Deck 12: Preparing a Speech

Question 1

A ___________ statement is a declaration of the specific goal of your speech.

A) thesis
B) goal
C) purpose
D) preview

Answer 1

purpose

Question 2

What is the first step in crafting a purpose statement?

A) Consider exactly what you want to inform or persuade your listeners about.
B) Decide on your main point.
C) Identify your thesis.
D) Identify your topic and general goal.

Answer 2

Identify your topic and general goal.

Question 3

Maeve has been assigned an informative speech in her speech class. After brainstorming, Maeve decides she wants to talk about pizza. Which of the following would be the best purpose statement for Maeve's speech?

A) Teach listeners the differences between pizza in the U.S. and Italy.
B) Persuade listeners to eat less pizza.
C) Convince listeners to try a specific brand of pizza.
D) Demonstrate why Pizza Hut's crust is better than Papa John's.

Answer 3

Teach listeners the differences between pizza in the U.S. and Italy.

Question 4

Harrison is giving a persuasive speech for his political science class. He has decided to speak on the topic of the Tea Party. Which of the following would be the LEAST effective purpose statement?

A) Persuade listeners to donate money to the Tea Party.
B) Show why the Tea Party is better than the Republican and Democratic parties.
C) Convince listeners to vote for a Tea Party candidate in the next election.
D) Teach listeners about the evolution of the Tea Party.

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT a guideline for crafting a strong purpose statement?

A) Be specific.
B) Be informative.
C) Be concise.
D) Be declarative.

Question 6

Hayden crafts a purpose statement for her informative speech on organic gardening. She states her purpose as, "How does one go about starting an organic garden"? What guideline did Hayden fail to follow when writing her purpose statement?

A) Be clear.
B) Be specific.
C) Be concise.
D) Be declarative.

Question 7

A ____________ statement is a one-sentence version of the message in your speech.

A) thesis
B) purpose
C) topic
D) main idea

Question 8

With a strong ________________ statement, you'll find it much easier to construct the rest of your speech because you'll know exactly what you want to say to your audience.

A) purpose
B) main idea
C) thesis
D) preview

Question 9

Brandon is giving a persuasive speech on the legalization of marijuana. He has written his purpose statement as "Persuade listeners to support the legalization of medical marijuana". Which of the following would be an effective thesis statement for Brandon's speech?

A) Marijuana is not a "gateway" drug as many opposed to its legalization claim.
B) Medical marijuana can alleviate suffering for millions of Americans with specific health conditions.
C) California has successfully legalized medicinal marijuana; the next logical step is to legalize marijuana use for everyone with no limitations.
D) Marijuana has many uses and could ease everyday life.

Question 10

Which of the following is NOT a guideline for crafting a strong thesis statement?

A) Make a statement.
B) Tell the truth.
C) Be concrete.
D) Include all main points.

Question 11

Valerie is giving an informative speech on New York City. Her purpose statement is "Inform listeners of the top ten things to see when visiting New York City". For her thesis, she writes, "The city has a lot to do". What mistake did Valerie make when crafting her thesis?

A) She didn't tell the truth.
B) She didn't make a statement.
C) She wasn't concrete.
D) She wasn't sincere.

Question 12

kenny is writing a persuasive speech on the existence of extraterrestrial or alien life. His thesis is "Extraterrestrial life is a fact, backed up by extensive scientific study and government involvement". After doing his research, however, Kenny feels he cannot support his original thesis, so he rewrites it to state, "Extraterrestrial life has been a hot topic for debate for decades, with a lot of speculation and very little proof". Kenny is following what guideline for crafting his thesis?

A) Make a statement.
B) Keep it exciting.
C) Be concrete.
D) Tell the truth.

Question 13

Even if you have a fascinating topic and a compelling thesis statement, listeners will quickly lose interest if your presentation lacks coherence and

A) closure.
B) organization.
C) transitions.
D) visual aids.

Question 14

Which of the following, if well crafted, will capture your listeners' interest in your topic and preview the points you plan to make?

A) Body
B) Transition
C) Introduction
D) Conclusion

Question 15

levi is giving a persuasive speech on drunk driving. He knows that he must generate interest in the topic during his introduction, so he wants to have an effect with his opening statement. Which of the following opening statements would be the LEAST effective for Levi's speech?

A) Every 39 minutes, one person dies due to drunk driving. That means that by the end of our class today, two people will have lost their lives due to drunk drivers.
B) Ever been at a party? Had a drink, maybe two, three? But you're fine to drive, right? We've all done it. And yet ... did you know that it only takes three martinis to reach the legal limit? Or two frozen daiquiris? That's not much, is it?
C) I'd like to show you a picture of Suzanne. At three years old, Suzanne was vivacious, full of life, and ready to take on the world-until, that is, her mother decided to drive after drinking with Suzanne in the car. Now Suzanne is in a coma, and doctors are not optimistic she will ever wake up.
D) Drunk driving is a serious problem in our country. I will share some stories with you today, some statistics, and some ways we can all work on this issue.

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT a way to generate interest in a topic?

A) State your thesis.
B) Pose a question.
C) Cite an opinion.
D) Identify something familiar.

Question 17

What technique does this statement use to generate interest? "What an amazing day it has been, sharing in Eduardo and Kennedy's joy as they celebrate their marriage".

A) Citing an opinion
B) Identifying something familiar
C) Telling a joke
D) Making reference to a shared occasion

Question 18

Annalucia is giving a speech on behalf of her company, which is based in Los Angeles, California. Her speech is in Miami, Florida at a stockholder's meeting. Annalucia decides to open her speech with, "I was nervous about coming so far from home, but once I saw your amazing beaches here in Miami, I felt right at home"! What technique is Annalucia using to generate interest in her speech?

A) Identifying something familiar
B) Noting the occasion
C) Citing an opinion
D) Telling a joke

Question 19

Which of the following will help your listeners pay attention to the body of your speech by identifying ahead of time what they should listen for?

A) Thesis
B) Review
C) Preview
D) Purpose

Question 20

"Today, I'd like to share with you the top three islands to visit in Hawaii. First, we'll start off on the Big Island. Then, we'll move on to Maui. We'll end our tour on the island of Oahu". This is an example of which of the following?

A) A preview
B) A thesis
C) A purpose
D) An opening statement

Question 21

The ___________ will be the longest part of your speech.

A) introduction
B) body
C) transitions
D) conclusion

Question 22

A __________ is a statement expressing a specific idea or theme related to the speech topic.

A) thesis
B) purpose
C) main point
D) theme

Question 23

Most speeches have at least two and a maximum of _____ main points.

A) three
B) four
C) five
D) six

Question 24

Main points should be _________ because you don't want any of your points to seem out of place.

A) distinct
B) equally important
C) arranged
D) related

Question 25

Tanner is doing his informative speech on aerobic exercise. He wants to have three main points for his presentation. Which of the following main points would NOT be related to the others?

A) There are many forms of aerobic exercise: biking, swimming, hiking, and jogging, to name a few.
B) You should also consider lifting weights to build muscle mass.
C) Aerobic exercise can burn anywhere from 200-500 calories every half hour.
D) Aerobic exercise can be done indoors at the gym if you don't want to head outdoors.

Question 26

Although each main point in a speech addresses the main topic, they must all still be ______ and express a different idea.

A) related
B) arranged
C) equally important
D) distinct

Question 27

Kyra has decided to do her speech on current trends in vampire fiction. Her two main points are: (1) Many vampire series have introduced werewolves into the mix. (2) The Twilight series introduced Jacob, a werewolf, into the series. What is the problem with these statements as Kyra's main points?

A) They are not distinct.
B) They are not important.
C) They are not related.
D) They are not on topic.

Question 28

Ideally, you want to give approximately the same amount of time to each of your main points, as your main points should be

A) distinct.
B) interesting.
C) equally important.
D) related.

Question 29

When you adopt a __________ pattern, you organize your main points to represent different categories.

A) time
B) space
C) topic
D) cause-and-effect

Question 30

Which pattern of organization is particularly useful when you are describing the steps of a process?

A) Cause-and-effect
B) Time
C) Space
D) Topic

Question 31

In a speech about the earth's atmosphere, you might describe the various atmospheric layers as they exist from the ground up, using what pattern of organization?

A) Space
B) Time
C) Topic
D) Star

Question 32

If your main points are: (1) reasons there is global warming (2) the effects of global warming, then you are using which pattern of organization?

A) Topic
B) Space
C) Problem-solution
D) Cause-effect

Question 33

Margot is giving a persuasive speech in her health class. Her topic is obesity in kids. Her first main point is, "Childhood obesity is an epidemic in the United States". Her second main point is, "Teaching our children healthier eating habits at schools and promoting a healthier menu in school cafeterias are good ways to start to battling this issue". What pattern of organization is Margot using?

A) Cause-effect
B) Motivated sequence
C) Problem-solution
D) Topic

Question 34

Which part of a speech reinforces the central message of the speech and creates a memorable moment for listeners?

A) Conclusion
B) Transition
C) Introduction
D) Body

Question 35

Good speakers often _____________ by reiterating the thesis statement and summarizing the main points of the speech.

A) create a memorable moment for listeners
B) reinforce the central message
C) review the speech
D) lead to closure

Question 36

A ___________ is something your listeners will remember about your speech even if they no longer recall all of your specific points.

A) review
B) transition
C) quotation
D) memorable moment

Question 37

Which of the following is NOT a particularly effective way to make your speech memorable?

A) Humor
B) Surprise
C) Review
D) Emotion

Question 38

summer is wrapping up her speech on marathons. She wants to close with impact and make sure her speech is memorable for her audience. Which of the following is the LEAST effective way for Summer to end her speech?

A) The great explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes once ran seven marathons on seven continents in seven days, all while recovering from a massive heart attack. So the next time you groan when it is time to strap on your jogging shoes, think of Sir Fiennes!
B) And you know it's time to take up running if you get on the scale and it says, "Come back later when you are alone".
C) I hope I've inspired all of you to try marathons like me. You'll love it.
D) Fred Lebow, a New York City Marathon co-founder, once said, "The marathon is a charismatic event. It has everything. It has drama. It has competition. It has camaraderie. It has heroism. Every jogger can't dream of being an Olympic champion, but he can dream of finishing a marathon".

Question 39

Good public speakers use what to link the different sections of a speech?

A) Signposts
B) Transitions
C) Markers
D) Signals

Question 40

The statement "Next, I'd like to discuss why the government should not negotiate with terrorists" is an example of what type of transition?

A) Summary
B) Signpost
C) Nonverbal
D) Preview

Question 41

"First"and "on the other hand"are examples of what type of transition?

A) Signposts
B) Summaries
C) Previews
D) Nonverbal

Question 42

Arjen is giving a speech on euthanasia. He is giving a lot of information, so he is careful to use transitions. Therefore, when he comes to his final main point, he uses the signpost "Most important" to

A) indicate a sequence of events.
B) emphasize importance.
C) compare or contrast points.
D) give additional examples.

Question 43

Which of the following is NOT an example of a nonverbal transition?

A) Gesture
B) Pause
C) Saying "Finally"
D) Vocal inflection

Question 44

During her speech, Yolanda incorporates many transitions into her speech. In addition to using signposts and summaries, Yolanda also drops her pitch as she concludes a point and then lets it rise again on the next point, and she pauses before she concludes. Yolanda seems to understand the power of what type of transitions?

A) Numerous
B) Nonverbal
C) Dramatic
D) Effective

Question 45

What type of transitions are generally only effective to the extent that they seem natural rather than staged?

A) Signpost
B) Preview
C) Summary
D) Nonverbal

Question 46

When a speaker is building a speech, which of the following reflects the speech's design and helps the speaker decide what materials will be needed?

A) Thesis
B) Outline
C) Organizational pattern
D) Body

Question 47

The rule of _______________ specifies that some concepts in your speech are more important than others.

A) subordination
B) parallel wording
C) outlining
D) division

Question 48

When a speech is organized using the rule of subordination, the most important concepts are the main points and the less important concepts are

A) eliminated.
B) research.
C) subpoints.
D) support.

Question 49

According to the rule of division, in an outline, if you divide a point into subpoints, you must create at least ________ subpoints.

A) two
B) three
C) four
D) five

Question 50

Cira is outlining her speech on poodles. Her first main point is that there are many popular breeds of poodles in the United States. She plans to support this with one subpoint: (a) The toy poodle is the most popular breed of poodle. What rule of outlining is Cira breaking?

A) Subordination
B) Division
C) Clarity
D) Parallel wording

Question 51

These three main points follow what rule of outlining? (1) The 2010 World Cup was held in South Africa. (2) The 2010 World Cup was sponsored by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association. (3) The 2010 World Cup was more highly attended than the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

A) Subordination
B) Division
C) Parallel wording
D) Clarity

Question 52

Aisha has been working on an informative speech about her native country. She wants to make sure that she is covering all the points she wants to make and that all of her points are fully supported. Aisha is ready to write which of the following?

A) A formal outline
B) A preparation outline
C) A preliminary outline
D) A final outline

Question 53

Which of the following would NOT be found in a formal outline?

A) Title
B) Purpose statement
C) Delivery notes
D) Bibliography of sources

Question 54

"Making the best choices at fast food restaurants" is an example of a ___________ in a formal outline.

A) purpose statement
B) title
C) thesis
D) conclusion

Question 55

Your formal outline should include a list of the sources you used in preparing your speech. That list is otherwise known as what?

A) Footnote
B) Citation
C) Annotation
D) Bibliography

Question 56

Which statement is NOT true about a bibliography for a formal speech outline?

A) The bibliography should include only those sources used directly in your speech.
B) The bibliography should follow a specific format, such as APA or MLA format.
C) The bibliography should also include sources used as a source of background information.
D) The bibliography is a list of sources used in preparing the speech.

Question 57

Jean-Paul is ready to begin practicing his speech for his literature class. He finds that that the formal outline he wrote to submit is too long and detailed to help him remember his speech. What might he decide to convert his outline into, to aid in his delivery by reminding him of his points and subpoints?

A) Notecards
B) Verbal cues
C) Speaking notes
D) Speech notations

Question 58

Which of the following is a bad idea for gathering supporting material for a speech?

A) Evaluate the quality of supporting material.
B) Determine the type of support you require.
C) Remember that taking something from the Internet is not plagiarism.
D) Identify places in your speech where you need support.

Question 59

Which of the following is an opinion?

A) Learning a second language can make you smarter.
B) Learning a second language will increase job prospects.
C) It is easier to learn a second language as a child than as an adult.
D) Every child should be required to learn a second language.

Question 60

When your speech focuses on a concept that may be unfamiliar to your audience, you can support your use of that concept by _____________ it explicitly.

A) explaining
B) defining
C) illuminating
D) discussing

Question 61

Eric is giving a persuasive speech in his sociology class on gun control. He wants to make sure he supports what he is saying, so he makes statements such as "According to the Task Force on Community Preventive Services, in 1994, the estimated lifetime medical cost of all firearms injuries in the United States was $2.3 billion" and "According to a 2007 poll by CNN, about 65 percent of Americans believe the constitution guarantees the right to own guns". Eric is relying on what type of support?

A) Statistics
B) Examples
C) Narratives
D) Quotations

Question 62

During her speech on conspiratorial organizations, Sasha lists the Illuminati and The New World Order as ____________ of her topic, because she knows her audience will benefit from hearing these illustrations.

A) statistics
B) narratives
C) quotations
D) examples

Question 63

nformation has ___________ if it is believable and trustworthy.

A) power
B) credibility
C) reliable
D) responsible

Question 64

Which of the following statements has the MOST credibility?

A) According to www.smokingstatistics.org, smoking causes 87% of lung cancer death.
B) According to an online guide to quitting smoking, figures show that expectant mothers who smoke cause the deaths of over 600 baby boys and 400 baby girls each year.
C) According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, 27 percent of high school students have smoked in the last 30 days.
D) According to www.readytoquit.com, about 15 billion cigarettes are sold daily.

Question 65

Elton is preparing a speech on health care reform in the United States. He plans to use Michael Moore's documentary Sicko and an editorial from the New York Times. What is the problem with Elton's sources?

A) They are objective.
B) They are credible.
C) They current.
D) They are subjective.

Question 66

Using _________ supporting material is particularly important when a speaker is discussing issues that change rapidly, such as technology and world politics.

A) objective
B) current
C) credible
D) subjective

Question 67

Which of the following terms means knowingly using information from another source without giving proper credit to that source?

A) Plagiarism
B) Illegal use
C) Bootlegging
D) Copying

Question 68

If you steal your entire speech from another source and present it as if it was your own, you are committing what kind of plagiarism?

A) Patchwork
B) Incremental
C) Major
D) Global

Question 69

Although it is acceptable to quote other people's words in your speech, it is essential you use a _________________.

A) bibliography
B) footnote
C) verbal footnote
D) nonverbal citation

Question 70

Gillian is working on her speech and finds some great information on a website. She decides to use the information and doesn't worry about a verbal footnote, as she knows anyone can put anything on the Internet, so the information doesn't actually belong to anyone. Which of the following statements is NOT true about Gillian and her speech?

A) Using words from the Internet did not constitute plagiarism.
B) She can use words from any source, including the Internet, but she must identify her source verbally.
C) If she changes what she found on the Internet into her own words, it is still plagiarism.
D) The rules are no different for the Internet than for any other source.