Question 1

Which of the following statements is true concerning communication apprehension?
A)Gaining experience helps to reduce communication apprehension.
B) Public speaking is the rarest of communication apprehensions.
C) The less you prepare,the less apprehension you will experience.
D)It is more important to focus on yourself than on your listeners.

Accepted Answer

Research shows that gaining experience and practicing communication skills can help to reduce communication apprehension.

Question 2

If you have determined that the audience may not be willing to listen to your ideas,you are well advised to
A)include as many strong issues as you can.
B) secure their attention early.
C) treat them with indifference.
D)remind them that they have no choice.

Accepted Answer

Securing the audience's attention early is the best approach if you have determined that they may not be willing to listen to your ideas. This can help set the tone for the rest of your presentation and demonstrate the value of your ideas to the audience. Including strong issues can also be helpful, but without the audience's attention, they may not be fully appreciated. Treating the audience with indifference or reminding them that they have no choice is not a productive approach and can further alienate them.

Question 3

The thesis is
A)the main idea that you want to convey to your audience.
B) a statement concluding the speech.
C) formulated in the middle of the speech.
D)a statement that supports a major point.

Accepted Answer

The thesis is the main idea or argument that the speaker wants to convey to the audience. It is typically stated at the beginning of the speech and guides the rest of the presentation.

Question 4

Which of the following is true concerning appropriateness of topic selection?
A)Avoid topics on which you and your audience may disagree.
B) Topics related to religion,politics,and education are usually appropriate for classroom speeches.
C) If you are speaking to a culturally diverse audience,check to see what topics may be taboo for certain members.
D)Select a topic you know little about,so you can learn something new along with your audience.

Accepted Answer

It is important to consider the cultural background and beliefs of your audience before selecting a topic. Certain topics may be taboo or offensive to some members of a culturally diverse audience. Avoiding these topics can help ensure that your speech is well-received and engages your audience. Option A is not necessarily true as controversial topics can spark important discussions. Option B may not be appropriate for all classroom settings. Option D may result in a lack of credibility and preparation for the speech.

Question 5

Analyzing the sociology of your audience includes considering their
A)personality traits.
B) seating arrangement.
C) appearance.
D)educational levels.

Accepted Answer

Analyzing the sociology of your audience includes considering their educational levels. This can give you insight into their knowledge base and how to structure your message in a way that is appropriate and engaging for them. Understanding their personality traits, seating arrangement, and appearance can also be helpful, but they are not necessarily part of the sociology of the audience.

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT mentioned as steps to be followed for interviewing someone in researching a speech topic?
A) Select the person you wish to interview.
B) Secure an appointment.
C) Ask closed-ended questions.
D) Ask for permission to tape or print the interview.

Accepted Answer

Asking closed-ended questions is not recommended as it limits the person's responses and may not provide in-depth information. Open-ended questions should be used instead to encourage the interviewee to share their thoughts and experiences freely.

Question 7

Marius plans to give a speech to convince his audience to vote in the upcoming campus elections.What is the general purpose of Marius's speech?
A)to inform
B) to inform his audience of the upcoming elections
C) to persuade
D)to persuade his audience to vote in the upcoming elections

Accepted Answer

The general purpose of Marius's speech is to convince or persuade his audience to vote in the upcoming campus elections. Choice A, to inform, may be a secondary purpose of the speech, but the primary purpose is to persuade. Choice B, to inform his audience of the upcoming elections, is too specific and limited compared to the broader purpose of persuading them to vote.

Question 8

All of the following are suggestions in our text for managing public speaking anxiety EXCEPT:
A)Prepare and practice thoroughly.
B) Avoid chemical tension relievers.
C) See public speaking as a performance.
D)Think positively.

Accepted Answer

Seeing public speaking as a performance can actually increase anxiety by putting additional pressure on the speaker to "perform" rather than simply communicate. The other options (A, B, D) are commonly recommended strategies for reducing public speaking anxiety.

Question 9

In researching a topic for a speech,the best place to begin your search is generally with
A)examining what you already know.
B) Googling the topic.
C) finding a very specific research article on the topic.
D)buying a book that might prove useful.

Accepted Answer

Examining what you already know about the topic can help you identify any knowledge gaps or areas you need to research further. It can also help you develop a preliminary outline for your speech.

Question 10

In considering how knowledgeable your audience is about your topic,you should
A)not confuse lack of knowledge with lack of intelligence.
B) assume that they are intelligent and make your speech more technical.
C) downplay your expertise.
D)repeat what they already know.

Accepted Answer

Assuming that lack of knowledge means lack of intelligence is incorrect and may be insulting to the audience. It is important to respect the intelligence of the audience and avoid speaking down to them.

Question 11

Greg plans to give a speech recounting the major struggles the southern city in which he lives experienced during the civil rights movement. The general purpose for Greg's speech would be to
A)inform his audience about the civil rights movement.
B)persuade his audience that the civil rights movements was important.
C)persuade.
D)inform.

Accepted Answer

The purpose of Greg's speech is to inform his audience about the major struggles that occurred in the southern city during the civil rights movement. Therefore, the best choice is D, to inform.

Question 12

Andrea has decided to speak on antiques for her 6 to 8 minute informative classroom speech.In helping Andrea make her topic manageable,what would be the BEST advice to give her?
A)The topic is narrow enough so there is no need to limit it.
B) Try to cover the topic broadly and mention as much as you can in the time you have.
C) It might be best to start dividing and subdividing your topic until you have something more specific than "antiques."
D)Any of these statements would be equally good advice for Andrea depending on her purpose.

Accepted Answer

Antiques is a very broad topic, so it would be best for Andrea to start dividing and subdividing until she has a more specific topic. This will allow her to focus her speech and provide more detailed information on a particular aspect of antiques.

Question 13

Manny plans to give a speech on how to cast a fly-fishing rod.What is the specific purpose of Manny's speech?
A)to teach her audience how to cast a rod
B) to inform
C) to persuade her audience to fly-fish
D)to persuade

Accepted Answer

Manny's specific purpose is to teach her audience how to cast a fly-fishing rod.

Question 14

Public speaking is defined as a(n)
A)form of communication in which a speaker addresses a relatively small group of people.
B) act of interpersonal communication.
C) act of intrapersonal communication.
D)form of communication in which a speaker addresses a relatively large audience.

Accepted Answer

Public speaking is defined as a form of communication in which a speaker addresses a relatively large audience. It can range from a small group to a large group, but the key characteristic is that it is a public presentation. Options A and B refer to interpersonal communication, which involves communication between two or more individuals in a personal setting. Option C refers to intrapersonal communication, which is a form of communication that takes place within an individual's own mind.

Question 15

Chantal notices that her audience is starting to fidget and a few have started putting away their Materials.Chantal needs to make one more crucial point before she ends her presentation.Chantal's best course of action to adapt to her audience is to
A)stop as soon as possible and forget about her last point.
B) acknowledge the audience's feedback and explain she has one more important point to make that will be worth their time.
C) continue on as if she didn't notice the audience's fidgeting.
D)chastise the audience for their inattention.

Accepted Answer

By acknowledging the audience's feedback and explaining the importance of the last point, Chantal can maintain their attention and ensure that her important message is received. This shows empathy and understanding towards the audience's feelings while still delivering the complete message.

Question 16

The first step in preparing an effective public presentation is
A)select a topic,purposes,and thesis.
B) analyze your audience.
C) develop your specific purpose.
D)write your introduction.

Accepted Answer

The first step in preparing an effective public presentation is to select a topic, purpose, and thesis. This is because the topic, purpose, and thesis will determine the content and structure of your presentation.

Question 17

Morgan is going to give a presentation on how to prepare a tax return.Which of the following would constitute a suitable thesis statement for Morgan's presentation?
A)to inform the audience about how to prepare a tax return
B) Preparing a tax return is a fairly simple process,if you know what documents you need.
C) I want to convince my audience that they can prepare their own tax returns.
D)an informative speech on the IRS

Accepted Answer

This thesis statement effectively communicates the main idea of Morgan's presentation, which is that tax preparation can be simple if you have the right documents. It offers a specific perspective on the topic and suggests that the presentation will outline a clear process for preparing a tax return. The other choices are either too general (A, D) or too persuasive (C) for a thesis statement.

Question 18

Which of the following activities will help you develop the main points for your speech?
A)Separate points that have a common focus.
B) Select points that are most relevant to your audience.
C) Use five or more main points.
D)Phrase each point in a different style.

Accepted Answer

Selecting points that are most relevant to your audience ensures that your speech is engaging and meaningful to them, helping to effectively develop the main points.

Question 19

Once the thesis is formulated,questions about the thesis help to generate
A)your supporting material.
B) the title of your speech.
C) your main points.
D)the cultural factors of your speech.

Accepted Answer

Once the thesis is formulated, questions about the thesis can help to generate the main points of the speech. The main points are the key ideas or arguments that support the thesis statement.

Question 20

When citing references in an oral presentation you should
A)err on the side of citing too much information about a source than too little.
B) preface citations by saying "I have a quote here."
C) not mention the actual author but be sure to mention the publication date.
D)not mention citations in the actual speech but rather only in a detailed reference list.

Accepted Answer

It is better to provide too much information than too little to give credit to the sources used in your presentation. This also helps your audience to find and follow up on the references.

Answer: B
 It is important to preface the citation by saying "I have a quote here" or "according to [name of author]" to signal to your audience that you are using someone else's words or ideas.

Answer: D
 It is not enough to only provide a list of references at the end of your presentation. You should also cite your sources in the actual speech to give credit to the authors and to help your audience understand where the information is coming from.

Quiz 11: Public Speaking Preparation (Steps 1-6)

Which of the following statements is true concerning communication apprehension?

If you have determined that the audience may not be willing to listen to your ideas,you are well advised to

The thesis is

Which of the following is true concerning appropriateness of topic selection?

Analyzing the sociology of your audience includes considering their

Which of the following is NOT mentioned as steps to be followed for interviewing someone in researching a speech topic?

Marius plans to give a speech to convince his audience to vote in the upcoming campus elections.What is the general purpose of Marius's speech?

All of the following are suggestions in our text for managing public speaking anxiety EXCEPT:

In researching a topic for a speech,the best place to begin your search is generally with

In considering how knowledgeable your audience is about your topic,you should

Greg plans to give a speech recounting the major struggles the southern city in which he lives experienced during the civil rights movement. The general purpose for Greg's speech would be to

Andrea has decided to speak on antiques for her 6 to 8 minute informative classroom speech.In helping Andrea make her topic manageable,what would be the BEST advice to give her?

Manny plans to give a speech on how to cast a fly-fishing rod.What is the specific purpose of Manny's speech?

Public speaking is defined as a(n)

Chantal notices that her audience is starting to fidget and a few have started putting away their Materials.Chantal needs to make one more crucial point before she ends her presentation.Chantal's best course of action to adapt to her audience is to

The first step in preparing an effective public presentation is

Morgan is going to give a presentation on how to prepare a tax return.Which of the following would constitute a suitable thesis statement for Morgan's presentation?

Which of the following activities will help you develop the main points for your speech?

Once the thesis is formulated,questions about the thesis help to generate

When citing references in an oral presentation you should