To bridge the gap between speaking and listening, how would speakers need to change their speaking rate?
A)Speakers would need to increase their speaking rate by a factor of 5 to increase their speaking rate from about 80 words per minute to about 400 words per minute.
B)Speakers would need to increase their speaking rate by a factor of 2 to 3 to increase their speaking rate from about 125 to 200 words per minute to about 400 words per minute.
C)Speakers would need to decrease their speaking rate by a factor of 2 to decrease their speaking rate from about 400 words per minute to about 200 words per minute.
D)Speakers would not need to increase their speaking at all. Instead, listeners would need to double their listening rate to catch up with speakers.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

To bridge the gap between speaking and listening, speakers would need to increase their speaking rate by a factor of 2 to 3 to increase their speaking rate from about 125 to 200 words per minute to about 400 words per minute. This allows them to communicate faster and more efficiently without overwhelming the listener. Simply decreasing the speaking rate may not be effective as it may not match the listener's processing ability. Listeners may also benefit from improving their listening skills, but it is primarily up to the speaker to adjust their speaking rate. Choice A is incorrect as it suggests an impractical increase in speed that would be difficult for the speaker to achieve and may lead to poorer communication. Choice D is also incorrect as it places the burden solely on the listener without acknowledging the role of the speaker in effective communication.

To Bridge the Gap Between Speaking and Listening, How Would