Deck 5: Communicating Nonverbally

Question 1

Much of what we learn about people are thinking or feeling comes not through listening to their words but through observing their body language and other behaviors. Body language is an example of what kind of communication?

A) Verbal
B) Unspoken
C) Gesture
D) Nonverbal

Answer 1

Nonverbal

Question 2

_____________ communication refers to those behaviors and characteristics that convey meaning without the use of words.

A) Nonverbal
B) Unspoken
C) Kinesic
D) Verbal

Answer 2

Nonverbal

Question 3

Which statement is the LEAST true about nonverbal communication?

A) Nonverbal behaviors can expose someone's state of mind.
B) Nonverbal behaviors can clarify or reinforce verbal messages.
C) Nonverbal behaviors constitute only a small portion of our messages.
D) Nonverbal behaviors can convey meaning on their own.

Answer 3

Nonverbal behaviors constitute only a small portion of our messages.

Question 4

Susan meets Bryant on an online dating web site. They e-mail back and forth until Susan feels comfortable with Bryant; she especially enjoys his use of emoticons. She agrees to speak with him on the phone, and she finds herself liking him more and more. He is soft-spoken, quick to laugh, and gives her plenty of time to state her opinions without interrupting. Even though Susan and Bryant have yet to meet, they have discovered which principle of nonverbal communication?

A) Nonverbal communication is usually trusted over verbal communication.
B) Nonverbal communication is present in most communication contexts.
C) Nonverbal communication metacommunicates.
D) Nonverbal communication serves multiple functions.

Question 5

In electronically mediated communication such as e-mail or instant messaging, we can introduce nonverbal cues through textual representations of facial expressions called

A) smiley faces.
B) images.
C) emoticons.
D) words.

Question 6

According to research, which type of communication conveys the most information in the messages we send?

A) Verbal
B) Nonverbal
C) Spoken
D) Unspoken

Question 7

The various behavioral forms that nonverbal communication takes are referred to as nonverbal

A) formats.
B) methods.
C) means.
D) channels.

Question 8

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

A) Hearing
B) Facial expressions
C) Vocal characteristics
D) Touch

Question 9

Rita's boyfriend can be moody after a particularly bad day at work. Before trying to speak to him, Rita has learned to observe him for a few moments, paying attention to his tone of voice, facial expressions, and willingness to kiss her hello. Rita is using multiple _____________________ to help her determine her boyfriend's mood.

A) verbal cues
B) methods
C) unspoken words
D) nonverbal channels

Question 10

Patricia is in the car with her niece Cara and notices she is quiet and not participating in the conversation. Patricia asks Cara what's wrong, and Cara says while rolling her eyes, "Nothing, everything is perfectly fine". Despite what Cara says, Patricia is sure something is wrong and decides to speak with her privately when they get to their destination. What principle of nonverbal communication is at play?

A) Nonverbal communication is usually believed over verbal communication.
B) Nonverbal communication is present in most communication contexts.
C) Nonverbal communication metacommunicates.
D) Nonverbal communication serves multiple functions.

Question 11

Your preference for believing nonverbal signals even when they conflict with spoken words is especially critical for detecting ________________, when someone is leading you to believe something that they know to be untrue.

A) emotion
B) deception
C) truth
D) equivocation

Question 12

Which statement best reflects why experts believe we put our trust in nonverbal communication over verbal communication?

A) People have a harder time controlling nonverbal signals than verbal ones.
B) People don't care about what nonverbal signals they are sending out.
C) We put less stock in nonverbal messages than verbal ones.
D) We can ignore a conflict between nonverbal and verbal messages.

Question 13

John is able to tell when his mother is annoyed with his behavior just by the look she gives him because nonverbal communication

A) serves multiple functions.
B) is present in most communication situations.
C) is the primary means of expressing emotion.
D) is present in most communication contexts.

Question 14

What are two channels of nonverbal behavior that are particularly important in the communication of emotion?

A) Posture and facial expressions
B) Gestures and vocal behaviors
C) Movement and gestures
D) Facial expressions and vocal behaviors

Question 15

Out of all forms of communication, research shows that _____________________ of our most basic emotions are interpreted similarly around the world.

A) gestures
B) facial expressions
C) movement
D) vocal expression

Question 16

Lawrence and Sophia are on a double date with Sophia's cousin and his girlfriend. As the discussion turns to Sophia's mother, Lawrence gets a bit nervous, as he knows Sophia's mother does not like him dating her daughter. When Sophia's cousin asks how it is going, Sophia says, "Oh, she adores him and wants to know when the wedding is". She pats Lawrence's leg and winks at him as she says this, to let him know she is joking. Lawrence understands how Sophia wants him to interpret her message because nonverbal communication

A) serves multiple functions.
B) is present in most communication situations.
C) is the primary means of expressing emotion.
D) metacommunicates.

Question 17

Which of the following is NOT a function of nonverbal communication?

A) Managing conversations
B) Maintaining relationships
C) Avoiding impressions
D) Influencing other people

Question 18

When you deceive others, making your voice higher than normal and using fewer gestures, what is the purpose of your nonverbal communication?

A) To influence other people
B) To conceal information
C) To maintain relationships
D) To form an impression

Question 19

We can use nonverbal signals, such as raising a hand in class to indicate we wish to speak, because nonverbal communication helps us to

A) maintain relationships.
B) influence other people.
C) manage conversations.
D) form impressions.

Question 20

AJ sees a group of teenagers outside of a local mall. They are dressed in all black, and even the boys in the group are wearing heavy eyeliner. He decides they must be into Twilight and vampires and are not the kind of people he would want to know. AJ is relying on nonverbal communication to do what?

A) Form impressions
B) Help conceal information
C) Influence other people
D) Manage conversations

Question 21

There are ________ primary channels of nonverbal communication.

A) ten
B) three
C) twenty
D) four

Question 22

Your face communicates more information than any other channel of nonverbal behavior because of the principle of facial

A) expressions.
B) importance.
C) function.
D) primacy.

Question 23

Which of the following is NOT an important function of facial display?

A) Attractiveness
B) Primacy
C) Identity
D) Emotion

Question 24

Researchers identify symmetry and proportionality as primary contributors to facial

A) identity.
B) expressions.
C) attractiveness.
D) emotions.

Question 25

Dalia has just learned American Sign Language and finds she must concentrate on the communicator's hand signals, usually ignoring all other nonverbal cues. Her friend Miguel signs to her, but she can't figure out if he is signing, "It's you"! or "Did you"? What other type of nonverbal communication would best assist Dalia in determining Miguel's meaning?

A) Gestures
B) Movement
C) Touch
D) Facial expressions

Question 26

What type of nonverbal communication is our primary means of communicating emotion?

A) Gestures
B) Movement
C) Facial behavior
D) Proxemics

Question 27

Because the eyes communicate more than any other part of the face, scholars study _________ as a separate nonverbal channel from facial behavior.

A) oculesics
B) kinesics
C) optometrics
D) proxemics

Question 28

Which of the following can be used to signal attraction, to gain credibility, to intimidate someone, and to signal we are paying attention?

A) Movement
B) Gesticulation
C) Posture
D) Eye contact

Question 29

Sandy has a job interview with a top company in her field. She makes sure to walk into the room confidently, with her head held high. When she sits down for the interview, she makes sure to keep her posture strong and her body still. Which of the following is Sandy paying special attention to?

A) Proxemics
B) Gesticulation
C) Kinesics
D) Haptics

Question 30

Holding up two fingers in a "peace"symbol at an anti-war rally is an example of what type of nonverbal behavior?

A) Kinesics
B) Gesticulation
C) Haptics
D) Proxemics

Question 31

When they are arguing, Jill notices that her mother uses gestures to try to control the conflict. She'll raise her hand to get Jill's attention and make a "zipping" motion across her mouth when she wants Jill to be quiet. She will also wave slightly when she thinks Jill should say something. Jill's mother is using gestures as ______________ during conflict.

A) regulators
B) emblems
C) affect displays
D) illustrators

Question 32

If you see someone make a circle with his thumb and forefinger, you are able to translate it into the specific message of "okay", because that gesture is a(n)

A) illustrator.
B) affect display.
C) emblem.
D) regulator.

Question 33

Brianna notices that her classmate Joel wrings his hands during his speech in front of the class. He also uses his hands to fidget and play with his visual aid. Brianna is noticing how Joel is using gestures as

A) emblems.
B) regulators.
C) illustrators.
D) affect displays.

Question 34

If you hold up your hands a certain distance apart when you say the fish you caught was "this big", your gesture serves as a(n)

A) illustrator.
B) emblem.
C) affect display.
D) regulator.

Question 35

Since touch is the only sense without which we cannot survive, _____________ is a particularly important field of study in nonverbal communication.

A) proxemics
B) haptics
C) kinesics
D) gesticulation

Question 36

For which of the following does touch play a critical role in conveying meaning?

A) Conflict
B) Boredom
C) Happiness
D) Affection

Question 37

Misha takes his daughter Tatiana to the mall. He notices a group of rough-looking youths that are swearing and wrestling in front of one store, but Tatiana does not. Misha puts his hand on Tatiana's shoulder and gently guides her to the other side of the walkway so as to avoid the group. Misha is using __________ touch to protect his daughter.

A) power and control
B) aggressive
C) affectionate
D) caregiving

Question 38

Shaking hands with someone upon meeting them is an example of ___________ touch in North America.

A) aggressive
B) affectionate
C) ritualistic
D) power and control

Question 39

Behaviors such as punching, pushing, kicking, and slapping are examples of what type of touch?

A) Power
B) Ritualistic
C) Control
D) Aggressive

Question 40

Which of the following is NOT an example of paralanguage?

A) Words
B) Inflection
C) Accent
D) Pitch

Question 41

Farah is nervous about her introductory speech but wants to make sure no one notices. She carefully moderates her rate, keeping it at an even pace; she avoids vocal fillers; and she makes sure to use inflection and avoid a monotone. Farah is controlling her _______________ to give the impression to her audience that she is not nervous.

A) inflection
B) paralanguage
C) kinesics
D) articulation

Question 42

Though everyone speaks with a(n) ______________, we typically notice only those that are different than ours.

A) inflection
B) rate
C) paralanguage
D) accent

Question 43

Although the word hors d'oeuvres looks as if it should sound like "horse de ovres", it actually sounds like "or durve". This is an example of what characteristic of paralanguage?

A) Articulation
B) Accent
C) Pronunciation
D) Inflection

Question 44

In his job interview, Jerry is very careful about how clearly he speaks. He makes sure not to mumble his words are clear and easily understandable. Jerry knows that clear ____________ is an important way to convey professionalism and competency.

A) articulation
B) pronunciation
C) inflection
D) pitch

Question 45

Paige is very excited about her first date with Vince, someone she met online. They've been talking on the phone for a week and Paige is sure they will hit it off in person. When they meet, they hug hello, and Paige notices Vince wears the same cologne her ex-boyfriend used to wear. Though Vince is charming and funny, Paige can't seem to enjoy herself, flooded with memories of her ex. Paige's memory is influencing her communication with Vince because of

A) haptics.
B) proxemics.
C) kinesics.
D) olfactics.

Question 46

When looking for opposite-sex romantic partners, we are drawn to people whose natural body scent is the most different from our own. This can be explained by which of the following?

A) Proxemics
B) Olfactics
C) Haptics
D) Kinesics

Question 47

Which of the following is the scientific study of spatial use.

A) Olfactics
B) Haptics
C) Proxemics
D) Kinesics

Question 48

Which of the following is NOT one of Hall's spatial zones?

A) Social
B) Public
C) Relational
D) Intimate

Question 49

At work, Les tends to keep his customers at a ___________ distance, from about 4 to 12 feet, to convey a more formal, impersonal interaction.

A) social
B) public
C) personal
D) friendly

Question 50

Hayden has a large, noticeable scar on the left side of her face. She has noticed that in class, her professors tend to ignore her to call on other students. Despite her best efforts, she feels that she is never perceived to be as competent as her peers, and many of her friends have commented that she doesn't appear friendly upon first glance. Hayden could be experiencing the ___________ effect.

A) evaluation
B) stereotyping
C) halo
D) bias

Question 51

Which of the following terms refers to the way we use time?

A) Chronemics
B) Proxemics
C) Kinesics
D) Olfactics

Question 52

Rodney has a job interview scheduled for 9:00

A) olfactics
B) Kinesics
C) Proxemics
D) Chronemics

Question 53

Refusing to spend time with a friend you are angry with is an example of

A) proxemics.
B) haptics.
C) chronemics.
D) kinesics.

Question 54

What term describes the objects and visual features within an environment that reflect who we are and what we like?

A) Décor
B) Artifacts
C) Kinesics
D) Chronemics

Question 55

Tetsuya has to speak with her physics professor about a grade. When she arrives at his office, she notices his many degrees from prestigious universities displayed on the wall and his shelves are full of thick textbooks. Her professor sits behind a large desk and indicates she should sit in a small, low chair across from him. The professor's use of ____________ proves intimidating to Tetsuya, who finds it difficult to communicate her purpose clearly in that environment.

A) kinesics
B) chronemics
C) artifacts
D) paralanguage

Question 56

Gestures such as A-OK, thumbs up, and crossed fingers have sexual or obscene meanings in many parts of the world because of ___________ influences on nonverbal communication.

A) worldly
B) different
C) ethnic
D) cultural

Question 57

One study found that because of differences in their preferred conversational distance, Arab college students regarded those from the United States as aloof, whereas the American students regarded Arab students as overbearing. This research illustrates the influence culture can have on

A) kinesics.
B) haptics.
C) paralanguage.
D) proxemics.

Question 58

Mariko is from Japan, so she bows upon meeting or saying hello someone, whereas Joe is from the United States, so he will shake hands. This is because of cultural influence on ______________ behaviors.

A) greeting
B) haptic
C) vocal
D) proxemic

Question 59

In countries such as France and Greece, individuals touch each other significantly more than in other countries because France and Greece are ___________-contact cultures.

A) low
B) medium
C) average
D) high

Question 60

Parents in every known culture use _______________, a soft, high-pitched vocal tone and highly simplified language, with their infants.

A) paralanguage
B) inflection
C) baby talk
D) cooing

Question 61

Research has found that __________ are more expressive with regard to a variety of emotional states, engage in more eye contact, and stand and sit closer to one another.

A) women
B) children
C) men
D) adults

Question 62

According to current research, during opposite-sex communication, who is more likely to violate the other's personal space and more likely to touch?

A) Children
B) Adults
C) Women
D) Men

Question 63

Logan and Abigail met in an online chat room. They've been e-mailing back and forth, trying to get to know one another. Abigail uses a lot of emoticons to convey her emotions, whereas Logan likes to insert images and replace profanity with random punctuation. This illustrates the influence nonverbal communication has on ____________ communication.

A) Gender
B) Cultural
C) Computer-mediated
D) Romantic

Question 64

Scott is excited to take his teenage son, Nathan, to a baseball game. As they drive to the game, Scott talks extensively about the local team, batting averages, and chances at making the playoffs. He does not seem to notice that Nathan rolls his eyes frequently, is texting his friends for much of the drive, and does not seem interested in the upcoming game at all. To be more in tune with what Nathan wants to do, Scott needs to

A) be sensitive to nonverbal messages.
B) decipher the meaning of nonverbal messages.
C) consider the social situation a person is in and the nonverbal behaviors he or she is enacting.
D) express nonverbal messages.

Question 65

_______________ nonverbal messages is essential because we can't interpret messages unless we first take note of them.

A) Deciphering
B) Expressing
C) Adherence to
D) Sensitivity to

Question 66

If you want to be more sensitive to nonverbal messages, you can

A) pay only moderate attention to a person's body movements.
B) pay no attention to tone of voice.
C) pay particular attention to facial expressions.
D) pay particular attention to artifacts.

Question 67

Because nonverbal communication can sometimes carry multiple messages, it is important to learn how to

A) be sensitive to nonverbal messages.
B) decipher the meaning of nonverbal messages.
C) pay attention to nonverbal messages.
D) learn all the types of nonverbal messages.

Question 68

Gabe meets with his boss at the end of a busy day at work. He notices his boss keeps frowning as she reviews his report. Gabe thought he did a particularly good job on the report, so he can't understand how she would be displeased. Therefore, Gabe asks his boss, "Is the report what you were wanting"? His boss nods and explains that she has a headache because of the busy day; the report is fine. Gabe was able to decipher his boss's nonverbal message because of what strategy?

A) Considering the social situation someone is in
B) Keeping in mind that cultural differences sometimes influence the meaning of a nonverbal message
C) Asking a person as a way to check an interpretation of his or her nonverbal message
D) Expressing nonverbal messages

Question 69

Which of the following is NOT a way to improve your skills at expressing nonverbal messages?

A) Engaging in role playing
B) Playing a game of charades
C) Spending time with highly expressive people
D) Watching television

Question 70

Chloe wants to be a broadcast journalist when she gets out of college, as she's been told she's well spoken and highly expressive. She wants to continue to improve herself nonverbally, as she knows that is how she can convey many emotions to her viewers one day. She makes sure to observe and interview customer service representatives, counselors, members of the clergy and local politicians because she understands that to improve her own nonverbal skills, she should

A) engage in role playing.
B) spend time with highly expressive people.
C) make contacts in various industries.
D) consider the social situation someone is in.