Experience Communication, 2e (Child)
Chapter 12 Communication Apprehension and Delivery
1) Most people experience extreme communication apprehension in public speaking situations.
2) People who give a great number of speeches and are very successful at speaking in public
experience no anxiety at all.
3) If you experience a great deal of anxiety when you are preparing to give a speech, you might
consider systematic desensitization, which includes relaxing, visualizing, and active engagement.
4) One method of decreasing the fear of public speaking is cognitive restructuring, which requires
that you seek counseling and work with a trained professional in altering your thought processes.
5) The best method of reducing your fear of public speaking is to avoid it as much as possible.
6) The most effective of the three methods for reducing fear of public speaking is systematic
desensitization.
7) As a student speaker in your communication course, you should plan on giving memorized
speeches because this mode of delivery will decrease your fear of public speaking.
8) Many beginning speakers include nonword sounds such as “ah,” “uh,” or “hmm” in their
speeches. These sounds are normal and will not interfere with the speech or how the audience
receives it.
9) Listening to teachers, broadcasters, and other presenters in your class can help you increase your
vocabulary and improve your pronunciation.
10) When you deliver a speech, you should project loudly so that everyone in the room can hear
you.
11) Student audiences identify poor speakers less by the content of their speeches than by
A) the vocal and physical aspects of their delivery.
B) their choice of topic.
C) their ability to make a strong argument.
D) their use of evidence.
12) Which item is NOT a feature of poor speech delivery?
A) The speaker is fidgety and nervous.
B) The speaker has a monotonous voice.
C) The speaker uses little or no eye contact.
D) The speaker uses too many big words.
13) An audience evaluates your credibility as a speaker
A) before you open your mouth to speak.
B) while someone introduces you.
C) in the opening seconds and minutes of your presentation.
D) after you have completed your presentation.
14) The most common cause of poor delivery is
A) public speaking anxiety.
B) an unclear assignment.
C) too much prep and practice.
D) lack of research into the topic.
15) Which item below is NOT a sign of poor delivery because of speaker apprehension?
A) makes too little eye contact
B) talks too fast
C) talks too quietly
D) did too little preparation
16) When students were asked about their greatest fear, the item that came up on top was
A) death and dying.
B) loneliness.
C) speaking in front of a group.
D) experiencing financial problems.
17) Which item below describes a case of state apprehension?
A) I get very nervous when I talk to strangers face-to-face, talk on the phone, and speak to groups.
B) Because I’m an experienced speaker, I feel no anxiety when I speak to a group whether it is
large or small.
C) I get nervous only when I have to speak in class with the teacher grading my performance.
D) I get very nervous when the other person speaks English poorly, when I have to talk to
salespeople in retail stores, and when I have to talk to a group larger than three persons.
18) Which item below describes a case of trait apprehension?
A) I get very nervous in most social situations.
B) I control my nervousness well except when speaking in class.
C) Because I’ve acted in many high school plays, I get more nervous talking to an individual
stranger than addressing a large group anywhere.
D) My biggest problem with nervousness is the five minutes before I have to give a presentation at
work.
19) Which of the following applies to the top fears of college students?
A) Men are more fearful than women about speaking before a group.
B) Women are more afraid than men in all four categories of the biggest fears.
C) Men and women are equally afraid of all four of the biggest fears.
D) Loneliness proved to be the biggest fear among college students.
20) The main goal of learning about speech apprehension and delivery is to
A) rid you of your public speaking anxiety.
B) make sure you don’t have too much or too little anxiety about public speaking.
C) convince you that public speaking is fairly easy to master.
D) warn you against being overconfident and underprepared.
21) Your relational partner has a very responsible position and regularly gives briefings, sales
talks, and speeches to large groups of people. However, when you ask him to make a couple of
phone calls for some home maintenance and repairs, he says he does not like talking on the phone.
You might conclude that he has
A) trait apprehension.
B) state apprehension.
C) systematic desensitization.
D) cognitive restructuring.
22) If you are afraid of public speaking, of speaking in small groups, of speaking on the telephone,
and even of talking to groups of acquaintances, you might conclude that you are experiencing
A) trait apprehension.
B) state apprehension.
C) vocalized pauses.
D) systematic desensitization.
23) The key to systematic desensitization is to
A) make a list of negative thoughts about high-stakes activities.
B) move straight to the highest-stakes activity first.
C) increase your anxiety level before moving to the level of high-stakes activity.
D) return to a relaxed state before each step toward performing a more high-stakes activity.
24) The technique for overcoming nervousness that includes progressive relaxation, visualization,
and active engagement exercises is called
A) operant conditioning.
B) systematic desensitization.
C) psychological reinforcement.
D) Monroe Motivated Sequence.
25) The nervousness-reduction program called cognitive restructuring can more informally be
called the
A) power of positive thinking.
B) professional practice method.
C) impromptu mode.
D) extemporaneous mode.
26) The systematic coached practice used in public speaking classes to reduce nervousness is
called
A) systematic desensitization.
B) skills training.
C) rehearsal sessions.
D) cognitive restructuring.
27) The reason it is recommended to use note cards with limited information on them is to
encourage
A) maximum eye contact.
B) high-quality notes.
C) accurate information.
D) memorization.
28) The first step in skills training is
A) eliminating negative thoughts from your mind.
B) recognizing that public speaking is a talent that takes work.
C) turning off the lights and lying down.
D) visualizing yourself doing a small speaking task.
29) When the president of the United States needs to deliver a message in which every word
matters and must come out exactly as written, he should use
A) an extemporaneous mode of delivery.
B) a manuscript mode of delivery.
C) an impromptu mode of delivery.
D) a memorized mode of delivery.
30) A local group invited you to give a talk on organic gardening—a topic on which you are an
expert. The best mode of delivery in this situation is probably the
A) manuscript mode.
B) impromptu mode.
C) extemporaneous mode.
D) memorized mode.
31) Which of the following statements is true concerning modes of speech?
A) The speaker’s skill is more important than the mode being used.
B) Context is unrelated to delivery mode.
C) A speaker can only use one delivery mode effectively.
D) Students use the manuscript delivery mode most when learning public speaking.
32) The delivery mode that is most commonly used in the public speaking classroom is
A) impromptu.
B) memorized.
C) manuscript.
D) extemporaneous.
33) Which mode demands preparation and practice but contributes to a conversational tone?
A) impromptu
B) extemporaneous
C) memorized
D) manuscript
34) Which mode best provides the appearance of spontaneity?
A) extemporaneous
B) manuscript
C) memorized
D) impromptu
35) With which mode of delivery do you get LEAST eye contact and audience feedback?
A) memorized
B) impromptu
C) extemporaneous
D) manuscript
36) What mode of delivery demands the most practice but allows for eye contact, movement, and
gestures?
A) memorized
B) impromptu
C) extemporaneous
D) manuscript
37) A spontaneous toast of a bride and groom is an example of what mode of delivery?
A) memorized
B) impromptu
C) extemporaneous
D) manuscript
38) Another term for speaking loud enough for all to hear in a public speech is
A) articulating.
B) fluency.
C) projecting.
D) enunciating.
39) The normal rate of speaking for people in the United States is
A) 124-190 words per minute.
B) 100-123 words per minute.
C) 89-99 words per minute.
D) 50-88 words per minute.
40) The term for the relative loudness of one’s voice is
A) projection value.
B) volume.
C) tone.
D) pitch.
41) Which item below can have a negative effect on delivery in a public speech?
A) projection
B) fluency
C) vocalized pauses
D) pitch control
42) A smooth flow of words without unintended sounds or silence is referred to as
A) pitch control.
B) vocal variety.
C) projection.
D) fluency.
43) When someone refers to how high or low your speaking voice is, that person is referring to its
A) range.
B) pitch.
C) fluency.
D) shifts.
44) The act of correctly articulating words as prescribed in a dictionary is called
A) pronunciation.
B) projection.
C) enunciation.
D) intonation.
45) Studies of vocal variety showed all of the following EXCEPT that
A) when read to out loud, audiences exposed to speakers who used large variations in rate, force,
pitch, and voice quality retained more information.
B) audience comprehension of prose and poetry fell 10% when the author spoke in a monotone
voice.
C) skilled speakers are more effective than unskilled ones whether the material is organized or
disorganized, easy or difficult.
D) neither understanding nor recall improved when the message was delivered by a skilled
speaker.
46) Cultures vary in their use of face, arms, and hands when they communicate, a bodily aspect of
delivery called
A) contact.
B) movement.
C) gestures.
D) projection.
47) There are some ways that you can use new technology to improve your delivery. Which item
below is NOT one of them?
A) Upload a video of your speech on YouTube or Facebook for others to see.
B) Ask your friends to critique your videotaped presentation.
C) Generate discussion about the topic of your speech among friends on social media for ideas you
can integrate.
D) Try something outrageous in your presentation so it has the potential to go viral.
48) In delivering a speech, which part of your body is most expressive?
A) your face
B) your arms
C) your torso
D) your hands
49) What is the most important purpose behind good eye contact?
A) to overcome your anxiety
B) to avoid too much attention to notes
C) to show you are sincere
D) to respond to audience feedback
50) Which of the following is an accurate statement about cultural differences regarding eye
contact?
A) Good eye contact is effective universally, inside and outside the United States.
B) Some cultural groups regard eye contact as disrespectful and even threatening.
C) Most Native American tribal groups encourage direct eye contact.
D) Most Latino cultures see direct eye contact as respectful.
51) Which of the following is NOT good advice about bodily movement in the context of speech
delivery?
A) Bodily movement is good for its own sake because it works off nervousness.
B) Bodily movement should be purposeful—for example, for emphasis or to mark transitions.
C) Speakers should face the audience to maintain eye contact.
D) Speakers should avoid turning their back on the audience even when using PowerPoint or Prezi.
52) Which statement is true concerning bodily movement during a speech?
A) Pacing back and forth during a speech is a great way to reduce anxiety and improve the
effectiveness of the speech.
B) It is hard to complete a long speech without using some movement.
C) Short speeches require more movement to gain the audience’s attention.
D) Bodily movements do not have to connect to the speech’s content.
53) Non-native speakers of English should
A) avoid making eye contact to focus on reading their notes.
B) take more time to prepare their speech than native speakers.
C) avoid setting goals until they develop more ability.
D) realize they feel anxiousness native speakers can’t relate to.
54) Non-native English speakers
A) require less time to prepare their speeches.
B) should check pronunciations for unfamiliar words.
C) should avoid using manuscript delivery.
D) receive no benefit from skills training.
55) There are some good delivery tips for non-native speakers. Which of the following is NOT one
of them?
A) Non-native speakers may have to begin working on their speeches earlier than classmates who
speak English as a first language.
B) Non-native speakers should prepare by working with the teacher on how to pronounce words in
English.
C) Non-native speakers should work to improve eye contact even if that practice is not common in
their native culture because it is expected in most situations in the United States.
D) Non-native speakers should give a manuscript speech instead of an extemporaneous speech
because they will then feel less nervous about word choice and pronunciation.