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Chapter 9
Verbal and Nonverbal Communication
Test Bank
1. Vague language, also known as _________ language, forms the basis for many
misunderstandings.
a. abstract
b. confusing
c. irrelevant
d. incongruent
2. Abstract language is often conceptualized as a(n) ________, with highly abstract language at
the top and increasingly more specific language on the lower levels.
a. continuum
b. mountain
c. ladder
d. iceberg
3. Sometimes, the use of abstract language isn’t intentional; rather, it stems from the
assumption that others see things the same way we do. This is known as the
a. conversational bias.
b. False consensus bias.
c. fundamental attribute error.
d. internal attribution.
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4. One type of abstract language, ____________, involves words or phrases that gain their
meaning by comparison.
a. descriptive language
b. relative language
c. static language
d. nonverbal language
5. Two types of abstract language include ________ language and ________ language.
a. descriptive; specific
b. relative; static
c. nonverbal; verbal
d. individual; group
6. Within abstract language, _________ terms are interpreted in different ways by different
people, based on each person’s own experiences and preferences.
a. specific
b. static
c. relative
d. individual
7. Max wanted to stop by a friend’s house on the way home from work. When his wife asked
how long he would be, he replied, “Just a little while.” Three hours later, he came home to
an angry woman. The misunderstanding created here was a function of _______ language.
a. specific
b. static
c. individual
d. relative
8. Language that implies a situation or person is always the same is also known as ________
language.
a. relative
b. descriptive
c. specific
d. static
9. “Andrea is always late!” This statement is an example of ________ language.
a. relative
b. descriptive
c. static
d. specific
10. “You are never home!” is to ________ language as “You have been working a lot this week,
and I miss you” is to ________ language.
a. static; relative
b. static; descriptive
c. descriptive; static
d. relative; static
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11. Sometimes, static language also includes exaggerations of the behavior’s frequency. This is
also known as the
a. acculturation.
b. overregulation.
c. fallacy of overgeneralization.
d. elaboration.
12. To avoid misunderstandings, replace abstract terms with ________ terms and include
specific examples that describe what happened and when it occurred.
a. concrete
b. relative
c. I-language
d. relative
13. _________ occurs when we blame someone else for our own feelings.
a. Fallacy of overgeneralization
b. Fallacy of causation
c. I-language
d. Internal attribution
14. After his dog used the carpet for a restroom, Jake screamed, “You make me so mad!” This is
an example of the
a. fallacy of overgeneralization.
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b. fallacy of causation.
c. I-language.
d. internal attribution.
15. When we use ________ language, it implies the other person is to blame for our feelings or
the situation.
a. I
b. you
c. behaviorally descriptive
d. emotionally descriptive
16. Debra turned left at the light and was hit by an oncoming car. Her husband, Derek,
responded with, “You scared me so much! Why didn’t you look where you were going?”
This is an example of a(n) ________ statement.
a. I
b. you
c. personal description
d. situation description
17. Language that takes responsibility for the impact the other person’s behavior has on you,
rather than scolding or placing blame, is called ________ language.
a. I
b. you
c. personal
d. situational
18. Debra turned left at the light and was hit by an oncoming car. Her husband, Derek,
responded with, “I was so scared when I found out you were hurt. What happened?”
This is an example of a(n) ________ statement.
a. I
b. you
c. personal
d. situational
19. An effective I-statement includes three basic elements: a behavioral description, an
emotional description, and a(n)
a. closing statement.
b. evaluative statement.
c. consequence.
d. status statement.
20. Within an I-statement, a(n) ________ description is a clear, specific, and factual description
of a person’s behavior.
a. motivational
b. emotional
c. behavioral
d. influential
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21. “You didn’t take the trash out today” is an example of ________ description, an element of
the I-statement.
a. motivational
b. emotional
c. influential
d. behavioral
22. The second component of an effective I-statement involves stating how you felt when the
behavior occurred. This is also called a(n)_______ description.
a. behavioral
b. emotional
c. factual
d. personal
23. “I felt taken for granted when you were late for dinner three times this week.” This
statement includes a behavioral description and a(n) ________ description.
a. personal
b. situational
c. factual
d. emotional
24. The third component of an effective I-statement is to state the ________ or impact the
behavior has on you.
a. consequence
b. feeling
c. influence
d. meaning
25. ________ involve behaviors that occur repeatedly in a relationship.
a. One-time events
b. Ongoing patterns
c. Temporary issues
d. Consequences
26. Serious consequences discussed in I-statements should be prefaced with statements that
________ the consequence.
a. soften
b. clarify
c. increase
d. define
27. Using phrases such as “I’m worried that…” or “I’m wondering if…” before stating a
consequence transmits the gravity of our concerns, but in a way that is ______ threatening to
the receiver.
a. less
b. more
c. equally
d. not
28. ________ communication relies more on attention to contextual details and less on explicit
language to transmit its message.
a. High-context
b. Low-context
c. Western
d. Eastern
29. ________ context communication is more indirect, while ________ context communication
is more direct.
a. Low; high
b. High; low
c. Personal; situational
d. Situational; personal
30. Collectivist cultures prefer _______ context communication because of the value placed on
group harmony.
a. high
b. low
c. moderate
d. neutral
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31. Individuals communicating from a Western perspective prefer ______ context
communication.
a. high
b. low
c. moderate
d. neutral
32. According to Sumeko Iwao, greater value is placed on _______ understanding between
individuals in Japan.
a. intuitive
b. direct
c. low context
d. individualistic
33. ________ context communication relies on clear concrete and explicit language.
a. High
b. Low
c. Moderate
d. Personal
34. Individuals communicating in ________ context cultures do not pay the close attention to
contextual detail that their ________ context counterparts do.
a. high; low
b. personal; impersonal
c. impersonal; personal
d. low; high
35. According to your text, the culture with the highest context culture is
a. Greek.
b. American.
c. German-Swiss.
d. Japanese.
36. According to your text, the culture with the lowest context culture is
a. Greek.
b. American.
c. German-Swiss.
d. Japanese.
37. Phrases that typify direct communication, such as “Don’t beat around the bush,” are
characteristic of ________ context cultures.
a. high
b. low
c. moderate
d. personal
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38. According to Gudykunst and Ting-Toomey (1988), cultural communication styles can be
divided into elaborate, exacting, and _______ styles.
a. metaphoric
b. succinct
c. melodic
d. specific
39. Using many colorful and expressive words to convey a message is typical of ________
language.
a. succinct
b. exacting
c. elaborate
d. melodic
40. Using many metaphors, similes, and adjectives to add detail and exaggerate the message is
typical of ________ language.
a. succinct
b. exacting
c. elaborate
d. melodic
41. ________ communication is clear and specific in that it states the facts and no more.
a. Succinct
b. Exacting
c. Elaborate
d. Melodic
