Chapter 1: Public Speaking and You: Building Confidence
Test Bank
Multiple Choice
1. The idea of providing students with a “playbook” implies that to be an effective public
speaker you need
a. athletic ability.
b. a game plan.
c. natural ability.
d. previous knowledge.
2. Which of the following is NOT an area of your life benefitting from speechmaking?
a. Societal life
b. Professional life
c. Personal life
d. Athletic life
3. Which of the following is a benefit of public speaking for your personal life?
a. It can help you understand specialized knowledge in a scientific field.
b. It can help you improve your relationships with your friends.
c. It can help you increase your self-confidence.
d. It increases your chances to become a media professional.
4. Which of the following is NOT a benefit of public speaking for your personal life?
a. You can make your friends do what you want them to.
b. You can become more confident.
c. You can better control your environment by controlling yourself.
d. You can clarify and refine your own opinions and ideas.
5. Our political system depends on all of the following types of people EXCEPT
a. citizens who speak openly.
b. citizens who carefully examine all sides of an issue.
c. citizens who attempt to convince others to vote like them.
d. citizens who speak honestly.
6. Which of the following is NOT an element of the communication process?
a. The person who speaks
b. The people who listen
c. Other people who might be referenced in the speech
d. The message
7. Which of the following is NOT an aspect of the content of our communication?
a. Words and visuals we use to express our ideas and feelings
b. The sounds of our voices
c. Our body language or non-verbal communication
d. Our past experiences
8. Which of the following refers to the pathways or media through which messages are
carried?
a. Channels
b. Noise
c. Dimensions
d. Media
9. Communication is usually a ________________ event.
a. single-channel
b. dual-channel
c. multi-channel
d. channel-less
10. A phone ringing in the audience is an example of
a. channels.
b. noise.
c. dimensions.
d. sound.
11. After John presents his speech in class, his classmate Ryan raises his hand and
asks him a question regarding one of his points. Ryan’s question is a form of
a. noise.
b. feedback.
c. sound.
d. reaction.
12. When you contemplate how conditions of place and time influence both behavior
and the outcome of the communication event, you are considering
a. the demographic context.
b. the environmental context.
c. the historical context.
d. the situational/cultural context.
13. Paula is scheduled to make a speech about the benefits of public speaking at a
professional gathering, and she is also scheduled to make a speech on the same topic
in a community setting. She is working on making changes to the content and delivery
of the speech based on the type setting and location. Which element of the
communication process is Paula taking into consideration?
a. Noise
b. Feedback
c. Channels
d. Situational/cultural context
14. Communication is ______.
a. static
b. cumulative
c. singular
d. simple
15. Sam was in an accident as a child and received a blood transfusion, which
influences his persuasive speech on blood donation. Sam’s topic was influenced by his
a. background.
b. worldview.
c. culture.
d. field of experience.
16. Which of the following skills is NOT especially important for public speakers?
a. Organize ideas logically
b. Make others believe what you are saying
c. Encode or express ideas clearly
d. Analyze and adapt to receivers readily
17. Public speaking anxiety (PSA) affects what percentage of all speakers?
a. 10–20%
b. 30–40%
c. 40–80%
d. 80–100%
18. Which of the following is NOT a way in which you can address the physical effects
of speech anxiety?
a. Cry in private before the speech
b. Repeat tensing and relaxing different muscles
c. Stand tall and lean slightly forward
d. Leaning slightly forward, stake out a broad surface with your hands
19. Which of the following refers to our internal communication that can often derail our
attempts to control our anxiety?
a. Self-deprecation
b. Self-control
c. Self-talk
d. Thought-stopping
20. Sally is very nervous about presenting her speech in class. While waiting to present,
she thinks to herself “Stop!” and then repeats “calm” in her head. Sally is using
a. thought-control.
b. self-control.
c. self-talk.
d. thought-stopping.
21. ______ refers to a technique that focuses attention on our thoughts rather than on
our bodily reactions that works by altering the beliefs people have about themselves
and their abilities.
a. Self-control
b. Inner focus
c. Cognitive restructuring
d. Cognitive focus
22. You are very nervous about your speech, so you take a deep breath and follow with
a strong exhalation. Which of the following did you just enact?
a. Thought-stopping
b. Centering breath
c. Self-talk
d. Focus breath
23. Which of the following does NOT help combat both the physical and the mental
effects of speech anxiety?
a. Speaking on a topic you really care about
b. Paying more attention to details than to main ideas
c. Preparing thoroughly for the speechmaking event
d. Keeping in mind that listeners are unlikely to perceive our signs of anxiety
24. Which of the following is NOT a part of the game plan for conquering speech
anxiety?
a. I have assessed my own feelings and fears about giving a speech.
b. The morning before my speech, I went for a walk, a run, or a swim.
c. The morning before my speech, I had a big breakfast.
d. Just before my speech, I took a moment to center my breathing and thoughts.
25. The night before the speech, Anna tried standing tall, leaning forward, and opening
her arms to the audience, staking out a broad surface with her hands. Which part of the
game plan for conquering speech anxiety was Anna pursuing?
a. Practicing a powerful pose
b. Relaxing before the speech
c. Centering her breadth before the speech
d. Being ready to deliver her speech
26. Instead of focusing on negative thoughts and fears, Amanda is focusing on potential
positives of her performance. Which strategy for using her anxiety to perform more
effectively is Amanda employing?
a. Preparing thoroughly
b. Visualizing a positive experience
c. Reminding herself that the audience cannot usually see or hear fear
d. Focusing on her audience, not herself
27. During the speech, Barbara takes time to make eye contact with various audience
members. Which strategy for using her anxiety to perform more effectively is Barbara
employing?
a. Preparing thoroughly
b. Visualizing a positive experience
c. Reminding herself that the audience cannot usually see or hear fear
d. Focusing on her audience, not herself
28. Which of the following is not a suggestion for handling speech anxiety?
a. Systematic desensitization
b. A single practice session to harness nervous energy
c. Cognitive restructuring
d. Skills training
Short Answer
29. In addition to benefiting your personal life and society, being a skilled public speaker
can also benefit your ______.
30. The speaker is also referred to as the ______ of the message, and the listener is
referred to as the ______ of the message.
31. Nick is answering questions from the audience after the speech. Nick is receiving
______.
32. ______ anxiety is fear of preparing a speech, and ______ anxiety is fear of
presenting a speech.
33. Matt succeeds to strike a powerful pose during the speech and thus increase the
effectiveness of the speech. Matt is addressing the ______ effects of speech anxiety.
34. Nora takes her nerves about public speaking and uses them to her advantage. Nora
is harnessing her ______.
True/False
35. Becoming a skilled public speaker has benefits for the individual, both personal and
professional, and for society as a whole.
36. Sending the message is the exclusive job of the source.
37. Physical discomfort, a psychological state, intellectual ability, or the environment
can create noise.
38. If you say something you regret, it doesn’t take much to “erase” that communication
in your audience’s mind.
39. It is possible to use your stress and anxiety to build your confidence as a speaker.
40. Thought stopping is an example of cognitive restructuring.
41. We often feel more anxious presenting a speech when it does not interest us.
42. Practicing is not considered a component of your speech preparation.
Essay
43. List and discuss the three areas in which being a skilled public speaker could benefit
you.
44. List and discuss three elements of the communication process and how they are
pertinent to your speechmaking opportunities.
45. List and discuss three reasons for public speaking anxiety.
Ans: Areas to discuss: three of the following—fear of failure, fear of the unknown, fear of
46. Discuss and provide three examples of how skills training can make us better public
speakers.
Ans: Answer would ideally include: when you actively attempt to become a more skilled
47. Explain how you could use anxiety to perform more effectively.
Ans: Answer would ideally include: you can change any negative feelings you are