Page 1
1. Nervousness while speaking is disruptive whether or not it shows, so speakers should
take steps to eliminate it.
A) True
B) False
2. Public speaking anxiety, or PSA, is defined as a speaker’s fear or anxiety associated with
actual communication to an audience.
A) True
B) False
3. Lack of experience and lack of positive experience with speaking both generally increase
a speaker’s public speaking anxiety.
A) True
B) False
4. Speakers can compensate for a lack of objectivity about their own speaking by practicing
in front of a mirror.
A) True
B) False
5. The onset of public speaking anxiety can occur as early as when a speaker first learns that
he or she will have to give a speech.
A) True
B) False
6. Pre-preparation anxiety occurs when a speaker rehearses the speech.
A) True
B) False
7. For most people, anxiety tends to be highest during the introduction of the actual speech.
A) True
B) False
8. People with high trait anxiety experience nervousness only in unusual situations, such as
public speaking.
A) True
B) False
Page 2
9. Low trait-anxious people are generally most nervous when starting a speech but gain
confidence throughout the speech.
A) True
B) False
10. Preparation and practice can help you develop a quality speech, but it cannot help to
reduce public speaking anxiety.
A) True
B) False
11. Having a positive attitude toward speechmaking results in excitement, which results in a
raised heart rate during delivery of a speech.
A) True
B) False
12. Visualization involves imagining what could go wrong with your speech so that you can
address and eliminate possible errors in advance.
A) True
B) False
13. Stage one of stress-control breathing involves using a soothing word such as calm or
relax. A) True
B) False
14. It is recommended that speakers stand still behind a podium and not walk around.
A) True
B) False
15. A speaker’s movement serves to relieve tension and help hold the audience’s attention.
A) True
B) False
16. Speech evaluations by others are usually more objective than self-evaluations.
A) True
B) False
Page 3
17. Speakers should avoid exercising the day of their speeches.
A) True
B) False
18. The anxiety stop-time technique is a good way to prevent anxiety.
A) True
B) False
19. The relaxation response is the opposite of fight or flight.
A) True
B) False
20. Research shows you can eliminate the physiological reactions that result from the fight
or flight response by activating a relaxation response using techniques such as meditation and
controlled breathing.
A) True
B) False
21. A situation-specific social anxiety that arises from real or anticipated enactment of an
oral presentation is known as
A) psychological apprehension.
B) communication agitation.
C) public speaking anxiety.
D) stage fright.
22. Which of the following is most likely to cause someone to avoid public speaking
altogether?
A) lack of positive experience
B) disagreement on current issue
C) being the center of attention
D) lack of quality subjects
23. Many people have anxiety about public speaking because they feel
A) unattractive
B) equal rather than superior to the audience.
C) different.
D) as if they do not stand out.
Page 4
24. Tyson began to panic as soon as his instructor gave the speech assignment to the class.
Tyson experienced
A) pre-preparation anxiety.
B) preparation anxiety.
C) pre-performance anxiety.
D) performance anxiety.
25. ________ is a technique for combating pre-performance anxiety in which you allow
your anxiety to present itself for up to a few minutes until you declare time for confidence to
step in so you can proceed with your practice.
A) Nervousness alleviation
B) Communication release
C) Anxiety stop-time
D) Stress-control breathing
26. For most people _____ is most common.
A) pre-preparation anxiety
B) preparation anxiety
C) pre-performance anxiety
D) performance anxiety
27. ______ anxiety refers to the tendency to be anxious much of the time versus only in
unusual situations.
A) Trait
B) Speech
C) Performance
D) Preparation
28. Each of these is a successful strategy for gaining public speaking confidence except
A) keeping the illusion of transparency in mind.
B) avoiding movement during the speech.
C) using the anxiety stop-time technique.
D) practicing the speech.
29. If English is not a speaker’s first language, which of the following should the speaker do?
A) Speak as quickly as possible.
B) Learn and incorporate jargon.
C) Practice difficult words in English.
D) Avoid all words from his or her native tongue.
Page 5
30. Which of the following is not true of visualizing?
A) It can strengthen your positive attitude.
B) It is a highly effective technique for building public speaking confidence.
C) It involves the mental exercise of seeing yourself give a successful speech.
D) It involves physically going through the motions of giving your speech.
31. Activating the relaxation response through techniques such as meditation or
stress-control breathing can
A) help you confront a threat head-on.
B) help you make a hasty escape from a threat.
C) increase the sensations from the fight or flight response.
D) improve how you respond to stress.
32. The tendency of speakers to think the anxiety they feel is more noticeable than it appears
is called
A) the fight or flight response.
B) trait anxiety.
C) performance anxiety.
D) the illusion of transparency.
33. The anxiety stop-time technique is a useful way to address
A) preparation anxiety.
B) communication apprehension.
C) pre-performance anxiety.
D) performance anxiety.
Answer Key
1. B
2. B