Test Bank for Communication: Making Connections, Tenth Edition
CHAPTER 11: INFORMATIVE SPEAKING
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1) When a real estate agent tells you how to distinguish between a good investment and a bad one with the
motive to sell, the agent’s goal is
A) persuasion. B) recognition. C) motivation. D) information. E) acceptance.
2) Guidelines for choosing an informative speech topic include which of the following statements?
A) Choose a topic that you find to be relatively uninteresting.
B) Choose a topic that you are unfamiliar with.
C) Choose a topic requiring a little more time than you have.
D) Choose a topic without concerning yourself about the audience’s interest in the topic.
E) Choose a topic that is important to you.
3) When a student giving a speech on solar energy explains to the audience how it affects her personally, she is
using which criteria for gaining their attention?
A) creating information relevance
B) challenging their beliefs
C) generating a need
D) providing a fresh perspective
E) focusing on the unusual
4) When Elissa gave her speech, she repeated her main argument to help her audience’s comprehension. She
was using which organizational technique?
A) signposting
B) comprehension booster
C) planned attention
D) planned repetition
E) advance organizer
Test Bank for Communication: Making Connections, Tenth Edition
5) Which statement accurately reflects the distinction between informative and persuasive speaking?
A) Persuasion can be accomplished without attempting to inform.
B) Information cannot be presented without attempting to persuade the audience.
C) The goal of the speaker distinguishes the two forms of speaking.
D) Informative speaking is more entertaining than persuasive speaking.
E) In reality, there is no difference between informative and persuasive speaking.
6) Successful information speakers consider their audiences by
A) incorporating at least three visual aids.
B) providing extremely detailed information.
C) presenting topics that they know their audience will disagree with.
D) providing new information or correcting misinformation.
E) including at least four sources per main point.
7) Bernice wants to explain how to bake an apple pie in her informative speech. What two purposes should her
process speech topic serve?
A) to increase understanding and to motivate the audience to action
B) to gain the audience’s attention and to teach the audience how to do something
C) to gain the audience’s attention and to increase understanding
D) to increase understanding and to teach the audience how to do something
E) to call the audience to action and to entertain
8) Elise wants to give her audience a reason to listen by relating the topic to their needs and interests. What does
she hope to create?
A) a persuasive appeal
B) fresh perspective
Test Bank for Communication: Making Connections, Tenth Edition
C) information relevance
D) a focus on the unusual
E) a plan for repetition
9) Christie has been assigned an informative speech for her public speaking class. What should the general goal
of her informative speech be?
A) get the audience to act on the basis of information presented in the speech
B) have the audience distinguish between different things
C) provide extrinsic motivation for change
D) provide intrinsic motivation for change
E) increase the knowledge of the audience
10) “The role of crisis hot lines in community health care” and “J. K. Rowling’s contributions to literature” are
examples of what type of informative speech topic?
A) objects B) events C) concepts D) history E) processes
11) “To help my listeners learn the differences between social aggression and bullying” is an example of what
type of speech topic?
A) processes B) ethics C) events D) objects E) concepts
12) Josh is teaching Michael how to be an effective speaker. What two general hints for effective informative
speaking should Josh share?
A) Avoid concrete words and use planned repetition.
B) Use advance organizers and abstract words.
C) Avoid assumptions and personalize information.
Test Bank for Communication: Making Connections, Tenth Edition
D) Gain audience attention and assume understanding.
E) Use multiple statistics and examples.
13) Mark and Seth are learning how to grade speeches as a part of their communication teacher training class.
Which of the following criteria should they use to evaluate an informative speech?
A) The conclusion establishes strong credibility.
B) The purpose of the speech indicates a plan for change.
C) The speech includes a call to action.
D) The speech must contain visual aids.
E) Supporting materials supply evidence that what the speaker is saying is accurate and credible.
14) The statements “Two points are critical here” and “The following information is essential” reflect what type of
organizational technique used in aiding listeners’ understanding?
A) internal previews
B) advance organizers
C) antonyms
D)
E) planned repetition
logical definitions
15) Which of the following is an antonym for the word “boring”?
A) “dry”
B) “to be a bore”
C) “vague”
D) “exciting”
E) “dull”
Test Bank for Communication: Making Connections, Tenth Edition
16) The specific purpose of Brent’s speech is “To inform the audience about the circumstances leading up to the
earthquake in Haiti.” Brent’s speech is about a(n)
A) event.
B) process.
C) object.
D) cause-effect.
E) concept.
17) The specific purpose of Madison’s speech is “To inform the audience about the three common
misconceptions associated with capitalism.” Madison’s speech is about a(n)
A) object. B) process. C) correlation. D) concept. E) event.
18) In her speech on communication apprehension, Angela states that communication apprehension is a trait or
global anxiety, whereas speech anxiety is a state or situational anxiety. Angela is using what method to
clearly define communication apprehension for her audience?
A) logical definition
B) contrast definition
C) etymology
D) operational definition
E) antonym
19) Choosing language carefully for an informative speech involves
A) using gender-exclusive language.
B) glossing over special terms when the audience is unfamiliar with the topic.
C) using individualistic language.
D) matching your level of language to the knowledge your audience already possesses.
E) choosing words that are abstract rather than words that are concrete.
Test Bank for Communication: Making Connections, Tenth Edition
20) Which of the following is an example of a specific purpose statement for a concrete subject, following the
guidelines from the chapter?
A) Why the best Internet search engine is Google Chrome
B) Everyone should eat black beans instead of red kidney beans
C) To inform listeners how water filters reduce contaminants.
D) The top three reasons the music of the Baroque period is superior to the Classical era
E) The best movie ever is Gone with the Wind
21) In describing a communicative extrovert, Josh used the phrases “willingness to talk openly” and “uninhibited
speech” to help the audience understand the behaviors of an extrovert. In other words, Josh was using what
type of definition?
A) operational definitions
B) antonyms
C) logical definitions
D) synonyms
E) metaphors
22) Your textbook points out that those individuals who control information have a great deal of
A) uncertainty.
B) power.
C) critical thinking.
D) cognitive complexity.
E) communication apprehension.
Test Bank for Communication: Making Connections, Tenth Edition
23) Kesha wants to signal what is coming and warn that what is about to be said is significant. What
organizational technique should she use?
A) Plan for repetition.
B) Use advance organizers.
C) Use concrete words.
D) Use description.
E) Use definitions.
24) Which of the following guidelines will help you avoid making assumptions in an informative speech?
A) Create a detailed list of notes during your research.
B) If you believe that a majority of your audience already knows what you mean, you should acknowledge
this.
C) Ask yourself if you already know what you are talking about.
D) If you believe that only a few audience members may not understand the topic, disregard the time
needed to define and explain the topic.
E) Assume your audience needs introductory information, regardless of what you think they already know.
25) A speaker can increase the audience’s understanding by
A) using abstract concepts.
B) using as many visual aids as possible.
C) using concrete words.
D) organizing the presentation according to the chronological order of the references cited.
E) ignoring details altogether and sticking strictly to the main points of the speech.
26) The key to using descriptors in an informative speech is that they must
A) call the audience to action.
B) relate to the listeners’ experiences.
C) remain gender inclusive.
D) be detailed enough to keep the audience’s attention.
E) provide an overall understanding of the thesis statement.
Test Bank for Communication: Making Connections, Tenth Edition
27) A strategy where you explain the meaning of something and show how it is different from something else is
called a(n)
A) assumption.
B) etymological definition.
C) connotation.
D) contrast definition.
E) analogy.
28) Kane is doing a presentation on the classical origins of the word “rhetoric.” Because many people incorrectly
assume “rhetoric” is a negative characterization of public speaking, Kane wanted to provide the classical
origin of the meaning of this word. He consulted a specialized dictionary that traced the origin of the word. In
this example, Kane is using a(n)
A) contrast definition.
B) antonym.
C) etymology.
D) synonym.
E) analogy.
29) Which of the following is NOT a necessary component of an informative speech?
A) includes complete and accurate source citations
B) facial expressions convey and clarify the speaker’s ideas
C) uses appropriate volume and rate
D) audience knows what action is expected of them in response
E) should demonstrate why topic is important to audience
Test Bank for Communication: Making Connections, Tenth Edition
Topic: Evaluate the Informative Speech
Difficulty: Moderate;
Skill: Understand the Concepts
30) “Cyberwar is a potential threat to America’s security, both physically and psychologically.” This thesis
statement is most likely for a speech about a(n)
A) organization.
B) object.
C) concept.
D) process.
E) event.
TRUE/FALSE
1) Persuasion can take place without first informing.
2) Providing a fresh perspective involves devising a new view or angle.
3) Speeches about objects examine concrete subjects: people, animals, things, structures, and places.
4) A speaker creates information relevance when he or she gives an audience a reason to listen by relating the
topic to the audience’s needs.
Test Bank for Communication: Making Connections, Tenth Edition
5) Speakers should be encouraged to use descriptors sparingly.
6) When choosing a topic for an informative speech, all you need to consider is if it will interest the audience.
7) One general criterion for informative speech evaluation is whether the topic is narrow enough to be covered
in the time allocated.
8) Abstract words leave less room for misinterpretation and misunderstanding.
9) Information that is personalized holds attention and gains interest.
Test Bank for Communication: Making Connections, Tenth Edition
Skill: Understand the Concepts
10) One strategy for increasing the audience’s understanding of the topic is to use advance organizers.
SHORT ANSWER
1) What is an etymology? Provide an example to illustrate your answer.
2) What guidelines should you follow to personalize information in your speeches? What guideline is most
helpful and why?
3) What do process topics usually focus on?
4) Discuss why it is important to choose language carefully. Provide an example of how you can choose
language carefully in your speech.
Test Bank for Communication: Making Connections, Tenth Edition
5) Explain why using concrete words can bring about better understanding than using abstract words. Provide
an example to illustrate your explanation.
6) Compare and contrast the goals of a persuasive speech with the goals of an informative speech. Provide
examples to support your answer.
7) Briefly describe three of the criteria used to evaluate the competence of a speaker and the effectiveness of an
informative speech presentation.
8) Explain how a speaker can avoid assumptions and personalize information, to increase the likelihood of a
successful informative speech presentation.
Test Bank for Communication: Making Connections, Tenth Edition
9) As you evaluate an informative speech topic, what criteria should it meet?
10) Explain and provide an example of a descriptor.
11) What is the difference between a synonym and an antonym? Provide examples to illustrate your answer.
12) Generally speaking, how can gain the audience’s attention in your next speech?
13) Describe two of the four kinds of speech topics that the text classifies. Provide an example of a topic for the
two you describe.
Test Bank for Communication: Making Connections, Tenth Edition
14) Explain the following statement: “The person who possesses and controls information has power.” Provide
an example to supplement your explanation.
15) Explain what planned repetition is and provide an example illustrating why you would use it in a speech.
16) Explain what information relevance is and why it is important in an informative speech.
17) What is the principal challenge facing a speaker when giving an informative speech concerning a concept?
Test Bank for Communication: Making Connections, Tenth Edition
18) Explain how descriptors are different from concrete words.
19) Explain how a contrast definition is different from an antonym.
20) Explain some issues you should consider to avoid making assumptions about your audience.
ESSAY
1) What delivery techniques can you use to provide evidence that you are aware of what the audience is
interested in hearing, that you are involved in and enthusiastic about the topic, and are interested in sharing
the material with the listeners?
Test Bank for Communication: Making Connections, Tenth Edition
2) Discuss the key differences between informative and persuasive speeches. In your class, you are assigned to
give both types. How would you decide on what type of speech to give if it were not assigned?
3) Identify and provide an example for each type of informative speech. Using the general topic area of science,
provide examples of each type of informative speech.
4) Your textbook identifies several hints for effective informative speaking. What are those hints and how do
you plan to use them in your informative speech?
5) Why is it important that speakers evaluate and analyze their presentations?
Test Bank for Communication: Making Connections, Tenth Edition