Chapter 19-Impromptu Speeches

When presenting data, which of the following is the best way to represent numbers in an oral presentation? A. Nineteen hundred and fifty eight billion dollars B. Just under nineteen billion dollars C. $19,361,979 D. Less than 20,316,999 E. $19 billion

$19 billion

(True/False) Gestures, such as swaying your feet or twisting your button, work well for an oral presentation, as they help you appear natural.

False

(True/False) Pitch is a voice quality that emphasizes one or more words in a sentence.

False

(True/False) A presentation designed to train a group of employees on how to use certain software is an example of an informative presentation.

True

Which of the following guidelines should you follow when ending a presentation? A. You should end with a question. B. You should not make a reference to the opening. C. You should avoid restating the main point. D. You should end with a vivid positive picture. E. You should avoid telling the audience what to do.

You should end with a vivid positive picture.

A written message may be preferred over an oral message, because a written message makes it easier to: A. present extensive or complex data. B. answer questions and build consensus. C. focus the audience's attention on specific issues. D. use emotion to motivate the audience. E. get immediate action or feedback.

present extensive or complex data.

You should choose written messages over oral messages when you want to: A. get an immediate action or response. B. present extensive or complex data. C. use emotion to help persuade the audience. D. focus the audience's attention on specific points. E. answer questions, resolve conflicts, and build consensus.

present extensive or complex data.

A presentation opens with "This presentation pertains to a phenomenon that is popularly known as 'the best discovery of the century.'" This opener is an example of a _____. A. narration B. question C. startling statement D. quotation E. persuasive statement

quotation

To create an effective PowerPoint presentation you should: A. present complex ideas on a single slide. B. use your slides as a mnemonic device. C. present the visuals and text separately. D. try to limit all your information to a single slide. E. create slides that the audience will have to spend more than a minute on each of them to understand the information.

use your slides as a mnemonic device.

Wang has just delivered a presentation to a funding agency, on the exploitation of forests to extract palm oil. The director of the organization has a question regarding the industry figures of the palm oil industry. Wang does not know the answer. Which of the following statements should Wang make that will best help him handle the question? A. "The palm oil industry is large and estimating the exact figures is quite difficult." B. "I am not sure of the industry figures of the palm oil industry, but I will check and get back to you." C. "You will find it interesting to know that these figures will not affect our campaign in any way." D. "The palm oil industry is an extensive one, but you could check the website of the forest department for details." E. "This is a good question. You could refer to the handouts distributed."

"I am not sure of the industry figures of the palm oil industry, but I will check and get back to you."

You have just presented a difficult proposal to a board of superiors at work. A senior executive who does not like you asks, "So why should we listen to you? You've only worked here for two years." Which of the following is the best way to respond to such a statement? A. "You have been here fifteen years, and you do not know how to handle this either." B. "I am sorry you feel I am inexperienced. Compared to you, I suppose I am." C. "Are you questioning me because you don't like the proposal, or because you like to hassle me?" D. "You're asking how reliable our research on this project is. We've tested six scenarios..." E. "Please let us be mature about this and not bring our personal differences into it."

"You're asking how reliable our research on this project is. We've tested six scenarios..."

Which of the following statements is true of the pitch of a voice? A. A high-pitched voice is usually perceived as being more authoritative than a low-pitched voice. B. A high-pitched voice is usually perceived as being less pleasant to listen to than a low-pitched voice. C. Your voice goes down in pitch when you're angry or excited. D. Women tend to have lower-pitched voices than men. E. When you increase the volume of your speech, your pitch tends to decrease.

A high-pitched voice is usually perceived as being less pleasant to listen to than a low-pitched voice.

Which of the following is true of a purpose statement in an oral presentation? A. A purpose statement does not influence your choice of strategy. B. A purpose statement is the introduction to your talk. C. A purpose statement should be made after you finish preparing your presentation. D. A purpose statement should be clear and direct in your presentation. E. A purpose statement guides your choice of strategy and content.

A purpose statement guides your choice of strategy and content.

Which of the following common modes of openers in an oral presentation would most help in getting the audience to raise their hands and participate actively? A. An anecdote B. A question C. A quotation D. A startling statement E. A narration

A question

Which of the following is true of an interactive presentation? A. In an interactive presentation, the speaker presents the questions or issues that both speaker and audience have agreed on in advance. B. In an interactive presentation, the speaker answers the audience's questions and queries only at the end. C. An interactive presentation uses questions to determine needs and probe objections. D. In an interactive presentation, the speaker serves as a facilitator to help the audience tap its own knowledge. E. Very few sales presentations are interactive presentations.

An interactive presentation uses questions to determine needs and probe objections.

Which of the following is a similarity between an oral message and a written message? A. Both use visuals to clarify or explain material. B. Both use I-attitude and positive emphasis. C. Both can prompt an immediate response from the audience. D. Both are used to present extensive, complex data with the same amount of ease. E. Both provide the opportunity to resolve conflicts and build consensus.

Both use visuals to clarify or explain material.

Which of the following statements is true of demonstrations? A. While demonstrations can prove points quickly, they're not effective in helping people remember them. B. Demonstrations offer an effective way to show what a product can do for the audience. C. Demonstrations do not offer an effective way to teach a process. D. Demonstrations tend to distract the audience and divert their attention from the main points of the presentation. E. Demonstrations are often time-consuming and take too long to prove certain points.

Demonstrations offer an effective way to show what a product can do for the audience.

(True/False) Humor is the only way to set an audience at ease and directing humor at them helps establish a rapport.

False

(True/False) In a guided discussion, a speaker talks without interruption and answers questions only at the end of the presentation.

False

(True/False) In a persuasive presentation, you should begin with your weakest point and end on a strong note.

False

(True/False) It is best to avoid using a startling statement or a question as an opener to an oral presentation.

False

(True/False) One of the first steps in planning an oral presentation is to identify five main ideas that you want your audience to take home.

False

(True/False) Oral messages are better than written messages when presenting several specific details of a law, procedure, or policy.

False

(True/False) Presenters tend to sound more natural if they speak from memory and do not refer to notes.

False

(True/False) The primary purpose of a goodwill presentation is to motivate an audience to act or to believe.

False

(True/False) While delivering a presentation, you should focus most of your attention on the screen instead of the audience.

False

(True/False) While designing power point slides, it is always important to use clip art to make the material more interesting.

False

Jaden is conducting a presentation on how to increase employee productivity. He bases his entire speech on eight main points and clearly shows how each of these points is related to one another. He also ensures that the audience remembers the information in his presentation better by using colorful visuals to illustrate his ideas. In addition to all of this, Jaden presents the information in his presentation as a story and uses metaphors to grab the audience's attention. Which of the following should Jaden modify to improve his presentation? A. He should avoid using metaphors. B. He should minimize the use of colors and visuals. C. He should limit his presentation to three main points and include sub points. D. He should not turn the information into a story, as this makes his presentation seem more personal than professional. E. He should not show the relationship between each of the main points as this could confuse the audience.

He should limit his presentation to three main points and include sub points

Which of the following is true of a guided discussion? A. In a guided discussion, the speaker functions as an expert with all the answers. B. In a guided discussion, the speaker talks without interruption. C. In a guided discussion, the speaker serves as a facilitator to help the audience tap its own knowledge. D. In a guided discussion, the speaker doesn't encourage audience participation. E. In a guided discussion, the speaker answers the audience's questions only at the end of the discussion.

In a guided discussion, the speaker serves as a facilitator to help the audience tap its own knowledge.

Which of the following is a difference between a monologue presentation and a guided discussion? A. In a guided discussion, a speaker speaks without interruption; in a monologue presentation, a speaker encourages the listeners to intervene. B. Unlike a guided discussion, a monologue presentation produces more responses involving analysis. C. Unlike a guided discussion, a monologue presentation produces more commitment to the result. D. In a monologue presentation, the speaker never functions as an expert; in a guided discussion, the speaker functions as an expert only when he or she is asked questions. E. In a monologue presentation, the speaker plans the presentation in advance; in a guided discussion, the speaker does not engage in any prior preparation.

In a monologue presentation, the speaker plans the presentation in advance; in a guided discussion, the speaker does not engage in any prior preparation.

Yan has been assigned the task of training the new employees at work. Which of the following types of presentations will Yan most likely use during his training sessions? A. Validating presentations B. Informative presentations C. Goodwill presentations D. Persuasive presentations E. Decision-making presentations

Informative presentations

_____ are primarily used to motivate the audience to act or believe. A. Persuasive presentations B. Employee recognition speeches C. Goodwill presentations D. Training sessions E. Informative presentations

Persuasive presentations

The Traffic Safety Department of Elavia is organizing a presentation on road safety for World Road Safety Day. Which of the following statements will best help make the presentation relevant to the audience's experiences? A. Safety is the number-one priority of our department. B. Remember how your heart raced the last time you had a close call on the road? C. Seat belts save lives. Make sure you put them on while driving. D. You are required by law to wear your seat belt while driving. E. The department cares about your safety. It is better to be safe than sorry.

Remember how your heart raced the last time you had a close call on the road?

Estefani gives a presentation to a group of trainees at her hotel on how to deal with angry, dissatisfied customers. Just as she finishes, one of the trainees, George, asks her a question about what he should do if he isn't sure of the information to be provided to a guest. How should Estefani handle George's question? A. She should nod her head to indicate that she understands the question. B. She should tell George that she has already answered the question in her presentation. C. She should link her answer to the points she's covered during her presentation. D. She should say "That is an excellent question!" E. She should attempt to respond to George's question even when she isn't sure about the answer.

She should link her answer to the points she's covered during her presentation

Johanna is about to deliver a presentation to an important client. This presentation could either land her a promotion, or get her into trouble on the basis of its effectiveness. Johanna is nervous. Which of the following should Johanna do to calm herself before delivering the presentation? A. She should have an extra cup of coffee to keep herself alert and vigilant. B. She should be frank and humorously announce to everyone that she is nervous. C. She should calm her nerves by having an alcoholic beverage. D. She should avoid analyzing her audience or checking out the arrangements as this could increase her anxiety. E. She should tell herself that her adrenaline levels are up and she's ready to deliver an effective presentation.

She should tell herself that her adrenaline levels are up and she's ready to deliver an effective presentation.

Alyssa recently delivered a presentation at a media house on a possible tie-up for an environmental campaign. Her audience found her presentation professional and well-prepared. Which of the following did Alyssa most likely do in her presentation? A. She spoke in a monotone. B. She didn't look directly at the audience. C. She kept her attention focused on her hand-notes. D. She kept her feet together and stood still through most of the presentation. E. She varied the tone, stress, and pitch of her voice to sound enthusiastic.

She varied the tone, stress, and pitch of her voice to sound enthusiastic.

Which of the following is a typical example of a signpost? A. In addition to this, solar energy can also replace the usage of coal. B. If you have any questions, please raise your hands. C. So much for what they're doing. Now let us talk about what we can do to help. D. Can you all hear me loud and clear at the back? E. If I speak too fast for you to follow, please let me know.

So much for what they're doing. Now let us talk about what we can do to help.

Which of the following patterns of organizing the body of a presentation works best when you want to use history to show a problem's complexity or magnitude? A. The excluding alternatives pattern B. The pro-con pattern C. The problem-causes-solution pattern D. The chronological pattern E. The 1-2-3 pattern

The chronological pattern

Which of the following is a difference between oral and written styles of presenting information? A. The oral style of presenting information uses more personal pronouns than the written style. B. The oral style of presenting information uses longer sentences and words than the written style. C. The oral style of presenting information uses more varied vocabulary than the written style. D. The oral style of presenting information uses less repetition than the written style. E. The oral style of presenting information uses more complex words than the written style.

The oral style of presenting information uses more personal pronouns than the written style.

Which of the following is a difference between the excluding alternatives and the problem-causes-solution patterns of organizing the body of a presentation? A. The problem-causes-solution pattern presents only those solutions that might work; the excluding alternatives pattern presents both solutions that might work and those that might not. B. The problem-causes-solution pattern may be necessary when the audience will find your solution hard to accept; the excluding alternatives pattern works best when the audience will find your solution easy to accept. C. The problem-causes-solution pattern begins by explaining symptoms of a problem; the excluding alternatives pattern begins by explaining many obvious solutions. D. The problem-causes-solution pattern ends the discussion with a solution; the excluding alternatives pattern ends the discussion with multiple solutions. E. The problem-causes-solution pattern explains the symptoms of a problem; the excluding alternatives pattern does not.

The problem-causes-solution pattern presents only those solutions that might work; the excluding alternatives pattern presents both solutions that might work and those that might not.

Which of the following is true about the 1-2-3 pattern of organizing information in an oral presentation? A. This pattern works best when the audience will find your solution easy to accept. B. This pattern may be necessary when the audience will find your solution hard to accept. C. This pattern works best when the history of a problem helps show its complexity or magnitude. D. This pattern works well when you want to organize short informative briefings. E. This pattern works well when you want the audience to see the weaknesses in a particular strategy.

This pattern works well when you want to organize short informative briefings.

Which of the following is the main purpose of using an informative presentation? A. To motivate the audience to act or believe B. To validate the audience's commitment to organizational goals C. To stroke the audience's egos and to help them achieve D. To inform or teach the audience E. To please and entertain the audience

To inform or teach the audience

_____ refers to the rising or falling inflection that tells you whether a group of words is a question or a statement, whether the speaker is uncertain or confident, and whether a statement is sincere or sarcastic. A. Tone of voice B. Stress C. Timbre D. Pitch E. Enunciation

Tone of voice

In which of the following instances is an informative presentation most likely to be used? A. Training new employees on how to use computer software B. Convincing people to contribute to a worthy cause C. Congratulating a team on a job well done D. Convincing an audience to vote for someone in an election E. Recognizing and motivating the achievers of an organization

Training new employees on how to use computer software

(True/False) At the end of the question period in an oral presentation, you should take two minutes to summarize your main point once more.

True

(True/False) In an oral presentation, it is best to simplify complex numbers by reducing them to two digits and putting them in context.

True

(True/False) Oral communication style uses more personal pronouns, less varied vocabulary, and more repetition than written communication styles.

True

(True/False) The more you can do to personalize the opening for your audience, the better.

True

(True/False) The three basic purposes of oral presentations are to inform, to persuade, and to build goodwill.

True

(True/False) Well-designed visuals in PowerPoint slides give presentations a professional image and serve as an outline for a talk.

True

(True/False) Your presentation visuals should include titles, but they do not need figure numbers.

True

Nicole decides to present the design of a new bioreactor to her clients orally. Which of the following is most likely the reason she chooses an oral presentation over a written document? A. Unlike a written document, an oral presentation would make it easier for Nicole to present specific details about the reactor and its functioning. B. Nicole would be able to make use of visuals to explain her design in an oral presentation, but she cannot do that in a written document. C. Unlike a written document, an oral presentation would make it easier for Nicole to answer her client's questions and build consensus. D. An oral presentation would allow Nicole to present the complex data associated with her design more easily than a written document. E. An oral presentation would make it easier for Nicole to reduce undesirable emotions in her audience than a written document would.

Unlike a written document, an oral presentation would make it easier for Nicole to answer her client's questions and build consensus

Which of the following guidelines should you follow when planning a strategy for your presentation? A. You should base your presentation on eight or more key points to help your audience connect with at least one. B. You should avoid using colors and visuals in your presentation, as this could divert your audience's attention from the main objectives. C. You should make your audience aware of negatives and inconsistencies in your presentation, even if they do not enquire about them. D. You should avoid showing the relationship between each of the main points in your presentation as this could confuse your audience. E. You should choose information for your presentation that is most persuasive for your audience and which answers their questions.

You should choose information for your presentation that is most persuasive for your audience and which answers their questions.

Which of the following is true of planning a strong opening for your presentation while organizing your information? A. You should read out the opening of your presentation from written notes to seem more professional. B. You should avoid opening your presentation with a startling statement. C. You should personalize your opening to the needs and interests of the audience. D. You should begin your presentation with a joke, directing your humor against the audience to grab their attention. E. You should generalize your opening so that it will suit the interests of any audience.

You should personalize your opening to the needs and interests of the audience.

Which of the following guidelines should you keep in mind when designing slides for PowerPoint presentations? A. You should make a minimum of seven points on each slide. B. You should use a variety of backgrounds for your slides to make your presentation look attractive. C. You should choose a dark background if the lights will be off during your presentation. D. You should use high contrast between the words and backgrounds of your slides. E. You should try to create slides that have more text than visuals.

You should use high contrast between the words and backgrounds of your slides.

Which of the following is true of using notes in an oral presentation? A. You should use key phrases in your notes to help you if you go blank during your presentation. B. While delivering your presentation, you should focus most of your attention on your notes. C. While delivering your presentation, you should direct your gaze at the screen and not the audience. D. While delivering your presentation, you should hold your note cards very low, so that the audience cannot view them. E. You should prepare your notes so that you can read directly from them during the presentation.

You should use key phrases in your notes to help you if you go blank during your presentation.

When opening an oral presentation, you should ideally: A. share jokes directed against the audience to draw their attention. B. explain why you are qualified to speak on the topic. C. summarize the five vital points of your presentation. D. capture the audience's interest and establish a rapport with them. E. begin by reading information out loud from your notes or references.

capture the audience's interest and establish a rapport with them.

Matilda is delivering a presentation to a large group of people at a climate summit. Her presentation is on the effects of using non-renewable energy. She is using a microphone, so that her voice can reach the ends of the large conference hall. Matilda focuses on giving voice to all the sounds of each word she speaks so that the members of the audience at the end of the hall can hear her speech clearly. In this instance, Matilda is focusing on _____. A. controlling the tone of her voice B. emphasizing her words C. enunciating her words D. controlling the pitch of her voice E. stressing her words

enunciating her words

Elijah is giving a presentation to the Board of Directors at Avalon Co., a cosmetic company. The main objective of his presentation is to emphasize the need for a new brand ambassador to endorse the company's latest range of perfumes. He begins by explaining why they have to find a new ambassador. Then he mentions the names of a few candidates who are the board's most obvious choices and explains why each of them cannot be the new brand ambassador. Finally, he concludes his presentation by suggesting a suitable candidate for the position of brand ambassador and explains the reasons for his choice. According to this scenario, Elijah has organized the body of his presentation using the _____. A. excluding alternatives pattern B. pro-con pattern C. problem-causes-solution pattern D. chronological pattern E. 1-2-3 pattern

excluding alternatives pattern

The main purpose of _____ is to entertain and validate an audience. A. persuasive presentations B. informative presentations C. goodwill presentations D. technical meetings E. training sessions

goodwill presentations

David is the chief automobile engineer at Acceleration Inc. David's team has been assigned the task of developing the prototype of a new car model. Before designing the model, David prepares a presentation for his team. In his presentation, David discusses the flaws of the previous model and asks his team members to suggest ways of overcoming these problems in the new model. Such a presentation is an example of a(n) _____. A. monologue presentation B. instructional presentation C. guided discussion D. goodwill presentation E. disquisition

guided discussion

Practicing a speech out loud will: A. help you avoid unintentional negatives. B. increase the number of filler sounds in your speech. C. help you focus on the words and not the emotions you wish to communicate to your audience. D. help you figure out what filler sounds you can use in your speech. E. help you work on transitions that move your speech from one point to the next.

help you work on transitions that move your speech from one point to the next.

"A competitor will be taking over our company very soon." This opener in an oral presentation is an example of a(n) _____. A. question B. anecdote C. quotation D. narrative statement E. startling statement

startling statement

"Chemical dependency costs U.S. businesses more than $26 billion per year!" This opener in an oral presentation is an example of a(n) _____. A. anecdote B. question C. quotation D. startling statement E. narrative statement

startling statement

While planning a strategy for your presentation, you should: A. identify several key ideas that you want your audience to take home. B. avoid using paragraph indentations and headings. C. include complex visuals to draw the attention of your audience. D. simplify your supporting details so that it is easy for your audience to follow them. E. use technical jargon and treat the members of your audience as experts on the subject.

simplify your supporting details so that it is easy for your audience to follow them