Question 1

In preparing a speech to her company's board about the most comprehensive professional liability plans, Alessandra realizes that she is spending most of her time discussing her second and third points and very little time discussing her first point. Which of the following actions should Alessandra take?
A) Delete the first point and only have two main points.
B) Spend different amounts of time on each main point.
C) Add more main points to even out the time distribution.
D) Combine all her ideas into one main point.
E) Broaden her topic and thesis so to enable her to spend more time on her first main point.

Accepted Answer

Main points should be equally important. This means you should give all of them approximately the same amount of time. In this case, the best action for Alessandra to take is to drop the first point. Expanding her topic and thesis is likely to weaken her presentation. The same is true of adding additional main points or consolidating all of her ideas into a single main point.

Question 2

The following points about supply chain trends are organized in which type of pattern?
1) Analytics has become essential for planning, sourcing, and logistics.
2) China is still a major force in global manufacturing and trade.
3) 3D printing will increasingly influence the industry.
A) topic pattern
B) time pattern
C) space pattern
D) cause-and-effect pattern
E) problem-solution pattern

Accepted Answer

When arranging points by topic pattern, you organize your main points to represent different categories.

Question 3

Which of the following sets of main points is organized in a time pattern?
A) 1. Television advertising to the target has been ineffective.
2) Re-evaluate our marketing efforts.
3) Come up with new advertising ideas.
B) 1. Baby boomers are more influenced by television than digital media.
2) Baby boomers historically respond more to celebrity endorsements than millennials.
3) Targeting baby boomers requires effective search engine marketing.
C) 1. Mining erodes the landscape.
2) Runoff from mining contaminates water.
3) Contaminants damage wildlife and habitats.
D) 1. Hold a brainstorming meeting.
2) Analyze which ideas will be most effective.
3) Create a plan of action.
E) 1. Improve network access in rural areas.
2) Maintain network coverage in urban areas.
3) Create network agreements for international travel.

Accepted Answer

One option for organizing your main points is to use a time pattern, which means arranging them in chronological order. This option is particularly useful when you are describing the steps of a process.

Question 4

Ruben is creating a presentation on his company's sales revenue in various regions of the United States. Which of the following methods is the best way for him to organize his main points?
A) topic pattern
B) time pattern
C) space pattern
D) cause-and-effect pattern
E) problem-solution pattern

Accepted Answer

A space pattern organizes your main points according to geographic or physical areas.

Question 5

The following set of main points is arranged in which kind of pattern?
1) Medical facilities may have inaccurate or incomplete documentation.
2) Patients take the wrong medication or a harmful combination of medications.
3) Patients experience preventable injury or fatality.
A) topic pattern
B) time pattern
C) space pattern
D) cause-and-effect pattern
E) problem-solution pattern

Accepted Answer

In a cause-and-effect pattern, you organize your points so they describe the causes of an event or a phenomenon and then identify its consequences.

Question 6

The following set of main points and subpoints is arranged using which type of organization?
I. Our competitors' product is outselling ours.
A. Our main competitor has more recognizable branding.
B. Our competitor's product has a lower price.
II. There are several strategies for improving sales of our product.
A Update our branding with our target market in mind.
B. Make our pricing more competitive.

A) topic pattern
B) time pattern
C) space pattern
D) cause-and-effect pattern
E) problem-solution pattern

Accepted Answer

A problem-solution pattern is similar to a cause-and-effect pattern, except that you are organizing your points so they describe a problem and then offer one or more solutions for it.

Question 7

One purpose of subpoints is to
A) stimulate your audience with presentation aids.
B) emphasize your main point through repetition.
C) smooth the transition between main points.
D) cite your sources.
E) offer evidence to support a main point.

Accepted Answer

As you explain each main point in your speech, you will typically make additional, more specific points to support it. Those supporting points are called subordinate points, or subpoints. Subpoints can clarify the meaning of a main point, provide examples, offer evidence, and elaborate on your argument. You will usually incorporate your supporting materials-such as quotations, definitions, and statistics-into your subpoints.

Question 8

The rule of subordination states that
A) specific claims come first in the form of main points, and broader ideas follow as subpoints.
B) whenever there is one subpoint, there must be at least one more.
C) subpoints reinforce other subpoints.
D) main points and subpoints make up the body of a speech.
E) the broadest claims come first as main points, and more specific claims follow as subpoints.

Accepted Answer

The rule of subordination is a principle stating that the broadest, most important claims come first in the form of main points, and the lesser, more specific claims follow in the form of subpoints.

Question 9

The rule of division means that whenever there is one subpoint,
A) there must be at least one more.
B) it must sufficiently explain the main idea.
C) there must be at least two more.
D) sub-subpoints must follow.
E) more main points must follow.

Accepted Answer

The rule of division explains that whenever there is one subpoint, there must be at least one more.

Question 10

Capturing your listeners' interest, helping build credibility, and previewing the points you will make are all goals of a(n)
A) thesis statement.
B) introduction.
C) conclusion.
D) purpose statement.
E) outline.

Accepted Answer

You get only one chance to make a good first impression. The same is true when you're preparing a speech. A good presentation starts with an introduction that accomplishes three goals: It captures your listeners' interest in your topic, it helps you build your credibility, and it previews the points you plan to make.

Question 11

Yuri begins her speech on cyber security by telling her listeners about the time a computer virus wiped out all the data on her personal laptop. Which method of capturing her listeners' attention is Yuri using?
A) Startle your listeners.
B) Identify something familiar.
C) Tell a joke.
D) Tell a story.
E) Incorporate technology.

Accepted Answer

First, your introduction should grab your listeners' attention and arouse their interest in your topic. One way to accomplish that goal is to open with a story that will spark your audience's curiosity.

Question 12

Alyssa is giving a presentation on the importance of small businesses. She wants to capture her listeners' interest by demonstrating the impact that small businesses have on the economy. The best way for Alyssa to illustrate this magnitude is through which of the following techniques?
A) using statistics
B) citing an opinion
C) telling a joke
D) noting the occasion
E) identifying something familiar

Accepted Answer

One way to spark your listeners' interest in your topic is to use statistics that illustrate its magnitude.

Question 13

Which of the following speakers is capturing listeners' attention by startling his or her audience?
A) Mufid opens his speech about focus and productivity by asking the audience how many of them check their mobile phones during work tasks.
B) Aiesha begins her speech about work/life balance by juggling plates until one accidentally drops and breaks.
C) Cole starts his speech about entrepreneurship with a quote from Mark Twain: "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do."
D) Nikola begins her speech about tourism by sharing jokes that the tour guides in her city often tell their visitors.
E) Pedro begins his presentation on marketing strategy by playing video clips of the most watched television ads of the previous year.

Accepted Answer

Startle your listeners. Saying or doing something unexpected or unusual can be an effective way to capture the attention of your audience. Begin your speech in a foreign language, for example.

Question 14

Ethos refers to a speaker's
A) knowledge.
B) first impression.
C) effectiveness.
D) coherence.
E) credibility.

Accepted Answer

A speaker's credibility is called his or her ethos. Ethos doesn't belong directly to a speaker; rather, judgments about a speaker's ethos belong to the audience. Therefore, your introduction is an opportunity to persuade your audience to find you credible.

Question 15

Sofia's corporation has just acquired another company, and she is scheduled to speak to her newly acquired employees. She begins her speech by telling the acquired employees that she knows they are worried that their jobs might be eliminated. She goes on to say that she would be worried too, if she were in their positions, but that she personally promises that there will be no mass firings. What component of ethos is Sofia attempting to build with her audience?
A) wisdom
B) virtue
C) goodwill
D) knowledge
E) trust

Accepted Answer

Speakers are perceived as credible if they seem to care about the audience. Speaking with sincerity will lead audiences to believe in your goodwill toward them. If listeners think you are being dishonest with them or attempting to mislead them, they are not likely to assume you are concerned about their well-being.

Question 16

In opening his presentation on effective team leadership skills, Han mentions that he has been studying management and advising business leaders for over ten years. Han is using which aspect of ethos to build credibility with his audience?
A) wisdom
B) virtue
C) goodwill
D) sincerity
E) trust

Accepted Answer

Speakers are perceived as credible if they demonstrate their knowledge of or experience with the topics about which they speak.

Question 17

Which of the following speakers is demonstrating virtue to build credibility with his or her listeners?
A) In his speech about human resource management, Ethan tells his listeners that he has a master's degree in the subject.
B) In her speech on career planning, Uma tells her audience of college students how passionate she is about helping young people find success.
C) In his presentation about retirement investment, Nilesh tells his listeners that he recommends the same strategies for them that he uses for his own mother's retirement account.
D) In her presentation on innovation, Annette tells the audience about how much effort it took to get interviews with leaders of the top two companies in the digital technology industry.
E) In his speech on current economic conditions, Declan tells his listeners that he has been studying and evaluating the economy since he was in graduate school.

Accepted Answer

Virtue: Speakers who attain excellence are perceived as credible. The key to demonstrating such virtue is to highlight the quality of the work you put into your speech. If your listeners perceive that you care about the quality of the work you are presenting, they are likely to find you credible.

Question 18

What is the final goal of an introduction to a speech?
A) to build credibility
B) to preview your points
C) to capture your listeners' attention
D) to demonstrate your knowledge
E) to pose a question

Accepted Answer

Once you have aroused your listeners' interest in your topic and highlighted your credibility, your final goal in the introduction is to preview the points you plan to make in your speech. A preview will help your listeners pay attention to the body of your speech by identifying ahead of time what they should listen for.

Question 19

Which of the following speeches calls for a particularly careful introduction?
A) congratulating the sales team on exceeding its goals
B) displaying proper office party etiquette
C) coping with the death of a coworker
D) introducing the new CEO
E) dealing with customer complaints

Accepted Answer

A speech that covers subject matter that is likely to make listeners uncomfortable or embarrassing requires particular attention to its introductions. "Coping with the death of a coworker"is an example of such a speech.

Question 20

Which of the following parts of a speech summarizes your main points, creates a memorable moment, and includes a call to action?
A) introduction
B) body
C) transitions
D) conclusion
E) thesis statement

Accepted Answer

The conclusion is the last part of your speech that listeners will hear, and to be sure they remember you, you want it to stand out. Make sure that your concluding remarks accomplish four goals: signal the end of the speech, summarize your main points, create a memorable moment, and end with a call to action.

Quiz 12: Planning and Crafting Presentations

The following points about supply chain trends are organized in which type of pattern? 1) Analytics has become essential for planning, sourcing, and logistics. 2) China is still a major force in global manufacturing and trade. 3) 3D printing will increasingly influence the industry.

Which of the following sets of main points is organized in a time pattern?

Ruben is creating a presentation on his company's sales revenue in various regions of the United States. Which of the following methods is the best way for him to organize his main points?

The following set of main points is arranged in which kind of pattern? 1) Medical facilities may have inaccurate or incomplete documentation. 2) Patients take the wrong medication or a harmful combination of medications. 3) Patients experience preventable injury or fatality.

One purpose of subpoints is to

The rule of subordination states that

The rule of division means that whenever there is one subpoint,

Capturing your listeners' interest, helping build credibility, and previewing the points you will make are all goals of a(n)

Yuri begins her speech on cyber security by telling her listeners about the time a computer virus wiped out all the data on her personal laptop. Which method of capturing her listeners' attention is Yuri using?

Alyssa is giving a presentation on the importance of small businesses. She wants to capture her listeners' interest by demonstrating the impact that small businesses have on the economy. The best way for Alyssa to illustrate this magnitude is through which of the following techniques?

Which of the following speakers is capturing listeners' attention by startling his or her audience?

Ethos refers to a speaker's

In opening his presentation on effective team leadership skills, Han mentions that he has been studying management and advising business leaders for over ten years. Han is using which aspect of ethos to build credibility with his audience?

Which of the following speakers is demonstrating virtue to build credibility with his or her listeners?

What is the final goal of an introduction to a speech?

Which of the following speeches calls for a particularly careful introduction?

Which of the following parts of a speech summarizes your main points, creates a memorable moment, and includes a call to action?