KEY
Chapter 14: Informative Speaking
Multiple-Choice Questions
1. Which of the following adjectives describes an informational speaker?
2. Andrew’s informative speech will help his audience understand how to upgrade and replace the hard drive in
their computers. What type of topic has he chosen?
3. Which of the following types of informative topics do the authors of your textbook caution are difficult to do as
an informative speech because it is difficult to keep one’s own opinions from influencing the speech?
4. The goal of a/an __________ presentation is to answer the “how” questions.
5. Which of the following specific purpose statements represents a demonstration speech?
6. A definition that defines something by explaining what it is or what it does is a/an
7. “Today, the term dry run is often used to refer to a rehearsal of some sort. This meaning originated in the field
of firefighting, where dry represented a practice drill where the hoses were turned off, and run simply meant a
response to a fire alarm, whether real or for a drill.” What type of definition is represented in this statement?
8. A speech that delves deeper into more complexity by providing reasons or causes and demonstrating
relationships is a/an
9. What type of explanation presents the details that illuminate a concept’s meaning and use?
10. “The isokinetic resistance mechanism used in most rehabilitative exercise equipment works on centripetal
force, similar to the way the Gravitron carnival ride does—the faster the motor or the patient moves, the faster
the resistance mechanism spins, and the more resistance is created.” What method of explanation is employed
in this example?
11. The authors of your textbook explain that informative speakers have several goals and strategies at their
disposal as they tailor a speech to their audience. Which of the following is not one of those goals or strategies?
True/False Questions
2. Informative speakers don’t need to present new information as long as the information is interesting or relevant.
4. Informative speakers do not have to give thought to issues like relevance and usefulness when the topic is
5. Ethical considerations are of little consequence to informative speakers because they do not intend to influence
6. An informative speech about “how to download music without having to pay for it” would be ethically
7. Informative speeches should focus on only one category (for example, people, places, things, or processes) and
8. Speeches about people must be about people who are well known in order to be significant enough to warrant
9. Important events in a speaker’s life can serve as foundations for effective and interesting informative
13. “Ethnocentrism is not the same as racism and should not be confused with stereotyping” is an example of
15. Effective informative speakers often have to put effort into generating audience interest in their topic by
emphasizing how learning the information will benefit them, or they risk losing their audience members’
16. Information overload refers to the experience of a speaker having too much information to cover in his or her
17. Audiences usually perceive speeches with a greater number of points to be more significant than speeches that
18. Speakers are considered more knowledgeable and trustworthy when they know more than their audience does,
19. In order to function effectively, examples need to be familiar to an audience—examples that need to be
20. Using graphic presentation aids helps most audiences comprehend and retain the information in a speech better
Short-Answer Questions
1. In your own words, what does it mean to be an objective rather than a subjective speaker?
H = Informing, Not Persuading (p. 311); C = knowledge; D = 2
2. “People” is just one category of informative speech topics. List four of the remaining categories of informative
speeches discussed in your text.
H = Topics for Informative Presentations (pp. 313‒316); C = knowledge; D = 2
3. Give an example of an object or a phenomenon that could serve as the topic of an informative speech.
H = Objects and Phenomena (p. 313); C = comprehension; D = 2
4. Define issue as a category of informative speech topics.
H = Issues (p. 315); C = knowledge; D = 1
5. What is the difference between a definition by example and a definition by synonym?
H = Definition (p. 317); C = comprehension; D = 2
6. In your own words, define a quasi-scientific explanation.
H = Explaining the Big Picture (p. 318); C = knowledge; D = 1
7. __________ explanations illuminate a concept’s meaning and use by providing a list of a concept’s critical
features, contrasting examples of the concept, and then offering an audience an opportunity to distinguish
between contrasting examples by comparing them to the concept’s critical features.
H = Clarifying Concepts (p. 318); C = knowledge; D = 1
8. In your own words, what do the authors of your text mean when they say you should create information
hunger?
H = Create Information Hunger (p. 319); C = comprehension; D = 2
9. Provide an example of a phrase that would be helpful in drawing the audience’s attention to an important piece
of information just before you state it.
H = Emphasize Important Points (p. 323); C = comprehension; D = 3
10. What do we mean when we say that a good informative speaker will keep a speech simple for his or her
audience by building on their prior knowledge?
H = Build on Prior Knowledge (p. 323); C = comprehension; D = 2
Essay Questions
1. Synthesizing what you have learned up to this point in the course, explain the role of ethics as they relate to
informative speaking.
C = comprehension and synthesis; D = 2
2. List, describe, and provide an example of the eight categories of informative speeches that are discussed in your
textbook. What cautionary advice would you give to an informative speaker about any of these eight
categories?
C = knowledge and comprehension; D = 2
3. Your friend Sam’s family has owned a health food store since she was a little girl. She has decided to do her
informative speech about natural alternatives to the dangerous cleaning products made by large corporations.
She wants her audience to know that the natural cleaning products are healthier and less polluting and hopes
that she can inspire her classmates to switch to using more natural products in their own homes. Will Sam’s
topic work for her informative speech? Why or why not? If changes are needed, what specific advice would
you give Sam to help her modify the topic?
C = application and evaluation; D = 3
4. Compare and contrast the four approaches to informative speaking: description, demonstration, definition, and
explanation.
C = comprehension; D = 1
5. Evangeline has chosen to deliver her speech on the topic of badminton. Specifically, she plans to discuss the
process of playing the sport. She has discovered that no one else in her class has ever played the sport, so the
information will be new. Unfortunately, none of the classmates she spoke to seemed to indicate any interest in
the subject. What advice, besides simply selecting a new topic, would you give Evangeline to help her get her
audience excited about and interested in her topic?
C = comprehension and application; D = 3
6. Describe the steps informative speakers can take to make their speech clear and easy for the audience to
understand.
C = comprehension; D = 1
