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Indicate the answer choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
1. Which term refers to the unpleasant sound created when an audio input is too close to a loudspeaker?
a.
white noise
b.
feedback
c.
haptics
d.
tonework
2. Which statement about facial expressions is true?
a.
No single facial expression is more universal than a smile.
b.
Mirror neurons are the reason facial expressions are often misinterpreted.
c.
Facial expressions reflect, but do not affect, people’s moods.
d.
If held too long, eye contact communicates hostility.
3. Which term refers to the study of how humans use touch?
a.
kinetics
b.
modulation
c.
haptics
d.
vocalics
4. Speakers who get nervous when meeting the eyes of a listener in the audience can give the illusion of eye
contact by:
a.
looking at the tops of people’s heads.
b.
practicing a technique called scanning.
c.
looking at areas where no one is sitting.
d.
looking at a point immediately in front of them.
5. Which statement about eye contact is true?
a.
In Western culture, eye contact can be read as failure to recognize power.
b.
The larger the audience is, the easier it is to maintain eye contact.
c.
Eye contact is generally interpreted as an intimate gesture of sincerity, trust, and caring.
d.
Audiences today do not expect speakers to establish eye contact.
6. In Western culture, making eye contact signifies a human connection and interest.
a.
True
b.
False
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7. Gabby, who has a New England accent, is giving a speech in central Texas. Given the difference between her
accent and that of her audience, she should:
a.
speak more slowly and articulate more clearly than she normally would.
b.
make an effort to suppress or minimize her accent.
c.
adopt the accent or dialect of the audience.
d.
apologize for her accent or dialect at the beginning of the speech.
8. Which statement about articulation is true?
a.
Articulation concerns how a person moves their lips and tongue when speaking.
b.
Articulation is the correct or accepted way that a word sounds when spoken.
c.
Articulation is the primary way speakers convey joy or somberness when speaking.
d.
Articulation is the attempt to vary the volume, pitch, rate, and general character of one’s voice.
9. Which statement BEST reflects what elocutionists like Thomas Sheridan believed?
a.
Bodily expressions have little effect on how a speaker’s message is received.
b.
The primary focus of all speakers should be on modulation.
c.
Delivery of the message is secondary in importance to the content of a message.
d.
A speaker’s tone is related to strong, instinctual emotions.
10. Which facial expression is MOST commonly associated with communicating interest, intrigue, or
excitement?
a.
smiling
b.
furrowing the brow
c.
raising both eyebrows
d.
frowning
11. Which cultures are more community focused and place greater value on bodily expression?
a.
competitive
b.
high context
c.
low context
d.
hierarchical
12. The elocutionary movement was obsessed with the pronunciation of words and their appropriate
corresponding:
a.
volume.
b.
evidence.
c.
tone.
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d.
body gestures.
13. Someone who speaks in a monotone is guilty of what?
a.
using intonation
b.
poorly articulating
c.
using verbal fillers
d.
not modulating their voice
14. A head nod is considered a gesture.
a.
True
b.
False
15. Tonework is more challenging in high-context cultures.
a.
True
b.
False
16. A speaker should dress in a way that allows the audience to focus on the message, not the speaker’s
appearance.
a.
True
b.
False
17. Pronunciation is another word for articulation.
a.
True
b.
False
18. One unexpected place where speakers can add a little signature of individuality in their appearance is their:
a.
jewelry.
b.
hairstyle.
c.
shoes.
d.
outerwear.
19. What was the main focus of the elocutionary movement?
a.
delivery
b.
formalizing the study of public speaking
c.
the reason for speaking
d.
the need to control and constrain emotions
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20. It is important to make eye contact with the audience when speaking because it enhances the speaker’s
credibility.
a.
True
b.
False
21. Which statement about gestures is true?
a.
Gestures communicate unintentional messages outside the speaker’s awareness.
b.
Gestures are learned behaviors that often come across as forced or unnatural.
c.
Gestures include movement of the hands, head, face, and arms to communicate an idea or a feeling.
d.
Gestures are viewed by most experts as unnecessary accompaniments to speech.
22. Eye contact is universally considered polite across cultures.
a.
True
b.
False
23. Which statement about tone is true?
a.
Tone is unintentional and often an unconscious act.
b.
Tone is achieved through both vocal and nonverbal elements.
c.
Tone is best when varied throughout a speech.
d.
Tone is a form of direct communication that is rarely misunderstood.
24. All of the efforts of a speaker to craft, control, or change the expression of feeling in public speaking is
referred to as:
a.
proxemics.
b.
articulation.
c.
persuasion.
d.
tonework.
25. Craig is giving his first speech at a town hall meeting. This is the first time he will be using a microphone.
He asks a friend for tips. What advice should his friend give him?
a.
“Be sure to speak loudly into the microphone; otherwise, the sound will be muffled.”
b.
“Pay attention to the audience’s reaction when you start speaking so that you can determine whether
to adjust the volume.”
c.
“Be aware that any noise from your throat will be mechanically enhanced by the microphone.”
d.
“It’s important not to move too much while speaking because that can cause feedback.”
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26. Vocalics is the study of what people say.
a.
True
b.
False
27. For audiences larger than a small group, speakers can improve their eye contact by using the scanning
technique.
a.
True
b.
False
28. What does international gesture expert Jürgen Streeck say about gestures?
a.
Gestures are just as significant to people’s social world as speech.
b.
Gestures are more important than speech.
c.
People’s hands simply convey a symbolic meaning.
d.
The important thing is for gestures to correspond to what is being said.
29. Which is an example of a pronunciation error?
a.
James rolls his r‘s in Italian words as Italian speakers do, even though he is not a native Italian
speaker.
b.
Leesa refers to her coworker as “Meg–an” instead of “Mee–gan.”
c.
Adam says the word knead with a silent k.
d.
Frannie says the word either as “ee–ther” instead of “eye–ther”
30. What is the MOST important vocalic element?
a.
pitch
b.
rate
c.
articulation
d.
volume
31. The eighteenth- and nineteenth-century movement concerned primarily with delivery was called the:
a.
emotive movement.
b.
haptic movement.
c.
elocutionary movement.
d.
rhetorical movement.
32. When a speaker appears unkempt, it can cause the audience to think the speaker does not care about:
a.
fashion.
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b.
how they are perceived.
c.
the message.
d.
the speaking engagement.
33. Kyle describes a speaker as speaking with a southern drawl. Kyle is referring to the speaker’s:
a.
accent.
b.
use of slang.
c.
dialect.
d.
use of jargon.
34. Which statement about high-context cultures is true?
a.
They place more value on nonverbal communication.
b.
They focus on the individual instead of the group.
c.
They are found primarily in North America and Western Europe.
d.
They find tonework challenging.
35. Nonverbal communication focuses on the unconscious messages that speakers convey when moving.
a.
True
b.
False
36. Vocal elements and bodily cues can help create the emotional quality or character of speech, also known as:
a.
tone.
b.
delivery.
c.
persuasion.
d.
dialogue.
37. Moving too much can make the audience “seasick” and detract from the speaker’s message.
a.
True
b.
False
38. A sound check is necessary only if the speaker is using a fixed microphone.
a.
True
b.
False
39. Tonework is strictly nonverbal.
a.
True
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b.
False
40. Which statement about a speaker’s appearance is true?
a.
Audiences care only about what you say, not how you look.
b.
Speakers should be careful not to dress better than their audience.
c.
Audience members judge speakers based on their attire, but they rarely notice or care about footwear.
d.
Speakers should try to blend in with the crowd.
41. What is the study of the way people use their voices, including volume, pitch, articulation, pronunciation,
rate, and modulation?
a.
haptics
b.
vocalics
c.
intonation
d.
kinesics
42. Which statement about speaking rate is true?
a.
Speaking rate includes pauses in speaking.
b.
Speaking quickly communicates a serious or thoughtful mood.
c.
Speaking slowly conveys excitement and interest.
d.
Speakers should aim to keep the rate of their speaking steady.
43. At a formal speaking event, Mason gave a speech in which he used the phrases “You know?” and “Right?”
frequently. How did this MOST likely affect the audience?
a.
The audience was distracted from the message Mason was trying to convey.
b.
The audience viewed Mason as “more relatable” and felt a greater connection to him.
c.
The audience began to question Mason’s credibility and expertise.
d.
The audience was able to use the pauses to reflect on Mason’s message.
44. A person from Ohio refers to cola as “pop,” whereas a person from Missouri refers to cola as “soda.” This
reflects a difference in:
a.
dialect.
b.
tonework.
c.
accent.
d.
pitch.
45. As part of planning how to deliver a speech, speakers adjust the emotional character of their nonverbal
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communication in a process called:
a.
mirroring.
b.
tonework.
c.
projection.
d.
mindfulness.
46. Which statement about smiling is true?
a.
Smiling is never appropriate when speaking at a somber occasion.
b.
Smiling is one of the more universal facial expressions.
c.
Smiling too much can result in decreased speaker credibility.
d.
Audiences are likely to see a smiling speaker as insincere.
47. One reason that an audience would likely view a speaker’s appearance unfavorably is if the speaker:
a.
followed the one-step-up rule.
b.
dressed similarly to the audience members.
c.
wore new footwear.
d.
appeared unkempt and slovenly.
48. In public speaking, terms such as “um,” “ah,” “you know,” and “like” are called:
a.
space fillers.
b.
vocal litter.
c.
verbal fillers.
d.
time fillers.
49. Gesturing should be limited during speeches because it can be distracting to the audience.
a.
True
b.
False
50. Which statement about low-context cultures is true?
a.
They are more focused on what is said than on how it is said.
b.
They are more focused on the group than the individual.
c.
They are associated with parts of Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.
d.
They are strongly attuned to body language.
51. Which statement about pitch is true?
a.
A sustained pitch makes it easier for the audience to understand the speaker.
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b.
Varying pitch throughout a speech can make the speaker seem monotonous.
c.
Pitch is the most important of all the vocalics.
d.
High pitch tends to communicate excitement, whereas low pitch can signal dread.
52. Daryl is giving a speech from a large stage. He is unsure whether he should move around or not while on
stage. The BEST advice for Daryl is that he should:
a.
divide his time evenly among the left side, the center, and the right side of the stage.
b.
remain standing behind the podium, especially if he is using a microphone.
c.
slowly and deliberately walk back and forth across the stage during his speech.
d.
walk toward the audience and move around on stage somewhat, without pacing.
53. Which term refers to forms of language—pronunciation, idioms, slang, and so forth—particular to a
geographic region?
a.
accent
b.
proxemics
c.
vocal range
d.
dialect
54. In contrast with less serious situations, more somber speaking situations call for:
a.
a faster pace.
b.
greater volume.
c.
less modulation.
d.
a higher pitch.
55. When someone refers to the emotional quality or character of human expression, that person is describing:
a.
proxemics.
b.
gestures.
c.
dialect.
d.
tone.
56. Speakers who consciously modulate their voices are considered:
a.
erratic.
b.
dynamic.
c.
distracted.
d.
somber.
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57. Which is a true statement about a speaker’s footwear?
a.
Footwear is the first thing that gets noticed about a speaker’s appearance.
b.
The one-step-up rule does not apply to footwear.
c.
Audience members make judgments about a speaker based on their footwear.
d.
No one has researched the way footwear affects people’s assumptions about others.
58. Haptics is a vocalic element.
a.
True
b.
False
59. When addressing large audiences, it is recommended that speakers adopt a flashier dress style.
a.
True
b.
False
60. Tonework is all about:
a.
unintended messages.
b.
word choice.
c.
nonverbal communication.
d.
visual appearance.
61. Pronunciation has to do with the correct or accepted way a word sounds.
a.
True
b.
False
62. Speech is the meeting of the body and language, typically understood as meaningful vocal expression.
a.
True
b.
False
63. A speaker in North America asks a question of an audience and then holds their arms out with the palms
facing upward. In this context, this gesture invites:
a.
silence.
b.
a challenge.
c.
applause.
d.
participation.
64. A number of audience members are leaning forward and have furrowed brows. What is MOST likely
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happening?
a.
The speaker is using verbal fillers frequently.
b.
The audience is having trouble hearing the speaker.
c.
The speaker is modulating their voice.
d.
The audience is excited to hear what the speaker has to say next.
65. What is the BEST way for speakers to increase their awareness of how well their body movements match
what they are saying?
a.
Ask the audience for feedback after a speech.
b.
Map out specific gestures in the speaking outline.
c.
Rehearse giving a speech in front of a mirror.
d.
Watch a video recording of themselves speaking.
66. The best way to decide what to wear at a speaking engagement is by using contextual reasoning.
a.
True
b.
False
67. Listeners should be careful to not apply stereotypes to speakers based on differences in dialects.
a.
True
b.
False
68. The study of how close people stand to one another is called:
a.
proxemics.
b.
haptics.
c.
gesture.
d.
vocalics.
69. Tone includes what people wear when they speak.
a.
True
b.
False
70. Pauses are most closely related to:
a.
tone.
b.
rate.
c.
volume.
d.
pitch.
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71. If speaking in a large room where it is not possible to make eye contact with everyone in the audience,
speakers may look back and forth across the audience. This process is called:
a.
sweeping.
b.
gesturing.
c.
projection.
d.
scanning.
72. What element in speech can give both the speaker and the audience some time to think and is considered
appropriate if not overdone?
a.
a verbal filler
b.
an anecdote
c.
a pause
d.
a vocalized pause
73. Tone is the emotional quality or character of human expression.
a.
True
b.
False
74. Tyler is giving a speech to a large audience. Although he is using a microphone, he is concerned that those
in the back of the room may not be able to hear him. What is the BEST course of action in this scenario?
a.
Increase the volume on the microphone.
b.
Increase his speaking volume.
c.
Ask everyone in the audience to move forward.
d.
Ask audience members if they can hear him.
75. How does an accent differ from a dialect?
a.
Accents relate to different languages spoken, whereas dialects exist within one language.
b.
Accents are regional, whereas dialects are not.
c.
Accents relate to vocalics, whereas dialects relate to haptics.
d.
Accents refer to how one speaks or pronounces words and is one component of dialects.
76. Which term refers to the way in which speakers increase their vocal volume and adopt a confident tone to
command attention?
a.
pronunciation
b.
modulation
c.
articulation
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d.
projection
77. Communication that encompasses all the ways in which humans communicate in addition to, in opposition
to, and independent of the spoken word is termed:
a.
verbal communication.
b.
nonverbal communication.
c.
written communication.
d.
face-to-face communication.
78. What did researchers at the University of Kansas find out when they studied people’s ability to make
accurate assumptions about others based on their footwear?
a.
People can and do make accurate assumptions based on footwear.
b.
People did not have the ability to make accurate assumptions based on footwear.
c.
There is no relationship between footwear and other traits.
d.
There was nearly 100 percent accuracy in making assumptions about others based on their footwear.
79.     This statement contains a verbal filler: “Talking with my dad is like pulling teeth.”
a.
True
b.
False
80. Pronunciation is an element of nonverbal communication.
a.
True
b.
False
81. What facial expression is most commonly associated with communicating interest, sincerity, or intensity?
a.
laughing
b.
raising both eyebrows
c.
smiling
d.
making eye contact
82. Kaitlyn is encouraged to follow the one-step-up rule when delivering her speech. What is she being
encouraged to do?
a.
Take one step forward when introducing a key point.
b.
Talk one level louder when making a call to action.
c.
Speak at a pace one level up from average or typical.
d.
Dress one level up from the dress of her audience.
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83. Research by communication scholars has repeatedly shown that speakers who review video recordings of
themselves speaking have decreased anxiety and more readily develop effective speaking skills.
a.
True
b.
False
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