Question 1

In an oral presentation, humor should be avoided.

Accepted Answer

Humor can be appropriate in an oral presentation, as it can help engage the audience and make the content more memorable or relatable. However, it should be used sparingly and be appropriate for the context and tone of the presentation. It's important to use good judgment and avoid offensive or insensitive jokes.

Question 2

When creating a slideshow presentation, it is important to use animation to transition between each slide.

Accepted Answer

Using animation for slide transitions is optional and should be used judiciously to enhance the presentation, not distract from it.

Question 3

Planning the content and physical aspects of a presentation is especially important for team (collaborative) presentations.

Accepted Answer

When multiple people are involved in a presentation, it is important to coordinate the content and ensure a cohesive message is delivered. The physical aspects, such as slide design and speaking order, should also be planned to avoid confusion or awkward transitions during the presentation.

Question 4

When discussing a visual, you should not refer to it with physical action and words.

Accepted Answer

When discussing a visual, it is often helpful to use physical action and descriptive words to help convey the details and characteristics of the visual.

Question 5

Smiles, grimaces, and frowns should be avoided when making oral presentations.

Accepted Answer

Smiling can be an effective way to display confidence and engage with the audience. However, over-exaggerated or inappropriate facial expressions should be avoided. Grimaces and frowns can communicate discomfort or disapproval, which can negatively impact the audience's perception of the speaker.

Question 6

When presenting information using visuals, you need not explain them since they have been added just for visual interest.

Accepted Answer

Visuals should be explained in order to provide context and help the audience understand the information being presented. Simply adding visuals without any explanation may confuse or mislead the audience.

Question 7

When working on a collaborative presentation, individual speakers should rehearse on their own and avoid rehearsing as a group in order to avoid distracting each other.

Accepted Answer

When working on a collaborative presentation, it is important for individual speakers to rehearse on their own and then come together to rehearse as a group. This allows individuals to work on their own delivery and timing before coming together to ensure that they are able to work well as a team and deliver a cohesive presentation. However, it is important to work together to ensure that everyone's presentations flow together and there are no major distractions or inconsistencies.

Question 8

If you ask a question during a presentation and no one responds, you should ignore the lack of response and move on.

Accepted Answer

Ignoring the lack of response may indicate disengagement or confusion. It's better to address it by rephrasing the question, encouraging participation, or providing clarification.

Question 9

When using visuals to present information, you should look at the visuals only when the audience should look at them.

Accepted Answer

When using visuals, it is important to direct the audience's attention to the visuals only when necessary and then return to the speaker. This helps to maintain engagement and ensure that the audience understands the information being presented.

Question 10

Handouts should always be given before a presentation so that listeners can review them and prepare questions.

Accepted Answer

Handouts can be distributed before, during, or after a presentation depending on the presenter's strategy and the audience's needs. Giving them before may lead to distraction, while providing them after can ensure full attention during the presentation.

Question 11

Audiences typically wait until after the introduction of a presentation to begin assessing whether to trust a speaker.

Accepted Answer

Audiences often begin assessing a speaker's trustworthiness from the moment they start speaking, or even before, based on initial impressions such as appearance, body language, and tone.

Question 12

An effective approach to delivering a speech is to remain impersonal and distant from your audience in order to project the image of authority.

Accepted Answer

This approach is not effective. Connecting with your audience and showing authenticity and empathy is more effective in engaging and impacting them.

Question 13

When planning the duration of your speech, it is better to err on the side of saying too little than saying too much.

Accepted Answer

It is generally better to make sure your speech fits within the allotted time frame rather than going over time and potentially losing the audience's attention or respect.

Question 14

It is more effective for most people to read a speech than to present it extemporaneously.

Accepted Answer

This statement is generally false. While some individuals may feel more comfortable reading a speech, extemporaneous presenting can be more engaging and allow for a greater connection with the audience. It also allows for more flexibility to adjust to the audience's reactions and needs. However, this depends on the individual's strengths and preferences.

Question 15

In a webinar, participants expect to interact with the speaker and presentation through polls, questions, and even live chat with the speaker.

Accepted Answer

Participants in a webinar usually expect to engage with the speaker through various interactive features such as polls, questions, and live chat.

Question 16

Persuasive presentations are primarily intended to engage and reward the audience's attention.

Accepted Answer

Persuasive presentations are primarily intended to convince or influence the audience to adopt a particular viewpoint or take a specific action, not just to engage and reward their attention.

Question 17

A webcast is a web-based get-together where a small group interacts online instead of in a conference room.

Accepted Answer

A webcast is typically a one-way broadcast over the internet to a large audience, not an interactive meeting for a small group.

Question 18

Which of the following statements about informative presentations is true?
A) They are used only to present information to internal audiences.
B) Your needs and goals are the most important consideration.
C) You need to anticipate likely audience questions and plan answers.
D) They are typically delivered using a direct order.
E) Proposals and sales pitches are the main types of informative presentations.

Accepted Answer

Anticipating audience questions and preparing answers is critical to being informative in a presentation, as it ensures that the audience receives the information they need and helps establish credibility with them. The other options presented are not true or not necessarily true.

Question 19

When choosing a topic, the occasion of the speech is always the most important factor to consider.

Accepted Answer

The occasion is important, but other factors such as the audience, purpose, and speaker's expertise also play crucial roles in choosing a topic.

Question 20

If you are interacting with the audience and someone disagrees with you, you should acknowledge why the person might think that way, reiterate why you think the way you do, and move on.

Accepted Answer

It's important to acknowledge and validate differing opinions, reiterate your own perspective, and then continue the conversation without dwelling on the disagreement. This helps to maintain a respectful and productive exchange of ideas.

Quiz 13: Delivering Business Presentations and Speeches