Selecting a Topic and a
Purpose
he questions for each chapter are organized according to type: true-false, multiple-choice, short-
answer, and essay. Within each of these categories, questions are clustered by topic, roughly
following the order of topics in the textbook.
To provide as much flexibility as possible in constructing examinations, there is deliberate overlap
among the questions, both within and across question types. This enables you to choose the wording
and question type that best fits your testing objectives. In deciding which questions to use, take care to
avoid items such as a multiple-choice question that gives away the answer to a true-false or short–
answer question, or an essay question that covers essentially the same ground as a true-false, short-
answer, or multiple-choice question.
T
5
CHAPTER 5—SELECTING A TOPIC AND A PURPOSE 69
True-False Questions
audience, and the speaker’s qualifications.
choosing a speech topic.
words and ideas.
speech topic.
process early.
idea.
general purpose.
purpose.
specific purpose.
inform or to demonstrate.
explaining and entertaining.
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teaching and advocating.
accomplish in a speech.
idea.
the body of the speech.
“The three major elements of the architectural style of Frank Lloyd Wright are low–
pitched roofs, functional designs, and lines that blend into the landscape.”
“The five most common types of volcanoes are the cinder cone volcano, the shield
volcano, the strato-volcano, the giant caldera, and the fissure volcano.”
in a single infinitive phrase.
an example of an effective specific purpose statement for an informative speech.
is a well-worded specific purpose statement for an informative speech.
an example of an effective specific purpose statement for a speech.
effective specific purpose statement for a speech.
for students” is an example of a well-worded specific purpose statement for a
persuasive speech.
school buses” is an example of a well-worded specific purpose statement for a
persuasive speech.
purpose statement for an informative speech.
CHAPTER 5—SELECTING A TOPIC AND A PURPOSE 71
purpose statement for a speech.
statement for a speech.
purpose statement.
statement for a persuasive speech.
statement for a speech.
statement for a speech.
your speech.
purpose statement should contain a reference to your audience.
specific purpose statement.
specific purpose statement.
well-worded specific purpose statement.
the military should be conducted by civilian authorities” is an example of a well–
worded specific purpose statement.
a well-worded specific purpose statement for a speech.
worded specific purpose statement for a speech.
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an example of an effective specific purpose statement for an informative speech.
birds” is an example of an effective specific purpose statement for a speech.
purpose.
have decided on the main points of the speech.
completed.
body of the speech.
encourages eating only foods high in fat and protein has major advantages, as well as
serious risks.”
sales tax to help pay for social programs” is an example of an effective central idea for
a speech.
example of a well-worded central idea for a speech.
coats, and their manes” is an example of a well-worded central idea for a speech.
lodging” is an example of an effective specific purpose statement for a speech.
lodging” is an example of a well-worded central idea for a speech.
treating injuries” is an example of a well-worded central idea for a speech.
treating injuries” is an example of a well-worded specific purpose statement for a
speech.
CHAPTER 5—SELECTING A TOPIC AND A PURPOSE 73
for a $10 increase in student fees to pay for a new fitness center because the current
one is too small and its equipment is out of date.”
Multiple-Choice Questions (Students are to indicate the best answer for each
question by circling the correct letter.)
1. According to your textbook, brainstorming is especially helpful when you are having trouble
d. phrasing the central idea.
e. analyzing the audience.
2. The process of generating ideas for speech topics by free association of words and ideas is
known as
a. linking.
b. aggregating.
3. Which of the following does your textbook recommend as a method of brainstorming for a
speech topic?
a. clustering
b. taking a personal inventory
4. After choosing a topic, what is the next step of speech preparation?
a. phrasing the central idea
5. Which of the following is inappropriate in a speech to inform?
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d. demonstrating
e. telling
6. Advocating a position is most appropriate when the general purpose of your speech is to
d. entertain.
e. inform.
7. When the general purpose of your speech is to __________ , you act primarily as a teacher or
lecturer.
d. persuade
e. convert
8. When the general purpose of your speech is to __________ , you act primarily as an advocate.
d. commemorate
e. inform
9. According to your textbook, what is the most important early step in the process of developing a
successful speech?
d. brainstorming for a central idea
e. selecting the residual message
10. The __________ expresses precisely what you hope to accomplish with your speech.
d. thesis statement
e. goal statement
11. According to your textbook, the specific purpose for a speech should
a. include a reference to the audience.
CHAPTER 5—SELECTING A TOPIC AND A PURPOSE 75
12. According to your textbook, the specific purpose statement for a speech should be
a. determined after the central idea.
13. “To inform my audience about the history of the Super Bowl” is an example of a
a. speech topic.
b. general purpose.
14. “To inform my audience about the three basic steps in preventive medicine” is an example of a
a. main point.
15. “To inform my audience about the symptoms, causes, and treatment of Hodgkin’s disease” is an
example of a
d. central idea.
e. main point.
16. “To inform my audience about the four major elements in rope climbing” is an example of a
a. speech topic.
b. general purpose.
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17. “To inform my audience about the contributions of Navajo code talkers to the U.S. military
during World War II” is an example of a
a. thesis statement.
b. central idea.
18. “To inform my audience about the history of the congressional filibuster” is an example of a
d. central idea.
e. statement of intention.
19. “To inform my audience about how police dogs assist law enforcement officers in combatting
crime” is an example of a
a. mission statement.
e. central idea.
20. “To inform my audience about the history and rules of curling” is an example of a
a. speech topic.
b. general purpose.
21. “To inform my audience about the development, technology, and benefits of hydrogen fuel
cells” is an example of a
a. central idea.
e. speech topic.
22. “Improving our sleep habits” is a poorly phrased specific purpose for a speech because it is
a. too technical for a classroom speech.
b. written as a sentence rather than as a declarative phrase.
CHAPTER 5—SELECTING A TOPIC AND A PURPOSE 77
23. “Learning how to deal with stress” is a poorly phrased specific purpose for a classroom speech
because it
a. is written as a fragment instead of as a full infinitive phrase.
24. “To explain the three major benefits of cycling as a form of exercise” is a poorly phrased
specific purpose statement because it
a. is too broad.
25. “To explain how to write an effective job résumé” is a poorly phrased specific purpose statement
because it
a. is too specific.
26. “To inform my audience that learning digital photography is a piece of cake” is a poorly phrased
specific purpose statement for a speech because it
a. is written as a statement rather than as a question.
27. “To persuade my audience that continuing to spend money on the space program is like throwing
good money after bad” is a poorly phrased specific purpose statement for a speech because it is
d. all of the above.
e. a and c only.
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28. “Abandoning nuclear power because of accidents would be like throwing the baby out with the
bathwater” is a poorly phrased specific purpose statement for a persuasive speech because it
a. is written as a statement rather than as a question.
b. is missing a reference to the audience.
29. “To persuade my audience to give blood regularly and to become an organ donor” is a poorly
phrased specific purpose statement for a classroom speech because it
30. “To inform my audience about the basic steps in car maintenance and how to protect their
investment with auto insurance” is a poorly phrased specific purpose statement for a classroom
speech because it
a. is too specific.
31. “To persuade my audience to volunteer regularly in their community and to join the Peace Corps
after college” is a poorly phrased specific purpose statement for a classroom speech because it
a. is too personal.
32. Identify the flaw in the following specific purpose statement for a classroom speech: “Should
juvenile prisons be eliminated?”
a. It is too political for a classroom speech.
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33. Identify the flaw in the following specific purpose statement for a classroom speech: “Should
stand-your-ground laws be repealed?”
a. It contains figurative language.
34. As a specific purpose statement, “To inform my audience about computer technology” is too
a. figurative.
35. Identify the flaw in the following specific purpose statement for a classroom speech: “To inform
my audience about the solar system.”
d. It’s too remote.
e. It’s too impersonal.
36. Identify the flaw in the following specific purpose statement for a classroom speech: “To inform
my audience about the stock market.”
a. It’s too figurative.
37. As a specific purpose statement, “To inform my audience about climate change” is too
d. personal.
e. detailed.
38. Identify the flaw in the following specific purpose statement for a classroom speech: “To inform
my audience about Hinduism.”
a. It’s too technical.
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39. The specific purpose of Stephanie’s informative speech is “To inform my audience about
economics.” Are there any flaws in Stephanie’s specific purpose?
a. No. Stephanie has a strong specific purpose statement.
40. Charity’s specific purpose statement for her classroom informative speech is “To inform my
audience about the changes in Medicare benefits for next year.” According to your textbook, are
there any flaws in Charity’s specific purpose?
a. No. Charity has a strong specific purpose statement.
41. Cesar’s specific purpose for his classroom informative speech is “To inform my audience how to
load apps onto their cell phones.” According to your textbook, are there any flaws in Cesar’s
specific purpose?
a. No. Cesar has a strong specific purpose statement.
42. Sky’s specific purpose statement for his classroom informative speech is “To inform my
audience how to change a tire.” According to your textbook, are there any flaws in Sky’s specific
purpose?
d. Yes. Sky’s specific purpose should have been expressed as a question.
e. Yes. Sky’s specific purpose contains more than one distinct idea.
43. The __________ is a one-sentence statement that sums up or encapsulates the major ideas of a
speech.
a. specific purpose