COM 101 Final
"To persuade my audience that cheating on schoolwork is never justified" is a specific purpose statement for a persuasive speech on a question of A. value. B. opinion. C. practicality. D. standards. E. policy.
A
Everything a speaker says is filtered through a listener's A. frame of reference. B. credibility. C. feedback. D. personal screen. E. psychological field.
A
Heather was in the midst of an excellent speech on campus history when she made a minor mistake by giving the wrong date for the opening of a campus building. She suddenly stopped speaking and said, "Oh, I messed up." She then finished her speech, but all she could think about afterward was her mistake. What is the major piece of advice from your textbook that Heather needs to be reminded about? A. There is no such thing as a perfect speech. B. You should work especially hard on your introduction. C. Audiences usually can't tell how nervous a speaker is. D. You should take slow, deep breaths before you speak. E. It is natural for public speakers to be nervous.
A
Of all the kinds of speechmaking, __________ speaking is the most complex and the most challenging. A. persuasive B. after-dinner C. ceremonial D. informative E. commemorative
A
The __________ is the obligation of a persuasive speaker to prove that a change from current policy is necessary. A. burden of proof B. strategic duty C. deliberative responsibility D. balance of practicality E. causal imperative
A
The credibility of a speaker before he or she starts to speak is called ____________ credibility. A. initial B. negative C. derived D. original E. terminal
A
To give statistics greater impact, a speaker should A. use statistics sparingly. B. let the statistics speak for themselves. C. cite exact numbers rather than rounding off. D. combine the statistics with technical language. E. conceal the source of the statistics.
A
What kind of reasoning is exemplified in the following statement?According to a study by the University of Michigan, married men in the United States earn an average of 31 percent more money than unmarried men. It seems clear, then, that for many men being married is a major factor in financial success. A. causal reasoning B. analogical reasoning C. reasoning from principle D. statistical reasoning E. deductive reasoning
A
What kind of reasoning is used in the following statement?Colorizing old movies such as Citizen Kane is like repainting the Mona Lisa. A. analogical B. artistic C. reasoning from principle D. reasoning from specific instances E. causal
A
When is it appropriate to cite an abstract of a magazine or journal article in your speech rather than locating and reading the full article? A. never B. when the article is more than five years old C. when the article is not available on a computerized database D. when the only copy of the article is on the bookshelves E. when the article is short enough to be summarized in one paragraph
A
When the general purpose of your speech is to _________, you act primarily as a teacher or lecturer. A. inform B. convince C. entertain D. persuade E. convert
A
When the general purpose of your speech is to __________ you act primarily as an advocate. A. persuade B. entertain C. demonstrate D. commemorate E. inform
A
When you experience stage fright, your body is producing extra _________, a hormone that is released into the bloodstream in response to physical or mental stress. A. adrenaline B. serotonin C. potassium D. glauconite E. cortisone
A
Which of the following is out of place in a speech to inform? A. advocating B. explaining C. reporting D. demonstrating E. telling
A
Which of the following words is the most general and abstract? A. writing B. novel C. Moby Dick D. book E. publication
A
__________ is the audience's perception of whether a speaker has the best interests of the audience in mind. A. goodwill B. receptiveness C. identification D. connectedness E. egocentrism
A
__________ plagiarism occurs when the speech as a whole is ethical but the speaker fails to give credit for particular quotations and paraphrases. A. incremental B. patchwork C. accidental D. incidental E. global
A
"To inform my audience how to prepare for a backpacking expedition" is a specific purpose statement for a speech about a(n) A. object. B. process. C. function. D. concept. E. policy.
B
"To persuade my audience that more-stringent privacy safeguards should be required of social networking sites" is a specific purpose statement for a persuasive speech on a question of A. attitude. B. policy. C. value. D. opinion. E. fact.
B
A common mistake students make when developing their first speech is A. using PowerPoint improperly. B. trying to cover too much material. C. not doing enough library research. D. all of the above. E. a and c only.
B
Academic databases are the best place to look for A. high-quality Web resources. B. articles in scholarly journals. C. statistics about colleges and universities. D. encyclopedias and other reference works. E. numerical data about life in the United States.
B
Emotional appeal is A. inappropriate in a persuasive speech on a question of policy. B. often necessary when a speaker is trying to move an audience to action. C. most effectively generated by using emotionally charged words. D. unethical unless the emotional appeal is combined with causal reasoning. E. seldom used by public speakers in support of honorable causes.
B
Evidence and reasoning are the two major elements of persuasion that Aristotle called A. pathos. B. logos. C. credos. D. ethos. E. mythos.
B
For his informative speech, Douglas told his classmates how to get free food at a drive-through restaurant. Rather than focusing on legitimate deals, such as student discounts or coupons, Douglas talked about ways to trick employees into believing you had already paid for food when you had not. His instructor gave the speech a poor grade because it violated the ethical criteria for public speaking presented in your textbook. The guideline Douglas violated was: A. Be fully prepared for each speech. B. Make sure your goals are ethically sound. C. Avoid name-calling and other forms of abusive language. D. Adapt to your audience's frame of reference. E. Avoid plagiarism.
B
Language helps to shape our sense of reality by A. causing events. B. giving meaning to events. C. communicating events. D. mirroring events. E. reflecting events.
B
Luna wanted to convince the technology department at her company to adopt a new database system. Some staff members supported the change, a few were opposed, and most were undecided. Luna realized that the undecided group was her ___________, so she focused most of her effort on them. A. majority audience B. target audience C. projected audience D. focus audience E. central audience
B
Outlining is an important part of public speaking because A. an outline helps the speaker compile an organized preliminary bibliography. B. an outline helps ensure that ideas flow clearly from one to another. C. an outline helps the speaker choose an interesting, sharply focused topic. D. all of the above. E. a and b only.
B
Reasoning is A. the use of vivid language to create emotional appeal. B. the process of drawing a conclusion on the basis of evidence. C. the easiest way to establish common ground with your audience. D. the use of sources that are competent and credible. E. the least important aspect of persuasive speaking.
B
Speechmaking is a form of power and therefore carries with it heavy __________ responsibilities. A. logical B. ethical C. psychological D. emotional E. sociological
B
The credibility of a speaker produced by everything the speaker says or does during the speech itself is called A. contrived credibility. B. derived credibility. C. demonstrated credibility. D. generated credibility. E. terminal credibility.
B
The following statement is an example of what type of fallacy?Of course I have a plan to reduce our dependency on foreign oil. But how can we worry about foreign oil when millions of Americans are out of work? A. either-or B. red herring C. appeal to tradition D. hasty generalization E. ad hominem
B
The three main parts of a speech are called A. the opening, the center, and the end. B. the introduction, the body, and the conclusion. C. the attention-getter, the main section, and the ending. D. the preview, the main points, and the close. E. the beginning, the core, and the conclusion.
B
The type of delivery in which you plan your speech in detail and learn it well without trying to memorize the exact wording is called A. conventional. B. extemporaneous. C. methodical D. extraneous. E. intuitive.
B
Visual aids can be very useful to a speaker because they A. often take the place of statistics. B. enhance the clarity of a speaker's ideas. C. can be passed among members of the audience. D. do not require a great deal of explanation. E. all of the above.
B
What error in reasoning is exemplified by the following statement?My Volkswagen constantly needs repairs, and so does my roommate's Toyota. We can see, then, that foreign cars are unreliable. A. invalid analogy B. hasty generalization C. circular thinking D. false cause E. faulty deduction
B
Which of the following specific purpose statements is from a persuasive speech seeking immediate action? A. To persuade my audience that the federal government should establish a committee to study the regulation of genetically engineered food. B. To persuade my audience to write their U.S. senators and representatives in support of a bill to regulate genetically engineered food. C. To persuade my audience that proposed legislation to regulate genetically engineered food will hurt farmers. D. To persuade my audience that the federal government must take steps to regulate genetically engineered food. E. To persuade my audience that genetically engineered food poses serious health dangers to consumers.
B
You should think of your persuasive speech as A. essentially the same as a commemorative speech. B. a kind of mental dialogue with the audience. C. less challenging than speaking to inform. D. all of the above. E. b and c only.
B
A __________ is a search engine that combines Internet technology with traditional library methods of cataloguing and assessing data. A. cybercatalogue B. metasearch engine C. virtual library D. reference locator E. web crawler
C
A sentence or two that lets the audience know that a speaker has finished one thought and is moving on to another is called a A. bridge. B. summary. C. transition. D. corollary. E. conclusion.
C
Although most people speak at a rate of 120 to 150 words a minute, the brain can process words at a rate of A. 100 to 200 words a minute. B. 200 to 400 words a minute. C. 400 to 800 words a minute. D. 600 to 900 words a minute. E. 1000 to 1200 words a minute.
C
Appeals to audience emotions such as fear, compassion, guilt, or pride are the kinds of appeals that Aristotle referred to as A. ethos. B. mythos C. pathos. D. demos. E. logos.
C
For her first speech, Rebekah plans to explain her interest in dance beginning with her childhood and continuing through her days in high school. Which pattern of organization discussed in your textbook will she use in her speech? A. topical B. artistic C. chronological D. kinetic E. functional
C
Good speech delivery A. is accompanied by frequent gestures. B. requires that the speaker have a strong voice. C. sounds conversational even though it has been rehearsed. D. draws the attention of the audience away from the message. E. is best achieved by reading from a manuscript.
C
Inflection refers to the A. dialect of a speaker. B. speed at which a person speaks. C. changes in the pitch of a speaker's voice. D. clarity of a speaker's articulation. E. loudness or softness of a speaker's voice
C
Kristen is listening to a political candidate's speech for purposes of deciding whether to accept or reject the speaker's message. According to your textbook, Kristen is engaged in __________ listening. A. comprehensive B. judgmental C. critical D. empathic E. judicious
C
The following statement is an example of what type of fallacy?If we allow the government to restrict the sale of semiautomatic weapons, before we know it, there will be a ban on ownership of handguns and even hunting rifles. And once our constitutional right to bear arms has been compromised, the right of free speech will be the next to go. A. either-or B. ad hominem C. slippery slope D. bandwagon E. invalid analogy
C
The three types of questions that give rise to persuasive speeches are questions of A. opinion, fact, and policy. B. problem, cause, and solution. C. fact, value, and policy. D. opinion, attitude, and value. E. need, plan, and practicality.
C
The two most important factors affecting the credibility of a persuasive speaker are competence and A. logic. B. charisma. C. character. D. pathos. E. status.
C
Which of the following is a correctly worded main point for a speech preparation outline? A. The danger of smallpox in the United States. B. What is the danger of smallpox in the United States? C. Smallpox poses a real danger to the United States. D. Smallpox: a genuine danger to the United States. E. Smallpox.
C
Which of the following is an instance of informative speaking? A. a teacher praising parents for contributing to the school carnival B. a teacher arguing that phonics is a successful method for teaching reading C. a teacher explaining the requirements for an assignment D. all of the above E. b and c only
C
"To inform my audience about the major parts of a motion-picture camera" is a specific purpose statement for an informative speech about a(n) A. concept. B. event. C. process. D. object. E. function.
D
A __________ graph is best suited for illustrating the relationship among parts of a whole. A. parallel B. ratio C. bar D. pie E. line
D
As your textbook explains, examples help a speaker A. reinforce ideas. B. personalize ideas. C. clarify ideas. D. all of the above. E. b and c only.
D
Creating an oversimplified image of a particular group of people or assuming that all members of the group are alike is called A. egocentrism. B. genotyping. C. sensationalism. D. stereotyping. E. ethnocentrism.
D
Effective listening can help you do which of the following? A. gather information and communicate it accurately to others B. learn effective techniques that you can use in your own speeches C. get promoted in your job D. all of the above E. a and c only
D
Efram's audience was persuaded by his speech because they perceived him to be sincere, trustworthy, and to have their best interests at heart. Which factor of credibility influenced Efram's audience? A. dynamism B. charisma C. expertise D. character E. competence
D
How well a speech is organized likely will influence A. how clearly the audience understands the speech. B. how the audience views the competence of the speaker. C. how confident the speaker feels about his or her delivery. D. all of the above. E. a and b only.
D
If you were giving an informative speech describing the different parts of the Forbidden City in China, you would probably arrange the speech in __________ order. A. illustrative B. causal C. chronological D. spatial E. comparative
D
In public speaking, sound ethical decisions involve weighing a potential course of action against A. the persuasive goals of the speaker. B. an interpretation of the U.S. Constitution. C. the frame of reference of the audience. D. a set of ethical guidelines or standards. E. the majority views of public opinion.
D
The __________ speaker uses only brief notes or a speaking outline to jog the memory. A. after-dinner B. commemorative C. informative D. extemporaneous E. persuasive
D
The central idea of a speech should be A. written as a complete sentence. B. expressed as a statement, not a question. C. devoid of figurative language. D. all of the above. E. a and b only.
D
The use of "uh," "er," "um," and similar expressions in a public speech are referred to as A. vocal fillers. B. signposts. C. intonations. D. vocalized pauses. E. inflections.
D
Using evidence is especially critical in a persuasive speech when your target audience. A. is apathetic about your point of view. B. is neutral toward your point of view. C. supports your point of view. D. opposes your point of view. E. is not sure of your point of view.
D
What error in reasoning is exemplified by the following statement?I always wear my blue sweater when I take an exam, but I couldn't find it yesterday. If I had worn it yesterday, I would not have flunked my accounting exam. A. circular thinking B. hasty generalization C. invalid analogy D. false cause E. faulty deduction
D
When you are in a formal speaking situation the most effective way of gaining the initial attention of your audience after you walk to the lectern is A. asking someone to lower the lights. B. beginning to speak loudly and clearly. C. rapping your hand lightly on the lectern until everyone is quiet. D. looking directly at the audience without saying a word. E. asking everyone to be quiet and pay attention.
D
Which of the following is a demographic characteristic of a speech audience? A. interest B. attitude C. size D. gender E. knowledge
D
Which of the following is an instance of persuasive speaking? A. a president of a company presenting an award to an outstanding employee B. a marketing manager explaining a new product to the company's sales force C. a personnel manager defining employee benefits at a meeting of workers D. a union representative urging management to avoid a strike by raising wages E. a finance officer reporting sales figures to the board of directors
D
Which of the following is recommended by your textbook as a way to improve your listening? A. Try to remember everything the speaker says. B. Pay close attention to feedback from other listeners. C. Concentrate solely on the speaker's gestures and eye contact. D. Suspend judgment until you hear all the speaker has to say. E. Do not take written notes as the speech is in progress.
D
Which of the following would you expect to find in a well-constructed speech introduction? A. a statement establishing the speaker's credibility B. a statement gaining the audience's attention C. a statement previewing the main points of the speech D. all of the above E. a and b only
D
"To inform my audience about the history of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation" is an example of a A. speech topic. B. general purpose. C. central idea. D. thesis statement. E. specific purpose.
E
. The following statement is an example of what type of fallacy?We have only two choices. We can either adopt a year-round school system or raise a nation of second-rate intellects. A. appeal to novelty B. invalid analogy C. circular generalization D. erroneous principle E. either-or
E
At which of the following would you be most likely to hear a persuasive speech on a question of fact? A. a graduation ceremony B. a retirement banquet C. an awards ceremony D. a political convention E. a jury trial
E
Persuasive speakers have an ethical obligation to A. learn about all sides of an issue. B. use visual aids when discussing practicality. C. present their evidence fairly and accurately. D. all of the above. E. a and c only.
E
Public speakers have an ethical obligation to avoid name-calling and other forms of abusive language because such language A. demeans the dignity of the groups or individuals being attacked. B. violates current standards of political correctness on college campuses. C. undermines the right of all groups in the U.S. to express their ideas. D. all of the above. E. a and c only.
E
Regardless of whether your aim is to encourage passive agreement or immediate action, you must deal with three basic issues whenever you discuss a question of policy. They are A. cause, effect, and practicality. B. evidence, practicality, and reasoning. C. need, action, and reaction. D. problem, plan, and solution. E. need, plan, and practicality.
E
That part of the audience a speaker most wants to persuade is called the A. specific audience. B. designated audience. C. central audience. D. special audience. E. target audience.
E
The following statement is an example of what type of fallacy?The mayor's plan to turn the rundown section of the city into a park will never work. Don't forget that she was involved in a scandal last year. A. false deduction B. circular appeal C. appeal to novelty D. either-or E. ad hominem
E
To say that people usually want to hear about things that are meaningful to them is to say that people are A. empathetic. B. eclectic. C. egotistic. D. egalitarian. E. egocentric.
E
What are the three criteria for assessing the soundness of documents found on the Internet? A. length, accuracy, and graphics B. interactivity, objectivity, and authorship C. graphics, sponsorship, and accuracy D. creativity, reliability, and length E. authorship, sponsorship, and recency
E
What is the most important reason for limiting the number of main points in a speech? A. It is hard to maintain parallel wording if there are too many main points. B. It is hard to phrase the central idea if a speech has too many main points. C. It is hard to organize supporting materials if there are too many main points. D. It is hard to deliver a speech extemporaneously if it has too many main points. E. It is hard for the audience to keep track of too many main points.
E
T or F - Because persuasion is such a complex process, juggling statistics and quoting out of context to maximize your persuasive effect are ethically acceptable in speeches to persuade.
False
T or F - Hearing and listening are essentially the same thing
False
T or F - If the meaning of a word is clear to you, you can assume that it is also clear to your audience.
False
T or F - Persuasion takes place only if the audience is strongly in favor of the speaker's position by the end of the speech.
False
T or F - The credibility of a speaker before she or he starts to speak is called derived credibility.
False
T or F - The denotative meaning of a word includes all the feelings, associations, and emotions that the word touches off in different people.
False
T of F - Visualization involves creating a mental picture of yourself succeeding at your speech.
True
T or F - . If the specific purpose of your informative speech is to recount the history of an event, you will usually arrange the speech in chronological order.
True
T or F - . One of the major barriers to effective informative speaking is overestimating what the audience knows about the topic.
True
T or F - Listening to provide emotional support for someone is called empathic listening.
True
T or F - Most successful speakers are nervous before taking the floor.
True
T or F - One of the major obstacles to listening effectively is that the brain can process many more words than can be spoken in a minute.
True
T or F - One of the reasons to use evidence when speaking to persuade is that it can enhance your credibility.
True
T or F - Persuasive speakers should aim to construct speeches that are both convincing and ethically sound.
True
T or F - Public speaking usually requires more formal language than everyday conversation.
True
T or F - Research indicates that even when we listen carefully, we understand and retain only about half of what we hear.
True
T or F - Sound ethical decisions involve weighing a potential course of action against a set of ethical standards or guidelines.
True
T or F - The bandwagon fallacy assumes that because something is popular, it is therefore good, correct, or desirable.
True
T or F - The first responsibility of a speaker is to make sure her or his goal is ethically sound.
True
T or F - What many teachers refer to as source credibility was called ethos by Aristotle.
True
