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1. Connotative meaning when compared to denotative meaning is
A) more literal.
B) more serious.
C) used more in close, personal relationships.
D) is probably found on dictionary.com.
E) less emotional and personal.
2. According to the text, which of the following is considered to be a symbol?
A) thoughts
B) words
C) attitudes
D) values
E) beliefs
3. If you and your friend observe a woman order a drink and he says to you, “What a dog”
and you understand him to mean she is not very attractive, what type of meaning are you
applying?
A) naming
B) personal
C) contextual
D) connotative
E) denotative
4. Sarah has a short temper and exclaims, “You are such a moron” to her younger brother.
What strategy of cooperative verbal communication is she violating?
A) messages are relevant
B) messages that make others feel included
C) messages that are clear and own a speaker’s thoughts and feelings
D) messages that are honest
E) messages that are adapted to the context
5. If someone from the north said they were going to the shore, while someone from the
south said they were going to the beach, what characteristic of language is being illustrated?
A) naming
B) denotation
C) dialect
D) connotation
E) linguistic relativity
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6. If you and a friend are discussing the nuances of an abstract word such as white and she
types in the word on dictionary.com only to find a myriad of different definitions, what type of
meaning is she illustrating?
A) connotative
B) denotative
C) contextual
D) naming
E) symbols
7. In the textbook example of the potential multiple meanings of the symbol “table,” what
principle of language is being illustrated?
A) language conveys meaning
B) language is symbolic
C) language is rule governed
D) language and culture are intertwined
E) none of the options are correct
8. Symbols tend to derive their meaning from people and their experience. This illustrates
what type of meaning?
A) denotative meaning
B) connotative meaning
C) contextual meaning
D) intentional meaning
E) unintentional meaning
9. Any language has its own rules, such as spelling, grammar, and the way to pronounce
words. This demonstrates what language feature?
A) connotative meaning
B) denotative meaning
C) constitutive rules
D) regulative rules
E) none of the options are correct
10. Your manager is not happy with the symbol “chairman” and changes it to “chair.” The
manager is demonstrating that language
A) can be metaphorical.
B) can be regulative.
C) can be gender-inclusive.
D) can clarify meaning.
E) can express commonalities.
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11. What cooperative verbal communication strategy could Mark use instead of screaming,
“You are such an idiot” when he sees his friend do something he doesn’t like?
A) When I see you smoking cigarettes after class, I’m concerned how others might see
you.
B) Bro, that’s gross, man!
C) Hey bud, how are your lungs?
D) Get a hobby.
E) You are so immature!
12. According to research by Grice, being informative during interpersonal conversations
requires the speaker to do all of the following EXCEPT
A) present all relevant information.
B) present information that is appropriate.
C) be a cooperative verbal communicator.
D) be ethical.
E) use different dialects.
13. What is considered to be the single most important characteristic of cooperative verbal
communication?
A) relationship
B) timing
C) context
D) honesty
E) ethics
14. According to the cooperative principle, being relevant often means speakers need to
A) use information that separates one from the listener.
B) provide information that is appropriate.
C) use information that is fair.
D) use information applicable to the situation.
E) use information that is honest.
15. Which strategy can be used to achieve cooperative verbal communication?
A) increase use of “I” language
B) increase use of “We” language
C) increase use of “You” language
D) avoid using “We” language
E) watch the film Yours, Mine, and Ours.
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16. Women’s language style has been stereotypically associated with all of the following
EXCEPT
A) politeness.
B) indirectness and tentativeness.
C) flowery adjectives.
D) wordiness.
E) clarity.
17. Men’s language style has been stereotypically associated with all of the following
EXCEPT
A) directness.
B) clarity.
C) conciseness.
D) wordiness.
E) informative.
18. In comparing gender and culture and their impact on verbal communication we can
conclude
A) both gender and culture strongly impact verbal communication.
B) gender has a greater impact than culture on verbal communication.
C) culture has a greater impact than gender on verbal communication.
D) gender and culture have little impact on verbal communication.
E) none of the options are correct.
19. Misunderstanding occurs frequently online due to the lack of
A) nonverbal cues.
B) “You” language.
C) “I” language.
D) connotative meaning.
E) honesty.
20. Intentional misrepresentation is called
A) concealment.
B) naming.
C) misunderstanding.
D) deception.
E) persuasion.
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21. What is the most frequent form of intentional misrepresentation?
A) naming
B) misunderstanding
C) deception
D) concealment
E) persuasion.
22. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic that distinguishes aggressive language
from prejudiced language?
A) intentional goal to injure a person’s feelings
B) targets unique personal attributes
C) targets someone’s group affiliation
D) profanity is used
E) attacks an individual’s intelligence, weight, or physical ability
23. While experiencing verbal online aggression, which of the following would you NOT
use to competently manage it?
A) Try to use “We” or “I” language.
B) Remember to use “You” language.
C) Save a draft first.
D) Review and revise before finally sending the message.
E) Make sure your message is honest, informative, and clear.
24. Defamation can be described as
A) intentional communication.
B) false communication.
C) libel, when in written form.
D) slander, when spoken.
E) all of the options are correct.
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Answer Key
1. C