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Answer Key
1. D
2. B
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1. Which is an example of a simile?
A) “Tiana’s cupcakes are little pieces of joy.”
B) “Taking care of a puppy is no different than taking care of a toddler.”
C) “Life is a rocky road.”
D) “This music sounds like dogs barking.”
2. Which is an example of a metaphor?
A) “The tide rushed in like a stampede of horses.”
B) “Bob is a couch potato.”
C) “My dog’s coat is full of static.”
D) “Carlotta is singing like a nightingale.”
3. Which is an example of sexist language?
A) “A lawyer should always assume his clients are innocent, whatever their
background might be.”
B) “We should send Ross to return the incorrect food order to the takeout counter. He
will convince the cashier to give us back our money!”
C) “Sylas’s hair is starting to turn gray at an early age. He takes after his father in that
regard.”
D) “Have you noticed that our group of friends now has both guys and girls? It used to
be girls only.”
4. Which is an example of biased language?
A) A businessman yells out “Moron!” at other drivers in front of him during his
morning commute.
B) A politician tells campaign workers that rural constituents will not read her fliers.
C) A coworker who has just turned fifty refers to himself as being over the hill.
D) A professor uses only they and their as generic pronouns in a history class.
5. Which statement about repeating important phrases in a speech is true?
A) Audiences view this approach as condescending.
B) Audiences interpret this as a lack of preparation and organization by the speaker.
C) This approach is considered to be a good strategy for “stretching” a speech.
D) This approach is believed to help audiences remember key points in your speech.
6. The most familiar tropes are _____, which compare(s) two seemingly dissimilar things.
A) similes
B) irony
C) alliteration
D) metaphors
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7. Which statement about the unconscious aspects of personal style is true?
A) Impression management can be valuable even if we are not conscious of the area of
personal style being targeted for improvement.
B) No one else can help us address the unconscious aspects of our personal style that
need work; we need to do it ourselves.
C) Although many aspects of personal style are unconscious, public speaking scholars
have ways of improving our disposition as speakers.
D) The most helpful tools or techniques for dealing with unconscious aspects of
personal choice are outlining and practice.
8. Which is an example of irony?
A) Lucas says to his teenaged son, “Drive my prized car by yourself when you have
only a permit? Why not?”
B) Angela tells her friend, “My English tutor is such a tyrant.”
C) Alyssa tells her mom, “I’m going to make a snack before dinner. It feels like I
haven’t eaten in days.”
D) Sam tells Luann her new kitten is an angel.
9. Which statement reflects Aristotle’s more formal use of the term lexis?
A) It denotes one’s manner of speaking in general.
B) It refers to elocution, or how one conveys a message.
C) It describes one’s word choice and diction.
D) It describes one’s nonverbal communication.
10. Which description reflects Aristotle’s informal use of the term lexis?
A) one’s general manner of speaking
B) one’s word choice and diction
C) the denotative meaning associated with words
D) the tone used to convey a message
11. Rhetorical scholar Barry Brummett anchors the concept of _____ to personhood.
A) beliefs
B) style
C) attitude
D) tone
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12. When you speak to members of an audience, you’re not only appealing to their minds but
also asking them to orient their _____ toward you.
A) spirituality
B) values
C) attitudes
D) bodies
13. What is the relationship between style and disposition?
A) Disposition is an external manifestation of style.
B) Disposition is another word for style.
C) Audiences perceive your disposition through your style.
D) Style is the perception of your character, and disposition is your actual character.
14. Why is it important to determine whether you are an outsider or an insider before giving
a speech?
A) If you are a legitimate member of the group you’re speaking to, you need to be sure
to work extra hard to mention that.
B) If you are not a member of the group, you can use more informal language.
C) If you are not a member of the group, you should avoid the use of inclusive
language, such as us and we.
D) If you are a legitimate member of the group, you can include more personal
information in the speech.
15. All human beings have a tendency to be _____, thinking in a language and words that
reference our individual experiences of the world.
A) self-absorbed
B) mindless
C) biased
D) ignorant
16. The wording of which statements is LEAST likely to be off-putting to audiences?
A) “The council will make a recommendation soon.”
B) “We are working to ensure the appropriate measures are taken.”
C) “We have some sick new software that is sure to help you better manage your
time.”
D) “Power should be restored for everyone in the district by the end of the day.”
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17. The accidental confusion of ideas or similar-sounding words is called
A) jargon.
B) trope.
C) malapropism.
D) alliteration.
18. Which action taken by a speaker encourages listening?
A) avoiding biased and sexist language and limiting the use of slang
B) being authentic in his or her word choice, even if it might offend the audience
C) choosing words and exhibiting body language similar to what he or she would use
in a conversation with a like-minded friend
D) being concise and direct when speaking
19. Which is an example of impression management?
A) Ian admires his older brother, Jackson, so he takes the same classes Jackson did.
B) Kevin impersonates the voice and mannerisms of his friends.
C) Clarissa wears her best suit to her job interview so that she appears polished and
professional.
D) Charlie changes his opinion of his math teacher after he finds out that she works a
second job at an ice cream store.
20. Irony must be used carefully because it involves communicating meaning
A) indirectly.
B) metaphorically.
C) clearly.
D) comically.
21. Which statement best describes expertise as it relates to public speaking?
A) having a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a specific field
B) working in a specific field for more than five years
C) having detailed knowledge or skills particular to a given field
D) having a doctorate in a specific field
22. Which term refers to the informal language of a group of people?
A) jargon
B) slang
C) dialect
D) accents
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23. Rhetorical scholar Barry Brummett’s notion of style is implicated in your
A) body language.
B) disposition.
C) footwear.
D) word choice.
24. Aristotle informally used the word lexis to denote one’s manner of speaking in general,
but more formally he said that the subject of style specifically concerned _____ and diction.
A) word choice
B) tone
C) gestures
D) enunciation
25. Which of the following best describes concise language?
A) use of shorter words and fewer words
B) use of concrete imagery
C) inclusion of only the high points
D) avoidance of figures of speech
26. _____ language concerns words that are sensuous and evocative.
A) Formal
B) Vivid
C) High
D) Stylized
27. Someone who says one thing but means something else is using
A) double negatives.
B) irony.
C) humor.
D) jargon.
28. Which term refers to the way in which one navigates his or her self-presentation in body
and word?
A) impression management
B) malapropism
C) style
D) disposition
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29. Which statement about impression management is true?
A) The most helpful tools or techniques we use to manage impressions of us are word
choice and delivery.
B) The anxieties we have about public speaking have to do with the knowledge that
impressions of us are based almost exclusively on what we say.
C) Impression management was more important in the time of the ancient Greeks than
it is today, so we need fewer tools to manage impressions.
D) It is difficult to find help if we want to change others’ impressions of us.
30. _____ refers to the use of words and phrases that indicate unfounded assumptions about
others based on personal experience.
A) Informal language
B) Biased language
C) Inappropriate language
D) Discriminatory language
31. Many of the signs we use that communicate our _____ to others are beyond our own
conscious awareness.
A) character
B) values
C) intentions
D) style
32. Which statement best reflects Gorgias’s beliefs about vivid language?
A) It is manipulative and therefore unethical.
B) It, along with elocution, is the most important component of a good speech.
C) It is almost as powerful as the sight of the thing being described.
D) It can add interest to a speech but does not aid in persuasion or comprehension.
33. Which statement best describes the difference between jargon and slang?
A) Jargon refers to colloquial language; slang refers to a specific figure of speech
(trope) used in language.
B) Jargon consists of technical terms specific to a group; slang refers to shortened
versions of words.
C) Jargon is the specialized language of a specific field; slang is the informal language
of a group.
D) Jargon terms are highly descriptive; slang terms have no relationship to their
conveyed meaning.
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34. Figures of speech are also called
A) slang.
B) tropes.
C) metaphors.
D) irony.
35. Becoming more aware of our dispositions in the public speaking situation is part of the
task of being ____ public speaker.
A) an effective
B) a powerful
C) a mindful
D) a popular
36. A simple adaptation of the Golden Rule gives us a guide for avoiding biased language
because it reminds us that we should
A) speak to others in the way they would like to speak to us.
B) ask others to speak to us the way we would like them to.
C) ask others not to speak to us in the same way they talk to friends.
D) speak to others the way we would want to be spoken to.
37. An element of style that has been discussed since the time of ancient Greece and that is
associated with credibility is
A) tone.
B) expertise.
C) pacing.
D) generosity.
38. Meena wants to help her audience create a mental picture of what she is discussing.
Which approach will be most helpful in achieving this?
A) using jargon and very technical language
B) using words that neutral connotations
C) using abstract language but a lot of adjectives
D) using concise descriptions and simple language
39. In selecting language for a particular audience, you must think practically about audience
familiarity and
A) trust.
B) expectations of formality.
C) past experience.
D) dialect.
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40. Which is an example of alliteration?
A) The cat sat in a hat on the doormat!
B) Relationships must be tended, just like a garden.
C) The sun has risen, and so too it will set.
D) Being a Big Brother or Big Sister brings big benefits!
41. Perhaps the most important thing to keep in mind when determining familiarity with an
audience is the use of _____ language.
A) formal
B) casual
C) precise
D) inclusive
42. As a general rule of thumb, the more formally an audience dresses, the more formal your
_____ should be.
A) message
B) objective
C) speaking style
D) source materials
43. Your _____ refers to what others perceive to be the inherent qualities of your person.
A) elocution
B) lexis
C) style
D) disposition
44. What does rhetorical scholar Barry Brummett say about the relationship between style
and identity?
A) Style is the identity we want rather than the identity we have.
B) Style announces a false identity.
C) Style is caught up in our individual identities.
D) Style is a shallow substitute for identity.
45. Which statement is true about defining style for our time?
A) Style is limited to the words we use to express our ideas and feelings.
B) Style is isolated to the image.
C) Style is how we speak and how we look and move, not what we say.
D) Today style is a much bigger, more encompassing concept than it was in ancient
Greece.
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46. How does our view of style today compare to the view of the ancient Greeks?
A) It is a much bigger, more encompassing concept today.
B) The Greeks had more definitions of the term.
C) Style is seen as a shallower concept today.
D) The Greeks were more introspective about style.
47. We can use _____ to help determine the degree of formality required for a speaking
situation.
A) research
B) contextual reasoning
C) surveys
D) interviews
48. One benefit of concrete imagery is that it
A) helps to make a speech more vague and less boring.
B) takes less time to describe.
C) takes the place of visual aids.
D) is more likely to put the image of your speech into focus.
49. Rhetorical scholar Barry Brummett views style as
A) a convergence of verbal and nonverbal performance.
B) the way we clothe and groom our bodies.
C) the way we dress up ideas with words.
D) the core of self-understanding.
50. What is the relationship between irony and sarcasm?
A) Irony is a type of sarcasm.
B) Sarcasm is a type of irony.
C) They are the same thing.
D) They are tropes, along with malapropisms.
51. Which is a true statement about metaphors?
A) They are tropes.
B) They are types of simile.
C) They are a type of informal language.
D) They are the second most familiar figure of speech, after irony.
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52. Paying attention to your use of _____ can help you avoid sexist language.
A) anecdotes
B) evidence
C) tone
D) pronouns
53. With some exceptions, you should generally avoid the use of slang because, by
definition, slang is
A) offensive.
B) confusing.
C) vague.
D) an insider language.
54. What is true about vivid language?
A) It evokes intense images and vibrant feelings in the minds of your audience.
B) It is beneficial for increasing audience interest but has no other benefits.
C) It was considered by Aristotle to be almost as powerful as sight to frighten and
inspire.
D) It has been studied only since the last century.
55. Cicero argued that one cannot easily separate what one says from
A) who one is.
B) what one means.
C) what is true.
D) how one says it.
56. Aristotle collected his remarks on style under the Greek term lexis, which means
A) code.
B) symbol.
C) word.
D) speech.
57. When listening to a speaker, the audience’s primary concern is how the message is
delivered.
A) True
B) False
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58. When speaking to an audience you do not know well, you should generally use more
formal language.
A) true
B) false
59. Meaning is co-created when people use language with one another.
A) true
B) false
60. Public relations is an example of an industry that focuses on impression management.
A) true
B) false
61. Jargon should be avoided in speeches to general audiences because its use can negatively
affect your credibility.
A) True
B) False
62. Listening is another name for the generosity and charity we show one another as we
speak. A) True
B) False
63. Harmony avoids wearing black because she associates it with death and mourning. This
reflects her denotative meaning of the color black.
A) True
B) False
64. All human beings have a tendency to be biased.
A) True
B) False
65. Misunderstandings can be avoided as long as the speaker is very careful in his or her
word choice.
A) True
B) False
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66. A good way to determine whether your speech should be formal or informal is to ask
how the audience will be dressed.
A) True
B) False
67. Use of slang in a speech can be an effective way to establish credibility with most
audiences.
A) True
B) False
68. Using simple, concise language in public speaking is apt to make the members of your
audience feel like you are talking down to them.
A) True
B) False
69. Style, a form of impression management, attends to the both the body and language.
A) True
B) False
70. A high awareness of one’s style is described by sociologists as impression management.
A) True
B) False
71. In ancient Greece, the human voice was the dominant mode of communication.
A) True
B) False
72. Rhythm should be used sparingly because it connotes deliberate artistry.
A) True
B) False
73. Biased language rests on unfounded assumptions about others.
A) True
B) False
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74. Rhetorical scholar Barry Brummett’s view of style involves two things — what we say
and why we say it.
A) True
B) False
75. Aristotle and his colleagues called style elocution.
A) True
B) False
76. Matching words with attire is one of the more interesting ways in which word choice can
be adjusted in public speaking situations.
A) True
B) False
77. There should be less misunderstanding if an audience is familiar with you.
A) True
B) False
78. We communicate our character only through verbal communication.
A) True
B) False
79. Speakers are responsible for controlling the assumptions they make about the character
of others based on gender.
A) True
B) False
80. Political correctness is criticized by some people because it doesn’t go far enough.
A) True
B) False
81. Analogies are metaphors that use or imply the word like.
A) True
B) False
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82. Abstract ideas can be illustrated with concrete examples.
A) True
B) False
83. The Greek term lexis means “word,” but the Athenians specified it was the way or
manner in which one said something, otherwise known as style.
A) True
B) False
84. Word painting has to do with the visual aids a speaker chooses to use.
A) True
B) False
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Answer Key
1. D
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