Business Communication Essentials, 8e (Bovee/Thill)
Chapter 12 Developing Oral and Online Presentations
1) The first step in planning a presentation is what?
A) Analyzing the situation
B) Gathering information
C) Selecting the channel
D) Selecting the media
E) Organizing the information
2) When planning a presentation, which step of the process involves defining the purpose and
developing an audience profile?
A) Selecting the channel
B) Analyzing the situation
C) Organizing the information
D) Gathering information
E) Selecting the media
3) When conducting an audience analysis for a presentation, which of the following will allow
you to gauge the audience’s level of experience?
A) Whether the audience has any biases that might work against you
B) Why audience members are attending the presentation
C) What the audience already knows about the subject
D) What supporting information will help the audience accept and respond to the message
E) The audience’s general attitude toward the topic
4) When conducting an audience analysis for a presentation, what should you be ready to answer
from your audience?
A) Each audience member’s background and level of understanding
B) What the audience already knows about the subject
C) Whether the audience is familiar with the vocabulary you intend to use
D) Possible objections or questions
E) The mix of general concepts and specific details you need to present
5) Which of the following is an online presentation that people can view live or download to
view later?
A) Twebinar
B) Screencast
C) Video conference
D) Prezi
E) Webcast
6) Which of the following best describes a linear presentation?
A) Linear presentations build the message point by point and end with a conclusion following
logical steps.
B) Linear presentations are given before a live audience with a question and answer opportunity.
C) Linear presentations use a backchannel such as Twitter.
D) Linear presentations show complicated relationships between multiple ideas.
E) Linear presentations are best developed with interactive slide software such as Prezi.
7) Which of the following presentation structures allows the presenter the option to move
between topics and level of detail in no particular order?
A) Webcasts
B) Nonlinear presentations
C) Podcasts
D) Back channeling
E) Linear presentations
8) Which of the following will help develop a clear idea of the main idea you want to share with
the audience?
A) Lists with bullet points
B) Surveying the audience
C) Writing a one sentence summary that links the purpose to the audience frame of reference
D) Determine time limits
E) Prepare the slide deck with one idea on each slide
9) To keep the audience’s attention and convince them your message is relevant, what should be
incorporated through the planning process?
A) Interactive slides
B) Engaging video
C) An opportunity for questions and answers
D) A consistent use of the “you” attitude
E) Limiting the scope to 3 main ideas
10) To ensure your presentation will hold the audience’s attention and fit within the time frame
allotted, which of the following should be considered?
A) Time of day the presentation will be given
B) Purpose of the presentation
C) Anticipated questions
D) Key points
E) Scope
11) Which of the following is not a factor when determining the scope of the presentation?
A) Number of members in the audience
B) Time needed for the introduction
C) Demonstrations
D) Questions
E) Videos
12) When planning a presentation on routine information that is 10 minutes or less, which
approach should be used?
A) Nonlinear
B) Direct
C) Storytelling
D) Persuasive
E) Indirect
13) When planning a presentation to seek collaboration, how should information be organized?
A) By comparison
B) By importance
C) Based on conclusions and recommendations
D) Using broad categories
E) Based on the sequence of events
14) When developing a speaking outline, which of the following should be left out?
A) Numbered cards or pages
B) Delivery cues
C) Condensed points
D) A list of all bibliography and source notes
E) Highlighted key words and phrases
15) Which of the following is not a step in the planning of a presentation?
A) Inviting audience members
B) Choosing your approach
C) Limiting the scope
D) Defining the main idea
E) Analyzing the situation
16) Presentations require the speaker to think on their feet, grasp complex business issues and
handle challenging situations—all attributes needed for promotions.
17) A Prezi is a dynamic, nonlinear presentation tool suitable for technical discussions and
speeches.
18) Working within time constraints can help you focus on the most essential points of your
message that are important to the audience.
19) The scope of the presentation will be limited by the amount of time you have to address the
key points you want to make.
20) A great way to capture and keep the audience’s attention is to integrate storytelling wherever
possible.
21) Discuss how to choose and develop your approach when planning presentations.
22) Discuss the steps in preparing a detailed planning outline and how to convert it to a simpler
speaking outline.
23) When preparing your message for your audience, which of the following will have the least
effect on the adaptation process?
A) The size of the audience
B) The scope of the presentation
C) The subject of the presentation
D) The purpose of the presentation
E) The venue for the presentation
24) The section of the presentation that establishes your credibility and prepares listeners for
insights you have to share is called what?
A) The purpose
B) The scope
C) The introduction
D) The attention-getting device
E) The preview of the message
25) Which of the following will help build your credibility with the audience?
A) Ask a question that will get the audience thinking.
B) Unite the audience around a common goal.
C) Share an intriguing or unexpected detail.
D) Tell them how they will benefit from listening to you.
E) Tell a compelling story.
26) Summarizing the main idea of the presentation during the introduction is a way to do what?
A) Arouse interest
B) Validate your qualifications
C) Connect ideas that will be presented later in the presentation
D) Generate questions from the audience
E) Preview the message
27) The majority of the presentation time should be devoted to what?
A) The introduction
B) Arousing interest
C) Discussing the main points in your outline
D) The question-and-answer section
E) Establishing credentials and qualification
28) When developing the presentation, which of the following allows you to show how ideas are
related?
A) Transitional words
B) Lists
C) Headings
D) Design clues
E) Visual aids
29) To link major sections of a presentation, what should be used?
A) One or two transitional words
B) Complete sentences or paragraphs
C) A summary of what has been said and what is to come
D) A question-and-answer session
E) A new handout or other visual aid
30) During the body of the presentation, which of the following would best help keep your
audience’s attention?
A) Show the audience how the thesis of the presentation is contrary to their needs.
B) Introduce new, difficult to understand subjects so the audience feels they are learning
something new.
C) Anticipate and answer questions before they are asked.
D) Use visual aids sparingly so as not to create a distraction.
E) Provide a handout with detailed information before the beginning of the presentation so the
audience can take notes and highlight areas of concern.
31) Which part of the presentation reminds the audience what you want listeners to do or think?
A) Introduction
B) Final remarks
C) A clear and confident ending
D) Identification of your main points
E) The closing of your presentation
32) Which of the following will help hold the audience’s attention during the presentation?
A) Putting your audience in the appropriate emotional state
B) Restating your main points
C) Assigning tasks to audience members with due dates
D) Bolstering the audience’s confidence in you and your message
E) Illustrating the main ideas with visuals
33) Which of the following is an advantage of illustrating your ideas with visual aids?
A) The message is easier to remember.
B) You add a level of credibility to the presentation.
C) You allow audience members to connect with each other.
D) Visuals save the audience time and increase understanding.
E) Visual aids promote the speaker as an authority figure.
34) In the presentation close, how do you confirm expectations about actions or decisions that
will follow the presentation?
A) With a final introduction
B) Using strong final remarks
C) Ending with clarity and confidence
D) Restating your main points
E) By announcing the presentation close
35) During the close, how do you bolster the audience’s confidence in you and your message one
last time?
A) With a final introduction
B) By asking for questions
C) Ending with clarity and confidence
D) Restating your main points
E) By announcing the presentation close
36) The smaller the group you are presenting to, the more causal the presentation style.
37) If you expect any action to occur as a result of your presentation, be sure to identify who is
responsible for doing what, and when.
38) If you’ve been successful with the introduction and body of your presentation, your listeners
now have the information they need, and the close can become casual and minimal.
39) By repeating key ideas often, you improve the chance that the audience will hear your
message the way you intended it to be heard.
40) Identify and discuss ways to arouse interest in the audience when attempting to get the
attention of the audience.
41) Discuss ways to ensure the presentation ends with a strong close.
42) Which of the following is a disadvantage when using visual aids in a presentation?
A) Visual aids can detract from the audience’s interest in your presentation.
B) Visual aids can replace the spoken word.
C) Visual aids can add to much variety to the presentation, making the presentation look
disjointed and choppy.
D) Visual aids can contain too much information, causing the audience to read the visual aids
instead of listening to the speaker.
E) Visual aids make it hard for the audience to remember information.
43) Which of the following works best when developing nonlinear presentations?
A) Microsoft PowerPoint
B) Apple Keynote
C) Whiteboards
D) Google Documents
E) Prezi
44) One way to improve the power of your visual aids and your presentation in general is to do
what?
A) Keep things simple.
B) Alternate between tradition media and new media such as Prezi’s.
C) Develop a presentation that works both in person, and on webinars.
D) Work on performance skills.
E) Be passionate about your topic, and convince your audience to be passionate about it as well.
45) When creating free-form slides, which of the following will help add uniformity and
cohesion?
A) Bullet points
B) Color and font selection
C) Titles
D) A variety of templates
E) Authenticity
46) Which of the following design techniques can be used to create a more dynamic and
engaging experience for the audience even though they take more time to develop?
A) Those that are highly structured
B) Those with strong background designs and artwork
C) Those that incorporate a free-form design
D) Those that are nonlinear
E) Those made using PowerPoint
47) Which of the following is an advantage to using structured slides?
A) Structured slides are quick and easy to prepare.
B) Structured slides limit the amount of complex data that can be conveyed on one slide.
C) Structured slides can be supported by detailed handouts.
D) Structured slides allow for creativity and increased interest.
E) Structured slides limit the amount of text in each slide.