Chapter 6 Public Speaking

Why should a speaker avoid stereotyping the audience? A. It can lead to false generalizations. B. It can cause the speaker to share false information. C. It can cause the speaker to analyze the audience too well. D. It can lead the speaker to talk too persuasively.

A. It can lead to false generalizations.

Which generation is the most racially and ethnically diverse in U.S. history? A. Millennials B. Baby Boomers C. Gen Xers D. The Greatest Generation

A. Millennials

An uncomfortable physical setting for a speech A. can impair an audience's willingness to listen to or accept a speaker's ideas. B. is not the responsibility of the speaker. C. is not a situation that the speaker needs to know about in advance.

A. can impair an audience's willingness to listen to or accept a speaker's ideas.

In general, the larger your audience is, the more ______ your presentation must be. A. formal B. informal C. personal D. jargon-filled

A. formal

During speech preparation, a speaker who analyzes the size of the audience and the attitude of the audience toward the subject, speaker, and occasion is said to be doing ______ audience analysis. A. a demographic B. an attitudinal C. a general D. a situational

D. a situational

The size of your audience may affect which of the following? a. The formality of your language b. Your choice of topics c. Your scheduled speech time d. Your choice of visual aids

a. The formality of your language d. Your choice of visual aids

Cameron gave a speech in class about the use of infrared technology in government projects. After his speech, one of his classmates asked, "This is all very impressive, but what is infrared technology and how does it affect me?" Then, Cameron realized he had made several errors, including a. misjudging the audience's knowledge on infrared technology. b. overlooking the audience's disposition toward the speaker. c. failing to persuade the audience to share his views on a controversy. d. neglecting to connect the topic to the audience's experiences.

a. misjudging the audience's knowledge on infrared technology. d. neglecting to connect the topic to the audience's experiences.

Fellow students should be seen as a(n) ___________ (authentic/fake) audience.

authentic

In addition to factoring in the audience size and physical setting of a speech, a(n) __________ audience analysis also considers how the audience feels about the speech topic.

situational

What is the tendency of people to be concerned primarily with their own values, beliefs, and well-being? A. Homophobia B. Egocentrism C. Ethnocentrism D. Xenophobia

B. Egocentrism

In general, a good speaker will consider an audience's religious affiliations during speech preparation because A. people who share a religion also share a point of view. B. good speakers are ethnocentric. C. religious affiliation is an aspect of situational analysis. D. audiences are often religiously diverse.

D. audiences are often religiously diverse.

The purpose of demographic audience analysis is to ______ to create a better speech. A. recognize the size of the audience B. disregard the audience C. utilize the venue D. identify traits of the audience

D. identify traits of the audience

For which of the following reasons should astute public speakers be aware of language choices with regard to sexual orientation? a. They should never address controversial issues regarding sexual orientation. b. They need to avoid stereotyping members of LGBTQ communities. c. They might offend members of the audience unintentionally by using inappropriate language. d. They otherwise might make some audience members feel excluded.

b. They need to avoid stereotyping members of LGBTQ communities. c. They might offend members of the audience unintentionally by using inappropriate language. d. They otherwise might make some audience members feel excluded.

Julie is a new 28-year-old manager at Bowers Envelope Company. Her first job is to give a "safety-first" speech to the press-production crew, most of whom have been with the company for 25 years or more. Other than gender, what is the most crucial demographic characteristic that Julie should consider when preparing her remarks? A. Ethnicity B. Age C. Religion D. Cultural background

B. Age

People usually attend speeches because they are already interested in the subject of the speech. However, in the classroom, the audience is "captive," and the interest level for your topic may not be as high. What is the best way for a classroom speaker to handle this? A. Accept the fact that your classmates will have no interest in what you have to say in your speech B. Generate interest by finding ways to get your classmates engaged in the topic C. Focus on talking only about what interests you since your classmates are used to being bored listening to speeches

B. Generate interest by finding ways to get your classmates engaged in the topic

Shelley is speaking at a hospital about volunteer opportunities. Which demographic trait should she focus on primarily? A. Age B. Group membership C. Cultural background D. Gender

B. Group membership

While creating a persuasive argument supporting Planned Parenthood, Kate decided to deal with any audience objections by first discovering their religious affiliations. Why? A. She needed to know if she should change her stance on the issue. B. She wanted to anticipate emotionally charged and passionate reactions. C. She did not want to mention anyone's religious denomination by name. D. She hoped she could persuade them to adopt her religious perspective.

B. She wanted to anticipate emotionally charged and passionate reactions.

When giving a persuasive speech, you should give A. just one side of the issue. B. both sides of the issue. C. the side of the issue that the majority of your audience believes in. D. only the opposing side of an issue

B. both sides of the issue.

All speeches are influenced by the ______ of audience members. A. auditory perception B. frame of reference C. communication skills

B. frame of reference

If your audience knows very little about the topic of your speech, you should A. discuss the topic in detail. B. talk at a basic level. C. hand out an overview beforehand. D. make use of technical terms.

B. talk at a basic level.

Speakers who consider different sexual orientations in their audience analysis and speech preparation do so because A. it helps the speaker to form a better attitude toward these marginal groups. B. it is best to avoid any criticism from the audience. C. effective speakers try to make language choices that make all people feel included.

C. effective speakers try to make language choices that make all people feel included.

True or false: An audience's characteristic group membership is important because it can give clues about listeners' attitudes and interests.

True

When preparing a speech, considering the general age of an audience can help you do which of the following? a. Choose the kind of supporting material you need b. Consider the type of historical references to use c. Identify your audience's values d. Remind yourself that generations are monolithic

a. Choose the kind of supporting material you need b. Consider the type of historical references to use c. Identify your audience's values

Which of the following statements are true about considering race, ethnicity, and cultural background while preparing a speech? a. Cultural considerations are more important than ever because we have become a global society. b. Cultural perspectives will not affect listeners' attitudes toward a speaker's topic. c. Cultural considerations are less important than they used to be because we have become a global society. d. Cultural perspectives will affect listeners' attitudes toward a speaker's topic.

a. Cultural considerations are more important than ever because we have become a global society. d. Cultural perspectives will affect listeners' attitudes toward a speaker's topic.

Which of the following are questions to keep in mind when developing an audience-centered speech? a. How can I avoid the process of identification? b. What is the most effective way to compose my speech to accomplish my aim? c. What do I want them to know, believe, or do as a result of my speech? d. To whom am I speaking?

b. What is the most effective way to compose my speech to accomplish my aim? c. What do I want them to know, believe, or do as a result of my speech? d. To whom am I speaking?

When Tomas gave his speech, the heating system was not working correctly. Knowing that his audience felt hot and cranky, Tomas began his speech by saying, "I know we are all very uncomfortable from the temperature. But I want you all to close your eyes and imagine the heat coming from the sun while you are lying in the sand listening to the waves at one of my favorite vacation spots, Siesta Key Beach in Sarasota, Florida!" The class became energized, and Tomas was able to keep his audience's attention. Why? a. The body of his speech was well organized. b. He drew attention away from the topic of his speech. c. He paid attention to the audience's demographics. d. He used the physical situation to his advantage. e. He refused to be influenced negatively by the physical setting.

d. He used the physical situation to his advantage. e. He refused to be influenced negatively by the physical setting.

Sheri has chosen to speak about the Japanese practice of bonsai and the success she has had cultivating a small, potted tree. To prepare for her speech, she wants to determine her audience's _____________ toward the topic by considering the audience interest in bonsai, knowledge about it, and attitudes toward it.

disposition