“Family is a well of compassion we return to for comfort in times of need” is an
example of a simile.
Answer:
A speech urging Congress to construct a memorial in Washington, D.C., to recognize
women’s contributions to the American Revolution is an example of a commemorative
speech.
Answer:
Under normal circumstances, you should work out the exact wording of your
introduction after you have finished preparing the body of your speech.
Answer:
Because a panel discussion involves speaking impromptu, the best preparation for such
a discussion is no preparation at all.
Answer:
Arguments guilty of the ad hominem fallacy attack the person rather than dealing with
the real issue in dispute.
Answer:
Brainstorming for potential solutions requires that a small group wait until all potential
solutions have been presented to begin evaluating them.
Answer:
“The Olympic flame burns inside every competitor, igniting their desire to win gold” is
an example of simile.
Answer:
The main purpose of a speech of presentation is to provide a biography of the speaker
being presented to the audience.
Answer:
The median is the middle number in a group of numbers arranged in order from highest
to lowest.
Answer:
Moving listeners from being strongly opposed to a speaker’s position to being only
moderately opposed would be a sign of a successful persuasive speech.
Answer:
A lawyer urging a jury to acquit her client is an example of informative speaking.
Answer:
As your textbook explains, when faced with an audience that strongly opposes your
point of view, you can consider your persuasive speech a success if it leads even a few
listeners to reexamine their views.
Answer:
After choosing a topic, the next step in speech preparation is determining your specific
purpose.
Answer:
As your textbook explains, you need to make sure that the statistics you use in your
speeches come from reliable sources.
Answer:
A public speaker need only be concerned about ethics in the conclusion of a speech.
Answer:
You can articulate a word sharply and still mispronounce it.
Answer:
According to your textbook, the best time to ask tough questions is at the beginning of
an interview.
Answer:
Setting the agenda for each meeting is an example of a procedural need in a small
group.
Answer:
Effective commemorative speeches depend above all on the speaker’s use of language.
Answer:
Research has shown that examples have little effect on listeners’ beliefs and actions.
Answer:
Recognizing that some of your listeners may have racial, ethnic, cultural, or sexual
orientations that bear upon your topic is part of demographic audience analysis.
Answer:
Speeches of presentation are given when someone is receiving publicly a gift or an
award.
Answer:
Research has shown that the effect of examples is enhanced when they are combined
with statistics that show the examples to be typical.
Answer:
Alliteration is the repetition of vowel sounds in close or adjoining words.
Answer:
Persuasion is the process of creating, reinforcing, or changing people’s beliefs or
actions.
Answer:
When you are going to give an audience material to take home from a speech, you
should usually distribute the material at the beginning of the speech.
Answer:
According to your textbook, an internal summary must be used after every main point
in a speech.
Answer:
As your textbook explains, ethical decisions are essentially a matter of personal whim
or opinion.
Answer:
The work of a problem-solving group ends with the last stage of the reflective-thinking
process.
Answer:
Strategic organization means putting a speech together in a particular way to achieve a
particular result with a particular audience.
Answer:
If you are asked a hostile question during a question-and-answer session, you should
avoid sounding hostile in your response.
Answer:
In most circumstances, you should keep your visual aids on display throughout your
speech.
Answer:
Yearbooks are reference works whose primary purpose is to help you find information
about people.
Answer:
When giving an informative speech, you should think about ways to relate your topic to
the audience in the body of the speech as well as in the introduction.
Answer:
A speech praising Doctors without Borders for its humanitarian contributions is an
example of a commemorative speech.
Answer:
Effective commemorative speeches depend above all on the speaker’s use of reasoning.
Answer:
According to your textbook, blue text on a green background is usually a good choice
of colors for a visual aid.
Answer:
Passing visual aids among the audience during a speech is helpful to a speaker because
it allows listeners to inspect the aids at their own pace.
Answer:
The purpose of a speech of introduction is to introduce a person receiving an award or
an honor.
Answer:
Fran Breit, the golf pro at a local municipal course, has been asked by a social club to
give a talk about how to play golf. What is probably the most important factor for Fran
to consider in preparing her presentation?
a. the age of the audience
b. the racial background of the audience
c. the time of day the talk will be given
d. the audience’s knowledge of the topic
e. the audience’s disposition toward the speaker
Answer:
While working on the body of your speech, you realize that the steps of the process you
just explained are fairly complex. You decide that you need to review those steps before
moving on to the next main point. To accomplish this task, you would probably add
a(n)
a. transition.
b. checkpoint.
c. internal summary.
d. supplement.
e. signpost.
Answer:
“Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country” is an
example of
a. antithesis.
b. simile.
c. metaphor.
d. imagery.
e. illustration.
Answer:
Which of the following aspects of public speaking is least likely to help strengthen your
skills as a critical thinker?
a. researching your speech
b. outlining and organizing your speech
c. testing the logic of your arguments
d. practicing the delivery of your speech
e. assessing the validity of your evidence
Answer:
In a speech seeking to persuade his audience to donate blood, Ian explained how little
time the donation process would take from their busy schedules. Which of the three
basic issues of persuasive speeches on questions of policy did Ian address in this part of
his speech?
a. need
b. action
c. motivation
d. practicality
e. fact
Answer:
The three types of questions that give rise to persuasive speeches are questions of
a. opinion, fact, and policy.
b. problem, cause, and solution.
c. fact, value, and policy.
d. opinion, attitude, and value.
e. need, plan, and practicality.
Answer:
According to your textbook, which of the following is a task need of a problem-solving
small group?
a. helping group members get along with each other
b. keeping the group from going off on a tangent
c. taking notes during meetings of the group
d. all of the above
e. none of the above
Answer:
According to your textbook, a(n) __________ is a public presentation in which several
people present prepared speeches on different aspects of the same topic.
a. oral report
b. roundtable
c. panel discussion
d. symposium
e. open forum
Answer:
As the size of your audience increases, your presentation should usually become more
a. formal.
b. flexible.
c. extemporaneous.
d. punctual.
e. informal.
Answer:
As Benita approached the podium, loud voices from the hallway filled the room. Before
beginning her speech, she asked someone in the back of the room to close the door. In
this case, Benita was dealing with
a. stage fright.
b. interference.
c. nonverbal communication.
d. audience attitudes.
e. feedback.
Answer:
One method recommended in your textbook for creating a sense of drama and
anticipation in a speech of introduction is to
a. present a brief biography of the main speaker.
b. save the name of the main speaker until the final moment.
c. use visual aids that focus attention on the main speaker.
d. praise the speaking skills of the main speaker.
e. make sure the introduction is completely accurate.
Answer:
A speech about the equipment used in the sport of ice hockey should probably use a(n)
__________ organizational pattern.
a. analogical
b. chronological
c. topical
d. problem-solution
e. causal
Answer:
According to your textbook, visual aids are most effective when they are
a. integrated with the rest of the speech.
b. explained clearly and concisely.
c. passed among the audience.
d. all of the above.
e. a and b only.
Answer:
In his speech on depression, Dhavan said: “According to materials I located through a
Google search, almost 20 million American adults suffer from a depressive illness
serious enough to interfere with their jobs and their family life.” According to your
textbook, did Dhavan make any mistakes in citing his sources?
a. No. Dhavan provided a clear statistic from the Internet.
b. Yes. Dhavan should have given the exact statistic instead of rounding it off to 20
million.
c. Yes. Dhavan should have identified the document’s author or sponsoring
organization.
d. Yes. Dhavan should have stated the statistic without mentioning where he found it.
e. No. Dhavan cited Google, which is a reputable Internet search engine.
Answer:
Myenne is part of a problem-solving small group in her speech class. When the group
was deciding how best to go about its work, Myenne suggested that group members
work in pairs, with each pair tackling one of the main issues facing the group.
According to your textbook, what kind of leadership need did Myenne’s action fulfill?
a. a decision need
b. a maintenance need
c. a procedural need
d. a task need
e. a consensus need
Answer:
Which of the following would probably be the best kind of visual aid to show changes
in the homicide rate in Washington, D.C., over the past twenty years?
a. a diagram
b. a line graph
c. a chart
d. a bar graph
e. a pie graph
Answer:
Which of the following does your textbook recommend as a way to avoid patchwork
plagiarism?
a. Do most of your research on the Internet.
b. Take all the notes from each source on a single page.
c. Consult a large number of sources in your research.
d. all of the above
e. b and c only
Answer:
In her speech introduction, Suya said, “Though we are all very different, we are all
students here at this university and are all working toward the completion of a degree.
Unfortunately, because of rising tuition, some of us may lose the ability to continue in
school.” According to your textbook, by seeking to create a bond with her audience
through emphasizing their common goals and experiences, Suya was engaging in
a. identification.
b. stereotyping.
c. ethnocentrism.
d. comparison.
e. framing.
Answer:
As your textbook explains, __________ order is a way to structure a persuasive speech
on a question of policy when the audience already agrees that a problem exists but
needs to be persuaded that your plan provides the best solution to the problem.
a. problem-solution
b. comparative advantages
c. problem-cause-solution
d. Monroe’s motivated sequence
e. need-plan-practicality
Answer:
Which of the following words is the most concrete and specific?
a. fruit
b. tree
c. plant
d. apricot
e. organism
Answer:
If you are planning to use PowerPoint in a speech, you should
a. assume that all the equipment in the room will work fine.
b. bring a backup copy of your slides on a flash drive.
c. use your PowerPoint slides when you practice.
d. all of the above.
e. b and c only.
Answer:
According to your textbook, “Let every nation know that we shall pay any price, bear
any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the
survival and the success of liberty” is an example of
a. metaphor.
b. parallelism.
c. identification.
d. antithesis.
e. simile.
Answer:
“To persuade my audience that the BCS should be replaced with a playoff system to
determine the national college football champion” is a specific purpose statement for a
persuasive speech on a question of
a. value.
b. attitude.
c. policy.
d. opinion.
e. fact.
Answer:
A sentence or two that lets the audience know that a speaker has finished one thought
and is moving on to another is called a
a. bridge.
b. summary.
c. transition.
d. corollary.
e. conclusion.
Answer:
Regardless of whether your aim is to encourage passive agreement or immediate action,
you must deal with three basic issues whenever you discuss a question of policy. They
are
a. cause, effect, and practicality.
b. evidence, practicality, and reasoning.
c. need, action, and reaction.
d. problem, plan, and solution.
e. need, plan, and practicality.
Answer:
Having worked in the personnel department of a local retailer, Violet decided to give
her informative speech on how to have a successful job interview. In moving from one
of her main points to another, she said:
Now that we’ve seen how important the handshake is in creating a first impression, let’s
move to the way eye contact can make or break your interview.
What kind of connective did Violet use in this statement?
a. spotlight
b. internal preview
c. transition
d. internal summary
e. bridge
Answer:
If the object you want to use as a visual aid is not available, the next best option ideally
is a
a. model.
b. chart.
c. slide.
d. photograph.
e. drawing.
Answer:
“The three main methods of harvesting trees in professional logging are selective
cutting, clear cutting, and row thinning” is an example of a
a. specific purpose.
b. transition.
c. general purpose.
d. signpost.
e. central idea.
Answer:
Jessica watched a debate among four local candidates for mayor. After the debate, she
couldn’t remember much of what the candidates said or stood for, but one good-looking
candidate with a polished delivery really made an impression on her. Which of the
following was most likely to have impeded Jessica’s listening?
a. not taking careful enough notes
b. concentrating too hard on everything the candidates said
c. failing to suspend judgment
d. being distracted by external interference
e. focusing on personal appearance and delivery
Answer:
If you wanted to demonstrate the comparative spending of the United States and
Canada on four different kinds of social services, which type of visual aid would be
most effective?
a. a bar graph
b. a drawing
c. a line graph
d. a chart
e. a pie graph
Answer:
The _______________ meaning of a word is precise, literal, and objective, whereas the
_______________ meaning of a word is variable, figurative, and subjective.
Answer:
Speeches arranged in _______________ order follow a directional pattern from top to
bottom, east to west, or some other route.
Answer:
Because the aim of speechmaking is to secure a desired response from listeners,
speakers need to give their strategic objectives priority over their ethical obligations.
Answer:
When you use a _______________ question in the introduction of a speech, you expect
the audience to answer mentally rather than out loud.
Answer:
Egocentrism means that audiences typically approach speeches by asking “Why is this
important for me?”
Answer:
Supply the general purpose, specific purpose, and central idea for a speech with the
following main points:
General Purpose:
Specific Purpose:
Central Idea:
Main Points: I. The first stage in dealing with the death of a loved one is denial.
II. The second stage in dealing with the death of a loved one is anger.
III. The third stage in dealing with the death of a loved one is depression.
IV. The fourth stage in dealing with the death of a loved one is acceptance.
Answer:
Thinking positively about your ability to give a speech is one way to control your
anxiety about speaking.
Answer:
“To persuade my audience that the federal government should require seat belts on all
school buses” is an example of a well-worded specific purpose statement for a
persuasive speech.
Answer:
Interest, knowledge, and attitude are the three most important factors to consider when
determining an audience’s disposition toward a speaker’s topic.
Answer:
It is usually a bad idea to make eye contact with individual members of your audience.
Answer:
If the object you want to use as a visual aid is not available to you, the next best option
ideally is a _______________ .
Answer:
Adapting to audiences is one of the easiest tasks facing beginning speakers.
Answer:
It is impossible to listen too hard.
Answer:
When focusing your listening, you should listen for _______________ ,
_______________ , and _______________ .
Answer:
An audience’s response to a message is invariably colored by its perception of the
speaker.
Answer:
Because ethical decisions are complex, ethical choices are simply a matter of personal
preference.
Answer:
What is wrong with the following specific purpose statement for an informative
speech? Rewrite the statement to conform with the criteria given in your textbook for
effective specific purpose statements.
Ineffective
Specific Purpose: To explain the major beliefs of the Baha’i religion.
Error:
More Effective
Specific Purpose:
Answer:
If you quoted your younger cousin in a speech about her experience playing youth
soccer, you would be using _______________ testimony.
Answer:
The _______________ , popularly called the average, is determined by adding up all
the items in a group and dividing by the number of items.
Answer: