Deck 16: Developing Oral and Online Presentations

Question 1

"Now that we've identified the problem, let's take a look at some solutions" is an example of

A) a good transition between major sections of a speech.
B) a transition that fails to use the proper transitional phrase.
C) a transition that can link two sentences, but not two sections of speech.
D) a transition that is overly specific and promises too much.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

In preparing presentations, keep in mind that audience attention levels and retention rates drop sharply after ________ minutes.

A) 20
B) 60
C) 45
D) 5

Answer 2

A

Question 3

If you have 10 minutes or less to deliver a presentation

A) you can assume your audience is already interested.
B) speak as quickly as you possibly can.
C) organize your presentation as you would a brief written message.
D) limit yourself to four or five main points.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

To reduce the formality of an oral presentation,

A) deliver your remarks in a conversational tone.
B) seat the audience in rows.
C) use a large room.
D) do all of the above.

Question 5

In the introduction to your presentation, it is important to

A) discuss the three or four main points on your outline.
B) establish credibility.
C) boast about your qualifications.
D) ask for audience input.

Question 6

For business presentations, time restraints are usually

A) meaningless-audiences expect presenters to take a little more time than they're allotted.
B) imposed only on lower-level employees.
C) not important if you are presenting to your colleagues.
D) rigid, permitting little or no flexibility.

Question 7

When organizing a speech or presentation, your first step is to

A) write the introduction.
B) decide on the delivery style.
C) define the main idea.
D) develop an outline.

Question 8

When using conventional structured slides, try to average one slide for

A) every 3 minutes you speak.
B) each minute you speak.
C) every 7 minutes you speak.
D) every 10 minutes you speak.

Question 9

The two most common purposes of business presentations are to

A) analyze and synthesize.
B) regulate and validate.
C) illustrate and entertain.
D) inform and persuade.

Question 10

Longer speeches and presentations are organized like

A) memos.
B) reports.
C) email messages.
D) letters.

Question 11

When organizing a speech, use the indirect approach if your purpose is to ________ and the audience is ________.

A) motivate, receptive
B) entertain, resistant
C) persuade, resistant
D) inform, receptive

Question 12

When you prepare a speech or presentation, your first step involves

A) planning the content, length, and style of your speech or presentation.
B) choosing the right words.
C) analyzing the situation.
D) doing all of the above.

Question 13

Speeches and oral presentations are much like any other messages in that

A) they require no planning.
B) they deal with emotional or personal issues to a similar extent.
C) the interaction between the audience and speaker is similar.
D) they require similar planning.

Question 14

The best way to clarify your main idea in a presentation is to

A) provide a lengthy handout for your audience to review during your presentation.
B) allow your audience to gradually figure it out on their own.
C) develop a single sentence that links your subject and purpose to your audience's frame of reference.
D) describe it using jargon and complicated language to emphasize its importance.

Question 15

Formal speeches differ from informal ones in that

A) formal speeches always include obscure, unfamiliar vocabulary.
B) formal speeches are often delivered from a stage or platform.
C) when delivering a formal speech, you should speak more rapidly.
D) formal speeches are always much longer.

Question 16

As a speaker, how you go about establishing credibility depends in part on

A) how you are dressed.
B) what time of day you deliver your remarks.
C) the size of your audience.
D) whether or not you are a well-known expert in the subject.

Question 17

One effective way to arouse interest at the start of a speech is to

A) always start things off with a joke.
B) tease the audience by not mentioning specifically what you'll be talking about.
C) unite the audience around a common goal.
D) do none of the above.

Question 18

Selecting the right medium for your presentation is

A) not something you need to think about early on.
B) easy-you're simply giving a speech.
C) only an issue when addressing audiences from other cultures.
D) an important decision since technology offers a number of choices.

Question 19

When preparing an outline for your speech, keep in mind that

A) you can leave out all transitions.
B) you should keep each item to two- to three-word descriptions of what you will say.
C) this is not the place to include "stage directions."
D) it can include delivery cues, such as where you plan to pause for emphasis or use visuals.

Question 20

One of the steps in analyzing your audience is to

A) remember to keep your speech or oral presentation short.
B) determine whether your audience is comfortable listening to the language you speak.
C) prepare a detailed, informative outline.
D) define your purpose.

Question 21

Which of the following is not a good way to deal with speaking anxiety?

A) Take a few deep breaths before speaking.
B) Have your first sentence memorized and on the tip of your tongue.
C) Focus on being perfect.
D) Prepare more material than necessary.

Question 22

When you have covered all the main points in your speech

A) avoid using such phrases as "To sum it all up" and "In conclusion."
B) wrap up as quickly as possible.
C) keep it simple with a statement such as, "Well, I guess that's it."
D) make sure your concluding remarks are memorable and expressed in a tone that is appropriate to the situation.

Question 23

In business presentations, the "backchannel" is

A) password-protected electronic slides that only certain audience members are allowed to view.
B) electronic communication among audience members during the presentation.
C) the "notes" portion of an electronic slide, which only the presenter can see.
D) subtle, nonverbal cues the presenter sends during the presentation.

Question 24

Disadvantages of delivering a presentation from memory include all of the following except

A) sounding stilted.
B) sounding too informal.
C) possibly forgetting your lines.
D) all of the above are disadvantages.

Question 25

You should always close your speech

A) by leaving the audience with a feeling of incompleteness, which you can resolve in the question-and-answer period.
B) with something dramatic or flamboyant.
C) on an encouraging and memorable note.
D) by introducing some new ideas for the audience to think about.

Question 26

Rehearsing your presentation on video will

A) help you check your voice, timing, phrasing, and physical gestures.
B) most likely ruin your ability to make an effective presentation.
C) increase your nervousness.
D) rob you of the confidence you need.

Question 27

At the close of a business presentation

A) you should avoid making it obvious that you're about to finish.
B) audiences resent being reminded of the presentation's main ideas.
C) be clear about what you want the audience to do next.
D) audience attention tends to reach its lowest point.

Question 28

To hold your audience's attention during the body of your speech

A) make at least seven or eight main points.
B) relate your subject to your audience's needs.
C) include numerous abstract ideas.
D) do all of the above.

Question 29

Delivering your presentation by reading it word-for-word is usually a bad idea except when

A) the audience is hostile.
B) you're covering policy statements or legal documents that must be presented verbatim.
C) your presentation is very lengthy.
D) the presentation is humorous.

Question 30

Planning a business presentation is similar to organizing a written message.

Question 31

Sending preview materials to the audience prior to an online presentation

A) can be helpful.
B) suggests that you are not confident.
C) is an example of the backchannel in action.
D) will cause most audience members to ignore what you present later.

Question 32

Because you can adapt to your audience while you are speaking, it's not as important to research your audience for an oral presentation.

Question 33

You will communicate more successfully with a multilingual audience if you speak slowly and distinctly and pause frequently.

Question 34

The most effective and easiest mode of speech delivery in nearly all situations is

A) speaking from an outline or notes.
B) memorization.
C) impromptu speaking.
D) reading from a prepared script.

Question 35

If there is a lack of consensus among the audience at the end of your presentation, you should

A) gloss over it as quickly as possible.
B) identify the individuals causing the disagreement and ask them pointed questions.
C) make the disagreement clear and be ready to suggest a method for resolving the differences.
D) do all of the above.

Question 36

You should be able to summarize the main idea for a speech in a single sentence that links your subject and purpose to the audience's frame of reference.

Question 37

When checking the location of your presentation in advance, you should

A) find out whether the venue offers a projection system that you will be expected to use.
B) always request a whiteboard, even if you aren't sure you will need it.
C) not worry about seating arrangements-they have no effect on how you deliver your remarks.
D) do all of the above.

Question 38

When speaking from notes, it is best to print them on

A) regular white typing paper.
B) brightly colored note cards.
C) heavy note cards.
D) your smartphone.

Question 39

If your speech or presentation requires the audience to participate in an upcoming project, you should

A) lead people to believe that the decision will be easy to carry out.
B) close your speech on a note of uncertainty.
C) close your speech by explaining who is responsible for doing what.
D) go directly to the question-and-answer session after you cover the main points of your speech.

Question 40

If you have 10 minutes or less to deliver your presentation, you should organize it much as you would a brief written message.

Question 41

In preparing a speaking outline for your presentation, you should avoid cluttering it with complete sentences.

Question 42

To keep an audience's attention, try to present every point you make in light of the audience's needs and values.

Question 43

Asking, "Did you know that almost 90% of American homeowners are underinsured?" would be a good way to get the audience's attention at the beginning of a presentation on homeowner's insurance.

Question 44

One good way to arouse audience interest during the introduction of your presentation on a new product line would be to pass out samples of the product.

Question 45

A good introduction arouses audience interest, establishes your credibility, and prepares the audience for what will follow.

Question 46

The speech outline is not an appropriate place to include notes about the visual aids you plan to use.

Question 47

Having someone else (such as a master of ceremonies) introduce you can help establish your credibility as a speaker.

Question 48

Transitional words and phrases such as, "Now that we've covered..." are generally less important in oral presentations than in written reports.

Question 49

If you have no working relationship with your audience, you have only a few minutes to convince them that what you have to say is worth listening to.

Question 50

Of the total time you spend writing your oral presentation, you should devote only a minimal amount to writing your introduction.

Question 51

Giving your audience a preview of what you'll be talking about will reduce their interest and attention.

Question 52

When discussing topics of profound importance to your audience, you can usually count on having their attention as soon as you introduce your main idea.

Question 53

Simplicity of organization is important only if your speech is short.

Question 54

Even when you expect your audience to be skeptical, the direct approach is always best for presentations.

Question 55

Your speech outline is a good place to include annotations about the specific body language or gestures you want to use.

Question 56

As you conclude your presentation, it is vital to emphasize whatever you want your listeners to do or think.

Question 57

If your purpose is to analyze, persuade, or collaborate, you should organize your speech around conclusions and recommendations or a logical argument.

Question 58

In general, you should use a conversational style when speaking to small groups and a more formal style for large groups who are unfamiliar with you.

Question 59

One good way to establish credibility is by exaggerating your qualifications. You can always correct any misconceptions later in your speech.

Question 60

The ending is the least important part of a presentation.

Question 61

You should never ask to see the location for your presentation in advance, since doing so shows a lack of confidence.

Question 62

The purpose of most business presentations is to inform or ________.

Question 63

Making a presentation with the help of an outline or notes is the most effective and easiest delivery mode.

Question 64

At the close of an action-oriented presentation, it is unprofessional to "baby" the audience a visual that lists the action items, deadlines, and the name of the person or team responsible.

Question 65

When concluding a presentation, don't bore your audience by restating points you already made in the body.

Question 66

When making a presentation to an unfamiliar audience, you need to establish ________ quickly by listing your qualifications.

Question 67

For a large audience and an important event, you will generally need to establish a(n) ________ atmosphere and to deliver your remarks on a stage or platform.

Question 68

Skilled presenters are quick to put a stop to audience members engaging in "backchannel" communication during a presentation.

Question 69

When delivering presentations online, it is especially important to ask the audience for frequent feedback.

Question 70

To make your presentation memorable, your ending should be spontaneous and impromptu.

Question 71

If there is a lack of ________ at the end of your presentation, acknowledge it and be ready to offer a method for resolving the differences.

Question 72

The ________ ________ of a speech should be expressed in a one-sentence statement that links your subject and purpose to your audience's frame of reference.

Question 73

Early in the planning stages of a speech, you should develop a(n) ________ profile.

Question 74

Memorizing an entire business presentation is generally not very effective.

Question 75

The ________ to your presentation aims to capture the audience's attention.

Question 76

Effective introductions often unite the audience around a common ________, such as helping solve a problem or capitalizing on an opportunity.

Question 77

If you sense a lack of consensus at the end of your presentation, you should acknowledge it and be ready to suggest a method for resolving the differences.

Question 78

You should always end business presentations in a cheerful, optimistic tone-even if it means glossing over obvious disagreements among your audience members.

Question 79

A presentation ________ helps you organize your material and can serve as the foundation of your speaking notes.

Question 80

In the body of your presentation, it is vital to ________ the ideas you are presenting around a common theme.