Deck 11: Major Goals for Presentations

Question 1

Danielle represented her company at a college job fair and gave a presentation explaining the timeline and application process for summer internships. What type of speech does this exemplify?

A) informative
B) persuasive
C) introductory
D) eulogy
E) special occasion

Answer 1

informative

Question 2

What type of speech tries to convince people to behave in a certain way?

A) persuasive
B) informative
C) introductory
D) eulogy
E) special occasion

Answer 2

persuasive

Question 3

Which of the following statements would most likely be heard in an introductory speech?

A) Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to tell you a little bit about my mentor and friend, Dr. Montague.
B) The assembly line reduced chassis production from 12.5 hours per vehicle to just 1.5 hours.
C) An effective method for reducing plastic pollution is to stop producing single-use plastic items.
D) He was a wonderful friend and colleague who will be missed by all of us in the office.
E) I am going to give you five reasons why you should vote for Ronald Barlow for union rep.

Answer 3

Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to tell you a little bit about my mentor and friend, Dr. Montague.

Question 4

Kay's boss asked her to prepare a 10-minute presentation for the company meeting giving an overview of the department and explaining which goods the department contributes to the company's product line. This type of speech is

A) informative.
B) persuasive.
C) kinesthetic.
D) demographic.
E) dedicatory.

Question 5

Jeff wrapped up his speech saying, "We have great products. You have skill and dedication. You have a great team supporting you here at the office. Now get out there and sell." This type of speech is

A) persuasive.
B) informative.
C) kinesthetic.
D) demographic.
E) dedicatory.

Question 6

Which of the following scenarios calls for a persuasive speech?

A) At the production meeting, Dave hoped to convince management to invest in a higher-capacity milling machine.
B) At the sales meeting, Kelly planned to give the team an overview of new products and pricing guidelines.
C) On her first day back to work, Lynne wanted to thank her coworkers for covering for her during her leave.
D) When Colleen was promoted to chef, Manny wrote a short speech to wish her much success from all the line cooks.
E) At the industry convention, Subrat presented on the latest developments in supply chain management.

Question 7

Which of the following statements about eulogies is correct?

A) It is best to begin by introducing yourself and describing your relationship with the deceased.
B) It is better to generalize about the person's qualities and balance out the good with the bad.
C) The length of your speech should reflect how deeply you feel about the loss of this person.
D) The goal of a eulogy is to teach the audience about something they do not already know.
E) A eulogy is a particular type of speech that is normally presented within a colloquium format.

Question 8

What distinguishes a forum from other presentation formats?

A) It is the most interactive form for a group presentation.
B) It is the most formal type of group presentation.
C) It is usually longer than other presentation types.
D) It features more speakers than other types of presentations.
E) It is the format reserved for the most technical subjects.

Question 9

What is the difference between a colloquium and a symposium?

A) A colloquium is a group discussion of a topic, whereas a symposium features individual speakers and presentations.
B) A colloquium features presenters who agree on a topic, whereas a symposium involves disagreement and debate among the speakers.
C) A colloquium takes place at a college or university, whereas a symposium is held at a business conference or industry convention.
D) A colloquium is a presentation held before a large audience, whereas a symposium is a presentation before a small, select group of people.
E) A colloquium presentation does not involve audience interaction, whereas the audience participates in a symposium.

Question 10

Your team conducted a series of consumer surveys and focus groups to refine product ideas for an upcoming line of smart home appliances. Your boss has asked you to deliver a presentation to company managers summarizing the results of the team's research. This type of presentation is called

A) an oral report.
B) a colloquium.
C) a symposium.
D) a conference.
E) a forum.

Question 11

At which of the following events would you be most likely to hear a speech of recognition?

A) an award ceremony
B) a production meeting
C) an appraisal interview
D) a memorial service
E) an academic forum

Question 12

What type of speech is appropriate at an event organized to pay tribute to a significant event in history?

A) a speech of commemoration
B) a speech of recognition
C) a eulogy
D) a toast
E) an oral report

Question 13

Unless a topic has been assigned, what do experts recommend as the first step toward choosing the best topic for an upcoming presentation?

A) brainstorming potential topic ideas
B) identifying topics you are familiar with
C) ranking potential topics by difficulty
D) drawing up a list of 10 possible topics
E) researching similar speeches online

Question 14

Which of the following questions is considered a helpful prompt for brainstorming potential topic ideas for a business presentation?

A) What topics are in the news?
B) How long will my speech last?
C) Which topics require visual aids?
D) What are the five best topics?
E) How large will the audience be?

Question 15

Asking yourself "How much do I care about this topic?" and "How valuable is the topic?"
Can help you

A) determine if a topic is right for you.
B) determine the length of your speech.
C) determine what visual aids to use.
D) analyze the audience's interest level.
E) analyze the audience's knowledge level.

Question 16

Why is it important to choose a topic you care about when planning a presentation?

A) Your presentation will be more engaging for your listeners.
B) You will be able to pass yourself off as an expert more easily.
C) You will be able to talk longer and in greater detail.
D) You will not have to do as much research or preparation.
E) You will enjoy it even if the audience does not.

Question 17

Recommended steps for choosing a presentation topic include identifying the topics

A) that are appropriate for the occasion.
B) that you feel neutral about.
C) that you can discuss without research.
D) that are the least controversial.
E) that require the fewest visual aids.

Question 18

Kayla is giving a speech to a senior citizens' travel club. Which of the following topics seems most appropriate for her audience?

A) European "Must-See" Spots for Baby Boomers
B) What's New in Smartphone Travel Apps?
C) Backpacking through Asia on $25 a Day
D) Financial Aid for Study Abroad Opportunities
E) The World's Top Water Parks and Theme Parks

Question 19

Which of the following emotional tones fits a speech on application development at a programming conference?

A) formal and emotionally neutral
B) joyous and celebratory
C) somber but informal
D) doubtful and emotionally aloof
E) angry and confrontational

Question 20

Which of the following statements about choosing a presentation topic is correct?

A) Researching your topic is necessary, even if you already are familiar with the subject.
B) Brainstorming topics means to eliminate less appropriate topics from consideration.
C) The brainstorming phase of planning a presentation is usually the most time consuming.
D) Experts recommend choosing your topic before considering the time, audience, or occasion.
E) You should eliminate any topics you think your audience might already know something about.

Question 21

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

A) an HR presentation on changes to the employee health insurance policy
B) a reception honoring the winner of a lifetime achievement award
C) an offsite product development brainstorming session
D) a small memorial service for a former supervisor and mentor
E) an after-work retirement gathering on a colleague's last day in the office

Question 22

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

A) celebratory.
B) somber.
C) neutral.
D) formal.
E) ironic.

Question 23

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?

A) persuade
B) introduce
C) inform
D) eulogize
E) entertain

Question 24

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?

A) The talk was not appropriate for a youthful audience who had little knowledge of or interest in previous accounting practices,
B) The talk was interesting and informative, but most of the students already knew about accounting practices in the 1980s.
C) The interns in general were not very interested in accounting practices and were just there to make money over the summer.
D) The generational differences between the speaker and the audience were too much to overcome, regardless of the speech.
E) His speech was informative rather than persuasive, and as such did not match the emotional tone of the event.

Question 25

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

A) when speakers prepare their speech with listeners' needs and expectations in mind
B) when speakers find out how many people will attend their presentation
C) when members of an audience are surveyed for feedback following a presentation
D) when questions from the audience are used to direct the presentation
E) when speakers take questions from the audience at the end of a presentation

Question 26

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

A) slides featuring illustrations and diagrams
B) slides featuring text explanations of key ideas
C) voice recordings explaining key ideas
D) group work and hands-on activities
E) the use of music, emotion, and loud, clear voices

Question 27

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?

A) auditory
B) visual
C) kinesthetic
D) demographic
E) literal

Question 28

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?

A) kinesthetic
B) visual
C) auditory
D) cultural
E) literal

Question 29

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

A) role-playing management scenarios to assess company priorities
B) watching a documentary series to learn about leading industry figures
C) listening to a podcast interview with a noted business leader
D) listening to a presentation about business practices in other countries
E) attending a speech that employs visual aids such as slide illustrations

Question 30

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

A) Audiences in urban areas tend to be more liberal than audiences in rural areas.
B) Audiences are neither more nor less liberal in urban areas than in rural areas.
C) Audience political orientation does not affect how they will judge your sources.
D) Rural audiences are more likely to be liberal and to vote for Democratic candidates.
E) Liberal audiences are more likely to be persuaded by information from libertarian sources.

Question 31

Which of the following statements about audience demographics is correct?

A) If you are speaking to an elderly audience, you may need to increase the volume of your speech and enlarge visual aids to ensure they can be seen clearly.
B) Wealthy audiences are often politically liberal and more open to change when compared with lower-income audiences.
C) Research shows that women are more interested than men in issues related to their working lives, including work hours, job security, and promotion opportunities.
D) Younger audiences prefer simple presentations, whereas senior citizens prefer presentations that incorporate music, multimedia slides, and video clips.
E) With cultural sensitivity issues, what matters is how the comments are intended rather than how members of a cultural group interpret them.

Question 32

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

A) demographic characteristics.
B) census categories.
C) diversity groups.
D) cultural stereotypes.
E) general classifications.

Question 33

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

A) How will audience members benefit from what I have to say?
B) How interested am I in learning more about this topic?
C) How much can I improve my delivery through rehearsal?
D) How many main points can I cover in my allotted time?
E) Will I be able to use presentation software or other visual aids?

Question 34

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

A) using inclusive language such as "loved one" rather than "wife"
B) using diverse genres and forms of music in the slide presentation
C) telling details of your own ancestry and cultural background
D) incorporating group activities into the presentation so everyone feels included
E) avoiding topics that deal with dating, marriage, and parenting

Question 35

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

A) Younger audiences often appreciate the use of music, videos, and other electronic media, whereas older audiences may find multimedia use distracting.
B) Younger audiences are often predominantly visual learners, whereas hands-on activities and group activities are most effective with older audiences.
C) The younger an audience is on average, the more likely it is to be politically conservative and resistant to change.
D) Younger audiences prefer large, formal presentations, whereas older audiences learn more effectively in small groups.
E) Older audiences are more interested than younger audiences in presentations on workplace issues such as hours, leave, and benefits.

Question 36

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

A) Creating a Successful Estate Plan
B) Do-It-Yourself Furniture and Home Decor
C) Save Money with a Kitchen Garden
D) How to Save for Your Child's Education
E) Free and Low-Cost Community Resources

Question 37

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

A) science and engineering
B) social issues
C) relationship issues
D) job security
E) promotion opportunities

Question 38

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

A) the context in which you will be speaking.
B) what topics you are interested in.
C) if the audience has any questions.
D) what topics have been in the news.
E) how the audience will respond to your speech.

Question 39

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

A) the audience's purpose
B) your own interest in the topic
C) how much research you have done
D) the time you have had to prepare
E) your confidence level in public speaking

Question 40

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?

A) how much time is available for her speech
B) how long she has been working on the speech
C) how valuable she thinks the topic is
D) how confident she feels when speaking to a group
E) how much she knows about the topic

Question 41

You have been given 10 minutes before a long lunch break to address an employee meeting on a new company environmental policy. What might be a good way to begin your speech?

A) I know we're all anxious to get to lunch, so I will do my best to explain this important new policy clearly and concisely.
B) I'm very pleased to have the privilege of presenting to you the company's new environmental policy, which will affect us all.
C) I'm here today to tell you about a policy that has been a long time in development and has received a lot of input from many of you.
D) Have you ever wondered about our company's commitment to environmental protection efforts?
E) Forty-five years ago, when this company was just getting started in the office supply industry, not much thought was given to environmental issues.

Question 42

At a regional meeting, George was allotted 15 minutes for his presentation at the very end of the day. When his time was up, he continued talking, and showed no sign of ending soon. Which of the following results is likely to occur in this scenario?

A) Some audience members would become restless and lose interest in what George has to say.
B) The audience members would become more engaged as his speech included added detail.
C) George would be praised for closing the meeting with such a strong effort.
D) Many audience members would seek George out at dinner to learn more about the topic.
E) Audience members would be unaware that George was over his time and prolonging the meeting.

Question 43

Grant visited a local medical office and gave a hands-on demonstration to the administrative assistants of a software product he was selling that streamlined medical coding for insurance billing. The office assistants were excited at the prospect of using the software, and the price was affordable, but Grant did not make a sale. Which of the following reasons most likely explains the failure of this presentation?

A) The audience did not include the managers and technology decision makers who choose which software the office will use.
B) Medical billing software is not the type of product that the members of this audience would be interested in.
C) He gave a hands-on demonstration of the product when the audience members were not kinesthetic learners.
D) His presentation was too formal for the small group of administrative assistants who attended the product demonstration.
E) The audience members did not have the background knowledge and education to understand what Grant was presenting.

Question 44

How might a presentation be affected if the audience members are required to attend?

A) Their motivation to pay attention is likely to be low, so it is best to be concise and to use humor to lighten their experience.
B) They will be more likely to volunteer to participate in group activities and in hands-on activities such as role playing.
C) You will need to rehearse more than for an audience attending by choice in order to be sufficiently prepared for their questions and comments.
D) You may have to speak at greater length and in more detail than you would to an audience who was eager to learn about the topic.
E) Audience members will be highly motivated by whatever factor has required their attendance, such as a court sentence or their boss's approval.

Question 45

Which of the following approaches works better for speaking before a small group rather than a large audience?

A) encouraging the audience to interrupt you with questions
B) standing rather than sitting for the presentation
C) using notes to guide your comments and stay on track
D) being more rehearsed and formal
E) adding multimedia elements to the presentation

Question 46

Why is it important for speakers to be aware of how long their presentations are supposed to last?

A) to gauge how much material they can reasonably cover
B) to decide whether they should sit or stand for the presentation
C) to understand the emotional tone of the event
D) to analyze the audience demographics
E) to give consideration to the audience's learning style

Question 47

Asking audience members to participate in a hands-on activity is

A) more appropriate in a small-group setting.
B) a useful approach with a large group.
C) a good way to connect with visual learners.
D) a technique used in formal presentations.
E) an effective approach with an elderly audience.

Question 48

What do experts recommend when you find out you will be speaking to a distracted audience, such as during the time slot right before lunch?

A) Ask if you can change the time of your speech.
B) Be sure to explain each point in detail.
C) Do not include visual materials.
D) Switch to a kinesthetic approach.
E) Do not acknowledge the distraction.

Question 49

What does it mean to talk down to listeners?

A) to explain things to them that they already know
B) to use culturally offensive speech
C) to use illustrations rather than text
D) to employ role playing and other hands-on activities
E) to use technical language they are unfamiliar with

Question 50

Which of the following exemplifies talking over someone's head?

A) The designers did not know accounting jargon and tuned out when the speaker started talking about LIFO and FIFO.
B) The production associates were interested in hearing the advantages of the new security system that was being installed in the shop.
C) The administrative assistants reluctantly attended the company meeting where the new benefits package was being unveiled.
D) The department managers were a little annoyed that the speaker kept defining business terms that everyone already knew.
E) The speaker paused occasionally to make sure everyone in the audience could follow the discussion easily.

Question 51

The primary goal of a persuasive speech is to teach listeners something they do not already know.

Question 52

A eulogy is a type of speech likely to be heard at a memorial service for a person who has died.

Question 53

The difference between a symposium and a colloquium is that the audience participates in a symposium, whereas a colloquium presentation does not involve audience interaction.

Question 54

A speech honoring someone who is receiving an award is called a speech of recognition.

Question 55

The forum format allows presenters and the audience to offer comments and questions to one another.

Question 56

When you are selecting a topic for a presentation, experts recommend starting by drawing up a list of five to ten promising ideas.

Question 57

Brainstorming is a process for generating presentation topic ideas and evaluating them for their value and appropriateness.

Question 58

Thinking about topics you care about is a helpful step in selecting a topic for a presentation.

Question 59

If you choose a presentation topic you care about, then it will also be of interest to the audience.

Question 60

Considering the nature and tone of the event is an important step in selecting an appropriate topic for a presentation.

Question 61

Slides using images and figures rather than dense text would be a good approach for visual learners because they learn best from illustrations and diagrams.

Question 62

A presentation prepared with kinesthetic learners in mind would include group activities and frequent breaks.

Question 63

Audience members will not be offended by culturally insensitive speech as long as it was unintentional.

Question 64

Researchers recommend assessing the economic status of your audience when preparing a presentation because wealthy audiences and those with lower incomes often have different attitudes, experiences, and priorities.

Question 65

Research shows that men and women are generally equally interested in issues related to engineering, science, mathematics, and technology.

Question 66

As far as the context of a presentation is concerned, it does not matter if audience members are there by choice or have been required to attend.

Question 67

The size of the audience should have no effect on how formal your presentation is.

Question 68

Talking over people's heads means assuming they have knowledge of a subject they do not actually have.

Question 69

Audiences are usually unaware of how long a speech is supposed to last and will have no particular reaction if a speaker goes over the time allotted.

Question 70

When speaking at a somber event, it is a good idea to try to lighten the mood.

Question 71

Describe the primary goal of an informative speech and give an example.

Question 72

Describe a hypothetical colloquium on gun safety laws.

Question 73

Describe a hypothetical symposium that might be held about the topic of sexual harassment in the workplace.

Question 74

What are the four steps experts recommend for selecting a presentation topic when none has been assigned? Give a brief example of following this process.

Question 75

How can you determine if a topic is right for you?

Question 76

Distinguish between auditory, kinesthetic, and visual learners.

Question 77

Discuss why it is important to consider the age of audience members for a presentation.

Question 78

Choose a demographic characteristic of an audience, and discuss how it might impact a presentation you are preparing.

Question 79

Use an example to illustrate why it is important to know your audience's prior knowledge of a topic when preparing a presentation.

Question 80

Discuss strategies for understanding the context of a speech you are preparing.