CHAPTER 4: Diverse Audiences in a Democratic Society
Multiple-Choice Questions
1. Which of the following is the most accurate regarding the demographics of an audience?
A) Demographics reveal definite assumptions and perspectives that allow us to accurately
predict behavior and response.
B) Demographics may suggest certain tendencies, but you can never really predict human
behavior and response.
C)
another, let alone their behavior.
D) Demographics provide a mere illusion of knowing an audience and, hence, a false sense of
security for speakers.
2. Speakers will want to choose their topic and coverage carefully, so their message will have
saliency for their audience. In other words, the topic and coverage should be __________.
A) historical, meaning it reviews an event the audience will have lived through
B) controversial, meaning it is a matter the audience likely has heard debated
C) trendy, meaning it reviews something currently making headlines
D) important, meaning it has great personal relevance to the audience
3. Of the following, which would have the most saliency to taxpayers in the greater Houston,
Texas, area?
A) Project Texas Fresh Approach relies on prison labor to raise vegetables.
B) Prisoners raise fresh vegetables for themselves and the Houston Food Bank.
C) The Houston Food Bank pays the three cents per pound cost for growing.
D) These low-cost vegetables will feed prisoners and the needy while saving revenue.
4. In light of the general tendencies that accompany age, which of the following groups would
tend to vote in favor of the recreational use of marijuana a dramatic change in drug policy?
A) 18- to 30-year-old voters
B) 30- to 50-year-old voters
C) 50- to 70-year-old voters
D) 70- to 90-year-old voters
5. In light of the general tendencies that accompany age, which of the following groups would
tend to vote in favor of recognizing same-sex marriage a dramatic change in traditional
policy?
A) 18- to 30-year-old voters
B) 30- to 50-year-old voters
C) 50- to 70-year-old voters
D) 70- to 90-year-old voters
6. __________ denies the essential humanity of those who are different, casts them as inferior,
and thus severely limits the potential for communicating successfully.
A) Role expectations
B) Stereotyping
C) Ethnicity
D) Racism
7. Joel recognizes the distinctions between people of different races. As a result, he is
__________.
A) more likely to offend and alienate various members of a diverse audience
B) clearly racist in his views which may become apparent when he talks
C) better equipped to talk effectively with members of a diverse audience
D)
8. In his speech about policing in urban America, Trey, a white male speaker, has found
research revealing that urban blacks do not view policing in the same manner as urban whites.
What should Trey do with the information?
A) Include it and suggest that police departments must adjust policing to accommodate the
perceptions.
B) Include it but note that policing cannot be concerned with perceptions but only with the
reality and letter of the law.
C) Not include it because the information is racist, both in nature and in tone.
D) Not include it because the research likely was conducted to fuel interracial distrust.
9. ____ provides us with specific knowledge, ways to solve problems rationally, awareness of
choices open to us, and ways of evaluating the best choices to make.
A) Training
B) Intelligence
C) Education
D) Culture
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10. Rex Brown, a distinguished professor of physics, recently received several awards for his
groundbreaking research in quantum physics. Brown was asked to deliver a presentation about
his research to a group of the university s Business School alumni. Which adaptation
consideration is most important for Brown s presentation to be successful?
A) the age of the audience
B) the educational level of the audience
C) the economic status of the audience
D) the geographical environment of the audience
11. In his hierarchy of human needs, Maslow argues that some needs must be fulfilled before
others become salient. According to this perspective, the most basic need is __________.
A) belonging
B) physiological
C) self-actualization
D) esteem
12. During a recent political campaign, two candidates debated Medicare. Each candidate
suggested that the other would significantly diminish medical benefits for the elderly and
__________.
A) self-actualization
B) love and belonging
C) worth and importance
D) personal safety
13. Todd and his roommates nearly died from carbon monoxide poisoning one winter, due to a
faulty furnace in the apartment they rented. City code required landlords to provide smoke
detectors but not carbon monoxide detectors. Todd presented a speech urging City Council to
also require landlords to equip rental properties with a working carbon monoxide detector. His
speech appealed to __________ needs.
A) esteem
B) safety
C) belonging
D) self-actualization
14. At a recent public forum about the wolf population in and around Yellowstone National
Park, a representative from Defenders of Wildlife (a national nonprofit organization dedicated
to protect wildlife and their habitat) implored listeners to join his organization and help continue
its successful fight against those bent on destroying the magnificent, noble creatures. In
soliciting their desire to be a part of something larger, the spokesperson appealed to
__________ needs.
A) esteem
B) safety
C) belonging
D) self-actualization
15. At a recent meeting of several student organizations, a representative from the Boys & Girls
Club implored listeners to volunteer with their organization to help continue its long, successful
record of mentoring youth throughout the nation. In soliciting their desire to be a part of
something larger, the spokesperson appealed to __________ needs.
A) esteem
B) safety
C) belonging
D) self-actualization
16. Warren told the crowd of working-class individuals that those in higher income brackets
regardless of whether their earnings were from investment income should pay taxes at a rate that was
r
__________.
A) worth and importance
B) belongingness
C) self-fulfillment
D) self-actualization
17. Americans tend to admire individualism as a trait, while also placing great stress on the need for
teamwork. This example illustrates that __________.
A) we all share basic human needs, each of which must be satisfied
B) American culture is inherently flawed; we have lost a sense of good and bad
C) audience adaptation is essentially impossible in contemporary American society
D) we possess a network of interlocking values, some of which conflict with others
18. What, at times, can result from a salient group membership, such as being a member of the
American Civil Liberties Union or the National Rifle Association?
A) The person may focus on a single issue when voting.
B) The person may consider a wider range of issues when voting.
C) When voting, the person may focus
D) The person will be less inclined to vote and will distance himself from political affairs.
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19. If you decide to administer an audience survey during class, which of the following is sound
advice?
A) Limit your survey to a few good questions that can be answered in the time available.
B) Make your survey as comprehensive as possible.
C) Avoid asking open-ended questions.
D) Avoid having your classmates to select a response from a list of options.
20. he class as
they prepare themselves for their next speech. How should Yukiko proceed?
A) pose as many questions as she can think of, to yield more information
B) craft a few good questions that can be answered in class
C) craft questions that supply responses and do not require elaboration
D) avoid inquiring about their age, political affiliation, or religion
21. Robert used this scale question on his audience survey:
Strongly agree Somewhat agree Undecided Somewhat disagree Disagree
What does this kind of question allow Robert to do?
A) gain some understanding of why audience members feel as they do
B) m ee of commitment to their views
C) determine the objectivity with which audience members operate
D) anticipate the kinds of questions audience members might raise
22.
This type of survey question is known as a(n) __________ question.
A) open
B) closed
C) scale
D) loaded
23. What is one of the greatest advantages of including some open questions on your audience survey?
A) Audience members prefer responding to open questions.
B) Responses to open questions tend to be the most valid.
C) You can avoid the inclusion of irrelevant information.
D) You can gain insights into why audience members hold their beliefs.
24. What is the problem with the following survey question?
A) It is unclear.
B) It is illegal.
C) It is loaded.
D) It is objective.
25. During her speech, Chris reshaped her comments to focus less on establishing the problem of global
warming and more on solutions, after having sensed that was what listeners most wanted to hear. By
altering her coverage, Chris has __________.
A) pandered to her audience
B) adapted to her audience
C) identified communal values
D) stereotyped her audience
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26. one must recognize that audience analysis is a process
that __________.
A) is best completed before the day of the speech
B) requires that the speaker meet with some audience members while preparing
C) continues, even as one presents his or her speech
D) is best limited to geographic factors, income bracket, and educational level
27. You have been asked to present a speech. At what point should you conduct audience
analysis?
A) prior to brainstorming topics in order to sensitize yourself to the audience
B) prior to drafting the speech so the entire speech will be completely adapted
C) after completing a first draft of the speech in order to not impede creativity
D) from the moment you begin planning the speech until after you have spoken
28. Which of the following is the most accurate statement regarding audience adaptation?
A) Audience adaptation occurs during the planning phases, while you are preparing your speech.
B) Audience adaptation mostly occurs during the opening moments of your speech as you recast your
introductory remarks.
C) Audience adaptation primarily involves altering your delivery style, rather than your content.
D) Audience adaptation is an ongoing process, involving strategy, style, and responses.
True/False Questions
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29. is an example of stereotyping.
30. Only those with formal education in religion should address religious topics. If you do not
have such formal education, you should not talk about it for fear of offending people.
33. No single characteristic defines audiences, although sometimes one feature may overshadow
others, depending on the context in which a speech is given.
34.
trains parents how to nurture their infant via massage therapy. In describing the profound effects
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of touch on the health and development of babies, Fatima illustrated the importance of
physiological needs.
35. At a recent public forum about the environmental risk of going after oil deposits in
organization and help continue its successful fight against corporate greed. In soliciting their
desire to be a part of something larger, the spokesperson appealed to safety needs.
36. Dax told the crowd of working-class individuals that they were every bit as good as the
persons they elected to office and, therefore, should receive the same level of health care that
and importance.
37. At the graduation ceremony, the speaker challenged the graduates to achieve the full extent
38 l through Public Service, appealed
-actualization needs.
39. In the effort to recall Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin, union membership was the most
salient factor that drew together a group of diverse individuals.
40. Ben wants to start a discussion on campus about the safety of allowing motorized scooters
to operate during school hours, but he is not sure how to go about it.
website for student organizations that may be interested in hosting a forum on the topic would
be a good first step.
41. Abdulrahman created a survey for his public speaking class that included this question:
many times do you watch televised news each week?
7 or more _____ 5 or 6 _____ 3 or 4 _____ 1 or 2 ______ none _______
This is an example of an open question.
42. Audience adaptation should take place before your speech, rather than trying to adapt on the
spot.
43. If you sense that your audience is bored, you should adapt to your audience by moving
quickly to your next point.
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44. What does the statement,
are in conflict with others, mean? What are the implications for public speech?
45. Xiang is doing a summer internship with the Red Cross. Her University has asked her to
deliver a short speech to a group of college students about the importance of donating blood.
What demographics should Xiang consider about her audience, and how can she shape her
hierarchy should she appeal to and how would that shape her speech?
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46. When considering audience demographics as a part of audience analysis, one thing to keep
in mind is that demographics represent tendencies, not absolute predictors of behavior. Why
must we be mindful of the limitations of demographic information? What examples can you
provide?