen a swan that wasn't white. By offering this evidence to support her conclusion, Tonya uses ___________________ reasoning

A) practical
B) deductive
C) inductive
D) logical

Question 31

In his speech, Jason attempts to persuade listeners that the assassination of President John F.Kennedy was a conspiracy. He begins by establishing that a conspiracy is any occurrence of two or more people acting together to commit a crime. He then presents evidence that several people acted together to kill President Kennedy. He concludes by claiming that, "Therefore, the assassination was a conspiracy". Jason's argument represents which form of reasoning?

A) Inductive
B) Productive
C) Practical
D) Deductive

Question 32

Deductive claims often make use of a three-line argument, consisting of a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion. What is this type of argument called?

A) Syllogism
B) Enthymeme
C) Hypothesis
D) Line of reasoning

Question 33

_______________ can be just as persuasive as full syllogisms, but only if listeners accept the validity of both the omitted premise and the premise that is included.

A) Lines of reasoning
B) Enthymemes
C) Arguments
D) Hypotheses

Question 34

When we ask people to believe some statement, we are asserting that statement is true, so we are using a proposition of what?

A) Policy
B) Value
C) Fact
D) Norms

Question 35

When a speaker asserts a proposition of __________, the persuasive goal isn't to make someone believe the speaker; rather, it is to make someone agree with him or her.

A) value
B) fact
C) opinion
D) policy

Question 36

Nima is giving a speech against allowing same-sex marriage. She decides to argue a proposition of ___________ by saying, "Two people of the same sex marrying each other is immoral".

A) policy
B) fact
C) value
D) morals

Question 37

What type of proposition is based on a judgment that reflects the speaker's opinions about what is important, moral, and right?

A) Fact
B) Value
C) Policy
D) Ethics

Question 38

If a speaker makes a claim about what we "should do", what type of proposition is he or she making?

A) Fact
B) Policy
C) Value
D) Action

Question 39

Andy is asked to give a speech in his political science class on a current issue in the criminal justice system. He decides to discuss the death penalty. As his thesis, Andy states, "The death penalty should be made illegal in the United States". Andy has decided to base his presentation on a proposition of

A) policy.
B) law.
C) value.
D) fact.

Question 40

Which of the following is NOT an option for organizing a persuasive speech?

A) Refutational
B) Comparative advantage
C) Space-time
D) Monroe's motivated sequence

Question 41

Vito is organizing his persuasive speech on bottled water. His first main point will cover the extensive amount of time it takes for a plastic water bottle to decompose in a landfill and how many millions of plastic water bottles are thrown away each year. Vito's second point will cover reusable water bottles or containers, how easy and inexpensive they are to use, and how their use will decrease plastic bottles in landfills. Vito has organized his speech using what pattern of organization?

A) Monroe's motivated sequence
B) Refutational approach
C) Comparative advantage
D) Problem-solving

Question 42

If you organize your persuasive speech using a _________________, you present and then immediately refute the main points against the position you plan to advocate.

A) comparative advantage
B) problem-solving
C) refutational approach
D) Monroe's motivated sequence

Question 43

During her persuasive speech on stopping illegal music downloading on the Internet, Danica brings up an argument from the opposition. She says that those who support unauthorized downloading have argued that it isn't hurting anyone. Danica disproves that argument, offering statistics and testimony from artists whose finances have been hurt by illegal downloading. Danica has organized her speech using which of the following?

A) Refutational approach
B) Problem-solving
C) Monroe's motivated sequence
D) Comparative advantage

Question 44

For which of the following does a speaker explain why his or her point of view is superior to others on the same topic?

A) Refutational approach
B) Problem-solving method
C) Motivated sequence
D) Comparative advantage

Question 45

Attention, need, satisfaction, visualization, and need are all stages of what method of organization?

A) Monroe's motivated sequence
B) Comparative advantage
C) Problem-solving method
D) Refutational approach

Question 46

Frances is organizing a persuasive speech on organ donation. She plans on starting with a picture of a little girl and telling the audience about Connie, a four-year-old who died two years ago because she needed a new heart and no donor could be found. If Frances is using Monroe's motivated sequence, what stage would this statement be found in?

A) Visualization
B) Satisfaction
C) Attention
D) Action

Question 47

Jacek's persuasive speech on increasing the minimum wage has been organized using Monroe's motivated sequence. At what stage would Jacek say, "I've prepared a handout with the name, e-mail address and telephone number of our state representative so you can contact her about voting in favor of a minimum wage increase"?

A) Need
B) Action
C) Attention
D) Visualization

Question 48

A logical ______________ is a line of reasoning that, even if it makes sense, doesn't genuinely support a speaker's point.

A) error
B) mistake
C) misnomer
D) fallacy

Question 49

A common but illogical way to counter arguments is to criticize the people who make them. This type of fallacy is called

A) slippery slope.
B) bandwagon appeal.
C) false-cause.
D) ad hominem.

Question 50

In his speech on gun control, Mike says, "The right to bear arms is guaranteed by the Second Amendment. If you allow our government to take that right away, it would be long before they'll be taking away your freedom of speech or your right to vote"! Mike is committing what type of fallacy?

A) Bandwagon appeal
B) False-cause
C) Slippery slope
D) Red herring

Question 51

To make the claim that, "since prayer was banned in public schools in 1963, violent crimes have increased dramatically" is to commit what type of fallacy?

A) False-cause
B) Slippery slope
C) Bandwagon
D) Ad hominen

Question 52

Which of the following is a broad claim that is based on insufficient evidence?

A) Red herring
B) Slippery slope
C) Straw man fallacy
D) Hasty generalization

Question 53

Roger is giving a persuasive speech against school uniforms. One of his arguments is, "There are so many issues in our public schools today like violence and drugs, so why are we so focused on what kids are wearing"? What fallacy does Roger's speech contain?

A) Straw man
B) Red herring
C) Slippery slope
D) Bandwagon

Question 54

In Heather's speech against breastfeeding in public, she says, "These women are angry because we won't let them flash their breasts at strangers in public! What decent person wants to see that"? Because Heather is trying to refute an argument that supporters of breastfeeding in public never actually made, Heather is engaging what type of fallacy?

A) Appeal to false authority
B) Red herring fallacy
C) Slippery slope
D) Straw man fallacy

Question 55

If you say, "Actress Alicia Silverstone verifies that a vegetarian lifestyle is the healthiest way to live", you are using what type of fallacy?

A) Begging the question
B) Straw man
C) Appeal to false authority
D) Bandwagon

Question 56

Which of the following means supporting an argument with claims whose truth is taken for granted but never verified?

A) Begging the question
B) Appeal to false authority
C) Slippery slope
D) Bandwagon

Question 57

The phrase "preaching to the choir" could be used to describe speaking to what type of audience?

A) Neutral
B) Hostile
C) Receptive
D) Disengaged

Question 58

Because an issue doesn't seem relevant to a ___________ audience, it is helpful to inform listeners why your topic matters enough to them and they should care.

A) neutral
B) hostile
C) receptive
D) normal

Question 59

The most difficult audience to persuade is a ____________ audience.

A) neutral
B) hostile
C) bored
D) receptive

Question 60

What is the best strategy when dealing with a hostile audience?

A) Stress points on which you and your listeners disagree.
B) Ignore the hostility.
C) Acknowledge the listeners' negative feelings.
D) Make listeners feel maligned rather than respected.

Question 61

To build __________ is to create the perception that your listeners see things similarly to the way you do.

A) credibility
B) ethos
C) pathos
D) rapport

Question 62

Which of the following is NOT a way to build rapport with your audience?

A) Open with a story.
B) Avoid using humor.
C) Interact with listeners before your speech.
D) Maintain eye contact.

Question 63

Becky has been asked by a local high school to speak to their environmental club. She's a bit nervous, as she doesn't know the audience. She wants to get some information about who the students are and what matters to them, and she also wants to signal that she cares about them. What is the best way for Becky to build this type of rapport?

A) Opening with a story
B) Maintaining eye contact while she speaks
C) Interacting with her listeners before she speaks
D) Using humor when appropriate

Question 64

If a speaker has a good deal of ____________, an audience will take his or her words seriously and be open to new ideas.

A) credibility
B) pathos
C) charisma
D) knowledge

Question 65

Which of the following is a component of credibility?

A) Wisdom
B) Humor
C) Charisma
D) Vitality

Question 66

If a professor seems organized, prepared, and professional, what is he or she demonstrating?

A) Charisma
B) Character
C) Wisdom
D) Competence

Question 67

If you are considering someone's ______________, you are evaluating his or her honesty.

A) charisma
B) character
C) morals
D) competence

Question 68

When Barack Obama ran for the U.S. presidency in 2008, unprecedented crowds gathered to hear him speak. He was well known for slogans such as, "Yes, we can" and "Change we can believe in". When Obama rallied crowds with such statements, he was relying on which of the following to increase his credibility?

A) Competence
B) Charisma
C) Character
D) Enthusiasm