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Answer Key
1. A
2. D
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1. What should you do to create your speaking outline?
A) Simplify your preparation outline.
B) Consider and arrange your main points.
C) Research support for your main points.
D) Add a works cited page to your working outline.
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2. If you are trying to determine how to arrange your main points, you should focus on
developing a
A) speaking outline.
B) thesis statement.
C) specific purpose statement.
D) preparation outline.
3. Which is one of the two most common speech organizational patterns?
A) temporal
B) rambling
C) cause-and-effect
D) topical
4. When giving a speech, you should aim to have _____ main point(s).
A) one
B) three
C) four
D) five
5. Which organizational pattern is typically used in advertising?
A) cause-and-effect
B) temporal
C) problem-solution
D) topical
6. In speech preparation, after you write a thesis, the next step is to
A) prepare a draft works cited page.
B) write an introduction.
C) develop an attention getter.
D) organize your main points.
7. For which speaking context might a speaking outline NOT be used?
A) topical
B) temporal
C) rambling
D) extemporaneous
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8. When you speak, it is reasonable to expect your audience to remember the _____ of your
speech.
A) specific purpose statement
B) organizational pattern
C) entirety
D) main points
9. According to Jean-Luc Doumont, what is the magic number of memory?
A) three
B) six
C) eight
D) ten
10. What have scholars called organized groupings of information that help a learner’s
memory?
A) sticky notes
B) chunks
C) notebooks
D) outlines
11. Which may be included in your speaking outline?
A) a specific purpose statement
B) behavioral cues
C) detailed descriptions of each main point
D) complete sentences representing what you want to say
12. By working from a preparation outline toward a speaking outline, you gradually _____
your speech to its most memorable points.
A) expand
B) condense
C) clarify
D) organize
13. Which speech organization pattern describes the arrangement of events in the order in
which they occurred?
A) rambling
B) cause-and-effect
C) temporal
D) topical
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14. Which is something you use when you are actually delivering your speech?
A) speaking outline
B) specific purpose statement
C) preparation outline
D) works cited page
15. Which is an example of spatial organization?
A) describing the levels of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
B) retelling the narrative of your favorite children’s book
C) emphasizing four main attributes of positive thinkers
D) in advertising, stating that the problem of wrinkles can be remedied by a specific
cream
16. Developing a speech outline can ensure that you have identified your _____ clearly,
arranged in a way that will make an impression in the minds of audience members.
A) thesis statement
B) main points
C) specific purpose statement
D) preparation outline
17. Which of these would be included word-for-word in both your speaking outline and your
preparation outline?
A) introduction and conclusion
B) behavioral cues
C) citations for all your references
D) direct quotations
18. A speaker has seven main points in her speech. What technique is most likely to help the
audience remember all of her points?
A) Use an interesting attention getter.
B) Organize the content into chunks.
C) Use evocative language.
D) Use a spatial speech pattern.
19. If you give a speech on the different types of things Winston Churchill achieved during
his life, which speech pattern would you likely use?
A) topical
B) narrative
C) spatial
D) problem-solution
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20. Which statement best describes extemporaneous delivery?
A) It is a speech that does not use a defined organizational pattern.
B) It is a speech delivered using very few notes.
C) It is a speech that is well-researched but unstructured.
D) It is a speech given with no prior preparation.
21. Typically, the problem-solution pattern is centered around the
A) problem and its solution.
B) problem, its consequences, and its solution.
C) problem, its causes, and its solution.
D) problem, its solution, and an action plan.
22. In which situation would you expect the speaker to use a problem-solution
organizational pattern?
A) presenting the timeline of a building project
B) describing three benefits of yoga
C) proposing a mascot for a new charter school
D) rallying for a political candidate
23. The main points of your speech should always support your
A) thesis.
B) outline.
C) evidence.
D) transitions.
24. Meredith is preparing a speech about the events that led to the Korean War. Which
organizational pattern will she most likely use?
A) problem-solution
B) temporal
C) topical
D) cause-and-effect
25. For centuries, thinkers have described our short-term memory as something that
A) can hold a great amount of detail.
B) is written upon.
C) cannot easily be erased.
D) is similar to an archive.
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26. Which of these organizational patterns is most likely to be used for a persuasive speech?
A) temporal
B) topical
C) problem-solution
D) spatial
27. Melinda is using the problem-solution pattern to organize her speech asking her
classmates to make a $2 donation to the animal shelter where she volunteers. Which of the
following stages of the speech does the $2 donation represent?
A) problem
B) solution
C) consequence
D) effect
28. What tool is used to create a hierarchy among your speech points?
A) the topical organizational pattern
B) Freud’s model of the psyche
C) an outline
D) George A. Miller’s “magical number”
29. Which may be included in your speaking outline?
A) a specific purpose statement
B) detailed descriptions of each main point
C) phonetic spellings
D) brief cues for direct quotations
30. Which organizational pattern is sometimes used for dramatic effect?
A) rambling
B) cause-and-effect
C) temporal
D) topical
31. Unexpectedly, Adam’s professor asks him to present his thoughts on a book. When
Adam begins to speak, he feels himself talking and talking without ever making a point. Which
organizational pattern is Adam using?
A) topical
B) temporal
C) spatial
D) rambling
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32. Which is the most primary of our sense-making constructs?
A) sight
B) sound
C) time
D) space
33. In most parts of our lives, the most common speech organizational pattern is either
spatial or _____ because we tend to order our experience of the world in space and time.
A) temporal
B) topical
C) rambling
D) cause-and-effect
34. If your speech is based on a timeline of events, which speech organizational pattern
should you use?
A) topical
B) temporal
C) spatial
D) cause-effect
35. When using _____ organization, you are drawing on your audience’s inner sense of
progression and audience members’ anticipation of an end.
A) temporal
B) problem-solution
C) topical
D) spatial
36. Which might be included in both your speaking outline and your preparation outline?
A) the attention getter
B) key phrases and words
C) detailed descriptions of each main point
D) phonetic spellings
37. Linda is planning to give a speech on activities that may lead to chronic knee pain.
Which speech organization pattern would be most appropriate for her to use?
A) spatial
B) cause-and-effect
C) temporal
D) problem-solution
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38. Antonio is speaking about the characteristics of a good soup, but he is having trouble
coming up with transitions. Which speech design is he likely using?
A) temporal
B) topical
C) rambling
D) spatial
39. Which organization describes how a speech might move through a story from beginning
to end?
A) narrative
B) problem-solution
C) spatial
D) topical
40. Before you can prepare a _____, you must decide how to organize your main points.
A) specific purpose statement
B) thesis statement
C) speaking outline
D) preparation outline
41. Which of these should include a works cited list?
A) a manuscript
B) a speaking outline
C) a preparation outline
D) note cards
42. The purpose of the basic outlining format is to
A) determine a hierarchy among speech points.
B) decide what content will stay and what will be cut.
C) identify the main points of your speech.
D) provide support for your claims.
43. Which of these is ordinarily seen only by the speaker?
A) thesis statement
B) works cited page
C) speaking outline
D) preparation outline
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44. What is used to jog your memory while you are speaking?
A) speaking outline
B) thesis statement
C) specific purpose statement
D) preparation outline
45. Sticking to the basic speech outline will help your audience to
A) focus on the support you provide for your claims.
B) visualize your outline.
C) remember the main points of your speech.
D) listen critically as you speak.
46. Which speech organizational pattern would work best when speaking about the steps
required to make bread?
A) rambling
B) temporal
C) cause-and-effect
D) topical
47. Which is something you actually share with the audience to communicate your speech’s
topic and goal?
A) speaking outline
B) thesis statement
C) specific purpose statement
D) preparation outline
48. Which might be included in both your speaking outline and your preparation outline?
A) specific purpose statement
B) thesis statement
C) detailed descriptions of each main point
D) citations for all your references
49. Chae Woo is giving a speech that maps the path of migration of people living in the
Neolithic era. Which organizational pattern will he use?
A) rambling
B) topical
C) cause-effect
D) spatial
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50. Which speech component is typically written first?
A) introduction
B) works cited list
C) body
D) conclusion
51. In his speech, Michael plans to use the problem-solution organizational pattern to
describe both the problem of low morale among employees and also his solution, which is for
people to socialize together outside of work. When should Michael describe the negative effects
of low morale on workers?
A) first
B) second
C) third
D) fourth
52. When should you outline or describe the problem in a problem-solution organizational
pattern?
A) first
B) second
C) third
D) fourth
53. Ruby plans to use the problem-solution organizational pattern to describe some typical
behavioral problems in dogs and provide the solution of early, persistent dog training. When
should Ruby describe the effectiveness of dog training?
A) first
B) second
C) third
D) fourth
54. When should you present the remedy to the problem in the problem-solution
organizational pattern?
A) first
B) second
C) third
D) fourth
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55. In her speech, Maria plans to use the problem-solution organizational pattern to describe
both the problem of tooth decay and also her solution, which is for all communities to fluoridate
their water. When should Maria describe and define tooth decay?
A) first
B) second
C) third
D) fourth
56. When should you name or describe the nature of the problem in a problem-solution
organizational pattern?
A) first
B) second
C) third
D) fourth
57. What type of organization is closely related to memory because navigating space is a
central human activity?
A) temporal
B) spatial
C) rambling
D) cause-and-effect
58. Which of these may include behavioral cues to support your memory when giving a
speech?
A) specific purpose statement
B) works cited page
C) preparation outline
D) speaking outline
59. Which of these includes key phrases that prompt you about what to say during your
speech?
A) specific purpose statement
B) works cited page
C) preparation outline
D) speaking outline
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60. When preparing a _____, you will reduce your preparation outline to words or phrases
that prompt you what to say in your speech.
A) specific purpose statement
B) works cited page
C) speaking outline
D) speech manuscript
61. If you are attempting to help your audience visualize moving through a place, you are
likely using which organizational pattern?
A) problem-solution
B) spatial
C) cause-and-effect
D) topical
62. When you organize the main points of your speech using spatial patterning, you are
attempting to help your audience
A) establish a sense of physical presence.
B) visualize moving through a place or over an object.
C) draw on audience members’ inner sense of progression.
D) anticipate a particular end.
63. In his speech, Dexter plans to describe the human personality as a science laboratory,
comparing each segment of our public and private personalities to different pieces of laboratory
equipment. Which organizational pattern will Dexter use?
A) spatial
B) cause-and-effect
C) topical
D) problem-solution
64. In which organizational pattern are the order of main points less important?
A) cause-and-effect
B) temporal
C) problem-solution
D) topical
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65. Which organizational pattern presents your main points as a series of characteristics,
parts, or types?
A) cause-and-effect
B) temporal
C) rambling
D) topical
66. Lawrence is planning to speak about the accomplishments of African-American social
reformer Harriet Tubman. He plans to categorize Tubman’s accomplishments by her work as an
abolitionist, as a humanitarian, and as a spy. Which organizational arrangement is he using?
A) topical
B) problem-solution
C) temporal
D) cause-and-effect
67. The preparation (working) outline should be
A) written out electronically or on paper.
B) committed to memory.
C) used to determine your speech focus.
D) developed to analyze your speech’s purpose.
68. When you are determining which main point you will note first in a topical organization
pattern, the main factor to consider is which main point
A) is most important to the audience.
B) occurred first.
C) caused another.
D) is the solution to the stated problem.
69. Which of these would be included in your preparation (working) outline but would NOT
be included in a speaking outline?
A) behavioral cues
B) key phrases and words
C) phonetic spellings
D) citations for all of your references
70. Speakers primarily engage audience members’ short-term memory, which can hold a
large amount of information.
A) True
B) False
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71. The purpose of a preparation outline is to organize your main points and speech support.
A) True
B) False
72. When using temporal organization, you are drawing on your audience’s prior knowledge.
A) True
B) False
73. The cause-and-effect speech organization pattern may pose challenges with transitions.
A) True
B) False
74. Speech outlines help reduce the speech to only its fundamental points.
A) True
B) False
75. Direct quotations from others should be written out word-for-word in your speaking
outline.
A) True
B) False
76. In a temporal organizational pattern, the first main point discussed is most commonly the
one that is most important to the audience.
A) True
B) False
77. Typically, the problem-solution pattern is centered around three main points.
A) True
B) False
78. If you use a basic speech outline, you will help your audience remember the main points
of your speech.
A) True
B) False
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79. You should write your introduction before you write the body of the speech.
A) True
B) False
80. As an organizational pattern, rambling is used only when we are unprepared to speak.
A) True
B) False
81. When preparing a speech for delivery, you should begin with a speaking outline and then
expand it into a more elaborate preparation outline.
A) True
B) False
82. It’s helpful to write out your speech word-for-word in your speaking outline so that all
words and phrases can be understood by others.
A) True
B) False
83. The advantage of short-term memory is that it is readily accessible in the moment.
A) True
B) False
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Answer Key
1. A
2. D
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