Name:
Class:
Date:
Indicate the answer choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
1. Informational interviews focus primarily on predicting a candidate’s future work-related behavior.
a.
True
b.
False
2. How can conflict be positive and productive?
a.
It can lead to a deeper understanding of problems and inspire critical analysis that makes decisions
better.
b.
It can help encourage groupthink.
c.
It can reveal how people actually feel about one another.
d.
It can help groups to bond and become more cohesive.
3. Marjorie has just been promoted and is running her first staff meeting. One of her new supervisees points out
during the meeting that Marjorie has a tendency to try to change the subject anytime someone disagrees with
another member. Of the following actions that Marjorie can take, which is MOST likely to result in more
productive meetings moving forward?
a.
Put a different employee in charge of each meeting moving forward, and let staff members come to a
resolution on their own.
b.
Meet with her employees separately before the group meeting to better understand their positions on
certain topics.
c.
Resolve to let any and all conflicts take their natural course without her intervention or interference
to ensure that all voices are heard.
d.
Explore points of conflict as a group to assess the disadvantages and advantages of each idea while
ensuring that the discussion remains focused on problem solving.
4. Sales pitches most commonly follow a problem-solution or motivated sequence style of organization.
a.
True
b.
False
5. A local TV reporter calls the number listed for press inquiries on XYZ Corp.’s website and asks for a
representative to appear on his station’s evening broadcast to talk about the charity walk the company is
sponsoring to benefit muscular dystrophy research. The representative will be engaging in what when they
participate in the interview segment?
a.
a screening interview
b.
philanthropy
c.
public relations
d.
workplace speaking
Name:
Class:
Date:
6. Which would be considered a small group?
a.
Six members of a cost-cutting task force who meet for the first time.
b.
Four employees from different departments who strike up a conversation in line at the company
cafeteria.
c.
Five members of a department who independently update a shared Word document.
d.
Four managers at a company who go to a company picnic together.
7. Which skill tends to be the weakest in people who are just entering the workforce?
a.
collaboration
b.
cooperation
c.
persuasive speaking
d.
nonverbal communication
8. Which type of presentation is initially informative in nature but then shifts to being persuasive?
a.
proposals
b.
sales presentations
c.
reports
d.
keynote addresses
9. In what way is small group communication considered impromptu in nature?
a.
Very little preparation is possible.
b.
Very little preparation is necessary.
c.
Very little is scripted.
d.
Very little is structured.
10. Typically, speaking in the workplace involves speaking to small groups.
a.
True
b.
False
11. A proposal is different from a report because:
a.
reports are value focused, whereas proposals are fact focused.
b.
reports are researched, and proposals are not.
c.
proposals are past oriented, and reports are future oriented.
d.
although both are informative, proposals are also persuasive.
Name:
Class:
Date:
12.     Lauren manages a team that meets every other day to report progress. She has noticed that whenever the
team members are asked to identify and address obstacles to their deadlines, they become “yes–people” who are
afraid to disagree with her or even with one another. Lauren is afraid her group is falling into a pattern of
groupthink. She can address this concern by asking someone on her team to do what during their meetings?
a.
take notes
b.
play devil’s advocate
c.
focus on points of disagreement
d.
emphasize civility
13. Rachel has been asked to present an oral report on what she learned at a seminar she attended. It is her
second week at her new job, and she has not yet had the opportunity to observe the speaking norms of the
company. To maximize her chances of success, Rachel should:
a.
ask her coworkers for their understanding if she violates the norms of the organization.
b.
review her notes from her college public speaking class and do her best.
c.
ask her supervisor what the expectations are for this type of presentation.
d.
explain to her supervisor that she is not comfortable presenting to coworkers so soon after being
hired and needs time to observe the speaking norms first.
14. What is the primary role of a small group leader?
a.
to serve as the final decision-maker
b.
to present counterpositions or critiques to help avoid groupthink
c.
to take notes and keep records of what is discussed during meetings
d.
to moderate and guide group discussion
15. What is the defining characteristic of a virtual group?
a.
The members of the group work together professionally.
b.
Long-distance technologies are used to communicate as a group.
c.
One member uses technology to deliver a presentation.
d.
Three to twenty members self-identify as a group.
16. Romero will be training the employees of his newly formed department. Some are transfers from other
departments, and some are new to the company. As he is preparing his training presentation, Romero should:
a.
consider the training to be persuasive in nature because he will be trying to convince them to listen
and comply.
b.
approach the training as he would a proposal presentation.
c.
be sure to carefully define any specialized departmental terms and jargon.
d.
set a formal, serious tone to establish his authority and credibility as their supervisor.
Name:
Class:
Date:
17. How are groupthink and playing devil’s advocate related?
a.
Playing devil’s advocate fuels groupthink.
b.
Playing devil’s advocate fights groupthink.
c.
Playing devil’s advocate is a form of groupthink.
d.
Playing devil’s advocate and groupthink are two ways to help make conflict more productive.
18. A person meets with a hiring manager to learn more about the company and to answer questions about
herself, but the employer doesn’t have an immediate job opening. This is an example of a(n):
a.
selection interview.
b.
behavioral interview.
c.
screening interview.
d.
informational interview.
19. Because all calls are requests to establish relationships built on trust, people’s vocations implicate ethical
orientations.
a.
True
b.
False
20. What is one effective way to manage conflict in small groups?
a.
Associate people with their ideas.
b.
Focus on issues rather than people.
c.
Insist on civility.
d.
Discourage complaining.
21. Organizational culture related to speaking includes such things as:
a.
the diversity of the employee population.
b.
the size of the organization.
c.
the corporate mission statement.
d.
appropriate and inappropriate things to say and the ways they should be said.
22. Which type of presentation is fundamentally a persuasive speech designed to convince an audience to
purchase a product or service, adopt an approach, address a problem, or embrace an opportunity that the
organization is recommending?
a.
a report
b.
a sales pitch
c.
a proposal
Name:
Class:
Date:
d.
a keynote address
23. What type of presentations are similar to celebratory speeches, which are inspirational in tone?
a.
sales
b.
keynote
c.
proposal
d.
training
24. It is important for the speaker to focus on shared values in a:
a.
report.
b.
proposal.
c.
sales presentation.
d.
training session.
25. A proposal is, by definition, presented to audiences who have not yet deliberated or discussed the proposal.
a.
True
b.
False
26. Telitha was just promoted to a management position, and she is eager to learn strategies to help make her
team’s discussions constructive, as the team currently has a tendency to bicker. To help ensure that the team’s
conflict is productive rather than destructive, Telitha can:
a.
encourage active listening and avoid groupthink.
b.
hold mandatory social events after work so that group members can bond.
c.
ask her team members to avoid saying anything hurtful to or about other members.
d.
create a new rule that as soon as bickering starts, she will end the meeting.
27. In the workplace setting, the speaking norms to follow will differ depending on the culture of the specific
organization or business.
a.
True
b.
False
28. In keynote presentations, the message is more general and celebratory in tone, and the language is typically:
a.
technical.
b.
less specialized.
c.
formal.
d.
fact filled.
Name:
Class:
Date:
29. Boyce receives a phone call requesting a phone interview with a representative from a company where he
has applied for a job. What kind of interview is this?
a.
behavioral
b.
onboarding
c.
screening
d.
selection
30. One should research the audience and strive to establish goodwill and common values in both public
speaking and what other context?
a.
small group discussion
b.
interviews
c.
interpersonal communication
d.
impersonal communication
31. Which statement about small group communication is true?
a.
It is socially oriented.
b.
It is relatively formal.
c.
It typically involves three to twenty people.
d.
It requires a predetermined leader.
32. Employers use what type of interviews to attempt to reduce a large number of job applicants to a smaller
and more manageable number?
a.
screening
b.
selection
c.
behavioral
d.
group
33. A researched presentation that informs clients or colleagues of the status of specific aspects of the business
or organization is called a:
a.
report.
b.
proposal.
c.
sales presentation.
d.
keynote address.
34. A group that achieves consensus quickly has engaged in groupthink.
a.
True
Name:
Class:
Date:
b.
False
35. Randall, a new manager, has years of experience with public speaking as a scout leader. As he begins to
make presentations for his peers and executive management, he is puzzled when his comments are not well
received. Randall must learn that:
a.
workplace presentations are constrained by the norms of workplace culture.
b.
in the workplace, his success depends on how well he knows his audience members.
c.
workplace presentations need to be treated as more formal and structured.
d.
in the workplace, presentations should not be given using slide presentation software.
36. Three or more people who interact and self-identify as members of a group are called a:
a.
team.
b.
small group.
c.
coalition.
d.
task force.
37. Behavioral interviews are different from standard interviews because they:
a.
ask about hypothetical future behavior.
b.
ask about past behavior in specific situations.
c.
focus on current behavior rather than experience or education.
d.
attempt to assess the fit between the company and the candidate.
38. Kearis engages in multiple activities. Which activity MOST likely reflects her vocation?
a.
babysitting her nephew from time to time
b.
mentoring middle school students
c.
going to school to earn her master’s degree
d.
buying lunch for her softball teammates
39. Which is a behavioral interview question?
a.
“What was your major in college?”
b.
“If you saw a coworker engaging in unethical behavior, what would you do?”
c.
“Tell me about a time when you had to ask for help and how you handled it.”
d.
“Talk a little bit about your experience with student government.”
40. Researchers have identified two tendencies that can lead a small group discussion astray—conflict and:
a.
unexpressed hostility.
Name:
Class:
Date:
b.
groupthink.
c.
apathy.
d.
deception.
41. Phil makes coffee for his team and makes sure that the temperature is comfortable for everyone. He is
adopting a task-oriented role.
a.
True
b.
False
42. Sam has an English degree, so his manager asks him to take an afternoon to work with his colleagues on
best practices for e-mail communication. This would be considered a training presentation.
a.
True
b.
False
43. Elena’s teammate is also her best friend. When they make a presentation to the rest of the team, they like to
include inside jokes that they think are funny but that no one else understands. What don’t Elena and her friend
understand about workplace speaking?
a.
Humor is not appropriate in workplace presentations.
b.
Elena’s friendship with her teammate is a conflict of interest.
c.
The culture of this company is not a good fit for Elena and her friend.
d.
The two friends need to moderate their level of formality and remember that they are at work.
44. When Denisha interviewed for a grocery cashier position, her interviewer asked her to describe the most
difficult customer she had ever experienced and the way she handled the interaction. This type of question is
typical of a(n):
a.
experience verification interview.
b.
panel interview.
c.
behavioral interview.
d.
investigative interview.
45. Jill is speaking at her workplace. It is MOST likely that she will be speaking to:
a.
people she knows and works closely with.
b.
a large audience.
c.
a small audience.
d.
people she does not know or work closely with.
46.     Training sessions tend to be formal because of their “how–to” character.
Name:
Class:
Date:
a.
True
b.
False
47. How does small group communication relate to public speaking?
a.
Small group communication is not a form of public speaking because it is socially oriented and
interactive.
b.
Small group communication is not a form of public speaking because it is task-oriented and more of
a discussion.
c.
Small group communication is a form of public speaking because it is goal-oriented and persuasive.
d.
Small group communication is a form of public speaking because it is audience oriented and
informative.
48. Job applicants have the most power in the screening interview.
a.
True
b.
False
49. Offering opposing or alternative views in a deliberately playful way as a check on groupthink is called:
a.
confrontation.
b.
debate.
c.
playing devil’s advocate.
d.
sarcasm.
50. Which of these is an example of vocational speaking?
a.
A server shouts an order to a short-order cook in a diner.
b.
A fast-food worker takes an order at a drive-thru window.
c.
A supervisor counsels a worker on her chronic lateness.
d.
A teacher gives a lecture for his students.
51. Darby meets with her public speaking professor after class and tells her she used the STAR method in her
interview the day before and got a job offer. The interview Darby had was a screening interview.
a.
True
b.
False
52. Shannon has been volunteering at a homeless shelter for three years. This can be considered a vocation.
a.
True
b.
False
Name:
Class:
Date:
53. Four strangers having a conversation in line at the post office meet the definition of a small group.
a.
True
b.
False
54. Ted is a member of a task force that is led by his charismatic manager. He has noticed that anytime a
member of the task force disagrees or contradicts the manager, the room becomes silent and members feel
awkward. He has counterpoints to offer, but he doesn’t feel they would be welcome. What is happening in Ted’s
group?
a.
intimidation
b.
negative sanctions
c.
manipulation
d.
groupthink
55. Trey is the chairperson of a standing committee, and three of his members have complained to him about
one member’s tendency to “name and blame” other members for ideas that turn out to have flaws. What is
happening in this committee?
a.
groupthink
b.
hostility
c.
leader emergence
d.
personalization
56. Successful group leaders seek to limit conflict in group discussions.
a.
True
b.
False
57. Small group norms are:
a.
usually made explicit when a group first meets.
b.
unrelated to roles.
c.
learned primarily through observation.
d.
less prevalent because small group communication is impromptu by nature.
58. How is a proposal different from a sales pitch?
a.
Sales pitches are persuasive speeches, whereas proposals are not.
b.
Proposals almost always start as written documents and become oral presentations.
c.
Sales pitches involve a monetary cost, whereas proposals may or may not.
d.
The motivated sequence would work well as an organizational pattern for a sales pitch but not for a
Name:
Class:
Date:
proposal.
59. Martina’s groupmates tease her about her most-repeated phrase in meetings: “Just for the sake of argument.”
What role is Martina playing when she begins a question in this way?
a.
devil’s advocate
b.
heckler
c.
leader
d.
blocker
60. Cherise will be giving the keynote address at an awards banquet for the most successful salespeople in her
company. What should she remember as she prepares?
a.
She should use sales jargon in her speech because the audience will include all departments,
including the company’s sales staff.
b.
She should follow the guidelines for a workplace presentation as opposed to a public speech.
c.
She should strike a celebratory, inspirational tone.
d.
She should include data to prove that the winners outperformed the other sales staff.
61. The person in a small group who is designated or who emerges to guide and moderate discussion is serving:
a.
in a task-oriented role.
b.
in a social-oriented role.
c.
as the leader.
d.
as a devil’s advocate.
62. Another term for small group communication is small group:
a.
interaction.
b.
discussion.
c.
debate.
d.
argument
63. Speaking for one’s vocation is:
a.
speaking to earn recognition or fame.
b.
more like a calling.
c.
speaking in a situation that earns money.
d.
making everyday conversation in one’s workplace.
64. What is the A step in the STAR method of responding to behavioral interview questions?
Name:
Class:
Date:
a.
Explain what event prompted action.
b.
Ask the interviewer for feedback.
c.
Choose an appropriate example.
d.
Describe the action taken.
65. What is the R step in the STAR method of responding to behavioral interview questions?
a.
Describe the result of the action take.
b.
Reiterate the moral of the story.
c.
Relate the situation to the current job.
d.
Give the reason for taking action.
66. How is workplace speaking different from public relations?
a.
Workplace speaking involves a more specialized skill set than does public relations.
b.
Workplace speaking usually focuses internally (on other members of the organization), and public
relations focuses externally.
c.
The principles of speaking taught in a public speaking class apply to workplace speaking but not to
public relations.
d.
Workplace speaking is taught in business administration programs, and public relations is taught in
lower-level communication courses.
67. DeMarcus has been asked to research new customer relationship management (CRM) software and present
his findings and recommendation to the management team. DeMarcus will be presenting a:
a.
sales presentation.
b.
report.
c.
proposal.
d.
training session.
68. Although work presentations are often conversational in tone, some situations will require more formal
speaking.
a.
True
b.
False
69. The BEST way to learn about a workplace’s cultural norms for speaking is:
a.
trial and error.
b.
asking peers to explain the norms.
c.
asking the supervisor to explain the norms.
d.
watching how other people behave in similar contexts.
Name:
Class:
Date:
70. Which of these use the techniques and skills of speaking, even though they are not technically speeches or
presentations?
a.
reports
b.
proposals
c.
interviews
d.
keynote addresses
71. A workplace interview is an opportunity for both the employer and the prospective employee to learn about
each other.
a.
True
b.
False
72. What strategy can increase a group’s chances of discussing conflicts productively?
a.
avoiding playing devil’s advocate
b.
minimizing
c.
deferring to the leader   
d.
depersonalizing
73. Which term refers to speaking to represent a company?
a.
workplace speaking
b.
sales
c.
television advertising
d.
public relations
74. Because persuasion is central to any sales presentation, pitches should always build on values that are
commonly shared with the audience.
a.
True
b.
False
75. The common, often unconscious tendency to avoid conflict in a group—usually by failing to challenge ideas
or decisions—is called:
a.
groupthink.
b.
reticence.
c.
shyness.
d.
apathy.
Name:
Class:
Date:
76. Tracy is a member of a very task-oriented team at work. She is the only member who remembers that people
may need a restroom break or that the group needs to break for lunch. What role is Tracy fulfilling?
a.
leader
b.
task-oriented role
c.
social-oriented role
d.
devil’s advocate
77.     What does the “T” in the STAR method of responding to behavioral interview questions relate to?
a.
explaining the context of the situation being asked about
b.
describing the end result in detail
c.
explaining the task thoroughly
d.
transforming the example into a learning experience
78. Buck has made it clear that he will tolerate nothing but a unified front in his team meetings. He actively
discourages anyone from disagreeing—especially with his ideas. What is most likely to result from Buck’s
approach?
a.
delayed decision making
b.
task orientation
c.
depersonalization
d.
groupthink
79. A vocation is BEST described as:
a.
a feeling of dedication toward one’s occupation.
b.
a way to earn a living.
c.
one’s profession or career.
d.
anything a person has been trained to do.
80. Many people know it is a good practice to research the company before an interview, but it is also a good
idea to research:
a.
the potential supervisor.
b.
the interviewer.
c.
exceptional performers in the company.
d.
the CEO.
81.     Identify the step of the STAR method that is represented in this statement: “From that point on, my boss
trusted my judgment more and allowed me more freedom to handle refunds flexibly.”
Name:
Class:
Date:
a.
S
b.
T
c.
A
d.
R
82. The first step in the STAR method of responding to behavioral interview questions is:
a.
describing a hypothetical situation and task.
b.
explaining a real-life situation thoroughly.
c.
stating whether the example ends in success or failure.
d.
restating the question the interviewer asked.
83. Brandi is getting ready for her first professional interview. Although she took a public speaking class in
college, it will not help in this context because an interview is not a speech or a presentation.
a.
True
b.
False
84. In a workplace setting, two of the three most common kinds of interviews are screening interviews and:
a.
team interviews.
b.
group interviews.
c.
selection interviews.
d.
behavioral interviews.
85. Behavioral interviews became popular when:
a.
interviewers realized they could cover more information in less time.
b.
companies discovered a new and novel way to try to assess fit.
c.
interviewers found that interviewees preferred them.
d.
researchers found that traditional interviews using open-ended questions were not effective.
86. A person’s job is their vocation.
a.
True
b.
False
87. If a candidate’s first interview with an organization is conducted by phone or video technology, that
interview is likely a screening interview.
a.
True
b.
False
Name:
Class:
Date:
88. When speaking in the workplace, speakers often have to adapt their approach in real time as a result of
group dynamics.
a.
True
b.
False
Name:
Class:
Date:
Name:
Class:
Date:
Name:
Class:
Date:
Name:
Class:
Date: