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1. Which of the following is NOT a purpose of persuasive speaking?
A) reinforcing listeners’ attitudes
B) motivating action
C) using coercion
D) changing beliefs
E) changing attitudes
2. Developing a persuasive presentation asserting that your audience should eat dark
chocolate because it is rich in antioxidants is an example of what type of speech?
A) proposition of motivation
B) proposition of value
C) proposition of policy
D) proposition of coercion
E) proposition of fact
3. If a student develops the speech topic that abortion is morally wrong and therefore should
be illegal, he or she is giving what type of speech?
A) proposition of motivation
B) proposition of value
C) proposition of policy
D) proposition of coercion
E) proposition of fact
4. Your classmate who presents a persuasive speech on why marijuana should be legalized
is giving what type of speech?
A) proposition of motivation
B) proposition of value
C) proposition of policy
D) proposition of coercion
E) proposition of fact
5. During what phase of speech preparation would you choose to deliver a proposition of
policy with a thesis promoting same-sex marriage?
A) thinking
B) investigating
C) rehearsing
D) composing
E) revising
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6. During what phase of speech preparation would a speaker be most likely to carefully
consider an audience’s attitudes, values, and beliefs?
A) thinking
B) investigating
C) rehearsing
D) composing
E) revising
7. According to the elaboration likelihood model, audience members are likely to
A) put less effort into listening to topics they understand.
B) not listen if they already know about your topic.
C) listen if they are interested in your topic.
D) put more effort into listening to topics that differ from their own attitudes, values, or
beliefs.
E) only listen to topics that offer elaborate details.
8. “To persuade my audience to buy a zero–emissions totally electric vehicle” is an example
of what outcome or purpose of a persuasive speech?
A) change an audience’s attitudes
B) motivate an audience to take action
C) change an audience’s beliefs
D) reinforce an audience’s beliefs
E) reinforce an audience’s attitudes
9. What specific speech purpose of a persuasive speech would be most appropriate at a rally
for supporters of a political candidate?
A) inform them of their right to vote
B) coerce the audience to listen
C) motivate the audience to take action
D) reinforce the audience’s attitudes and beliefs
E) change the audience’s attitudes and beliefs
10. If you are asked to deliver a persuasive presentation to an athletic team on incorporating
aerobic exercise into their training regime, what specific speech purpose would be most
effective?
A) motivate an audience to take action
B) change an audience’s attitudes and beliefs
C) reinforce an audience’s attitudes and beliefs
D) coerce an audience to take action
E) none of the options are correct
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11. Corey plans to develop a persuasive presentation on why his audience should not waste
food. This is an example of a
A) specific purpose to motivate action.
B) proposition of value.
C) proposition of fact.
D) proposition of policy.
E) none of the options are correct.
12. An audience who takes a central route to process your message
A) is less likely to sustain changes in attitudes or behaviors.
B) is more likely to engage in selective listening.
C) doesn’t have the necessary knowledge to understand your speech.
D) has the necessary background knowledge to understand your speech.
E) will be less likely to evaluate your points.
13. Which of the following is NOT part of the three “Cs” of credibility?
A) competence
B) character
C) coercion
D) charisma
E) speaker ethos
14. The motivated sequence is best suited for a speech of
A) coercion.
B) policy.
C) fact.
D) value.
E) information.
15. The development of logical reasoning for your position is referred to as
A) logos.
B) pathos.
C) ethos.
D) credibility.
E) rhetorical proofs.
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16. Which of the following is NOT a step of the motivated sequence pattern for organizing a
persuasive presentation?
A) attention
B) need
C) investigation
D) satisfaction
E) action
17. In the text’s persuasive speech example to get the audience to enroll in a CPR course, in
what step would the speaker establish relevancy, interest, and motivation to listen?
A) need
B) attention
C) satisfaction
D) action
E) visualization
18. When developing an argument that progresses from a set of specific, related facts to a
general conclusion, you are engaging in
A) analogical reasoning.
B) deductive reasoning.
C) inductive reasoning.
D) cause-effect reasoning.
E) reasoning by metaphor.
19. In a student presentation advocating for additional parking spaces on campus, they
argued, “My best friend agrees that we need more parking spaces, as does my boyfriend.
Students on this campus believe we need to add more parking spaces.” The fallacy present in
this reasoning is
A) hasty generalizations.
B) bandwagon appeals.
C) ad hominem arguments.
D) straw person claims.
E) qualifiers.
20. When using deductive reasoning, the statement you believe your audience accepts as true
is A) minor premise.
B) major premise.
C) conclusion.
D) qualifier.
E) reasoning.
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21. The visualization step in the motivated sequence organizational pattern
A) provides details of a solution to solve a problem.
B) presents an example of the problem.
C) explains how a solution relates to an audience’s needs and fixes a problem.
D) describes how an audience can implement a proposed solution.
E) explains how a problem relates to the audience’s needs and interests.
22. Listeners determine a speaker’s credibility or ethos by ascertaining
A) ethics, evidence, and coercion.
B) competence, character, and charisma.
C) attitudes, values, and beliefs.
D) needs, interests, and delivery.
E) integrity, honesty, and motivation.
23. If you choose to deliver a presentation to motivate your audience to get a seasonal flu
vaccine, arguing that everyone else is getting one, including yourself, what fallacy have you
fallen prey to?
A) hasty generalizations
B) bandwagon appeals
C) ad hominem arguments
D) straw person claims
E) qualifiers
24. While making an argument, if you resort to distorting and misrepresenting the counter to
your position, you are demonstrating
A) hasty generalizations.
B) bandwagon appeals.
C) ad hominem arguments.
D) straw person claims.
E) qualifiers.
25. During election season, candidates often attack each other instead of issues. What fallacy
are they committing?
A) hasty generalizations
B) bandwagon appeals
C) ad hominem arguments
D) straw person claims
E) qualifiers
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26. In a speech to persuade the audience to support breast cancer research, Betty discusses
how she has battled cancer and is living proof of the benefits of early treatment. She is
illustrating
A) cause-effect reasoning.
B) deductive reasoning.
C) analogical reasoning.
D) motivational appeals.
E) inductive reasoning.
27. The use of motivational appeals is referred to as
A) logos.
B) pathos.
C) ethos.
D) credibility.
E) rhetorical proofs.
28. According to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, what need must be met before addressing
higher-level concerns?
A) avoiding harm and uncertainty
B) forming bonds with others
C) having respect and admiration
D) realizing our full potential
E) food or rest
29. If you deliver a presentation on why your audience should get a hepatitis B vaccination,
arguing that it prevents serious illness and provides peace of mind, what needs are you
appealing to?
A) avoiding harm and uncertainty
B) forming bonds with others
C) having respect and admiration
D) realizing our full potential
E) food or rest
30. Which of the following are included in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs?
A) security needs, or avoiding harm and uncertainty
B) social needs, or forming bonds with others
C) ego needs, or having respect and admiration
D) self-actualization, or realizing our full potential
E) all of the options are correct
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31. By using the foot-in-the-door technique, a speaker is
A) maintaining high ethical standards.
B) asking the audience to make small changes.
C) asking the audience to take big actions.
D) establishing goodwill with the audience.
E) establishing credibility with the audience.
32. You are giving a persuasive presentation on using solar power. By following the
foot-in-the-door technique, you should
A) tell the audience that an early death is imminent unless they stop eating all meat.
B) ask the audience to eliminate electricity in their home
C) ask the audience to consider buying solar panels for their home.
D) tell the audience that an audience member uses solar power.
E) tell the audience that scientists recommend wind power.
33. According to your text, which of the following is NOT recommended as a guideline for
persuasive speeches?
A) express empathy
B) establish goodwill with your audience
C) keep your specific purpose realistic
D) establish credibility
E) maintain high ethical standards
34. A speech that asks whether something is good or bad, or right or wrong, centers around a
question of
A) value.
B) policy.
C) ethos.
D) issue.
E) fact.
35. Which of the following is an example of analogical reasoning used in persuasive
speaking?
A) I’ll never eat at that restaurant because I got food poisoning there once.
B) Feedback is to communication what homeostasis is to the body.
C) Janet is a friend; therefore, I can trust her.
D) Most honor students have good time management skills.
E) Thunder causes lightning.
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Answer Key