Chapter 15: The Speaker’s Voice
Test Bank
Multiple Choice
1. Audience members are better able to concentrate on what you have to say when
a. they are attracted by the sound of your voice.
b. they are distracted by the sound of your voice.
c. they are neutral to the sound of your voice.
d. they can just hear your voice well enough.
2. Researchers have discovered that the bulk of message’s personal and connotative
meaning is communicated via
a. verbal delivery.
b. nonverbal delivery.
c. both verbal and nonverbal delivery.
d. neither verbal nor nonverbal delivery.
3. Which of the following is NOT a suggested question to ask yourself regarding the
sound of your speech?
a. Does my voice help me convey the meaning of my speech clearly?
b. If I were in my audience, would I want to listen to me for an extended period of time?
c. Does my voice enhance or detract from the impression I make?
d. Do I sound like a famous speech-maker?
4. Pitch, volume, rate, articulation, and pronunciation are all examples of
a. linguistic cues.
b. speech cues.
c. paralinguistic cues.
d. language cues.
5. Which of the following is NOT an example of paralinguistic cues?
a. Pitch
b. Volume
c. Rate
d. Eye contact
6. Our ______ pitch is the level at which we speak most often.
a. habitual
b. normal
c. optimal
d. ideal
7. Our ______ pitch is where our voice functions best and where we have extensive
vocal variation up and down the scale.
a. habitual
b. normal
c. optimal
d. ideal
8. When you say words in a ______ during a speech, it means you are not happy.
a. monotone
b. high tone
c. low tone
d. upbeat tone
9. ______ voices are stereotyped as more mature, sexier, and stronger.
a. Higher-pitched
b. Louder
c. Quieter
d. Lower-pitched
10. ______ voices are frequently associated with helplessness, nervousness, and
tension.
a. Higher-pitched
b. Louder
c. Flat
d. Lower-pitched
11. For both men and women, the vocal cue of ______ has the stereotype of being
masculine, sluggish, cold, and withdrawn.
a. breathiness
b. thinness
c. flatness
d. nasality
12. You should regulate your volume to reflect all of the following EXCEPT
a. the size of the room.
b. the demographics of the audience.
c. competing background noises.
d. the acoustics of the room.
13. Generally, in the United States, we consider a voice that is too ______ as intrusive
and aggressive.
a. loud
b. low
c. deep
d. high
14. Generally, in the United States we consider a voice that is too ______ as meek,
hesitant, and less credible.
a. loud
b. low
c. deep
d. high
15. ______ is the speed at which you speak words.
a. Timing
b. Pace
c. Tempo
d. Rate
16. The average rate at which we speak is between ______ words per minute.
a. 50 and 100
b. 125 and 175
c. 200 and 250
d. 500 and 550
17. Which of the following is NOT a mood you would express through a slower speaking
rate?
a. Thoughtfulness
b. Happiness
c. Solemnity
d. Concern
18. Which of the following is NOT a mood you would express through a quicker
speaking rate?
a. Excitement
b. Eagerness
c. Seriousness
d. Urgency
19. One way to slow the pace of your speech is to______.
a. repeat yourself
b. pause
c. talk very slow
d. start late
20. Which of the following is an appropriate time to pause in your speech?
a. Before starting
b. In the middle of a main idea
c. While presenting a piece of evidence for a subtopic
d. During the conclusion of the speech
21. Which of the following is NOT a verbal filler?
a. “Er”
b. “Uh”
c. “Okay”
d. “In conclusion”
22. When it comes to articulation, you should ideally ______.
a. let the sounds run together
b. omit the final sounds of words
c. speak the sounds distinctly
d. use incorrect punctuation
23. Which of the following is NOT a common mispronunciation error?
a. Adding unnecessary sounds
b. Adding necessary sounds
c. Reversing sounds
d. Misplacing an accent
24. Which of the following is NOT true regarding pronunciation?
a. Use a dictionary.
b. Check a reputable pronunciation guide online to learn how a word should be said.
c. Ask your practice audience to point out errors.
d. Wait for a real audience member to point out an error in pronunciation.
25. A(n) ______ is a speech pattern characteristic of a group of people from a particular
area or of a specific ethnicity.
a. dialect
b. regionalism
c. pronunciation
d. articulation
26. Most people have grown accustomed to ______ speech, and prefer to listen either
to it or to someone who sounds just like they themselves do.
a. Southern
b. Northern
c. Midwestern
d. West Coast
27. Audience members will perceive you as more credible if
a. you keep your dialect.
b. you entirely change your dialect.
c. you adapt your dialect.
d. you don’t care about your dialect.
Short Answer
28. ______ is the highness or lowness of your voice on a tonal scale.
29. With rising and/or falling ______, you can give a sentence very different meanings
from genuinely expressing happiness, to sarcasm, to distain.
30. ______ is the loudness or softness of the voice, its intensity.
31. ______ is the way you pronounce individual sounds.
32. ______ is whether or not the words themselves are said correctly.
33. A ______ is a speech pattern characteristic of a group of people from a particular
area or of a specific ethnicity.
34. If you don’t have a ______ dialect, this doesn’t mean your dialect is “bad” or inferior.
Still, ask yourself whether your dialect could prevent understanding in your audience.
True/False
35. Studies suggest that audience members attribute more meaning to nonverbal
communication than to words.
36. The adequacy of your voice influences audience perceptions of your credibility as a
speaker.
37. Our habitual pitch is the level at which we speak most often.
38. Our optimal pitch is where our voice functions best and where we have extensive
vocal variation up and down the scale.
39. For male speakers, one stereotype of increased pitch variety is femininity.
40. Pauses are perceived the same in all cultures.
41. The focus of articulation is on the production of speech sounds, whereas the focus
of pronunciation is on whether the words themselves are said correctly.
42. If you don’t have a neutral dialect, this doesn’t mean your dialect is “bad.”
Essay
43. Explain why your voice is important to your speech.
Ans: Area to explain: The voice of the accomplished speaker enhances the expression
44. Explain how you can pitch your voice properly during a speech.
Ans: Area to explain: Pitch is the highness or lowness of your voice on a tonal scale; it
45. Why is it important to consider culture when adjusting your volume?
Ans: Area to explain: The volume the members of one culture judge to be acceptable,
46. How can you work to get rid of verbal fillers?
Ans: Area to explain: The more you practice, the more you will see how and when you
47. Describe how and why you might “code–switch.”
Ans: Area to explain: When you “code-switch,” you are adjusting your dialect (not