Chapter 4: Listening Critically
Test Bank
Multiple Choice
1. Despite being our most frequent activity, ______is also one of our least developed
skills.
a. hearing
b. listening
c. speaking
d. arguing
2. All of the following are stages of listening EXCEPT
a. understanding.
b. evaluating.
c. comparing.
d. responding.
3. Following the stages of listening, after we have interpreted the message, what is our
next step?
a. understanding
b. evaluating
c. comparing
d. responding
4. ______ is an involuntary physiological process, while ______ is a voluntary mental
process.
a. Interpreting; listening
b. Listening; hearing
c. Interpreting; hearing
d. Hearing; listening
5. To not just capture, but also retain the attention of listeners, speakers may do all of
the following EXCEPT
a. focus on subjects of particular interest to receivers.
b. use words and images that evoke pictures in the minds of receivers.
c. tell deceptive narratives to receivers.
d. incorporate activity and movement into presentations.
6. During the understanding stage of listening, we focus on meaning, using our own
reservoir of information to
a. encode the message.
b. decode the message.
c. disseminate the message.
d. reject the message.
7. A good speaker builds ______ into his or her message to increase the audience’s
chances of remembering it.
a. redundancy
b. clarity
c. fear
d. inspiration
8. During the interpreting stage, we seek to understand the message from
a. the speaker’s perspective
b. the listeners’ perspective
c. the perspectives of those who are not present at the location of the speech
d. an external perspective
9. To interpret a speaker’s message accurately we may do all of the following EXCEPT
a. relate what the speaker says to what we already know.
b. compile questions to ask to clarify things.
c. paraphrase the speaker’s thoughts in our own words.
d. pay attention to your inner thoughts more than to the speaker.
10. We use critical thinking skills to weigh the worth of speaker’s message during the
______ stage.
a. understanding
b. interpreting
c. evaluating
d. comparing
11. Applause for a speaker occurs during which stage?
a. understanding
b. interpreting
c. evaluating
d. responding
12. During the responding stage you do all of the following EXCEPT
a. forming your opinions on the message.
b. providing feedback.
c. communicating our thoughts and feelings about the message we’ve received.
d. reacting to the message.
13. Each of the six stages of listening is influenced by emotional and intellectual biases
referred to as
a. opinions.
b. emotional factors.
c. feelings.
d. affectors.
14. All of the following are likely to influence our listening behaviors EXCEPT
a. our inner talk.
b. our cultural background.
c. our attitudes.
d. our values.
15. The tendency to assess the values, beliefs, and behaviors of our own culture as
superior to those of other cultures is
a. imperialism.
b. ethnocentrism.
c. hearing.
d. listening.
16. Who has the responsibilities of speechmaking?
a. the speaker and the listener
b. the speaker
c. the listener
d. neither the speaker nor listener
17. As information is communicated, complex data are simplified, objectives are
clarified, and the ______ levels of listeners drop.
a. knowledge
b. stress
c. confidence
d. sympathy
18. As a college student, you will spend approximately what percent of class listening?
a. 10%
b. 30%
c. 60%
d. 100%
19. People who listen critically to the messages of others and do not just accept what is
presented to them do all of the following EXCEPT
a. spot faulty reasoning.
b. identify invalid arguments.
c. spot gross appeals to prejudice.
d. be rude to the speaker.
20. Listening to your favorite musical artist because you enjoy his or her music is an
example of
a. appreciative listening
b. empathic listening
c. comprehensive listening
d. critical/deliberative listening
21. Listening to provide emotional support is referred to as
a. appreciative listening.
b. empathic listening.
c. comprehensive listening.
d. critical/deliberative listening.
22. Listening with the objective of gaining knowledge is referred to as
a. appreciative listening.
b. empathic listening.
c. comprehensive listening.
d. critical/deliberative listening.
23. When you listen in order to make an evaluation or a decision, you are using which
type of listening?
a. appreciative listening
b. empathic listening
c. comprehensive listening
d. critical/deliberative listening
24. In the United States, we are guaranteed free speech, and that means
a. we can talk about controversial topics.
b. people will listen to us.
c. we can speak without being questioned.
d. we shouldn’t listen critically.
25. Particular words a speaker uses that trigger an immediate emotional response and
interfere with an audience member’s ability to listen are referred to as
a. trigger words.
b. key words.
c. red-flag words.
d. alarm words.
26. Making sure that the temperature of the room is comfortable is an example of
a. staying tuned in.
b. using time wisely.
c. controlling the physical environment.
d. reacting honestly.
27. The difference between the rate of the average speaker and the rate of
comprehension for the average listener is referred to as
a. the speech-thought differential.
b. the listening-comprehension differential.
c. the speech-compensation differential.
d. the listening-thought differential.
Short Answer
28. The best ______ often make the best speakers.
29. To assess the quality, appropriateness, and value of spoken words, we need to
possess two key skills: the ability to ______ and the ability to ______.
30. We use our own knowledge and information to decode a message during the
______ stage.
31. During ______ we mentally save what we’ve gained from the speaker’s message for
further use.
32. ______ is the tendency to assess the values, beliefs, and behaviors of our own
culture as superior to those of other cultures.
33. ______ can improve the speaker–audience relationship because when we have an
attentive audience, we tend to be more confident and effective.
34. When listening to a message, we shouldn’t fake our responses, we should react
______.
True/False
35. We tend to accept the words of those who listen to us.
36. Hearing and listening are essentially the same process.
37. You can hear without listening but you cannot listen without hearing.
38. A good speaker builds redundancy into his or her message.
39. As information is clarified, the stress levels of listeners rise.
40. Empathic listening serves a therapeutic function.
41. When you are lost and ask another person for directions, you are listening with the
objective of gaining knowledge.
Essay
42. Define and discuss one of the six stages of listening.
43. Discuss and exemplify the connections between listening and cultural differences.
44. Define and discuss one of the benefits of critical listening.
Ans: Areas to discuss: One of the following benefits: reduced stress, more learning,
45. Discuss and exemplify on of the four types of listening.
Ans: Areas to discuss: One of the following types: appreciative: listening for pleasure;
46. Explain how being a better listener can improve society.
Ans: Areas to discuss: Being a good listener can help us critically analyze the