Question 1

Effective communication skills are highly valued by employers because __________.
A) interviewers like to have good conversations with interviewees
B) public speaking is becoming a larger part of corporate life
C) our economy is increasingly dependent on information communicated effectively
D) public messages are increasingly complex, and effective interpretation is difficult

Accepted Answer

Our economy's growing reliance on effectively communicated information underscores the importance of effective communication skills in the workplace.

Question 2

Which of the following is a characteristic of critical thinkers?
A) They distinguish between fact and opinion.
B) They take the speaker's claims at face value.
C) They look at each idea as new and unique.
D) The accept assertions on faith.

Accepted Answer

Critical thinkers are able to distinguish between fact and opinion, which allows them to evaluate information more effectively and make informed decisions.

Question 3

Which of the following statements is a statement of fact?
A) The United States must protect itself from international terrorism.
B) Laptop computer prices are bound to drop over the next 5 years.
C) Universal health care is an idea whose time has come.
D) Mortgage rates are at a twenty-year low.

Accepted Answer

Statement D, "Mortgage rates are at a twenty-year low," is a statement of fact because it presents an objective claim that can be verified with data, unlike the other options which express opinions or predictions.

Question 4

Public speaking is a communication process that can best be described as a(n) __________.
A) series of one-way messages delivered by the speaker to the listeners
B) continuous exchange of messages and feedback between the speaker and the listeners
C) decoding process in which the speaker and the audience share a frame of reference
D) organized monologue

Accepted Answer

Public speaking involves a continuous exchange of messages and feedback between the speaker and the listeners, making it a dynamic and interactive process rather than a one-way communication.

Question 5

Public speaking occurs __________.
A) in a specific situation
B) in response to feedback
C) in response to a speaker's urge to speak
D) in response to the audience's need to know something

Accepted Answer

Public speaking typically occurs in a specific situation where a speaker addresses an audience with a particular purpose or message.

Question 6

Which of the following is the term for the study of how messages affect people?
A) critical thinking
B) strategic planning
C) feedback
D) rhetoric

Accepted Answer

Rhetoric is the study of how messages affect people, focusing on the art of persuasion and effective communication.

Question 7

A situation in which people's understanding can be changed through messages is called __________.
A) critical.
B) strategic.
C) rhetorical.
D) purposive.

Accepted Answer

Rhetorical situations involve circumstances where communication can influence people's beliefs or behaviors, fitting the description of scenarios where understanding can be altered through messages.

Question 8

When analyzing the four factors of the rhetorical situation, which of the following is a unique concern for the speaker?
A) exigence
B) ethos
C) deliberation
D) extemporaneity

Accepted Answer

Ethos is a unique concern for the speaker as it refers to the credibility and character they convey to the audience, which directly impacts how their message is received.

Question 9

Tenzing is planning a speech on the Chinese occupation of his Tibetan homeland and is not sure how to create identification with his classmates. Which element of the rhetorical situation is he concerned with in his search for identification?
A) the speech
B) the speaker
C) the purpose
D) the audience

Accepted Answer

Tenzing is concerned with the audience because creating identification involves understanding and connecting with the audience's perspectives, values, and experiences to make the speech more relatable and impactful.

Question 10

Rajiv planned to speak to his class about violence in the United States. As the date for his speech approached, he added a reference to a recent workplace shooting, which he had heard about on the evening news. By adding this reference, Rajiv recognized the importance of ________ in defining the occasion.
A) identification
B) rhetorical criticism
C) simultaneous events
D) audience feedback

Accepted Answer

Rajiv added a reference to a recent event, which shows he is acknowledging simultaneous events to make his speech more relevant and timely.

Question 11

In public speaking, what is an exigence?
A) the purpose of the speech
B) a device for concluding the speech
C) a form of audience feedback
D) a problem that can be managed with a good speech

Accepted Answer

An exigence, in the context of public speaking, refers to a problem or situation that requires attention and can be effectively addressed or managed through the delivery of a speech. It is the reason or motivation behind giving the speech, aiming to influence or change the audience's perspective or actions regarding the issue at hand.

Question 12

What are the three basic purposes for public speaking?
A) informing, explaining, conforming
B) deliberating, persuading, identifying
C) persuading, debating, deliberating
D) entertaining, persuading, informing

Accepted Answer

The three basic purposes for public speaking are to entertain, persuade, and inform. These categories encompass the primary goals speakers aim to achieve when addressing an audience.

Question 13

The speaker's characteristic use of language to convey meaning and evoke emotion is called __________.
A) invention
B) arrangement
C) style
D) delivery

Accepted Answer

The speaker's characteristic use of language to convey meaning and evoke emotion is referred to as "style." This encompasses the choice of words, sentence structure, and overall use of language to achieve the speaker's intended effect.

Question 14

__________ is the process of using effective voice, gestures, and facial expressions.
A) Invention
B) Arrangement
C) Style
D) Delivery

Accepted Answer

Delivery is the process of using effective voice, gestures, and facial expressions to convey a message to the audience.

Question 15

Once Maurice had gathered all the information he could about his topic, he began working on determining the best structure for his main ideas. Maurice was engaged in which activity?
A) invention
B) arrangement
C) style
D) delivery

Accepted Answer

Arrangement refers to the process of organizing the main ideas and supporting information in a coherent and effective order for a piece of writing or a speech. Maurice was determining the best structure for his main ideas, which aligns with the definition of arrangement.

Question 16

When a problem affects the public, cooperative action and subjective judgment is needed, the decision requires subjective judgment, and a decision is required, what has been created?
A) public speech
B) public forum
C) rhetorical situation
D) frame of reference

Accepted Answer

The answer of When a problem affects the public, cooperative...

Question 17

What will happen if the public forum is allowed to weaken?
A) Individuals will make their own decisions.
B) Critical public decisions will be made unilaterally.
C) The public forum will return to the realm of traditional politics.
D) People will make decisions that do not affect them.

Accepted Answer

When the public forum weakens, it often leads to a situation where decisions that affect the public are made by a small group of individuals or entities unilaterally, without broad public input or debate. This can undermine democratic processes and reduce the diversity of perspectives considered in decision-making.

Question 18

Which of the following is a sign of a healthy public forum?
A) broad recognition of political and advertising slogans
B) increasing attention to information sources that support one's own point of view
C) an increasing number of people who are convinced that they have the power to effect change
D) a decreasing willingness to debate public issues

Accepted Answer

A healthy public forum is characterized by an engaged citizenry who believe in their capacity to influence change. This reflects a vibrant democratic process where individuals feel empowered to participate and make a difference.

Question 19

What are the alternatives to a well-cultivated public forum?
A) anarchy and chaos
B) autocratic rule and anarchy
C) autocratic rule by experts but not rulers
D) civic engagement and traditional politics

Accepted Answer

Alternatives to a well-cultivated public forum can lead to autocratic rule, where power is concentrated in the hands of a single ruler or a small group, and anarchy, characterized by a lack of government and law.

Question 20

Thorough research is the best way to ensure that you have met which of the following ethical criterion?
A) showing respect for the topic
B) showing respect for the listeners
C) showing concern for the consequences of the speech
D) taking responsibility for your statements

Accepted Answer

Thorough research demonstrates respect for the topic by ensuring that the information presented is accurate, comprehensive, and well-founded.

Quiz 1: Welcome to Public Speaking

Effective communication skills are highly valued by employers because __________.

Which of the following is a characteristic of critical thinkers?

Which of the following statements is a statement of fact?

Public speaking is a communication process that can best be described as a(n) __________.

Public speaking occurs __________.

Which of the following is the term for the study of how messages affect people?

A situation in which people's understanding can be changed through messages is called __________.

When analyzing the four factors of the rhetorical situation, which of the following is a unique concern for the speaker?

Tenzing is planning a speech on the Chinese occupation of his Tibetan homeland and is not sure how to create identification with his classmates. Which element of the rhetorical situation is he concerned with in his search for identification?

In public speaking, what is an exigence?

What are the three basic purposes for public speaking?

The speaker's characteristic use of language to convey meaning and evoke emotion is called __________.

__________ is the process of using effective voice, gestures, and facial expressions.

Once Maurice had gathered all the information he could about his topic, he began working on determining the best structure for his main ideas. Maurice was engaged in which activity?

When a problem affects the public, cooperative action and subjective judgment is needed, the decision requires subjective judgment, and a decision is required, what has been created?

What will happen if the public forum is allowed to weaken?

Which of the following is a sign of a healthy public forum?

What are the alternatives to a well-cultivated public forum?

Thorough research is the best way to ensure that you have met which of the following ethical criterion?