21 Designing Presentation Aids
TRUE/FALSE QUESTIONS
1. The purpose of a presentation aid is to support, summarize, or add to the
2. Presentation aids that try to communicate too many messages will overwhelm
the audience.
3. Speakers should present at least three ideas per presentation aid.
4. A presentation aid with words should follow the eight-by-eight rule.
5. Limiting the number of words in a presentation aid increases the likelihood
that the audience will spend too much time reading the aid rather than listening
to the speaker.
6. Using the active verb form and parallel grammatical structure keeps the
presentation aid simple.
7. Information like statistical data and sequences of action are best understood
through visual reasoning.
8.
should be consistent across presentation aids to help maintain continuity.
9. A typeface refers to a specific style of lettering, such as Arial or Times Roman.
10. Sans serif typefaces include small flourishes, or strokes, at the tops and bottoms
of each letter.
11. If a speaker includes only a few lines of text on a presentation aid, he or she
must use serif type throughout.
12. For on-screen projection, major headings should be displayed in 36-point type.
13. For on-screen projection, regular text should be displayed in no larger than 12-
point type.
14. Boldface, underlining, and italics should be used sparingly to emphasize special
or very important points.
15. Presentation aids are most effective and easier to read when the words are
written in all uppercase letters.
16. Colors can evoke distinct associations in people.
17. The background color of a presentation should remain constant.
18. Bold, bright colors should be used to emphasize important points.
19. Presentation aids that contain four or more colors are more effective than those
that contain only one or two.
20. The color yellow typically evokes flamboyant and energetic moods or emotions.
MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS
21. How many major ideas should be present on each presentation aid?
A) one C) three
B) two D) four
22. When designing a presentation aid, the speaker should strive for
A) simplicity. C) complexity.
B) abstraction. D) diversity.
23. To help maintain continuity, carry the following element through to each aid:
A) colors
B) fonts
C) styling (boldface, underlining, italics)
D) All of the options are correct.
24. Typefaces come in a variety of sets of sizes and upper– and lowercases, or
A) scripts. C) fonts.
B) sans scripts. D) serifs.
25. The two categories of typefaces are sans serif and
A) script. C) font.
B) sans script. D) serif.
26. When selecting type styles for a presentation, a speaker should
A) use light lettering on a light background.
B) user dark lettering on a dark background.
C) use all capital letters.
D) check his or her lettering for legibility.
27. Boldface, underlining, and italics should
A) be used as often as possible.
B) emphasize minor points.
C) be used sparingly.
D) never be used in presentation aids.
28. Skillful use of color in presentation aids can
A) draw attention to key points. C) compensate for lack of preparation.
B) D) distract listeners.
29. Which of the following colors should a speaker use to emphasize important
points?
A) blue C) green
B) yellow D) black
30. A speaker should limit the number of colors used in a graphic to
A) two or three. C) seven or eight.
B) four or five. D) one or two.
FILL-IN-THE-BLANK QUESTIONS
31.
ideas.
32. A speaker should plan on presenting one major idea per presentation aid when
striving for ______.
33. A presentation aid with words should have no more than ______ words per line.
34. Minimizing the number of ______ in a presentation aid lessens the likelihood that
the audience will spend too much time reading the aid rather than listening to
the speaker.
35. Speakers should word their text in the _______ verb form.
36. The principle of ______ dictates that the same design decisions should apply to
all presentation aids displayed in a speech.
37. The word ______ refers to a specific style of lettering, such as Arial.
38. Different sets of sizes and upper- and lowercases of typefaces are called ______.
39. ______ typefaces include small flourishes at the tops and bottoms of each letter.
40. ______ typefaces are block-like and linear.
41. For on-screen projection, major headings should be displayed in ______-point
type.
42. For on-screen projection, regular text should be displayed in ______-point type.
43. When attempting to minimize the number of words used in each presentation
aid, follow the ______ rule.
ESSAY AND SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
44. Why should speakers focus on the message when designing presentation aids?
45. Explain the principles of simplicity and continuity, and give an example of each.
46. How many major ideas should be presented in each presentation aid? Why?
47. What is the difference between serif and sans serif typefaces?
48. Give three tips for using typefaces and fonts effectively in a presentation aid.
49.
effectiveness.
50. List four ways to optimize color in designing presentation aids.
ANSWER KEY FOR CHAPTER 21