Chapter 12: Concluding Your Speech
Test Bank
Multiple Choice
1. Which of the following is NOT true regarding the conclusion to a speech?
a. It can drive home the message of the speech.
b. It is less important than the rest of the speech.
c. It can break the entire speech.
d. It should reiterate previous material.
2. According to speech consultant Sharon Bower, “Listeners forget______, colorless,
and complicated endings.”
a. short
b. long
c. loud
d. quiet
3. Speech coach Stephen C. Rafe, advises you to look over your material and ask
yourself, “What is the most important or ______ way to end this communication?”
a. pleasant
b. difficult
c. logical
d. convincing
4. A well-designed conclusion fulfills all of the following functions EXCEPT
a. it lets the audience know a presentation is drawing to a close.
b. it summarizes key ideas the speaker shared.
c. it typically bores receivers.
d. it provides the speech with a sense of closure.
5. The final minutes of your speech constitute your last opportunity to
a. position your ideas firmly in the minds of audience members.
b. introduce new ideas.
c. present new evidence.
d. allow audience to leave the speech setting early.
6. It takes ______ to end a speech well.
a. conniving
b. skill
c. luck
d. persuasion
7. Which of the following would be a good way to end a speech?
a. “That’s all folks.”
b. “That’s the way it is.”
c. Using an inspirational quote
d. “And so it goes.”
8. Taking the easy way out when bringing a speech to a close could
a. improve a presentation.
b. destroy an otherwise fine presentation.
c. embellish a presentation.
d. not affect your presentation.
9. A conclusion should NOT be
a. lengthy.
b. short.
c. interesting.
d. engaging.
10. The average conclusion comprises about ______ percent of a speech.
a. 25
b. 10
c. 5
d. 30
11. Which of the following is NOT true regarding the materials you use in your speech’s
conclusion?
a. They must be relevant to your topic.
b. They must be able to convince your audience.
c. They must be appropriate to the audience and occasion.
d. They must be interesting and involving.
12. A well-crafted conclusion should
a. reinforce the goals of your speech.
b. depart from the goals of your speech.
c. not affect the goals of your speech.
b. not be memorable.
13. A conclusion should NOT
a. be memorable.
b. keep the audience engaged.
c. take the audience by surprise.
d. reinforce the goals of your speech.
14. You can cue the audience that you are about to stop speaking by all of the following
EXCEPT
a. decreasing your speaking rate.
b. increasing your speaking rate.
c. altering your voice tone.
d. shouting.
15. All of the following would be strong transitional phrases for your conclusion EXCEPT
a. “In conclusion.”
b. “To review.”
c. “That’s all folks!“
d. “Let me end by noting.”
16. The phrases “In conclusion,” “To review,” “In closing,” or “Let me end by noting . . .”
are examples of ______ in your conclusion.
a. transitional phrases
b. main points
c. arguments
d. closing phrases
17. ______ ideas have no place in the conclusion to a speech.
a. New
b. Old
c. Exciting
d. Clear
18. During your conclusion of a speech, you are putting your presentation on ______ for
a moment.
a. fast forward
b. rewind
c. pause
d. slow motion
19. The conclusion should be used for all of the following EXCEPT
a. restating ideas you have already introduced.
b. introducing new points.
c. using a quotation that summarizes or highlights your point of view.
d. reinforcing the main points you want audience members to remember.
20. You can say that your conclusion does not restate
a. your main points.
b. your central idea.
c. your thesis.
d. your previous evidence for main points.
21. Which of the following is NOT suggested for your conclusion?
a. bringing back a previous story
b. integrating humor
c. asking a rhetorical question
d. making your audience feel guilty so they will act
22. If used appropriately and wisely, ______ can be beneficial in creating a memorable
conclusion.
a. sarcasm
b. humor
c. crying
d. anger
23. At the end of the speech, you should strive to achieve
a. closure.
b. novelty.
c. amazement.
d. puzzlement.
24. All of the following are ways to create psychological balance and achieve closure to
your speech, EXCEPT
a. introducing a new point.
b. asking the same rhetorical question you did in the introduction.
c. reusing a theme introduced in the beginning of the speech.
d. referring back to a previous story.
25. Which of the following is NOT common concluding pitfall?
a. Ending abruptly
b. Being long-winded
c. Being concise
d. Introducing new ideas
26. New ideas should not be introduced in the ______ of the speech.
a. attention-getter
b. introduction
c. body
d. conclusion
27. Which of the following is NOT true of your conclusion?
a. It should stick in the audience’s mind.
b. It is just a reminder; it doesn’t affect what the audience retains.
c. It should be striking.
d. You use it to reinforce what you’ve already covered.
28. Effective conclusions serve all of the following functions EXCEPT
a. forecasting the end of a speech.
b. reemphasizing the evidence of a speech.
c. motivating receivers to respond as a speaker desires.
d. providing a speech with a sense of closure.
29. During a presentation’s final few moments, the speaker can drive home the
message of the speech while leaving the audience with a ______ impression.
30. A well-designed conclusion summarizes key ______ the speaker shared.
31. A conclusion needs need to provide audience members with a sense of ______.
32. Speakers should ______ the audience that they are about to stop speaking.
33. In your ______ you do not introduce new ideas, but instead restate your central
ideas.
34. Your closing comments are your last chance to make a good impression and fulfill
the ______ of your speech.
35. An ______ ending is an undesirable ending, as you need to carefully build and
explain your concluding thoughts.
True/False
36. Your conclusion is your last chance to make a favorable impression on your
audience.
37. An appropriate ending can make or break the entire speech.
38. The conclusion doesn’t necessarily need to provide audience members with a sense
of completion.
39. The audience should be able to identify when you are making your concluding
points.
40. In your conclusion, take the audience full circle by referring to your introduction.
41. Humor should be kept out of a conclusion, it is a place for more serious issues.
42. The ending of the speech isn’t as important as the rest of the speech.
Essay
43. Why is the conclusion as important as the introduction and body of your speech?
44. Discuss and exemplify how you can signal to your audience that the speech is
coming to a close.
45. Why is it important to make audience members remember your main points of the
speech?
46. Explain why ending too abruptly in your conclusion is a pitfall.
Ans: Area to explain: If you end your speech too abruptly, your audience will not feel
47. Explain why being too long-winded in your conclusion is a pitfall.