978-0134202037 Test Bank Chapter 6

Beebe, Beebe and Redmond – Interpersonal Communication, 8e Testbank

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Chapter 6 Test Bank: Verbal Communication Skills

Multiple Choice Questions

1) According to the model developed by Ogden and Richards, what are the things represented

by symbols called?

A) thoughts

B) referents

C) words

D) vocalizations

2) A person’s name generally has no logical connection with the actual person, just as the word

“cow” does not look like a cow or sound like a cow. These examples illustrate the principle

that the connection between a word and what it represents is

A) context bound.

B) concrete.

C) arbitrary.

D) denotative.

3) What is the theory that seeks to explain how societies are bound or linked together through

their use of symbols?

A) semantics

B) semiotics

C) symbolic interaction

D) dissonance theory

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4) When someone uses the word dog and you understand the word to mean “a mangy, dirty, and

disgusting animal, like the one that bit you when you were five years old,” which level of

meaning would you probably be applying?

A) connotative

B) contextual

C) creative

D) reflective

5) Communication that spontaneously and interactively exchanges messages with another

person is called

A) interaction.

B) conversation.

C) dialogue.

D) impromptu talking.

6) Glenda ordered her steak cooked medium-well at her favorite restaurant. When the server

returned with her steak, Glenda cut into it, saw that it was red in the center, and said to the

server, “OK, what part of ‘medium–well’ didn’t you understand? I want you to take this back

and cook it so it’s edible. This is ridiculous!” Glenda’s behavior was

A) assertive.

B) other-oriented.

C) results-oriented.

D) aggressive.

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13) Dad says to Junior, “Hand me the screwdriver.” Junior responds with, “Which kind, a flat-

head or Phillips?” Which language barrier is Junior trying to overcome?

A) bypassing

B) polarization

C) allness

D) failure to be specific

14) After her parents tell her she can’t go to the concert, Helga says, “You never let me do

anything!” Helga is probably suffering from the language barrier of

A) bypassing.

B) allness.

C) polarization.

D) indexing.

15) When general semanticists use the expression, “The map is not the territory,” to which

language barrier are they referring?

A) lack of precision

B) polarization

C) static evaluation

D) biased language

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Beebe, Beebe and Redmond – Interpersonal Communication, 8e Testbank

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A) Describe your own feelings rather than evaluate others.

B) Solve problems rather than control others.

C) Be genuine rather than manipulative.

D) Be flexible rather than rigid toward others.

20) Tom was describing the noises that hens make at his part-time job at the egg farm. He used

the word “cackle” to describe the sound. This work is an example of

A) onomatopoeia.

B) jargon.

C) malapropism.

D) indexing.

21) Ethan realizes that when he communicates with Ji, who is an international student from

South Korea, he may need to be sure that that his messages are more explicit, but they should

not be condescending. This is an example of which of the following?

A) word picture

B) apology

C) elaborated code

D) polarization

22) In response to his son’s request, Dad says, “I don’t care what you want. You’ll do what I tell

you, when I tell you, and that’s that!” Which strategies for creating a supportive climate does

his outburst most likely violate?

A) Solve problems rather than control others.

B) Be genuine rather than manipulative.

Beebe, Beebe and Redmond – Interpersonal Communication, 8e Testbank

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C) Empathize rather than remain detached from others.

D) Describe your own feelings rather than evaluate others.

23) Paul, who is slightly mentally challenged, laughs right along with the people who call him

“the tard” at work. According to the research of John Seiter and his colleagues,

A) as long as it’s clear to everyone that “the tard” is a term of endearment, it probably won’t

affect how Paul is perceived by his coworkers.

B) Paul is more likely to be perceived more sociable by his peers for going along with this

harmless and mostly affectionate nickname.

C) Paul is more likely to be perceived as less trustworthy than if he was referred to in more

positive terms.

D) The people who use this nickname when referring to Paul are likely to lose their jobs if

overheard by their boss.

24) Indexing your comments and remarks is a way to avoid which of the following word

barriers?

A) words are arbitrary

B) allness

C) static evaluation

D) polarization

25) Carly heard her communication professor use a word that she had not heard before and

determined it would be a good idea to find out what the word meant. She consulted two

dictionaries to be sure she had the literal meaning of the word. Carly was looking for which

of the following meanings?

Beebe, Beebe and Redmond – Interpersonal Communication, 8e Testbank

A) connotative

B) abstract.

C) denotative

D) onomatopoetic

1) To Joseph, a “submarine” is a sandwich. To Alfonse, a “submarine” is a submersible ship.

The different meanings Joseph and Alfonse apply to the word “submarine” reflect the fact

that words are arbitrary.

2) The way we talk to another forms the basis of a relationship with that person.

3) When Cecilia is listening to her partner, she occasionally interjects, “Oh, I see” or “uh–huh”

during the interaction, Cecilia is using backchannel talk.

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9) A restricted code is a set of words that has a particular meaning to a person, group, or

culture.

10) A malapropism occurs when two people use the same word to mean two different things.

11) One study found that people who described the world in pessimistic terms when they were

younger experienced negative health effects at middle age.

12) Open-ended questions create a more defensive climate than critical comments.

13) When describing how you view a situation, using sarcasm can take some of the negativity out

of the description.

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Beebe, Beebe and Redmond – Interpersonal Communication, 8e Testbank

most likely involved in this exchange.

3) Explain the concept of extended “I” language and how it can help soften what could be

perceived as a harsh message. Give an example.

4) Hernando has taken on a new case with a patrol officer, LaTonya. He is just meeting

LaTonya and wants to get better acquainted. Help Hernando by giving him suggestions to

start a successful conversation with LaTonya and to sustain it.

5) Describe an effective apology and explain when it’s most appropriate to offer it.

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6) What is the essence of linguistic determinism?

7) Describe the difference(s) between assertive and aggressive communication and why one is

preferable over the other.

8) Use the word “fish” to describe the relationships between referents, thought, and symbols in

the triangle of meaning developed by Ogden and Richards.

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9) Name the two concepts that form the basis for the Sapir–Whorf hypothesis, and define what

this hypothesis suggests.

10) Explain symbolic interaction theory and its relevance to the study of interpersonal

communication.