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CHAPTER 11: Delivering Your Speech Effectively
Multiple-Choice Questions
1. The speaker gestured dramatically and paced around the stage, his voice sometimes soft but
more often loud, sometimes a deep baritone and at other times a high-pitched squeal. In light of
the transactional model of communication, how should we evaluate his delivery?
A) It displays his confidence as a speaker and can thus enhance his communication.
B)
C) It reveals his skills as a speaker while also sharpening the focus on his words.
D) It may distract from his content; it is ethically questionable and may backfire.
2. __________ is one of the most obvious aspects of public speaking, and it shapes your
A) Your writing
B) Your delivery
C) Your intellect
D) Your key ideas
3.
A) reflection
B) comprehension
C) persuasion
D) motivation
4. Of all the principles of effective delivery, __________ is among the most important.
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A) maintaining good eye contact with your listeners
B) using movement to help signal transitions
C) providing highly animated gestures
D) smiling in order to build credibility
5. Establishing eye contact with listeners is usually a good idea, but here is a helpful guideline
to follow:
A) You should only look at members of the audience who look supportive, to help build your
confidence.
B) You need to know the cultural norms of eye contact held by your audience before choosing
the best strategy.
C) If some audience members disagree with you, you can use eye contact to stare them down
and establish the validity of your views.
D) Establishing eye contact is only good if it makes you feel comfortable.
6. In U.S. culture, __________ make(s) a speaker come across as more truthful, candid, open,
and trustworthy.
A) eye contact
B) gestures
C) movement
D) facial expressions
interfere with the meaning of a message.
A) articulation
B) pronunciation
C) alliteration
D) restatement
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8. For the most part, basic gestures and movements by a speaker should __________.
A) be eliminated, inasmuch as possible, as they can distract an audience
B) be planned and rehearsed in advance, or otherwise suppressed while speaking
C) occur spontaneously as the speaker interacts with the audience
D) ut
9. Studies reveal that when what we say and how we say it contradict each other, listeners will
place more faith in our __________.
A) reinforcing gestures
B) verbal expression
C) nonverbal actions
D) coordinated movement
10. If you, as a speaker, are concerned about whether your audience can hear you or whether
you are too loud, you should __________.
A) watch the nonverbals of the people in the back row and adjust to their signals
B) have an assistant walk to the back of the room and gesture increase or decrease
C) continue to speak, knowing that the volume of the microphone can be adjusted
D) ask your listeners whether they can hear you and if the volume is comfortable
11. How quickly you should speak will largely depend on __________.
A) how quickly you are able to speak without losing your fluency
C) how much time you have to deliver your message
D) the size of your audience
12. The __________ style of delivery is appropriate in most public speaking situations and,
although carefully prepared, allows flexibility to adapt to changing circumstances.
A) impromptu
B) manuscript
C) memorized
D) extemporaneous
13. When it comes to the rate with which a speaker speaks, one should__________.
A) employ a slow, steady rate, allowing ample time for the audience to think
B) employ a quick, steady rate, to keep the audience mentally occupied
C) vary the rate as a way to emphasize ideas and bolster comprehension
D) use a quick rate in the introduction and conclusion, and a slower rate in the body
14. Given the many variables that affect the speaking situation, speakers need to develop
__________. This willingness to recognize that there are many different ways of giving a good
seems to demand it.
A) dynamism
B) flexibility
C) directness
D) subjectivity
15. At what point should a speaker practice her or his speech?
A) The speaker should practice several times in the days or weeks before a presentation (time
varies based on the speaker and type of speech), taking breaks
B) It is best to begin practicing an hour or so prior to the event, so as to be fresh and appear
more natural.
C) A speaker should wait to practice until seated in the venue, awaiting her or his turn to speak.
This bolsters spontaneity.
D) To ingrain the speech as early in the preparation process as possible, the speaker should
begin practicing material as soon as she or he writes it.
16. Kimani is one of four speakers at a town-hall meeting and is the third to speak. During her
remarks, she acknowledges and builds upon what the previous speakers have said. How should
A) We should view her as ill-
B) We should view her as unoriginal lacking ideas of her own.
C) We should view her as attentive and committed to dialogue.
D)
17. A __________ keeps you on track as a speaker and reminds you of your main ideas, but it
does not provide so much information that you are tempted to use it as a crutch.
A) keyword outline
B) full sentence outline
C) formative outline
D) manuscript copy
18. When delivering an extemporaneous speech, you should speak from __________.
A) a manuscript
B) your memory
C) a full sentence outline
D) a keyword outline
19. Marquesha carefully prepared and practiced her speech. To assist her delivery, she devised
an abbreviated outline, consisting of select words and phrases she took from her full-sentence
outline. This type of delivery style is __________.
A) extemporaneous
B) manuscript
C) memorized
D) impromptu
20. At his next staff meeting, Malachi must present a detailed, twenty-minute report on the
market gains made by his company during the last three months. Stockholders will be present at
the meeting, so it is important that he is conversational, easy to understand, and able to respond
tions during the speech. What type of delivery style would best promote this
degree of preparation and flexibility?
A) memorized
B) impromptu
C) manuscript
D) extemporaneous
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21. At the next City Council meeting, Malik will present a detailed proposal for adding bike
lanes to a major thoroughfare that soon will be expanded and resurfaced. It is important that he
is conversational, easy to understand, and able to respond to the mayor and other council
flexibility?
A) manuscript
B) memorized
C) impromptu
D) extemporaneous
22. Hoang is attending an important business meeting of an important professional
organization. Although no one has said anything to him, he thinks that the moderator may ask
him to make a few comments about an upcoming conference he is hosting. What should he do
as he anticipates this impromptu speaking situation?
A) Hoang should give some thought to what he might want to say and make a few well
organized notes, keeping it brief.
B) Hoang should try not to dwell on it as the situation is out of his control, and thinking about it
might make him feel more anxious.
C)
way, if he must speak, Hoang will be prepared to speak at length.
D) If asked to speak, Hoang should ask the chair if he could wait and present his remarks at the
next meeting.
23. Janalynn, a licensed dermatologist, is walking downstairs to a care-plan meeting with a
medical team. While en route to the meeting, the head of the team calls her, requesting that,
during the meeting, she brief them on a particular disease. Janalynn has a very short time to
prepare the amount of time it takes to walk down the hall and a flight of stairs to the meeting
room. She jots out a few notes on the outside of a file folder, quickly organizing her remarks to
discuss symptoms, progression, and treatments. Her briefing goes well. Jan has successfully
presented a(n) __________ speech.
A) memorized
B) manuscript
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C) impromptu
D) extemporaneous
24. Glen is at a day-long interview for a job. The person in charge of the job search informs
him during lunch that the interview will now also include a formal presentation that should
bring his resume to life. With only a few minutes after lunch to prepare, Glen finds a quiet place
where he can collect his thoughts and jots out a few notes on his training, his research, and his
contributions to the profession on the back of his business card. His presentation goes well.
Glen has successfully presented a(n) __________ speech.
A) memorized
B) manuscript
C) impromptu
D) extemporaneous
25. While attending a conference in Seattle, Xi is asked to make a short speech about life in her
hometown a small town in Texas. She agrees and, with time enough only to sketch out a
rough outline, she talks about its physical geography, general employment, recreational
opportunities, and educational opportunities. Yu has successfully presented a(n) _________
speech.
A) memorized
B) manuscript
C) impromptu
D) extemporaneous
26. This type of presentation is most useful when accurate wording is important or time
constraints are severe.
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A) extemporaneous
B) manuscript
C) memorized
D) impromptu
27. Which of these speakers would do best to use a manuscript?
A) Isaki, who must convince his wealthy audience to purchase expensive investment products
B) Keza, who has been asked to give a brief talk to undergraduates about important safety
issues
C) Aadan, President of the Student Government Association, who will deliver a statement to
your school s Board of Trustees
D) Ysabel, who is going to deliver a speech on the ethical treatment of animals in her public
speaking class
28. __________ speaking allows the speaker to exercise considerable control over language,
timing, and more.
A) Impromptu
B) Manuscript
C) Memorized
D) Extemporaneous
29. According to the guidelines for delivering a memorized speech, which of the following is
central to memorization?
A) focusing on the performance you must deliver
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B) focusing on the exact words you will say
C) f
D) focusing on the ideas you are communicating
30. Jamie is giving a speech from memory, and she realizes that she has begun to use different
words than she had planned. What advice would you offer Jamie?
A) Pause and rephrase your remarks, so that you use the precise words you had planned.
B) Just continue speaking, focusing on the point you wish to make and not worrying too much
about the exact words.
C) Stop speaking and start the speech over again, so that you give it precisely as intended.
D) Wrap up your comments, as quickly as possible, and go directly to questions.
31. __________ provide an opportunity to interact with an audience and listen to their
concerns, clarify and build on earlier remarks you have made during a presentation, and
continue to establish rapport with listeners.
A) Question-and-answer sessions
B) Impromptu speeches
C) Practice sessions
D) Extemporaneous speeches
32. During question-and-answer periods you, as a speaker, should __________.
A) engage persistent questioners for an extended period of time to bolster your ethos
B) provide nonverbal cues to a questioner, such as nodding to indicate understanding
C) ask questions of those who have not made eye contact with you, so as to engage them
D) avoid openly acknowledging that you do not know the answer to a question
33. Mahmud has just finished his speech, and he is responding to questions. One listener poses
a question that baffles Mahmud. What should he do?
A) Mahmud should rephrase the question as something he can respond to adequately and
answer that.
B) Mahmud should admit that he does not know but say that after continuing to think about the
question and do some research, he will get in touch with the listener.
C) It is best for Mahmud to give an ambiguous answer in order to maintain his credibility and
control of the setting.
D)
attention to whomever raises a hand.
True/False Questions
34. Ethical communication strives for a mutually beneficial outcome between speaker and listeners.
35. Bettye Jo had an incredibly important test in another class the same week she needed to deliver a
speech in her public speaking class. It was an acceptable choice for Bettye Jo to trust in her naturally
excellent delivery skills to ensure her good grade on the speech so she could focus her attention on the
exam in the other course.
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36. A speaker can safely assume that maintaining a delivery style that succeeded in the past will
succeed again in all future public speaking endeavors.
37. A good way to determine whether you are speaking at an adequate volume is to record one of your
practice sessions.
38. When it comes to proper delivery, the needs of the speaker are paramount.
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40. The best speeches are delivered in the impromptu style, which allows for spontaneity.
41 content on track.
42. The nature of extemporaneous speech makes it possible for speakers to prepare very little before a
speech and still succeed during the performance.
43. Impromptu speaking is good practice for extemporaneous speaking because it offers good
practice for improving delivery skills.
44. Speaking from a teleprompter is a form of extemporaneous speech.
45 to explain a very successful lesson that
impromptu speaking by pausing for a moment to gather her thoughts and consider main points
before speaking.
46. Nicholas felt very inspired by a question he received from one audience member, so when
that audience member raised his hand again during the question-and-answer period, Nicholas
called on that person to speak. Nicholas erred by not calling on other audience members who
raised their hands to ask questions.
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47. Britnee harmed her ethos, realizing that she could not answer the question she just received during
her question-and-answer session, she thanked the audience member for her question and then moved on
to the next question.
48. It is best to allow audience members aid you when faced with a hostile questioner. They will shout
the person down so that you can focus on answering the next question.
Essay Questions
49. Why is it important that speakers present on topics about which they feel deeply passionate?
Discuss this question as it relates to each of the 5 sections of Chapter 11.
5. 11.5 (Anticipate audience questions and explain appropriate ways of responding to them) by
explaining that, as we learned in the previous Learning Objectives, the passionate speaker is
likely to have done a lot of work to prepare and is therefore able to engage in a question-and-
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deceiving. What role or roles does physical appearance play in public speaking? How might
51. Your textbook asserts that extemporaneous speaking is usually the best form of delivery that a
speaker can choose. Using examples from your textbook and examples from your own experience
and/or critical thinking skills, explain (and provide illustrative examples) speaking circumstances that
might make extemporaneous speech impossible or very difficult to use.
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52. Describe the best strategy a speaker can use to handle the following issues during a question-and-
answer session:
(A) A man takes the microphone to ask a question, but instead spends 2 minutes (and counting!)
making a rambling comment in which you can hardly find a question.
(B) A woman in the audience takes the mic and makes a hostile comment to you.
(C) When the question-and-answer session begins, no one raises hands to ask questions or make
comments.
