Deck 1: An Overview of Communication

Question 1

Messages cannot be fully understood without knowing:

A)All of the facts of the event being described
B)The social and cultural context of the message
C)The number of words in the message
D)None of the above

Answer 1

B

Question 2

The perspective that 'communication is action' is limited because:

A)It fails to account for the correct timing of a message
B)It fails to account for the receipt of a message
C)It fails to account for the correct length of a message
D)It fails to account for the attempt to communicate a message

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Explain why it can be problematic to interpret a symbol correctly in a communicated message.

Answer 3

Symbols are arbitrary by nature, and do not always depict what they represent (for instance, a heart symbol does not look like a real human heart). Also, symbols can have levels of meaning (for instance, a heart can reflect love, affection, or attraction). In addition, symbols can vary according to the culture and context in which they are used, or according to the relationship between speaker and listener.

Question 4

Culture affects communication because:

A)Many cultures have strange ways of interacting
B)Many cultures do not send and interpret messages
C)Many cultures take certain knowledge for granted
D)Many cultures do not like to communicate

Question 5

Explain how context can affect the interpretation of a message.

Question 6

Communication is interpreted at both the content and the relational level.

Question 7

Symbols are always constant in meaning from one cultural context to the next.

Question 8

Assumptions that affect the interpretation of a message can include ideas about:

A)Power, race, and relationships
B)Power only
C)Race only
D)Relationships only

Question 9

The perspective of 'communication as transaction' is preferred by your text's authors because:

A)It accounts for the correct timing of a message
B)It accounts for the exchange of information between two or more individuals
C)It accounts for the creation of new meanings through communication
D)It accounts for the intention to send a message

Question 10

A communicative 'frame' provides context to help us interpret a message.

Question 11

The idea that communication can be presentational means that communication is not always neutral.

Question 12

Context has no effect on the meaning of a communicated message

Question 13

Explain how communication can be both representational and presentational.

Question 14

Relationships affect communication by:

A)Preventing expectations from affecting the meaning of a message
B)Minimizing the effective interpretation of a message
C)Establishing time frames for the interpretation of a message
D)Establishing expectations for the interpretation of a message

Question 15

The perspective that 'communication is interaction' is limited because:

A)It fails to account for the correct timing of a message
B)It fails to account for the exchange of information between two or more individuals
C)It fails to account for the exchange of information between a sender and receiver
D)It fails to account for the way that new meanings are created between a sender and receiver

Question 16

Describe how social frames function to help people interpret the meaning of a message.

Question 17

The perspective of 'communication as action' defines communication as occurring only if information is exchanged between two or more individuals.

Question 18

Successful communication requires both intentional sending and accurate interpretation of a message.

Question 19

Communication is simply the literal translation of a message.

Question 20

Explain why the perspective of 'communication as action' is limited in its usefulness.

Question 21

In order for people to communicate successfully, they must have:

A)Unlimited time
B)Financial resources
C)Shared assumptions
D)No relationship

Question 22

Cultural assumptions about communication can include:

A)The rules we should follow in all communications with others
B)The exact wording we should use in all communications with others
C)The exact time limits we should follow in all communications with others
D)The specific topics we must discuss in all communications with others

Question 23

Accidental communication is characterized by:

A)Unintentional sending of a message
B)Intentional sending of a message
C)Inaccurate interpretation of a message
D)Inaccurate interpretation of symbols

Question 24

Social frames can enhance communication by:

A)Helping to open up unlimited meanings
B)Helping to determine outcomes
C)Helping to regulate communication interactions
D)Helping to terminate communication interactions

Question 25

The use of symbols in communication is complicated because:

A)Symbols have only one meaning
B)Symbols have multiple meanings
C)Symbols are not affected by culture and context
D)Symbols are not representational

Question 26

Successful communication requires:

A)Intention in sending a message
B)Intention in receiving a message
C)Accurate interpretation of a message
D)Intentional sending and accurate interpretation

Question 27

When people from different cultures interact in one place, the use of symbols is more likely to be:

A)Iconic
B)Representational
C)More colorful
D)More textual

Question 28

Language is symbolic because:

A)It is difficult to understand
B)Words have different pronunciations in different regions
C)Language is iconic
D)Language uses words to represent objects and ideas

Question 29

Which of the following is true of symbols and communication?:

A)Symbols have the potential for only one meaning
B)Symbols are used to deflect meaning
C)The meaning applied to symbols may change
D)Symbols preclude meaning

Question 30

One advantage of social framing in communication is that:

A)Every part of the message must be explicitly stated
B)Not every part of the message must be explicitly stated
C)Every part of the message can be ignored
D)Not every part of the message can be ignored

Question 31

Miscommunication is characterized by:

A)Intentional blocking of a message
B)Inaccurate interpretation of a message
C)Unintentional sending of a message
D)Accurate interpretation of a message

Question 32

Attempted communication is characterized by:

A)Unintentional sending of a message
B)Unintentional sending of symbols
C)Successful receiving of a message
D)Unsuccessful receiving of a message

Question 33

Communication is presentational because it is:

A)Not always objective
B)Always objective
C)Not always effective
D)Always effective