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CHAPTER TWO
UNDERSTANDING AND REDUCING YOUR APPREHENSION
True/False
T F 1. Because many of us do not give speeches very often, speech anxiety is relatively
rare.
T F 2. Selye suggested the human body reacts to stress in stages known as the general
adaptation syndrome.
T F 3. Physical symptoms of nervousness include yawning and “butterflies” in the
stomach.
T F 4. McCroskey’s term for an individual’s anxiety about speaking to another person or
a group is “stage fright.”
T F 5. McCroskey discovered that behavior modification techniques known as
systematic desensitization could lower anxiety.
T F 6. The dread of the future is the concept of awfullizing.
T F 7. One reason people can fail at public speaking is by using positive self-talk.
T F 8. Negative self-talk cannot be transformed into positive self-talk.
T F 9. One way to understand one’s anxiety and to reduce it is through journaling.
T F 10. Another way to help reduce stress is by avoiding physical exertion and exercise.
T F 11. Making sure that you have several strong caffeine drinks before speaking can
help keep your mind sharp and on speck.
T F 12. A speaker should avoid the consumption of alcohol prior to speaking.
T F 13. Being thoroughly prepared means working primarily on the delivery of the
speech.
T F 14. Practicing a speech several times can help reduce anxiety.
T F 15. Scribbling down a few notes a couple of minutes before speech class is no
substitute for doing effective research.
T F 16. When a mistake is made, we should analyze the mistake, understand the mistake,
and learn from the mistake.
T F 17. People grow best when they do not accept constructive criticism.
Multiple Choice
18. Which of the following has been ranked above public speaking as the number-one
fear of people researched?
a. Going to the dentist.
b. Heights.
c. Mice.
d. Flying.
e. None of the above
19. A physical call to arms for the body in response to a fight-or-flight situation is called
a. Alarm reaction.
b. Fear reaction.
c. Anxiety reaction.
d. Chain reaction.
e. None of the above.
20. Physical symptoms of nervousness include all of the following EXCEPT:
a. Reduced heart rate.
b. Decreased saliva flow.
c. Tightening of muscles.
d. Shaky hands
e. Increased sweating.
21. The body reduces the general physiological alarms and channels energy to the organs
that are most capable of handling tension in the
a. Alarm reaction.
b. Resistance stage.
c. Phase of exhaustion.
d. Phase three.
e. None of the above.
22. Individuals who experience high apprehension levels could lower anxiety through
behavior modification techniques know as
a. general adaptation syndrome.
b. negative self-talk.
c. systematic desensitization.
d. all of the above.
e. none of the above.
23. One constructive behavior that can help you distract yourself from apprehension is
a. deep-breathing exercises.
b. maintain breathing to be shallow and controlled.
c. hold breath periodically control breathing.
d. journal about the speech that is about to take place.
24. Which of the following is/are suggested the night BEFORE a speech?
a. Have a few drinks.
b. Exercise.
c. Cram for the presentation.
d. Get plenty of sleep.
e. B, C and D only
25. Which of the following is NOT a part of the eight-point plan to reduce apprehension?
a. Learn from mistakes.
b. Develop a positive attitude.
c. Try to hide your anxiety.
d. Be thoroughly prepared.
e. Maintain a healthy body.
Fill in the Blank
27. Anxious people can unlearn old patterns and reeducate themselves into thinking more
Essay Questions
31. Explain how changing negative self-talk to positive self-talk can make a dramatic
impact on speech anxiety.
32. Discuss when you should and should not reward yourself after delivering a speech.
33. Discuss how people who awfullize about an upcoming speech can create more
negative feelings than positive about the results they will realize.
Online Chapter Quiz Questions
The following questions are review quizzes that appear at the companion website for Building A
Chapter 2
Understanding and Reducing Your Apprehension
True False
1. Speech anxiety is rare in public speakers.
2. “Awfullizing” refers to an unreasonable dread of the future.
3. Having a couple of drinks the night before the day of the speech can relax the speaker.
4. Communication apprehension describes a speaker’s anxiety about speaking to another person
or a group.
5. Positive self-talk is a strategy that can help anxious speakers unlearn old patterns and
reeducate themselves into thinking more constructively.
Multiple Choice
6. The individual who concluded that the body reacts to stress in 3 stages is
a. James C. McCroskey
b. Hans Selye
c. Robert Harper
d. James Ellis
7. Severe anxiety about speaking to another person or group is called
a. awfullizing
b. desensitization
c. communication apprehension
d. resistance
8. In the general adaptation syndrome, the stage in which the physiological alarms are reduced
and energy is channeled to those organs that are most capable of handling the tension is called
a. the alarm reaction
b. the resistance stage
c. the phase of exhaustion
d. awfullizing
9. In James C. McCroskey’s research, systematic desensitization is used
a. during the phase of exhaustion
b. with all nervous speakers
c. during the alarm reaction
d. in people with high levels of speech anxiety
10. Selye’s research concluded that the human body reacts to stress in stages known as the
a. semantic noise.
b. general adaptation syndrome.
c. McCroskey Principle.
d. channel.
Fill In the Blank
11. Suggest one strategy for reducing your public speaking apprehension. ____________.
12. James C. McCroskey coined the term _______________ ____________________.
13. One of the best ways to reduce anxiety is to be completely ___________________.
14. In Selye’s study the phase where the body systems that were summoned to cope with stress
are depleted is called _____________________.
15. In Selye’s study, the physiological stage in which the body releases various chemicals in
response to the fight or flight situation is called _______________________.
Answers
