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Beebe/Beebe/Ivy Communication: Principles for a Lifetime, 6e Test Bank
Answer: true
Learning Objective: LO 3.2 Summarize how words are used as symbols that have denotative,
connotative, concrete, and abstract meanings and are bound by culture and context.
Topic: The Nature of Language
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
TB_Q3.43 The rules and standards of language are known as syntax.
Answer: false
Learning Objective: LO 3.2 Summarize how words are used as symbols that have denotative,
connotative, concrete, and abstract meanings and are bound by culture and context.
Topic: The Nature of Language
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
TB_Q3.44 A gesture can be interpreted as a symbol.
Answer: true
Learning Objective: LO 3.2 Summarize how words are used as symbols that have denotative,
connotative, concrete, and abstract meanings and are bound by culture and context.
Topic: The Nature of Language
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
TB_Q3.45 Grammar refers to the meaning of a word—a person’s interpretation of a symbol.
Answer: false
Learning Objective: LO 3.2 Summarize how words are used as symbols that have denotative,
connotative, concrete, and abstract meanings and are bound by culture and context.
Topic: The Nature of Language
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
TB_Q3.46 Bypassing rarely occurs between two people who are fluent in English.
Answer: false
Learning Objective: LO 3.2 Summarize how words are used as symbols that have denotative,
connotative, concrete, and abstract meanings and are bound by culture and context.
Topic: The Nature of Language
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
TB_Q3.47 The denotative meaning of the word “home” can be found in the dictionary.
Answer: true
Learning Objective: LO 3.2 Summarize how words are used as symbols that have denotative,
connotative, concrete, and abstract meanings and are bound by culture and context.
Topic: The Nature of Language
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
TB_Q3.48 When Jen hears the word “comfortable,” she thinks of her grandmother’s house
at Thanksgiving. Her thoughts demonstrate the connotative meaning of the word.
Answer: true
Learning Objective: LO 3.2 Summarize how words are used as symbols that have denotative,
connotative, concrete, and abstract meanings and are bound by culture and context.
Topic: The Nature of Language
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
TB_Q3.49 Your book recommends minimizing the use of abstract words when you are
trying to clarify a message.
Answer: true
Learning Objective: LO 3.2 Summarize how words are used as symbols that have denotative,
connotative, concrete, and abstract meanings and are bound by culture and context.
Topic: The Nature of Language
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
TB_Q3.50 According to the textbook, meanings are context bound but not culture bound.
Answer: false
Learning Objective: LO 3.2 Summarize how words are used as symbols that have denotative,
connotative, concrete, and abstract meanings and are bound by culture and context.
Topic: The Nature of Language
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
TB_Q3.51 Abstract meanings of words require people to use their senses.
Answer: false
Learning Objective: LO 3.2 Summarize how words are used as symbols that have denotative,
connotative, concrete, and abstract meanings and are bound by culture and context.
Topic: The Nature of Language
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
TB_Q3.52 Abstract language is easier to understand than concrete language.
Answer: false
Learning Objective: LO 3.2 Summarize how words are used as symbols that have denotative,
connotative, concrete, and abstract meanings and are bound by culture and context.
Topic: The Nature of Language
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
TB_Q3.53 The context for communication is NOT important in determining the meaning.
Answer: false
Learning Objective: LO 3.2 Summarize how words are used as symbols that have denotative,
connotative, concrete, and abstract meanings and are bound by culture and context.
Topic: The Nature of Language
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
TB_Q3.54 Neologisms refer to new terms introduced into the language.
Answer: true
Learning Objective: LO 3.2 Summarize how words are used as symbols that have denotative,
connotative, concrete, and abstract meanings and are bound by culture and context.
Topic: The Nature of Language
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
TB_Q3.55 Heterosexist language assumes that homosexuality and bisexuality do not
exist.
Answer: true
Learning Objective: LO 3.4 Describe the major ways in which language reveals bias about race,
ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, class, and ability.
Topic: Confronting Bias in Language
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
TB_Q3.56 Allness is the tendency to describe individuals in terms of their unique traits
rather than their similarities to others in their groups.
Answer: false
Learning Objective: LO 3.4 Describe the major ways in which language reveals bias about race,
ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, class, and ability.
Topic: Confronting Bias in Language
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
TB_Q3.57 According to your book, using words such as “fireman” and “postman” to
represent all people in those professions makes women seem invisible.
Answer: true
Learning Objective: LO 3.4 Describe the major ways in which language reveals bias about race,
ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, class, and ability.
Topic: Confronting Bias in Language
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
TB_Q3.58 Using masculine language to describe all people is known as generic language.
Answer: true
Learning Objective: LO 3.4 Describe the major ways in which language reveals bias about race,
ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, class, and ability.
Topic: Confronting Bias in Language
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
TB_Q3.59 Polarization is the tendency to describe something in terms of the middle
ground.
Answer: false
Learning Objective: LO 3.5 Explain how language helps create supportive or defensive
communication climates.
Topic: Using Words to Establish Supportive Relationships
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
TB_Q3.60 The ability to understand and feel what another person is feeling is the
definition of sympathy.
Answer: false
Learning Objective: LO 3.5 Explain how language helps create supportive or defensive
communication climates.
Topic: Using Words to Establish Supportive Relationships
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
3.3 Short Answer
TB_Q3.61 Briefly explain the importance of studying language.
Answer: Words are powerful. People’s words impact emotions, thoughts, actions, relationships,
and culture. Studying language can improve relationships and enhance your influence. Also, you
choose your language. Making effective words choices can help you communicate who you are
to others more clearly.
Learning Objective: LO 3.1 List two reasons why it is important to study verbal communication.
Topic: Why Focus on Language?
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Apply What You Know
TB_Q3.62 Explain the differences between concrete and abstract language.
Answer: Meanings of words can be placed on a continuum from concrete to abstract. If we can
experience what the word refers to with our senses, it is described as concrete. If we cannot
experience it with senses, it is described as abstract. Abstract terms are more difficult to
understand or agree on a meaning. Concrete terms provide a more clear meaning.
Learning Objective: LO 3.2 Summarize how words are used as symbols that have denotative,
connotative, concrete, and abstract meanings and are bound by culture and context.
Topic: The Nature of Language
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
TB_Q3.63 Give an explanation and an example of a neologism.
Answer: Neologisms are new terms introduced into a language. For example, in the 1960s, the
term “sexual harassment” became a part of the language after feminists gave this name to sexist
treatment experienced primarily by women in the American workforce.
Learning Objective: LO 3.2 Summarize how words are used as symbols that have denotative,
connotative, concrete, and abstract meanings and are bound by culture and context.
Topic: The Nature of Language
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Apply What You Know
TB_Q3.64 Identify and discuss the five primary ways in which words have power.
Answer: (1) The power to create and label experience. For example, Alzheimer’s is named after
the individual who discovered the condition. (2) The power to communicate feelings. Without
words, emotions could be difficult to accurately convey. (3) The power to affect thoughts and
actions. Advertisers use this power when the words they select to use affect the way we think
about a product. (4) The power to shape and reflect culture. Phrases and sayings that are
common within a culture may not make sense to someone outside of that culture. (5) The power
to make and break relationships. Words have power in relationships to keep it going or end it.
Learning Objective: LO 3.3 Identify five primary ways in which words have power.
Topic: The Power of Words
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Apply What You Know
TB_Q3.65 What is exclusive language, and why is it considered a problem?
Answer: Exclusive language is language that does not reflect all people who might be members
of a particular group. Traditionally, the use of “generic” pronouns such as “he” to refer to both
genders is an example. Another example is the use of terms such as “policemen” to refer to all
police officers, who may be either men or women. It is considered a problem because when most
people hear a gender-specific word, they picture that gender exclusively, thus rendering others
invisible. In addition, it makes the user seem insensitive.
Learning Objective: LO 3.4 Describe the major ways in which language reveals bias about race,
ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, class, and ability.
Topic: Confronting Bias in Language
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
Learning Objective: LO 3.5 Explain how language helps create supportive or defensive
communication climates.
Topic: Using Words to Establish Supportive Relationships
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Apply What You Know
TB_Q3.67 Discuss how empathy can help establish a supportive relationship.
Answer: Empathy is the ability to put yourself in another person’s position in order to actually feel
or approximate the feelings of others. This trait is necessary in a supportive relationship because
it demonstrates to the other person that you understand how he or she feels.
Learning Objective: LO 3.5 Explain how language helps create supportive or defensive
communication climates.
Topic: Using Words to Establish Supportive Relationships
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
TB_Q3.68 Discuss why it is better to solve problems than to control others.
Answer: When we control another person, we tend to limit their options. This can cause
defensiveness. When we work to solve problems, we use supportive communication to help the
other person arrive at his or her own solutions to the problems. Thus, we are better able to avoid
negative, defensive communication and resentment.
Learning Objective: LO 3.5 Explain how language helps create supportive or defensive
communication climates.
Topic: Using Words to Establish Supportive Relationships
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Apply What You Know
TB_Q3.69 Explain the concept of gunny-sacking.
Answer: Gunny-sacking is reminding people of past mistakes or issues and linking them to the
current situation. If it is used as method to bring old, unrelated issues into a discussion (or
argument); it can result in a negative situation where the person becomes defensive. It may be
helpful if supportive communication is used to describe past incidences of the same negative type
of behavior if it reveals a pattern that needs to be addressed.
Learning Objective: LO 3.5 Explain how language helps create supportive or defensive
communication climates.
Topic: Using Words to Establish Supportive Relationships
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
3.4 Fill-in-the-Blank
TB_Q3.70 The _____ Hypothesis suggests that our language and thought are so
interrelated that how we think is based in and controlled by the language we speak.
Answer: Sapir-Whorf
Learning Objective: LO 3.2 Summarize how words are used as symbols that have denotative,
connotative, concrete, and abstract meanings and are bound by culture and context.
Topic: The Nature of Language
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
TB_Q3.71 The rules and standards that structure language are known as _____.
Answer: grammar
Learning Objective: LO 3.2 Summarize how words are used as symbols that have denotative,
connotative, concrete, and abstract meanings and are bound by culture and context.
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
TB_Q3.72 A word, sound, gesture, or visual image that represents a thought, concept,
object, or experience is called a _____.
Answer: symbol
Learning Objective: LO 3.2 Summarize how words are used as symbols that have denotative,
connotative, concrete, and abstract meanings and are bound by culture and context.
Topic: The Nature of Language
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
TB_Q3.73 One person describes arriving “early” as 15 minutes before class and another
describes “early” as 5 minutes before class. The discrepancy in the understanding of the
word “early” is known as _____.
Answer: bypassing
Learning Objective: LO 3.2 Summarize how words are used as symbols that have denotative,
connotative, concrete, and abstract meanings and are bound by culture and context.
Topic: The Nature of Language
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
TB_Q3.74 The _____ meaning of a word is the level that conveys feelings, and is personal
and subjective rather than literal.
Answer: connotative
Learning Objective: LO 3.2 Summarize how words are used as symbols that have denotative,
connotative, concrete, and abstract meanings and are bound by culture and context.
Topic: The Nature of Language
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
TB_Q3.75 When the realtor tells Kim the countertops are granite, Kim runs her hand over
the smooth, speckled surface. Kim knew the word granite because she could touch it and
see it. This demonstrates the idea of a _____ word.
Answer: concrete
Learning Objective: LO 3.2 Summarize how words are used as symbols that have denotative,
connotative, concrete, and abstract meanings and are bound by culture and context.
Topic: The Nature of Language
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
TB_Q3.76 When people learn a system of knowledge, behavior, attitudes, beliefs, values,
rules, and norms that are shared and shaped from one generation to the next, they are
learning a _____.
Answer: culture
Learning Objective: LO 3.2 Summarize how words are used as symbols that have denotative,
connotative, concrete, and abstract meanings and are bound by culture and context.
Topic: The Nature of Language
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
TB_Q3.77 Language using general terms that stand for all persons or things within a
given category is called _____.
Answer: generic
Learning Objective: LO 3.4 Describe the major ways in which language reveals bias about race,
ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, class, and ability.
Topic: Confronting Bias in Language
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
TB_Q3.78 _____ is the tendency to describe things in extremes or opposites without any
middle ground.
Answer: Polarization
Learning Objective: LO 3.5 Explain how language helps create supportive or defensive
communication climates.
Topic: Using Words to Establish Supportive Relationships
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
TB_Q3.79 Language that creates a climate of trust is called _____ language.
Answer: supportive
Learning Objective: LO 3.5 Explain how language helps create supportive or defensive
communication climates.
Topic: Using Words to Establish Supportive Relationships
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
TB_Q3.80 _____ communication creates a climate of hostility and mistrust.
Answer: defensive
Learning Objective: LO 3.5 Explain how language helps create supportive or defensive
communication climates.
Topic: Using Words to Establish Supportive Relationships
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
TB_Q3.81 When you try to put yourself in another person’s shoes and experience what
he or she is feeling, you are using _____.
Answer: empathy
Learning Objective: LO 3.5 Explain how language helps create supportive or defensive
communication climates.
Topic: Using Words to Establish Supportive Relationships
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
3.5 Essay Questions
TB_Q3.82 Select three of the following characteristics of language. In a well-supported
answer, address (1) what it means, and (2) why it is important for an effective
communicator to understand that concept. A superior answer will contain illustrations
that are original and not in the textbook.
Characteristics: (discuss 3) (1) Words are symbols with meanings. (2) Words have
denotative and connotative meanings. (3) Words reflect concrete and abstract meanings.
(4) Words are culture bound. (5) Words are context bound.
Answer: 1) Words are symbols with meanings: symbols stand for something else. When you
use a symbol, you attach a meaning to it. Others who hear the symbol attach a meaning to it as
well. Communicators should be aware of this because this implies the possibility that people will
not use the same meanings, or bypass each other’s meanings. (2) Denotative meanings are
literal meanings that are used by most people who speak the language. Connotative meanings
are more personal and subjective. This is an important distinction because our denotative
meanings help us communicate more clearly, but sometimes being explicit about our
connotative meanings helps others to see a special message we are trying to communicate.
Understanding the difference helps us adapt to others. (3) Words reflect abstract and concrete
meanings. Concrete meanings are tied to our senses; abstract words are not. If our purpose is to
communicate clearly, the more concrete our language, the better chance we have of success.
(4) Words are culture bound. We learn our words and the uses of those words from the people in
our culture. We should take cultural and co-cultural differences into account with adapting to
another person. (5) Words are context bound. We attach a meaning to a word based on the
context in which it is used. Therefore, it is important to look at the context to help us (understand
the communication of others. In addition, it is important to avoid taking statements out of context.
Learning Objective: LO 3.2 Summarize how words are used as symbols that have denotative,
connotative, concrete, and abstract meanings and are bound by culture and context.
Topic: The Nature of Language
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Skill Level: Analyze It
TB_Q3.83 Explain why the meanings of words are context bound. Provide an example of
this.
Answer: Context refers to the various factors surrounding the use of words. For instance, one-
on-one communication or a large group, a noisy room or a quiet one, a person’s tone of voice,
and nonverbal elements that affect the meaning of a word. For example, a person may verbally
agree with another person but his or her facial expression reflects the opposite feeling. Political
sound bites are another good example, because we only hear a small part of what a person has
said and by not hearing the rest of the message, we might confuse the meaning of the words.
Learning Objective: LO 3.2 Summarize how words are used as symbols that have denotative,
connotative, concrete, and abstract meanings and are bound by culture and context.
Topic: The Nature of Language
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Skill Level: Analyze It
TB_Q3.84 List three ways in which language can reflect bias. Describe how to avoid using
these types of bias in your language.
Answer: 1) Bias can occur in language based upon race, ethnicity, nationality, and religion. A
sensitive communicator uses language to refer to an ethnic or religious group that is preferred by
that particular group.
2) Bias can also occur in language based upon gender and sexual orientation. A sensitive
communicator avoids sexist language by avoiding masculine generic pronouns and man-linked
terms that make women seem invisible. Avoid heterosexist language that assumes all people
are heterosexual. For example, you could use the term “partner” rather than “husband” or “wife”.
Also, eliminate all homophobic language that either directly or subtly insults gays and lesbians.
3) Bias can also occur based upon age, class, and ability. Age bias can be eliminated by
avoiding language that calls attention to someone’s age. Also, be careful of language that
stereotypes and denigrates the elderly. Be careful not to glorify youth. Be aware of using
language that makes distinctions between classes of people such as “white collar” and “blue
language—using a masculine term as though it were a term to describe all people. This occurs
in pronoun usage and in man-linked terminology. An example of this would be, “When you greet
any of the senators, be sure to look him straight in the eye;” or “typically, the leader of the
executive board is known as the chairman.”
Learning Objective: LO 3.4 Describe the major ways in which language reveals bias about race,
ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, class, and ability.
Topic: Confronting Bias in Language
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Skill Level: Analyze It
TB_Q3.86 Andrea was trying to tell her roommate Chris about the difficulty she has been
having in her geography class. Chris interrupted, “Believe me I’ve seen it before, and if
you go on whining the way you are instead of working harder, you are never going to
pass this class!” Rewrite this statement using supportive language and explain the
language that makes it be supportive.
Answer: There are a variety of ways this response may be rewritten. Some of the points that
might be made are: First, Chris showed superiority by interrupting, saying “Believe me” and “I’ve
seen it before,” In addition, Chris showed evaluation rather than description by blaming her own
impatience on Andrea. Chris showed control by simply telling Andrea to work harder. Chris
showed rigidity by taking a certain attitude (“you are never. . .”). A more supportive response
would use description, “I feel if you. . .”; equality, “Let’s look at what you might do. . .” ; and
flexibility, “Sometimes if you. . .”
Learning Objective: LO 3.5 Explain how language helps create supportive or defensive
communication climates.
Topic: Using Words to Establish Supportive Relationships
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Skill Level: Analyze It
