36.
Frances and Jean are watching the president give a speech on television. Frances is a big
supporter of the president and identifies politically with his party. Jean did not vote for the
president and does not agree with his policies. While listening to the address, Frances is
delighted with the president’s message and thinks he is on point, whereas Jean thinks the
president is not addressing the issue at hand. Which characteristic of communication does
this scenario illustrate?
A.
Communication passes through perceptual filters.
B.
Communication has relational implications.
C.
Communication sends messages, whether intentional or unintentional.
D.
Communication is governed by rules.
the symbol
the object being discussed
the people using it
D.
the referent
38.
Riley wants to play music during lunch and tells her visiting granddaughter to pick out her
favorite record. Her granddaughter is confused because all her music is digital, so she says,
“You mean, like a sports record?” What assumption did Riley make about her granddaughter?
A.
Her granddaughter would have the same musical tastes as she does.
B.
Her granddaughter understands the meaning she intended to communicate simply
because Riley understood it.
C.
Her granddaughter understood the relational dimension to the message.
D.
Her granddaughter is old enough to understand her use of symbols because she is old
enough to visit her.
AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Apply
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 01-04 List and summarize the important characteristics of communication.
Topic: Characteristics of Communication
39.
Robert is driving Samantha, his girlfriend, home from a party. He notices she is quiet and
withdrawn. Robert asks Samantha if she is okay. She replies, “I’m fine,” in a snide tone while
rolling her eyes. Robert becomes angry and asks what her problem is. Robert is responding to
what dimension of Samantha’s message?
A.
relational
B.
content
C.
symbolic
D.
literal
AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Apply
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 01-04 List and summarize the important characteristics of communication.
Topic: Characteristics of Communication
40.
If your roommate tells you that you’re out of cereal and you interpret the statement as also
meaning, “I’m irritated you never replace food items when they are gone,” you are interpreting
which dimension of your roommate’s message?
A.
content
B.
symbolic
C.
underlying
D.
relational
AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Understand
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 01-04 List and summarize the important characteristics of communication.
Topic: Characteristics of Communication
41.
What do we call it when we communicate about how we communicate?
A.
higher communication
B.
metacommunication
C.
intercommunication
D.
interpersonal communication
AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 01-04 List and summarize the important characteristics of communication.
Topic: Characteristics of Communication
42.
Carolyn and Maxine are shopping for prom dresses. Carolyn asks Maxine’s opinion on a
particular dress and tells her to be honest. When Maxine laughs and says the dress makes
Carolyn look ridiculous, she is surprised to see Carolyn get upset. When Carolyn explains to
Maxine that it is not the opinion, but the way in which it was stated, that hurt her feelings,
Carolyn is engaging in what type of communication?
A.
intercommunication
B.
higher communication
C.
metacommunication
D.
interpersonal communication
AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Apply
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 01-04 List and summarize the important characteristics of communication.
Topic: Characteristics of Communication
43.
When you choose a specific suit to wear to a job interview because you want to communicate
professionalism, what type of message are you sending?
A.
intentional
B.
unintentional
C.
content
D.
relational
AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Apply
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 01-04 List and summarize the important characteristics of communication.
Topic: Characteristics of Communication
44.
Identify an example of following an explicit rule.
A.
not making eye contact on an elevator
B.
not cutting in line at the bank
C.
abiding by your school’s weapons ban
D.
keeping your voice down at a funeral
AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Analyze
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Learning Objective: 01-04 List and summarize the important characteristics of communication.
Topic: Characteristics of Communication
45.
What are the two types of rules that govern communication?
A.
content and relational
B.
internal and external
C.
norms and values
D.
explicit and implicit
AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 01-04 List and summarize the important characteristics of communication.
Topic: Characteristics of Communication
46.
Stan mentally rehearses what he will say to break up with his girlfriend later in the day. Stan
is engaging in what kind of communication?
A.
intrapersonal
B.
interpersonal
C.
unintentional
D.
public
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Understand
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 01-05 Differentiate the five types of communication in which humans engage.
Topic: Types of Communication
47.
Which of the following is NOT an example of interpersonal communication?
A.
exchanging instant messages with a friend
B.
talking on the phone with a relative
C.
visiting face-to-face with a co-worker
D.
reminding yourself to call a friend later
C.
small group
49.
Lynn likes interacting with the members of her soccer team, especially engaging with them to
make decisions and working together to win. What type of communication does Lynn seem to
most enjoy?
A.
interpersonal
B.
public
C.
small group
D.
mass
AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Understand
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 01-05 Differentiate the five types of communication in which humans engage.
Topic: Types of Communication
50.
Jeremiah has a speech to deliver in two weeks. He spends a lot of time researching and
organizing his presentation. He asks his friends to listen as he practices the speech. Jeremiah
may be spending so much time preparing and practicing his remarks because he is
anticipating engaging in what type of communication?
A.
mass
B.
interpersonal
C.
public
D.
small group
AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Evaluate
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 01-05 Differentiate the five types of communication in which humans engage.
Topic: Types of Communication
51.
Mass media includes all of the following, EXCEPT
A.
blogs.
B.
magazines.
C.
instant messaging.
D.
television.
AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Analyze
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 01-05 Differentiate the five types of communication in which humans engage.
Topic: Types of Communication
52.
Because its audience is so large, which type of communication works well for distributing
news, commentary, and entertainment?
A.
public
B.
mass
C.
small group
D.
electronic
AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Understand
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 01-05 Differentiate the five types of communication in which humans engage.
Topic: Types of Communication
53.
In a nationwide survey of U.S. adults conducted by the National Communication Association,
91 percent of respondents rated their communication skills as above average. This finding
reflects what common myth?
A.
Everyone is a communication expert.
B.
Communication will solve any problem.
C.
Communication can break down.
D.
Communication is inherently good.
AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Analyze
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 01-06 List and summarize common misconceptions about communication.
Topic: Communication Myths
54.
Kareem and Haidy have been engaged for two years, but they have been arguing a lot for the
past six months because they have different long-term goals. When Haidy tries to break off
the engagement, Kareem insists they try couples’ counseling first. He is sure that if they just
work on their communication skills, they can stay together. After a few weeks of counseling,
Haidy still chooses to end the engagement, despite the open communication they experienced
in the counseling sessions. Kareem is surprised, thus showing he most likely believes which
communication myth?
A.
Everyone is a communication expert.
B.
Communication is inherently good.
C.
Communication can break down.
D.
Communication will solve any problem.
AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Evaluate
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Learning Objective: 01-06 List and summarize common misconceptions about communication.
Topic: Communication Myths
55.
The idea that communication can “break down” is a myth. Which of the following statements
best explains why?
A.
Communication is inherently good.
B.
Our progress is halted because communication has halted.
C.
The problem lies not with the communication itself but how we are using it.
D.
Communication is not a process, so therefore it can be compared to a journey.
AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Evaluate
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 01-06 List and summarize common misconceptions about communication.
Topic: Communication Myths
56.
How we use communication determines whether it will have positive or negative effects. This
fact dispels what myth?
A.
Everyone is a communication expert.
B.
Communication is inherently good.
C.
Communication will solve any problem.
D.
More communication is always better.
AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Understand
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 01-06 List and summarize common misconceptions about communication.
Topic: Communication Myths
57.
Lulu disagrees with her friends’ position on the war in Afghanistan. She thinks her friends
simply aren’t informed of the nuances of the situation. Lulu talks at length about her
understanding of the conflict, and whenever her friends try to state their opinion, she simply
speaks over them. She is sure if they would just listen, they would come to understand and
agree with her point of view. Lulu probably believes which communication myth?
A.
More communication is always better.
B.
Communication will solve any problem.
C.
Communication is inherently good.
D.
Everyone is a communication expert.
AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Evaluate
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 01-06 List and summarize common misconceptions about communication.
Topic: Communication Myths
58.
According to a 2014 National Association of Colleges and Employers survey, which of the
following is one of the most important qualities employers look for in college graduates?
A.
high grades
B.
communication competence
C.
personal connections
D.
volunteer experience
AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 01-07 Explain communication competence.
Topic: Communication Competence
59.
Someone with communication competence is able to communicate in ways that are
__________________ in a given situation.
A.
literal and relational
B.
symbolic and appropriate
C.
effective and literal
D.
effective and appropriate
AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 01-07 Explain communication competence.
Topic: Communication Competence
60.
In June 2010, President Obama went on NBC’s
Today
show to discuss the BP oil spill in the
Gulf of Mexico. During the interview, the president told host Matt Lauer he was holding
discussions with BP executives so he would know “whose [obscenity] to kick.” In the following
days, there was much discussion and debate in the media over the use of obscenity in that
situation. What does this controversy demonstrate with regard to the communication
decisions of the president and other high-ranking officials?
A.
It is important to communicate appropriately for the social and cultural context.
B.
Communication should be objective, not emotional.
C.
It is important to communicate effectively for the
Today
show audience.
D.
A public figure should always be honest about his or her opinions.
AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Evaluate
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 01-08 Analyze a situation for appropriate and inappropriate communication and effective and ineffective
communication.
Topic: Communication Competence
61.
Which of the following is NOT a trait of competent communicators?
A.
adaptable
B.
self-aware
C.
cognitively simple
D.
empathic
AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Analyze
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 01-09 List and summarize the five characteristics of competent communicators.
Topic: Communication Competence
62.
Fred does not notice that he tends to dominate conversations because he is a(n) __________
self-monitor.
A.
experienced
B.
high
C.
low
D.
objective
AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Apply
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 01-09 List and summarize the five characteristics of competent communicators.
Topic: Communication Competence
63.
Which of the following can make someone a more competent communicator by enabling that
person to see how his or her behavior fits, or doesn’t fit, in a given social situation?
A.
self-monitoring
B.
adaptation
C.
empathy
D.
cognitive complexity
AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Understand
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 01-09 List and summarize the five characteristics of competent communicators.
Topic: Communication Competence
64.
Tom Cruise has appeared in various interviews to defend his views on Scientology and
medication. In these interviews, he appears earnest, focused, and serious. This is in sharp
contrast to his appearance on MTV’s
Movie Awards
in 2010, where he appeared as a crude
character named Les Grossman and did a suggestive dance with Jennifer Lopez. The
appearance was widely viewed in a positive light by its intended audience. By assessing what
would be appropriate in different contexts and modifying his behavior accordingly, Tom Cruise
demonstrates the idea that competent communicators are which of the following?
A.
self-aware
B.
empathic
C.
ethical
D.
adaptable
AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Apply
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 01-09 List and summarize the five characteristics of competent communicators.
Topic: Communication Competence
65.
Melanie wants to go with her friends on a class trip to Mexico, but her mother refuses to let
her go. Melanie is frustrated, as she thinks her mother is too protective and won’t let her have
any fun. However, Melanie’s mother is worried that something will happen to Melanie, a fear
based on her own experiences at Melanie’s age. Which of the following traits would help
Melanie to understand her mother’s perspective and thus become a more competent
communicator?
A.
adaptability
B.
empathy
C.
self-awareness
D.
ethical foresight
AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Evaluate
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 01-09 List and summarize the five characteristics of competent communicators.
Topic: Communication Competence
66.
If you ask someone to “put yourself in my shoes,” you are asking that person to practice which
of the following?
A.
empathy
B.
sympathy
C.
understanding
D.
awareness
AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Understand
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 01-09 List and summarize the five characteristics of competent communicators.
Topic: Communication Competence
67.
If Chelsea looks for only one explanation for the behavior of her friend, then she most likely
lacks ___________ complexity as a communicator.
A.
empathy
B.
ethics
C.
cognitive complexity
D.
self-awareness
AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Apply
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 01-09 List and summarize the five characteristics of competent communicators.
Topic: Communication Competence
68.
Which of the following approaches to communication generally dictates that we treat people
fairly and communicate honestly?
A.
sympathetic
B.
empathic
C.
self-aware
D.
ethical
AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Understand
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 01-09 List and summarize the five characteristics of competent communicators.
Topic: Communication Competence
69.
Chrissie is the owner of a small photocopying business. When her daughter participates in a
fundraiser for a cheerleading competition, Chrissie asks her employees to contribute to the
fundraiser, even though she pays most of them only the minimum wage. Most of her
employees feel obligated to contribute, and they are upset by what they see as an unfair
demand from someone who has power over them. Which of the following practices of a
competent communicator might Chrissie keep in mind to understand her coworkers’ feelings
better?
A.
practicing self-awareness
B.
behaving ethically
C.
thinking with cognitive complexity
D.
adaptability
AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Apply
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 01-09 List and summarize the five characteristics of competent communicators.
Topic: Communication Competence