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1. Which of the following is an effective specific purpose statement?
A) To inform my audience on three reasons to buy a laptop and the four best statistical
programs available for laptop computers.
B) Informing on guns, violence, and TV.
C) To persuade the audience that the Internet can have three positive effects on society.
D) Children and the Internet.
E) The effects of the Internet on society can be extremely harmful to children if they
are not carefully monitored with blocks on inappropriate sites when they use laptop
computers, and can also create a society that is immune to Internet pornography.
2. Anna is trying to find a topic for her informative presentation. Which strategy might she
use to help find an appropriate topic?
A) engage in brainstorming
B) create a concept map
C) consider her own interests and experiences
D) draw from her academic studies
E) all of the options are correct
3. Brenda has chosen a topic for a persuasive speech but needs help researching her topic.
What strategy might you suggest she use?
A) only use primary sources
B) only use secondary sources
C) avoid Wikipedia
D) ask a friend
E) conduct an information interview
4. If you adapt your speech to the gender and educational level of your audience, you are
considering what factor of audience analysis?
A) demographics
B) attitudes
C) beliefs
D) audience knowledge
E) audience type
5. You have chosen to deliver a persuasive speech promoting same-sex marriage. To better
understand your audience, what factor of audience analysis would be most relevant?
A) demographics
B) audience knowledge
C) audience type
D) attitudes, values, and beliefs
E) none of the answers are correct
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6. In differentiating between a captive and a voluntary audience, it is helpful to remember
that a captive audience
A) may be less receptive.
B) is often similar in demographics.
C) is often intrinsically motivated to listen.
D) usually has interests or needs related to the topic.
E) is only attending to fulfill a personal need.
7. Which of the following is NOT an integral part of planning your research strategy?
A) identifying information needs
B) drawing on personal knowledge
C) talking with a friend
D) talking with a librarian
E) documenting your research findings
8. “To persuade my audience to buy a zero–emissions, totally electric vehicle” is an example
of a A) general purpose statement.
B) specific purpose statement.
C) thesis statement.
D) speech topic.
E) concept map.
9. Which of the following may NOT be considered a high-quality Internet source?
A) a government or .gov site
B) an educational institution or .edu site
C) an organization or .org site
D) a corporation or .com site
E) articles from a reputable newspaper
10. Trevor, a long-distance runner, delivers a presentation on the benefits of running and
aerobic exercise. His topic exemplifies the importance of selecting a topic based on
A) one’s experience and interests.
B) brainstorming.
C) concept maps.
D) information interviewing.
E) primary resources.
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11. Hector, a vegetarian, plans to develop a persuasive presentation on the benefits of a
vegetarian diet. This is an example of a
A) specific purpose statement.
B) thesis.
C) general purpose statement.
D) speech topic.
E) concept map.
12. In preparing her speech, Jane wants to determine the educational level of her audience.
How might she best obtain such information?
A) an information interview
B) concept map
C) determine the audience’s values
D) demographic analysis
E) determine the audience type
13. Effective specific purpose statements identify the topic to be covered and are influenced
by audience analysis and
A) the credibility of the speaker.
B) the organizational pattern used.
C) the intention to inform or persuade.
D) how long the speech will last.
E) the occasion.
14. A resource has consensual validation when
A) it is found on the web.
B) other sources use similar information to yours.
C) you rely on .com sites.
D) others have not used your sources.
E) others disagree with your information.
15. Which step in preparing your speech focuses on adapting your message to the audience?
A) think
B) investigate
C) compose
D) rehearse
E) revise
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16. In what step do your authors suggest that a speaker plan their outline, including both an
introduction and conclusion?
A) think
B) investigate
C) compose
D) rehearse
E) revise
17. Don is researching the seasonal flu vaccine for an informative speech and begins his
search online with the Centers for Disease Control. At what step is Don in the speech
preparation process?
A) think
B) investigate
C) compose
D) research
E) revise
18. Sally was asked to deliver a eulogy at her aunt’s funeral. What is her general purpose?
A) to inform her audience
B) to persuade her audience
C) to recognize or commemorate a special occasion
D) to find a captive audience
E) to find a voluntary audience
19. Audience analysis can help a speaker do all of the following EXCEPT
A) adapt his or her topic to audience need and interest.
B) relate support materials to the audience’s lives.
C) shape his or her verbal and nonverbal delivery.
D) identify important characteristics about the listeners.
E) find a captive audience.
20. When engaging in audience analysis, speakers need to understand an audience’s beliefs
that govern or guide their behaviors. What factor is being addressed in this analysis?
A) attitude
B) value
C) belief
D) knowledge
E) demographics
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21. In performing your audience analysis, you determine that your listeners are primarily
from a collectivistic culture. What factor of audience analysis are you addressing?
A) attitude
B) belief
C) value
D) knowledge
E) demographics
22. A successful research strategy includes all of the following strategies EXCEPT
A) identifying your information needs.
B) determining your audience type.
C) drawing on your own personal knowledge.
D) talking with librarians.
E) determining how to document your research.
23. If you choose to deliver a presentation on the latest seasonal flu vaccine and the viruses
it provides protection against, what question would be most relevant as you conduct your
research?
A) What background information will my audience need?
B) What specific information is appropriate for my audience?
C) How current does my information need to be?
D) What requirement does the assignment have about information resources?
E) How can I draw on my own personal knowledge?
24. Social bookmarking can be used to aid the speaker in
A) determining his or her audience type.
B) determining his or her audience’s knowledge level.
C) organizing his or her research.
D) identifying his or her information needs.
E) determining his or her specific purpose statement.
25. Which of the following strategies would be helpful to keep in mind to avoid plagiarism?
A) orally cite your sources
B) only document your sources in writing using APA
C) only document your sources using MLA
D) rely on social bookmarking
E) rely only on your personal experience
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26. While researching the benefits of aerobic exercise, you find a web-based source that
summarizes empirical studies of aerobic exercise. This is a
A) source with high consensual validation.
B) source with low consensual validation.
C) first step in social bookmarking.
D) secondary resource.
E) primary resource.
27. Internet resources, while readily accessible and quick to find, pose challenges including
A) information overload.
B) high visibility doesn’t indicate quality of the information.
C) lack of accuracy.
D) information can be biased.
E) all of the options are correct.
28. In evaluating one’s resources, it is important to consider all of the following factors
EXCEPT
A) relevancy.
B) currency.
C) authority.
D) objectivity.
E) information load.
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Answer Key