Com 101

Question 1

Because the speaker must provide connections to help the audience bridge the gap between the elements of the speech, it is important to include _________ in the speech.

a. a summary
b. rhetorical questions
c. analogies
d. transitions
e. personal credibility

Answer 1

D.transitions

Question 2

When the speaker refers to a common experience in order to create identification with the audience, which goal of a speech introduction is being served?

a. Clarifying the purpose of the thesis
b. Previewing the development of the topic
c. Creating a favorable response toward the topic
d. Creating a favorable response toward the speaker
e. Gaining attention

Answer 2

D.Creating a favorable response toward the speaker

Question 3

When Martin Luther King, Jr., opened his famous “I Have a Dream” speech by saying, “I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation,” he was using what type of introduction?

a. Referring to the speech situation
b. Citing statistics and making claims
c. Using an analogy
d. Telling a story
e. Stating the importance of the topic

Answer 3

A.Referring to the speech situation

Question 4

Faith opened her speech by asking her classmates, “Would it surprise you to learn that you probably expose yourself to the leading killer of college-aged Americans at least three time a week?” What type of introduction was Faith using?

a. Quoting someone
b. Citing a statistic
c. Using a rhetorical question
d. Telling a story
e. Identifying with the audience

Answer 4

C.Using a rhetorical question

Question 5

Which of the following questions should most concern a speaker when opening a speech with a quotation?

a. Is the quote startling enough to gain attention?
b. Will the audience recognize the quote?
c. Is the source of my quote credible?
d. Is the quote clearly tied to my thesis?
e. Do the listeners know the person I’m quoting?

Answer 5

A.Is the quote startling enough to gain attention?

Question 6

A speaker relies on an outline during the ____________.

a. time spent brainstorming for the speech topic
b. invention stage of gathering material
c. the research stage of finding supporting material
d. arrangement state of putting ideas together
e. development of the speech language

Answer 6

D.arrangement state of putting ideas together

Question 7

Which type of outline is developed in detail while composing the speech?

a. Rough outline
b. Presentation outline
c. Discrete outline
d. Key word outline
e. Preparation outline

Answer 7

E.Preparation outline

Question 8

When outlining, checking for proper subordination ensures that ______________.

a. the purpose of the speech is appropriate to the situation
b. the claims in the outline are precise and clear
c. the supporting material is relevant to the main point that it supports
d. the main points are parallel in importance
e. the sentences are complete

Answer 8

C.the supporting material is relevant to the main point that it supports

Question 9

Which of the following is NOT one of the purposes served by your speech outline?

a. The outline helps you be sure you have covered your topic adequately.
b. The outline helps to ensure that the organizational pattern is sensible and consistent.
c. The outline helps to clarify and select the best organizational strategy for the speech.
d. The outline helps you determine the specific purpose of your speech.
e. The outline helps you remember the claims you want to make and the order in which you plan to make them

Answer 9

D.The outline helps you determine the specific purpose of your speech

Question 10

Consider the following points:1. Student government sponsors entertainment programs.2. Student government affects many areas of campus life.3. Student government finances campus improvements.What statement about “subordination” is true?

a. 1 and 2 are subordinate to 3.
b. 1 and 3 are subordinate to 2.
c. 1 is subordinate to 2 and 3.
d. 2 and 3 are subordinate to 1.
e. 3 is subordinate to 1 and 2.

Answer 10

b. 1 and 3 are subordinate to 2.

Question 11

What is the most significant resource for creating an effective speaking style?

a. Gestures
b. Interesting supporting material
c. Eye contact
d. Language
e. Vocal variety

Answer 11

e. Vocal variety

Question 12

Which of the following comparative statements of written style and oral style is FALSE?

a. Oral style is more repetitive than written style.
b. Oral style is less formal than written style.
c. Oral style has more potential for clutter than written style.
d. Oral style is more reflexive than written style.
e. Oral style is more complex than written style

Answer 12

e. Oral style is more complex than written style.

Question 13

Concrete words, maxims, and the active voice help to increase the ________ of your message.

a. orality
b. rhythm
c. vividness
d. irony
e. clarity

Answer 13

c. vividness

Question 14

Which of the following statements is true about style?

a. Style is unique, it sets each speaker apart from all others.
b. Style determined by the audience - it is audience dependent.
c. Each speaker has a style that is determined by the speaker - it is speaker dependent.
d. A speaker’s style is predetermined early in life and cannot be changed.
e. Style comes naturally to speakers

Answer 14

a. Style is unique, it sets each speaker apart from all others.

Question 15

“Reflexivity” refers to the tendency of speakers to ________ more than writers.

a. analyze their ideas
b. define their terms
c. repeat themselves
d. use less complex sentence structures
e. refer to themselves and to the audience

Answer 15

e. refer to themselves and to the audience

Question 16

The process of deciding how a speech can best achieve its purpose is called ___________.

a. converting the audience
b. strengthening the purpose
c. strategic planning
d. agenda setting
e. inducing reinforcement

Answer 16

c. strategic planning

Question 17

Hillary’s informative speech focused on clarifying the audience’s understanding of feminism. What informative strategy did she need to rely upon most?

a. Agenda setting
b. Reporting
c. Demonstrating
d. Describing
e. Defining

Answer 17

e. Defining

Question 18

Talia presented a speech about how to give a pedicure, covering several steps in a specific order. Her informative strategy was _______.

a. illustrating
b. comparing
c. describing
d. demonstrating
e. reporting

Answer 18

d. demonstrating

Question 19

Dr. Chadri spoke to a group of senior citizens about the many alternative treatments available for the most common medical complaints among those over the age of 55. Her speech served what purpose?

a. Providing new information
b. Creating a negative feeling
c. Agenda setting
d. Inducing a specific action
e. Creating a positive feeling

Answer 19

a. Providing new information

Question 20

Which of the following is an example of the informative strategy of comparing?

a. The speaker clarifies the similarities and differences between censorship and rating systems.
b. The speaker shows the audience how to perform CPR.
c. The speaker provides vivid details of the patriotic actions of the soldiers who fought the Battle of the Bulge.
d. The speaker tells the audience about the events surrounding a political debate on campus.
e. The speaker clarifies the events surrounding the Watergate break-in and their impact on modern U.S. politics.

Answer 20

a. The speaker clarifies the similarities and differences between censorship and rating systems.

Question 21

Which of the following is NOT one of the goals of persuasion?

a. to move people from belief to action
b. to move people from one belief to another
c. to influence what listeners will think about
d. to increase listeners’ understanding of the topic
e. to cause listeners to change their minds

Answer 21

d. to increase listeners’ understanding of the topic

Question 22

When you know that your audience already agrees with you, you should use the persuasive strategy of __________.

a. strengthening commitment
b. weakening commitment
c. refutation
d. conversion
e. ingratiation

Answer 22

a. strengthening commitment

Question 23

Bill wants his classmates who complain about a lack of activities to join student government and the student activity board. His persuasive goal is ___________.

a. reversal of belief
b. inducing a specific action
c. weakening commitment
d. conversion
e. strengthening commitment

Answer 23

b. inducing a specific action

Question 24

Juan knows that his PTA organization is concerned with weapons and violence in local schools. He hopes to persuade them to support stricter rules and increased security at the schools to combat these problems. What is Juan’s persuasive purpose?

a. Weakening commitment
b. Inducing a specific action
c. Refuting a position
d. Conversion
e. Strengthening commitment

Answer 24

e. Strengthening commitment

Question 25

Phillip gave a persuasive speech about why people should not smoke. His classmate, Morris, refused to accept Phillip’s arguments, even though they were well supported, because he thought Phillip was just another “do-good liberal” who wanted to curtail people’s freedom. Which act of selective perception did Morris exhibit?

a. Denial
b. The boomerang effect
c. Belittling the source
d. Dismissal
e. Compartmentalization

Answer 25

d. Dismissal

Question 26

One major drawback to using visual aids in a speech is __________.

a. they are difficult to carry to class
b. they can distract the audience from the message
c. the distract the speaker who has to handle them
d. most speakers lake the artistic talent to make them look nice
e. they oversimplify complex information

Answer 26

b. they can distract the audience from the message

Question 27

James used a ___________ to show the changes in unemployment rates over the past ten years.

a. line graph
b. pie graph
c. textual graphics
d. bar graph
e. chart

Answer 27

a. line graph

Question 28

It is best to deliver handouts at __________ of the speech.

a. either the beginning or the end
b. either the beginning or the middle
c. the beginning
d. the middle
e. the end

Answer 28

e. the end

Question 29

Mona is preparing a speech about how taxes are spent. She wants to show the proportion of each tax dollar that is spent on various types of government services. What type of visual aid best serves her purpose?

a. Flowchart
b. Pie graph
c. Bar graph
d. Statistical chart
e. Textual graphics

Answer 29

b. Pie graph

Question 30

All speaking occasions create _________.

a. success
b. identification
c. formality
d. constraints
e. decorum

Answer 30

d. constraints

Question 31

When Dave gave the toast at his best friend’s wedding reception, he failed to notice the shocked looks as he told some off-color stories about the happy couple’s dating life. What quality of decorum did Drew violate in this example?

a. The audience did not like the speaker.
b. The toast was too long.
c. The speech did not meet the expectations of the audience in this occasion.
d. The emotions were too intense for the listeners.
e. The toast did not reflect the speaker’s true feelings.

Answer 31

c. The speech did not meet the expectations of the audience in this occasion.

Question 32

The strength of a ceremonial speech depends primarily on the __________.

a. strength of the supporting material
b. appearance of the speaker
c. clarity of the informative strategies
d. speaker’s ability to use words and images to capture the occasion
e. the speaker’s ability to use compelling reasoning

Answer 32

d. speaker’s ability to use words and images to capture the occasion

Question 33

Which of the following conditions give rise to deliberative speaking?

a. During a commemoration event
b. When a decision is required
c. During a funeral
d. When the listeners do not identify with the speaker
e. During a public celebration

Answer 33

b. When a decision is required

Question 34

Sue and her teammates decided to honor their coach at a banquet with a plaque thanking hem for all of his hard work. What type of speech will Sue be giving when she presents this award?

a. Extemporaneous
b. Persuasive
c. Deliberative
d. Informative
e. Ceremonial

Answer 34

e. Ceremonial

Question 35

Critical thinking involves ______

a. analyzing various points of view.
b. distinguishing facts from opinions.
c. forming and defending judgments.
d. recognizing unstated assumptions.
e. all of the above

Answer 35

e. all of the above

Question 36

A situation in which people’s understanding can be changed through messages is a(n)

a. strategic
b. occasional
c. critical
d. purposive
e. rhetorical

Answer 36

e. rhetorical

Question 37

Which of the following is NOT one of the four elements of the rhetorical situation?

a. audience
b. occasion
c. speech
d. speaker
e. purpose

Answer 37

e. purpose

Question 38

The tendency to believe your own culture’s views are typical of, or superior to, everyone else’s is known as _________.

a. identification
b. salience
c. subjectivity
d. exigence
e. ethnocentrism

Answer 38

e. ethnocentrism

Question 39

According to the textbook, which of the following is a characteristic of an effective delivery?

a. It has a distinct introduction, body, and conclusion
b. It has a clear thesis and purpose
c. It is delivered completely from memory
d. It is natural and uncontrived
e. It is choreographed to support the verbal message

Answer 39

d. It is natural and uncontrived

Question 40

Which of the following statements is good advice for a speaker’s use of movement?

a. Shift your weight from side to side even while standing still to maintain a sense of movement.
b. Keep one hand in your pocket to convey a sense of comfort and ease with the audience.
c. Move around the room as much as possible, stopping only to mark transitions in the speech.
d. Move toward the audience when you want to emphasize a point and promote a sense of connection with your listeners.
e. Stay directly behind the podium at all times because it communicates stability to the audience.

Answer 40

d. Move toward the audience when you want to emphasize a point and promote a sense of connection with your listeners.

Question 41

What type of movement is most likely to create a sense of community with the audience and enhance your credibility?

a. Stand directly in front of the podium throughout the speech
b. Maintain a commanding posture behind the podium
c. Ignore the podium, and just walk around the room randomly
d. Move to one side of the podium and then to the other side
e. Move away from the podium and toward the audience

Answer 41

e. Move away from the podium and toward the audience

Question 42

Billy realized five minutes before class that it was his assigned day to give a speech. He did not want to make excuses so he used the five minutes to prepare. Regardless of what the assignment asked for, Billy’s mode of presentation can best be labeled as ________.

a. extemporaneous
b. impromptu
c. memorized
d. manuscript
e. agenda

Answer 42

b. impromptu

Question 43

Part of your audience analysis should be an examination of audience demographics, which includes a description of audience ____________.

a. perceptions, selective exposure, and selective attention
b. interests, beliefs, values, and experiences
c. knowledge and experiences
d. gender, age range, and educational level
e. interests and attitudes

Answer 43

d. gender, age range, and educational level

Question 44

Speakers should keep in mind that most audiences are _____.

a. heterogeneous
b. stereotypical
c. demographic
d. homogeneous
e. captive

Answer 44

a. heterogeneous

Question 45

Relying solely on demographic categories for audience analysis can lead the speaker to risk unwarranted ______.

a. stereotyping
b. selective exposure
c. complication
d. allusions
e. platitudes

Answer 45

a. stereotyping

Question 46

An analysis of your listeners’ beliefs, values, interests, and knowledge is an examination of ____________.

a. audience psychology
b. audience ethos
c. audience culture
d. audience demographics
e. audience composition

Answer 46

c. audience culture

Question 47

When your audience analysis focuses on the perceptual processes of the audience, including their tendencies toward selective exposure and selective attention, you are assessing audience _____________.

a. culture
b. psychology
c. feedback
d. interests
e. demographics

Answer 47

b. psychology

Question 48

Which of the following characteristics of a speech is affected by the size of your audience?

a. The length of your speech
b. The impact of your attention getter
c. The type of organizational pattern
d. The degree of formality of your presentation
e. The amount of supporting material you use

Answer 48

d. The degree of formality of your presentation

Question 49

A captive audience is _____ than a voluntary audience.

a. less motivated
b. more heterogeneous
c. more universal
d. less self-interested
e. less stereotypical

Answer 49

a. less motivated

Question 50

Kai usually did not listen carefully to her classmates’ speeches. However, when Andre gave a speech about her favorite city, Paris, she focused intently on the speech and followed very point carefully. This is an example of _________.

a. selective exposure
b. selective attention
c. rhetorical situation
d. selective stereotyping
e. favoritism

Answer 50

b. selective attention

Question 51

Captive audiences often are forced to listen to speeches about topics they do not find interesting. As a result, ________ often occurs.

a. selective attention
b. passive resistance
c. selective exposure
d. natural selection
e. passive restraint

Answer 51

a. selective attention

Question 52

Which of the following audiences is a voluntary audience?

a. Employees whose jobs depend on their participation in a seminar
b. Children accompanying their parents to a PTA meeting
c. Students at a required school assembly
d. Members of the sorority at a luncheon
e. Students in a required public speaking class

Answer 52

d. Members of the sorority at a luncheon

Question 53

Which of the following is NOT a strategy for respecting cultural diversity during topic selection?

a. Identify the constraints and opportunities posed by this diversity
b. Select a topic that promotes cultural stereotypes and name-calling
c. Evaluate your audience’s prior commitment to your topic
d. Select a topic that reduces stereotypes and promotes commonality
e. Select a topic that is important to both you and your audience

Answer 53

b. Select a topic that promotes cultural stereotypes and name-calling

Question 54

Controversial topics need to be addressed _________.

a. with sincerity by the speaker
b. with respect for the audience and the rhetorical situation
c. with strong conviction by the speaker
d. without concern for the rhetorical situation
e. with caution by the speaker

Answer 54

b. with respect for the audience and the rhetorical situation

Question 55

Walt wanted to give his five-minute informative speech about the causes and consequences of the federal budget deficit. However, this topic is NOT ___________.

a. comprehensible
b. suitable for oral delivery
c. important to the speaker or the audience
d. appropriate in scope for the allotted time
e. clear enough to adequately explain

Answer 55

d. appropriate in scope for the allotted time

Question 56

During strategic planning, you will engage in the following activities:

a. Identifying the purpose, constraints, opportunities, and means.
b. Identifying the topic, means, specific purpose, and organizational pattern.
c. Identifying supporting materials, arguments, and claims.
d. Identifying the thesis, purpose, constraints, and opportunities.
e. Identifying the rhetorical situation, the occasion, and the speaker.

Answer 56

a. Identifying the purpose, constraints, opportunities, and means.

Question 57

During the __________ stage of strategic planning you will decide what reasoning, organizational pattern,and supporting material to use.

a. identifying your purpose
b. promoting your ethos
c. identifying constraintsd. identifying opportunities
e. selecting the means

Answer 57

e. selecting the means

Question 58

Emil gave a speech about growing up in Israel. As support, he discussed his home life, his schooling, and his life in the military. What type of supporting material is this?

a. Documentary
b. Expert testimony
c. Statistics
d. Direct observation
e. Personal Experience

Answer 58

e. Personal Experience

Question 59

All of the following are goals of research in preparation for a speech EXCEPT _____________.

a. to make your ideas relevant to the audience
b. to make your ideas clear and understandable for your audience
c. to organize your information
d. to find evidence that supports your ideas
e. to develop or strengthen your own expertise in the topic

Answer 59

c. to organize your information

Question 60

Malcolm supported his arguments about injustice in criminal sentencing with _____________ that compared the conviction rates of blacks with the conviction rates of whites for similar crimes.

a. examples
b. statistics
c. testimony
d. analogies
e. documents

Answer 60

b. statistics

Question 61

When a speaker supports an idea by offering facts gathered by someone else, this type of supporting material is _________.

a. survey
b. opinion testimony
c. case study
d. factual testimony
e. direct observation

Answer 61

d. factual testimony

Question 62

A rhetorical proof consists of __________.

a. common values, beliefs, and judgments
b. a claim, credibility, and common ground
c. claim, supporting material, and reasoning
d. reasonableness, standards, and critical listening
e. reasons, rhetoric, and shared values

Answer 62

c. claim, supporting material, and reasoning

Question 63

In his speech about effective study skills, Mark said, “Preparing for a test without reading is like going fishing without bait.” What type of reasoning is he using?

a. Literal analogy
b. Sign
c. Hypothetical example
d. Figurative analogy
e. Factual example

Answer 63

d. Figurative analogy

Question 64

Which of the following phrases best reflects the principle of reasoning by sign?

a. “One thing leads to another.”
b. “Like father, like son.”
c. “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.”
d. “If you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all.”
e. “Consider the source.”

Answer 64

c. “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.”

Question 65

Jesse argued in his speech that drug use really isn’t a problem among teens because no one he knows has even tried drugs. In this argument, Jesse’s friends are used as examples, but this reasoning by example fails because ______.

a. the examples are hypothetical
b. the examples are false
c. the examples are not representative
d. the examples lack narrative elements
e. the examples are analogous

Answer 65

c. the examples are not representative

Question 66

A well organized speech leads to which of the following results?

a. Listeners will be distracted while trying to reconstruct your logic.
b. Listeners are more likely to understand and be influenced by your message.
c. Listeners may forget unconnected ideas.
d. Listeners may resent the lack of structure and resist your message.
e. Listeners will stop attending to the speech.

Answer 66

b. Listeners are more likely to understand and be influenced by your message.

Question 67

The two basic components of organization are _______.

a. organizing and outlining
b. main points and sub-points
c. ethos and clarity
d. selection and arrangement
e. ideas and evidence

Answer 67

d. selection and arrangement

Question 68

Each main idea in an outline should address a separate idea so that the information under the main headings does not overlap. This characteristic is known as _______.

a. simplicity
b. discreteness
c. parallel structure
d. balance
e. coherence

Answer 68

b. discreteness

Question 69

Main ideas should have ______, meaning that they should not be loaded toward one side of the subject.

a. simplicity
b. completeness
c. coherence
d. discreteness
e. balance

Answer 69

e. balance

Question 70

Billy wanted to promote the thesis, “We must preserve our wilderness areas to protect our culture and heritage.” Which of the following main points is NOT an issue that emerges from this thesis?

a. Wilderness areas reflect our culture.
b. Wilderness areas offer recreational opportunities.
c. Our wilderness areas are endangered.
d. We can preserve our wilderness.
e. Wilderness is part of our heritage.

Answer 70

b. Wilderness areas offer recreational opportunities.