Chapter 27: Answering Questions
Test Bank
Multiple Choice
1. The question-and-answer (Q&A) session
a. plays an integral role in most business and professional talks.
b. plays no role in most business and professional talks.
c. plays a minimal roles in most business and professional talks.
d. is a separate speaking instance than business and professional talks.
2. The Q&A session, while enjoyable, can also be quite ______.
a. dry.
b. challenging.
c. boring.
d. costly.
3. Q&A sessions accomplish all of the following EXCEPT
a. give audience members a voice.
b. afford audience members the opportunity to ask the speaker questions about
remarks.
c. afford audience members the opportunity to share their reactions with the speaker.
d. give audience members the opportunity to to heckle the speaker.
4. Speakers may lose ground if their answers
a. leave receivers confused.
b. leave receivers convinced.
c. leave receivers enthusiastic.
d. leave receivers persuaded.
5. The right answer to the question of whether questions should be part of the
presentation itself is
a. always.
b. never.
c. rarely.
d. it depends.
6. Which of the following is NOT true regarding personally soliciting questions before a
presentation?
a. The questions may be anticipated by the speaker.
b. It can demonstrate expertise.
c. It allows the audience to take control.
d. It can demonstrate confidence.
7. A speaker can solicit questions from the audience in advance by
a. passing out note cards for audience members to jot down questions.
b. including on the promotional flyer for the presentation a note that audience members
should bring in question.
c. having a moderator ask questions from the audience at the outset of a presentation.
d. arriving at the venue early to talk to people prior to the presentation.
8. If you are giving a business presentation and your boss interrupts you with a
question, what must you likely do?
a. Stop and answer it.
b. Pretend you didn’t hear.
c. Refuse to answer.
d. Tell him or her to wait.
9. Which of the following is a way to respond to an audience member who interrupts
with a question that will be answered later in the speech?
a. Pretend you didn’t hear them an ignore it.
b. Don’t answer the question.
c. Berate them for interrupting tell them to be patient.
d. Tell the audience that you will answer it shortly.
10. Which is NOT an appropriate way to respond to someone who interrupts with a
question?
a. Berate them.
b. Answer their question.
c. Tell them that you will answer their question at the end.
d. Tell them the answer is coming in the speech.
11. What should you do if someone asks an irrelevant question?
a. Pretend you didn’t hear them.
b. Reframe the question to focus on your goal.
c. Answer the question.
d. Tell them it was irrelevant.
12. Answering questions ______ makes it possible for audience members to remember
how you answered a question.
a. loudly
b. in the beginning
c. at the end
d. in the middle
13. Holding a Q&A session at the presentation’s end has all of the following benefits
EXCEPT that
a. you control how and when you share your presentation’s content.
b. you avoid being distracted by poorly timed or irrelevant queries.
c. you avoid the rude questioner.
d. you might go over time with your presentation and not answer any questions.
14. Questions asked by audience members may do all of the following EXCEPT
a. attack your position.
b. be stated so poorly that you don’t have to answer them.
c. be stated so poorly that you have difficulty understanding them.
d. be completely off topic.
15. Preparing your responses to potential questions is ______ preparing the
presentation itself.
a. the same as
b. more important than
c. just as important as
d. less important than
16. ______ is a speaker’s ally.
a. Sympathy
b. Pity
c. Compassion
d. Empathy
17. Being able to put yourself in the shoes of audience members will allow you to
a. embarrass them.
b. anticipate their questions.
c. trick them.
d. persuade them.
18. Every question deserves an answer that demonstrates
a. your respect for the questioner.
b. your sympathy for the questioner.
c. your disregard for the questioner.
d. your disagreement with the questioner.
19. Rather than obfuscate or multiply confusion, _______ each question asked of you to
determine if you understand what the listener would like to know.
a. paraphrase
b. repeat
c. argue
d. interpret
20. Which of the following is NOT a drawback of waiting until the end to answer
questions?
a. Audience members can have difficulty concentrating.
b. Audience members may simply think about their question.
c. Audience members might not remember their questions.
d. Audience members may be able to distract you more easily.
21. Adhere to protocol when fielding questions means you should answer
a. first question submitted first.
b. best question first.
c. easiest question first.
d. most difficult question first.
22. When you answer a questioner with “Let me approach the question this way . . . ,”
you attempt to
a. stay on course.
b. think through your answer.
c. be defensive.
d. gracefully bring the Q&A session to a close.
23. If an audience member asks a question that you do not know the answer to, how
should you respond?
a. Bluff your answer.
b. Give an answer to a question that wasn’t asked.
c. Say “no comment.”
d. Say you will need to look into the answer.
24. If an audience member asks a question you don’t like, you should do any of the
following EXCEPT
a. maintain your composure.
b. express your respect for the questioner.
c. rephrase the question more appropriately.
d. not answer the question.
25. When a specific individual asked you a question, you should address your answer to
a. that specific person.
b. the rest of the audience.
c. that person and the entire audience.
d. another audience member.
26. How should you end your Q&A session?
a. Abruptly
b. Slowly
c. By thanking the audience
d. By pointing out what the audience could have asked
Short Answer
27. ______ sessions give audience members a voice.
28. Questions can be asked before, after, or _______ your presentation.
29. If the speaker has prepared effectively, many of the questions asked by audience
members will be ones the speaker______.
30. A listener may raise an ______ question, one that could throw your presentation off
track
31. The direction to not ______ means that you should never belittle, embarrass, or try
to “one–up” a questioner.
32. So that they feel free to ask questions, you should let your audience know that there
are no “______ questions.”
33. If an audience member asks you a question that you don’t like you should not get
______.
True/False
34. Q&A sessions are really only advantageous to the audience.
35. Soliciting questions prior to speaking lets the speaker adapt the talk.
36. A speaker should not allow questions during a presentation.
37. Sometimes, if a question occurs to you as an audience member, you find it difficult
to maintain your concentration on what the speaker is saying.
38. An answer should never be a put-down.
39. You should avoid pauses before answering questions.
40. Some members of the audience may ask you questions that you don’t like.
41. A question and answer session should not terminate without warning.
Essay
42. Discuss and exemplify how the Q&A session can be advantageous to both the
speaker and audience.
43. What are the benefits of waiting until the end of a presentation for questions?
Ans: Area to explain: It lets you control the sharing of your presentation’s content at the
44. Discuss and exemplify what you should do when a question is raised that is off-
topic.
Ans: Area to explain: You should try to respond to every question in a way reflective and
45. Discuss and exemplify how you can take your time to think through your answer
before responding.
Ans: Area to explain: First, repeat or paraphrase the question asked, and then ask the
questioner how she or he might answer the question him or herself. If needed, you
46. Why should you address your answer to the entire audience, not just who asked?
Ans: Area to explain: It will connect you to the audience and keep everyone interested