Communications Test 2 Study Guide

1. Commitment to a cause, reputation, and occasion are situational constraints that help you a. select a topic b. select purpose c. analyze the audience d. make a strategic decision

a

16. The specific purpose statement clearly identifies the a. outcome sought from the audience b. principle claim of the speech c. central idea of the speech d. goal of the assignment

a

17. An analysis of the issues implied in your thesis statement enables you to________ a. determine what points the speech must cover b. broaden and stretch your supporting material c. create the transitions d. create an attention getter

a

42. Which effect puts the speaker's strongest ideas first? a. primacy b. recency c. dependent d. independent

a

46. Herbert wants to inform his audience about the three main Middle Eastern religions: Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. What organizational pattern is best suited to this topic? a. categorical b. chronological c. spatial d. problem-solution

a

77. Rhetoric is best defined as: a. statements used to distract from other issues b. meaningless phrases that have no meaning c. art of using language to help people narrow their choices d. logical reasoning disguised by eloquent language

c

2. Walt wanted to give a five-minute informative speech about the causes and consequences of the federal budget deficit. Unfortunately, this topic is not . a. appropriate in scope b. important to the speaker c. suitable for oral delivery d. clear

a

23. Which of the following terms describes a computer program that locates websites that are likely to have information in which you are interested? a. search engine b. browser c. URL d. homepage

a

25. Which reference work would you need to find the origin of a word? a. dictionary b. index c. atlas d. general encyclopedia

a

3. Topics with elaborate arguments or highly technical information should be avoided because they are not ______ a. appropriate for oral delivery b. appropriate for an informative speech c. worthy of listeners' time d. important to the speaker

a

30. Why is organizational form persuasive? a. Audiences respond well to ideas they have helped to shape. b. Audiences are unaware of the pattern. c. Audiences are immune to counterarguments. d. Audiences like to be persuaded.

a

35. Duke's speech about smoking covered these main ideas: I. Smoking is a health hazard. II. Smoking can cause cancer. III. Smoking can cause death. As cancer is a health hazard, these main points are not _______. a. discrete b. balanced c. simple d. complete

a

4. You should select a speech topic that is______ a. important to you and interesting to the audience b. popular c. controversial d. easily researched

a

43. According to the primacy-recency principles, you should place your weakest main idea ------. a. as the middle point b. as the first main point c. as the last main point d. in the introduction

a

53. Which of the following steps comes first in the development of an outline? a. List the ideas you plan to develop. b. Determine which ideas subsume other ideas. c. Diagram the relationships among ideas. d. Determine the order in which you want to discuss your ideas

a

63. A speaker should write out the content of supporting materials on a separate note card when -----------. a. the supporting material is not simple enough to remember b. the speaker forgot to include the support in the preparation outline c. there is a podium available to hold the extra note cards d. there are extra cards after preparing the main and supporting points

a

7. Conducting a personal inventory is a strategy for _______ a. selecting a topic b. creating a strategic plan c. researching the topic d. brainstorming

a

72. The most important aspect of facial expression is----. a. making eye contact b. smiling c. eyebrow raising d. smirking

a

75. The most important guideline for practicing your speech is to --------. a. begin early b. mentally rehearse the speech c. practice the speech orally d. try to simulate the speech setting

a

8. Caleb knew that his fellow union members opposed a plan to cut overtime at the plant, but he wanted them to view it more positively. He planned to discuss the likelihood that the plant would close altogether if payroll costs were not reduced. His purpose was to . a. provide new information or perspective b. set an agenda c. strengthen commitment d. weaken commitment

a

9. During strategic planning, you will engage in ___________ a. identifying the purpose, constraints, opportunities, and means b. identifying the topic, means, specific purpose, and organizational pattern c. identifying the rhetorical situation, the occasion, and the speaker d. identifying the thesis, purpose, constraints, and opportunities

a

10. A speech designed to prompt the audience to think about an issue that they had previously ignored has the purpose of . a. creating a positive feeling b. agenda setting c. inducing a specific action d. strengthening commitment

b

20. What type of supporting material includes averages, medians, indices, and standardized scores? a. facts b. statistics c. examples d. documents

b

24. Supporting materials drawn from people are typically gathered through_______. a. direct observation b. interviews c. e-mail d. common knowledge

b

27. Who is responsible for evaluating the reliability and credibility of supporting materials drawn from Internet sources? a. the listeners b. the speaker c. the webmaster d. the author

b

32. "Chocolate is high in fat, but healthy, and can be considered healthy." This statement would not make a good main idea because it lacks . a. discreteness b. simplicity c. coherence d. balance

b

33. Each main idea in an outline should address a separate idea so that the information under the main headings does not overlap. This characteristic is known as . a. balance b. discreteness c. coherence d. simplicity

b

37. Consider the following main points: I. Capital punishment is unconstitutional. II. Capital punishment is an ineffective deterrent. III. Capital punishment is discriminatory. IV. Capital punishment is a just punishment. Three are arguments against capital punishment, and one is an argument in favor of capital punishment. What problem does this reflect? a. The points are not discrete. b. The points are not balanced. c. The points are not simple. d. The points are not parallel.

b

39. When main ideas can stand alone because the truth of each does not depend on the others, they are . a. incoherent b. independent c. parallel d. dependent

b

40. Consider the following main points: I. Campus speech codes are unacceptably vague. II. Campus speech codes discourage the discussion of controversial issues. III. Campus speech codes bring bad publicity to the college. Which of the following qualities is represented in these points? a. logically dependent b. relatively unfamiliar c. logically independent d. chronological

b

41. Which question is the speaker addressing when deciding whether to rely on the primacy effect or the recency effect? a. Should my most entertaining example be in my introduction or my conclusion? b. Should my strongest ideas come first or last in my speech? c. How independent are my main ideas? d. Should the audience participate at the beginning of the speech or at the end?

b

45. Al wants to give an informative speech about global warming. He wants to describe how global warming occurs and what its consequences are. What organizational pattern is best suited for this speech? a. problem-solution b. cause-effect c. spatial d. chronological

b

47. What organizational pattern is reflected in the following main points? I. Society has become increasingly dependent on privately owned automobiles for transportation. II. More automobiles mean increased consumption of fossil fuels. III. Our depleted oil reserves will be exhausted within seventy-five years. a. residues b. cause-effect c. spatial d. problem-solution

b

50. What kind of supporting material should you include in your speech? a. statistics b. a variety of sources c. narratives d. testimony and primary documents

b

51. A speaker relies on an outline to ------- . a. gather material b. arrange ideas c. research supporting material d. enhance language of the speech

b

55. To test the clarity and precision of your claims, you must write the preparation outline in ------------. a. longhand b. complete sentences c. Arabic numerals d. key words

b

57. Which of the following elements should be included in the preparation outline but not in the presentation outline? a. word-for-word introduction b. complete sentence main points c. transitions d. word-for-word conclusion

b

59. Which of the following characteristics should be identical in both the presentation and the preparation outlines? a. the structure of the main points and subpoints b. the introduction and conclusion c. the citation of supporting materials d. the bibliography

b

6. Which of the following should you ask yourself in a personal inventory? a. What are my unusual interests? b. What are my audience members' dislikes/likes? c. How am I different from my audience? d. Which of my experiences are generalizable?

b

62. Your presentation outline should identify supporting materials by using---------. a. complete sentences b. keywords c. footnotes d. a full text of all evidence

b

69. Articulation is defined as . a. the distinctness with which words are sounded b. the clarity of individual sounds c. the accepted way to sound any given word d. the pronunciation pattern for a sentence as a whole

b

70. What is the best way to address a vocalized pause? a. Alter "umm" with "uh." b. Remain silent. c. Do not focus on it; doing so will only make it worse. d. Replace a word like "right?" with a phrase like "you know?"

b

81. Rhetoric functions to: a. Unburden, distract and frighten b. Enlarge, empower, and elongate c. Name, unburden, and clarify d. Clarify, disturb, and elevate

b

84. If we engage in the process of identity formation, it means that a. we have no personal sense of identity b. our beliefs, values, and status are subject to negotiation c. we allow rhetors to determine our values d. that we rely on the media to define our beliefs

b

14. When Hugh wrote, "I want my listeners to replace their high-fat foods for healthier options," he was writing a_____ for his speech. a. general purpose statement b. general thesis statement c. specific purpose statement d. specific thesis statement

c

15. "I want to get no less than a B on my speech," Ashley states as a desired outcome; however, this is not a proper purpose statement because it is not . a. a single idea b. precise c. focused on the audience d. free of vague language

c

28. Which of the following is a guideline for effective note taking? a. Make at least two copies of your notes so you can double-check for accuracy. b. Use a notebook so as to keep all your notes in one place. c. Include full bibliographic citations. d. Use direct quotes from every source.

c

31. Billy wanted to promote the thesis, "We must preserve our wilderness areas to protect our culture and heritage." Which of the following main points is least relevant to this thesis? a. Our wilderness areas are endangered. b. Wilderness areas reflect our culture. c. Wilderness areas offer recreational opportunities. d. We can preserve our wilderness.

c

38. Consider the following main ideas: I. Poor preparation in high school leads to difficulty in students' adjusting to college work. II. Difficulty in adjusting to college work leads to a lower college GPA. III. Lower GPAs limit job opportunities. These main ideas are ------. a. independent b. incoherent c. dependent d. incomplete

c

44. Which organizational pattern should Chris use if she wants to explain the development of the Social Security system from its inception until today? a. categorical b. constitutional c. chronological d. cause-effect

c

48. When you arrange your speech according to the process of elimination, your organizational pattern is ----- a. spatial b. chronological c. residues d. categorical.

c

60. In a presentation outline, which two elements should be written out word for word? a. transitions and sources b. purpose and preview c. introduction and conclusion d. main points and evidence

c

65. Which of the following is a characteristic of an effective delivery? a. It has a clear thesis and purpose. b. It has a distinct introduction, body, and conclusion. c. It is natural and uncontrived. d. It is choreographed

c

74. Which element of the body in delivery not only helps communicate effectively to the audience but also provides feedback to the speaker regarding the audience's response to the speech? a. movement b. facial expression c. eye contact d. clothes and grooming

c

76. According to your book, what is the last step in practicing the speech? a. running through the speech in your mind before an imaginary audience b. talking through your presentation outline several times to test its effectiveness c. simulating the conditions under which the speech will be given d. practicing orally under a variety of conditions

c

80. The range of rhetoric means that: a. it is both an art and a science b. it is limited and temporary c. it includes science, art, philosophy, and social concerns d. it narrows the choices of an audience

c

82. A rhetorical analysis of Bruce Springsteen's 1984 hit song Born in the U.S.A. reveals a. that the song offers a message of hope for many young Americans b. that the song has a great rock n' roll beat c. that the song criticizes the way we treat war veterans d. that the singer likes football

c

83. To understand the rhetorical situation, a critic needs to: a. Only analyze the text of the message b. Examine the effects of the message c. Consider the circumstances of the time d. Identify all of the mistakes of the rhetor

c

11. Michelle, an advocate for women's rights, used her persuasive speech to urge her classmates to participate in the campus "Take Back the Night" event. Her purpose was to __________. a. set an agenda b. strengthen a feeling c. strengthen a commitment d. induce a specific action

d

12. The most important opportunity arising from a rhetorical situation is that _______ a. you have a captive audience b. you have done a thorough audience analysis c. you have an information advantage over your audience d. only you know your real purpose

d

13. The final step in strategic planning is to ______ a. determine your purpose b. identify constraints c. identify opportunities d. select the means

d

18. When speaking about the African AIDS crisis, Maura emphasized her definition of the problem by saying, "We all know that AIDS is a deadly and devastating disease, but it can be treated." What type of supporting material was she using? a. personal experience b. examples c. testimony d. common knowledge

d

19. Charlton supported his argument against gun control with the Second Amendment of the Bill of Rights. This type of supporting material is an example of ________ a. an anecdote b. testimony c. an example d. a document

d

21. In a speech about local crime rates, Angela stated, "The chief of police says that neighborhood watch programs are the best defense against property crimes." What type of support is this? a. personal experience b. direct observation c. factual testimony d. opinion testimony

d

22. Choda gave a speech about growing up in Israel. As support, she discussed her home life, her schooling, and her life in the military. Which type of supporting material is this? a. statistics b. documents c. direct observation d. personal experience

d

26. Which question is unlikely to be helpful when evaluating evidence found in Internet sources? a. Who set up the website? b. When was the last site updated? c. Can I confirm the information through other sources? d. How available is this source?

d

29. A well-organized speech leads to which of the following results? a. Listeners may forget unconnected ideas. b. Listeners will stop attending to the speech. c. Listeners will be distracted while trying to reconstruct your logic. d. Listeners will understand, remember, and be influenced by your message.

d

34. The main ideas in an outline should be clearly related to each other; they should "hang together." This characteristic is called . a. simplicity b. balance c. discreteness d. coherence

d

36. Good research turns up a lot of information. If you have too many ideas, you can select the ideas for your speech by choosing only those that are . a. residues b. dependent c. primary d. essential

d

49. What is the most important factor in determining how much supporting material you should include in support of your claims? a. your purpose b. your thesis c. your audience analysis d. the rhetorical situation

d

5. Jamal considered three potential speech topics: Rock & Roll from its Birth to the Present, The Influence of British Rock on American Rock, or The Work of the Beatles. Which criterion should he use to select the best topic? a. clarity b. appropriateness for written delivery c. self-interest d. appropriateness of scope

d

52. The two types of outlines are--------. a. rhetorical and situational b. informative and persuasive c. formal and informal d. presentation and preparation

d

54. Which type of outline is developed in detail while composing the speech? a. presentation outline b. key word outline c. rough outline d. preparation outline

d

56. Which of the following is an example of a properly written main point for a preparation outline? a. Censorship in the USA b. Speech codes on campus: Stifling student voices c. What can you say nowadays? d. Special interest groups are restricting the speech of their members

d

58. Checking for proper subordination ensures that ------. a. the claims in the outline are precise and clear b. the purpose of the speech is appropriate to the situation c. the main points are parallel in importance d. the supporting material is relevant to the idea it supports

d

61. Which element in a presentation outline is represented by the notation, "Show visual aid #2 now"? a. transition b. preview c. supporting material d. stage direction

d

64. Notes on a speaker's preparation outline indicating when the speaker should emphasize a point, repeat a phrase, pause, or speak slowly are called ------ . a. transitions b. speaker cues c. footnotes d. stage directions

d

66. Which of the following statements is true about effective delivery? a. The audience should be able to notice your excellent delivery skills. b. If your delivery is too effective, it will distract from your message. c. An effective delivery leads listeners to believe that the speaker is different and more talented than they are. d. An effective delivery helps the audience remember the speech.

d

67. What is true of the rate of speech? a. Persuasive speakers talk at a speed that is faster than average. b. Persuasive speakers talk at a speed that is slower than average. c. Regional differences in speech rates are getting larger. d. Successful speakers vary considerably in their rate of speech.

d

68. Which dimension of voice contributes to a speech by helping the speaker mark transitions and emphasize what has been said? a. inflection b. pitch c. rate d. pauses

d

71. Appropriate inflection can have the effect of--------- a. damaging the speaker's credibility b. distracting the listeners' attention c. distorting the message d. enhancing the speaker's message

d

73. Which of the following statements is good advice for a speaker's use of movement? a. Stay directly behind the podium at all times because it communicates stability to the audience. b. Move around the room as much as possible, stopping only to mark transitions in the speech. c. Keep one hand in your pocket to convey a sense of comfort and ease to the audience. d. Move toward the audience to emphasize a point and promote a connection with your listeners

d

78. According to your textbook, the basic moves of rhetoric include the following: a. use of symbols, logical reasoning, and specific policy details b. use of logical reasoning, subtle choices about policy, narrowing audience choices c. use of symbols, helping the audience, convincing the audience that new choices are needed d. all of the above

d

79. The following are characteristics of the art of rhetoric a. it is cooperative and generative b. it is ordinary and limited c. it is frustrating and temporary d. all of the above

d