COM 1100 Chapter 11 Review Questions

A rhetorical event is one that _____. a. justifies or explains the past b. allows everyone to voice an opinion c. generates a significant amount of public discourse d. permanently changes the world

c. generates a significant amount of public discourse

During the Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, the leader explained that excessive alcohol use can lead to severe health complications. Which artistic proof is the leader using? a. ethos b. pathos c. logos d. mythos

c. logos

On the feedback form, Charles wrote that the speaker seemed down-to-earth and genuine. What aspect of the speaker is Charles reviewing? a. delivery b. credibility c. persona d. thesis

c. persona

Rhetoric is also known as the art of _____. a. public speaking b. engagement c. persuasion d. information

c. persuasion

In the aftermath of the Manchester, England, terrorist attack in 2017, many discussions arose to attempt to explain why the situation had occurred. This is an example of a _____. a. public sphere b. signpost c. rhetorical event d. social discourse

c. rhetorical event

Which of the following is the most effective method for rehearsing your speech? a. going over the main points silently in your head b. practicing only your nonverbal messages instead of the verbal c. standing up and practicing in front of one or two friends d. working to memorize the exact wording of the speech

c. standing up and practicing in front of one or two friends

After Nick damaged Michaela's car and refused to pay for the repairs, Michaela took him to small claims court where she explained to the judge why Nick should pay for the repairs. Which function of rhetoric does this demonstrate? a. Rhetoric is a source of disagreement. b. Rhetoric helps people clarify their own beliefs and actions. c. Rhetoric is essential to a vital democracy. d. Rhetoric helps people seek justice.

d. Rhetoric helps people seek justice

A rhetor is understood to be _____. a. an individual who is especially skilled at the nuances of public speaking b. an informed consumer of rhetorical discourse c. a person seeking to persuade a friend d. a person or institution that addresses the public or an audience

d. a person or institution that addresses the public or an audience

Kendrick told the audience that his love of country came from his grandfather and father before him who had enlisted in the army and served in battles that kept America free. Which artistic proof is Kendrick using in his speech? a. mythos b. logos c. pathos d. ethos

d. ethos

The social position from which a rhetor speaks is related to the concept of _____. a. pathos b. logos c. eros d. ethos

d. ethos

Laura is preparing a speech about why she doesn't believe same-sex marriage should be legal. In order to be ethical, it is important that she is aware of the _____ used in her speech, especially potentially pejorative terms. a. organizational structure b. logic c. transitions d. language

d. language

The originator of a communication message, but not necessarily the person delivering it, is called a(n) _____. a. proletariat b. sophist c. orator d. rhetor

d. rhetor

As an example of a space traditionally not associated with rhetoric, many black feminist scholars feature _____ as a metaphor for rhetoric in action. a. the children's playground b. the front porch c. the church choir loft d. the kitchen table

d. the kitchen table

A statement of the topic of a speech and the speaker's position on it is referred to as a _____. a. speech preview b. specific purpose c. signpost d. thesis statement

d. thesis statement

Why does rhetorician Richard Weaver advocate the careful use of "god terms" and "devil terms"? a. These terms don't require active listening. b. These terms serve more as propaganda than rhetoric. c. These terms are inherently negative. d. These terms are not familiar to most people.

b. These terms serve more as propaganda than rhetoric

When former Vice President Al Gore advocates for passage of environmental initiatives designed to reduce global warming, he is engaged in _____. a. forensic rhetoric b. deliberative rhetoric c. epideictic rhetoric d. visual rhetoric

b. deliberative rhetoric

Communication scholar Douglas Ehninger suggested that throughout history people have had _____ ideas of what rhetoric is and the purpose it serves. a. erroneous b. different c. similar d. consistent

b. different

Rhetoric's important social functions include supporting a vital democracy, helping people seek justice, and _____. a. improving our chances of academic success b. helping individuals clarify their own beliefs and actions c. separating the leaders from the followers d. enabling us to speak authoritatively about communication

b. helping individuals clarify their own beliefs and actions

Anyone who pursues sustained and detailed analyses of rhetorical discourse is a _____. a. communication expert b. rhetorical critic c. sophist d. linguist

b. rhetorical critic

Culturally, the _____ of the rhetor often determines his or her right to speak or to access civic speaking spaces. a. communication experience b. social position c. attractiveness d. intelligence

b. social position

According to rhetorical scholar Lloyd Bitzer, only those people who _____ are part of the rhetorical audience. a. are in a low social position b. can attend a live speech to hear the message c. can take the appropriate action in response to a message d. are considered rhetors

c. can take the appropriate action in response to a message

In a persuasive speech, you will challenge your audience to take action during your _____. a. speech body b. introduction c. conclusion d. signposts and transitions

c. conclusion

When members of the school board argue about the best ways to spend taxpayer dollars, they are engaging in _____ rhetoric. a. epideictic b. democratic c. deliberative d. forensic

c. deliberative

A speaker's good sense, moral character, and goodwill are all components of his or her _____. a. logos b. eros c. ethos d. pathos

c. ethos

A speaker must select one of three goals for a speech—to inform, to persuade, or to entertain. The goal that the speaker chooses is known as the _____. a. thesis b. demographic analysis c. general purpose d. specific purpose

c. general purpose

The means through which a rhetor gains the trust of an audience and designs credible messages was identified by Aristotle as _____. a. artistic proofs b. rhetorical abilities c. social positioning d. sophistry

a. artistic proofs

Seymour is preparing a speech about nanotechnology. He asks himself, "What does my audience know about this topic? What do they need to know?" He also tries to determine what his listeners expect from his presentation and what characteristics they might share. What is Seymour doing to help prepare for his speech? a. audience analysis b. organizing the message c. identifying a specific purpose d. finding supporting materials

a. audience analysis

During her presentation to the village board, Cara explained that the potholes on the street leading to her house had become so deep that four of the residents had to replace tires on their cars. She then proposed that the village reimburse them because the village had failed to maintain the street. Which organizational pattern did Cara use for her speech? a. cause-effect b. chronological c. topical d. spatial

a. cause-effect

Forensic rhetoric is used to address _____. a. events that happened in the past b. affirmation of cultural values c. possible future actions d. values and beliefs

a. events that happened in the past

The form of rhetoric that is used in courts and addresses events that happened in the past is called _____ rhetoric. a. forensic b. deliberative c. judicial d. epideictic

a. forensic

The first task of a public speaker is to identify his or her _____. a. general purpose b. intended audience c. specific purpose d. speech title

a. general purpose

An ethical receiver of rhetorical communication strives to _____. a. listen to a range of views on a particular topic b. accept arguments presented at face value c. ignore deception and misinformation d. stick to one's original viewpoint

a. listen to a range of views on a particular topic

What is the most essential characteristic of successful visual aids for any presentation? a. must support the speech goals b. must be visually interesting or unique c. must stand on its own in case of technology failure d. must incorporate audio or video

a. must support the speech goals

During her presentation, Aneesa tells the story of her neighbor who was beaten repeatedly by her husband, but legally unable to seek justice in the courts. Aneesa is using _____ to persuade her audience. a. pathos b. persona c. character d. logos

a. pathos

During the trial claiming the railroad had failed to maintain an overpass, the prosecutor played an audio recording of a car being crushed by concrete slabs and steel beams while narrating what must have been going through the Peterson family's minds as the car they were in was being crushed. This was an appeal to which artistic proof? a. pathos b. ethos c. logos d. mythos

a. pathos

The arena in which deliberative decision making occurs through the exchange of ideas and arguments is called the _____. a. public sphere b. social sphere c. social position d. public agenda

a. public sphere

The 1965 March on Selma brought together activists from all over the country to protest unfair voter registration practices. Television coverage and additional demonstrations helped spur passage of the Voting Rights Act. This is an example of a _____. a. social movement b. social position c. social status d. social identity

a. social movement

The first group of people to teach persuasive speaking skills in the Greek city-states were known as _____. a. sophists b. ethicists c. rhetoricians d. orators

a. sophists

Sophists were among the first _____ of rhetoric. a. teachers b. politicizers c. debasers d. opposers

a. teachers

Which of the following is the best example of what we think of as a rhetor? a. the Catholic Church b. a person studying communication c. your banker d. your parents

a. the Catholic Church

What did Cicero believe speakers should use rhetoric for? a. the public good b. the sake of pleasure c. the speaker's own self-interest d. the telling of a universal truth

a. the public good

Most would agree that the use of outright deception or lying in persuasion would be _____. a. unethical b. justifiable c. necessary d. appropriate

a. unethical

Rhetorician Richard Weaver describes two types of terms that should be avoided because of the potential to easily lead (or mislead) people without critical reflection. They are _____. a. "masculine" terms and "feminine" terms b. "god terms" and "devil terms" c. "ethnic" terms and "cultural" terms d. "stereotypical terms" and "negative terms"

b. "god terms" and "devil terms"

Who believed that speakers needed to learn "all available means of persuasion in a given situation"? a. St. Augustine b. Aristotle c. Plato d. Cicero

b. Aristotle

_____ create outlets for people to try and align others to their worldviews without filters, and presents new challenges to the need to think through how we attempt to persuade others to view the world as we do. a. Rhetorical studies b. Social media c. Letters to the editor d. Group meetings

b. Social media