Question 1

When selecting a topic for a public presentation, it is best to focus on

Accepted Answer

A)  what you have learned about most recently. 
B)  what you have had the most difficulty learning. 
C)  what you know or are willing to learn. 
D)  what makes you angry. 
A)  what you have learned about most recently. 
B)  what you have had the most difficulty learning. 
C)  what you know or are willing to learn. 
D)  what makes you angry. C

Question 2

Which item below is an inference about an audience?

Accepted Answer

A)  They are well dressed in clothing that appears expensive. 
B)  They appear to be mostly couples. 
C)  Most are middle-aged and white. 
D)  They look conservative. 
A)  They are well dressed in clothing that appears expensive. 
B)  They appear to be mostly couples. 
C)  Most are middle-aged and white. 
D)  They look conservative. D

Question 3

Surveying your interests is a good starting point for identifying a topic appropriate for a public speech.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 4

When narrowing your topic, you should keep in mind

Accepted Answer

A)  whether the time you have for your speech is sufficient for what you will need to cover. 
B)  whether you know enough about the topic to begin researching it. 
C)  whether you can find sufficient resources about the topic on the Internet. 
D)  whether you can find whatever information you need on Wikipedia. 
A)  whether the time you have for your speech is sufficient for what you will need to cover. 
B)  whether you know enough about the topic to begin researching it. 
C)  whether you can find sufficient resources about the topic on the Internet. 
D)  whether you can find whatever information you need on Wikipedia.

Question 5

Some ways to quickly generate a list of ideas for a speech include

Accepted Answer

A)  surveying your interests and brainstorming. 
B)  grazing Wikipedia and watching YouTube. 
C)  interviewing family and friends. 
D)  scanning the headlines of the local newspapers. 
A)  surveying your interests and brainstorming. 
B)  grazing Wikipedia and watching YouTube. 
C)  interviewing family and friends. 
D)  scanning the headlines of the local newspapers.

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT an attitude?

Accepted Answer

A)  Immigration laws should be liberalized. 
B)  Wickedness will be punished. 
C)  Taxes are too high. 
D)  Air pollution should be more tightly controlled. 
A)  Immigration laws should be liberalized. 
B)  Wickedness will be punished. 
C)  Taxes are too high. 
D)  Air pollution should be more tightly controlled.

Question 7

A timely topic is

Accepted Answer

A)  of interest to audiences today. 
B)  of enduring interest. 
C)  appropriate for the time allotted. 
D)  sufficiently focused. 
A)  of interest to audiences today. 
B)  of enduring interest. 
C)  appropriate for the time allotted. 
D)  sufficiently focused.

Question 8

As a novice public speaker, you should rely heavily on demographic information; when you are a more experienced speaker, you can ignore demographics.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

The strongest predictor of speech performance is

Accepted Answer

A)  the speaker's physical appearance. 
B)  the audience's attention span. 
C)  the currency of the topic. 
D)  the work put into preparation. 
A)  the speaker's physical appearance. 
B)  the audience's attention span. 
C)  the currency of the topic. 
D)  the work put into preparation.

Question 10

One of your high school teachers invites you back to your high school to give a talk to the students in her economics class. Your major in econ and your excellent performance in her class are the reasons she would like to have you make some encouraging remarks to her current class. The information she has given you and your past relationship with her should help you infer how to approach the topic.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

It is best to narrow your topic for a speech

Accepted Answer

A)  once you realize you have taken on more than you can handle. 
B)  after you have started additional research on the topic. 
C)  after you have fully researched the topic. 
D)  before you begin additional research on the topic. 
A)  once you realize you have taken on more than you can handle. 
B)  after you have started additional research on the topic. 
C)  after you have fully researched the topic. 
D)  before you begin additional research on the topic.

Question 12

You can learn a great deal about your college classroom audience by observing them.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

One strategy that may help you identify an appropriate speech topic is brainstorming.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

The thesis statement of a speech and the central idea of a composition are similar.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Because the students at her school all live at home and commute to classes, Mika concluded that she could best hold her classmates interest with a speech devoted to local issues. In drawing this conclusion, Mika was engaging in

Accepted Answer

A)  inference. 
B)  deductive reasoning. 
C)  value analysis. 
D)  survey research. 
A)  inference. 
B)  deductive reasoning. 
C)  value analysis. 
D)  survey research.

Question 16

Which of the following is most likely a largely captive audience?

Accepted Answer

A)  the thousands of people who come to Washington, DC to attend a presidential inauguration 
B)  the sales reps and other employees at an annual dinner addressed by the company CEO 
C)  the graduates and their relatives who attend a college graduation ceremony 
D)  the millions of people who regularly watch television news programming 
A)  the thousands of people who come to Washington, DC to attend a presidential inauguration 
B)  the sales reps and other employees at an annual dinner addressed by the company CEO 
C)  the graduates and their relatives who attend a college graduation ceremony 
D)  the millions of people who regularly watch television news programming

Question 17

Which sentence below best states a specific purpose?

Accepted Answer

A)  My audience will be able to explain three ways the Affordable Health Care for America Act benefits college students. 
B)  My audience will learn about diabetes. 
C)  My audience will learn about adult health problems. 
D)  My audience will learn about media coverage of the current state of U.S. healthcare issues. 
A)  My audience will be able to explain three ways the Affordable Health Care for America Act benefits college students. 
B)  My audience will learn about diabetes. 
C)  My audience will learn about adult health problems. 
D)  My audience will learn about media coverage of the current state of U.S. healthcare issues.

Question 18

Speech topics have a life of their own. Some topics endure for decades while others fade fast. Which topic below is likely to have a brief life span?

Accepted Answer

A)  relationships among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the U.S. government 
B)  how to care for individuals who are poor, unhealthy, and unrepresented in our society 
C)  which film will win the most prizes this year for quality and popularity 
D)  how to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and those who are mentally ill 
A)  relationships among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the U.S. government 
B)  how to care for individuals who are poor, unhealthy, and unrepresented in our society 
C)  which film will win the most prizes this year for quality and popularity 
D)  how to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and those who are mentally ill

Question 19

Topics for speeches never age. A good topic is a good topic over time.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Which of the following is likely to be an INEFFECTIVE way to adapt to an audience?

Accepted Answer

A)  A speaker responds to a supportive audience by reinforcing their attitudes about the topic. 
B)  A speaker anticipates a potentially hostile audience by changing the presentation topic. 
C)  A speaker dresses in a style that matches the expectations of the audience. 
D)  A speaker uses colloquial language when addressing a group of friends. 
A)  A speaker responds to a supportive audience by reinforcing their attitudes about the topic. 
B)  A speaker anticipates a potentially hostile audience by changing the presentation topic. 
C)  A speaker dresses in a style that matches the expectations of the audience. 
D)  A speaker uses colloquial language when addressing a group of friends.

When selecting a topic for a public presentation, it is best to focus on

Which item below is an inference about an audience?

Surveying your interests is a good starting point for identifying a topic appropriate for a public speech.

When narrowing your topic, you should keep in mind

Some ways to quickly generate a list of ideas for a speech include

Which of the following is NOT an attitude?

A timely topic is

As a novice public speaker, you should rely heavily on demographic information; when you are a more experienced speaker, you can ignore demographics.

The strongest predictor of speech performance is

It is best to narrow your topic for a speech

You can learn a great deal about your college classroom audience by observing them.

One strategy that may help you identify an appropriate speech topic is brainstorming.

The thesis statement of a speech and the central idea of a composition are similar.

Because the students at her school all live at home and commute to classes, Mika concluded that she could best hold her classmates interest with a speech devoted to local issues. In drawing this conclusion, Mika was engaging in

Which of the following is most likely a largely captive audience?

Which sentence below best states a specific purpose?

Speech topics have a life of their own. Some topics endure for decades while others fade fast. Which topic below is likely to have a brief life span?

Topics for speeches never age. A good topic is a good topic over time.

Which of the following is likely to be an INEFFECTIVE way to adapt to an audience?

Communication, Perception, and Your Life

Communicating Verbally

Communicating Nonverbally

Communicating Through Listening

Interpersonal Communication

Intercultural Communication

Mediated Communication and Social Media

Organizational and Small-Group Communication

Organizing Your Presentation

Gathering Information and Supporting Materials

Communication Apprehension and Delivery

Public Presentations to Inform

Public Presentations to Persuade

Using Communication Skills As You Enter the Workplace

Filters

Exam 9: Topic Selection and Audience Analysis

When selecting a topic for a public presentation, it is best to focus on

Which item below is an inference about an audience?

Surveying your interests is a good starting point for identifying a topic appropriate for a public speech.

When narrowing your topic, you should keep in mind

Some ways to quickly generate a list of ideas for a speech include

Which of the following is NOT an attitude?

A timely topic is

As a novice public speaker, you should rely heavily on demographic information; when you are a more experienced speaker, you can ignore demographics.

The strongest predictor of speech performance is

It is best to narrow your topic for a speech

You can learn a great deal about your college classroom audience by observing them.

One strategy that may help you identify an appropriate speech topic is brainstorming.

The thesis statement of a speech and the central idea of a composition are similar.

Because the students at her school all live at home and commute to classes, Mika concluded that she could best hold her classmates interest with a speech devoted to local issues. In drawing this conclusion, Mika was engaging in

Which of the following is most likely a largely captive audience?

Which sentence below best states a specific purpose?

Speech topics have a life of their own. Some topics endure for decades while others fade fast. Which topic below is likely to have a brief life span?

Topics for speeches never age. A good topic is a good topic over time.

Which of the following is likely to be an INEFFECTIVE way to adapt to an audience?

Communication, Perception, and Your Life

Communicating Verbally

Communicating Nonverbally

Communicating Through Listening

Interpersonal Communication

Intercultural Communication

Mediated Communication and Social Media

Organizational and Small-Group Communication

Organizing Your Presentation

Gathering Information and Supporting Materials

Communication Apprehension and Delivery

Public Presentations to Inform

Public Presentations to Persuade

Using Communication Skills As You Enter the Workplace

Filters