Question 1

"To persuade my audience to purchase a Honda Accord," is an example of a __________.

Accepted Answer

A)   general purpose
B)   topic
C)   specific purpose
D)   thesis C

Question 2

An effective specific purpose identifies __________.

Accepted Answer

A)   the introduction, the body, and the conclusion
B)   the general purpose of the speech, the audience, and the exact topic to be covered
C)   the audience, the internal preview, and the main points
D)   the general purpose of the speech, the audience, and the call to action. B

Question 3

After the speaker determines an appropriate topic area, what is the very next step in the speech development process?

Accepted Answer

A)   create a specific purpose statement
B)   outline the main points
C)   narrow the topic
D)   develop a research plan C

Question 4

The overall goal of a speech is referred to as its __________.

Accepted Answer

A)   general purpose
B)   thesis
C)   specific purpose
D)   theme

Question 5

Duncan is a well-known speaker on the topic of "Protecting Your Online Privacy." When he gives a free lecture at the local library, the room is filled to capacity, even though some attendees just happened to be at the library that night. Duncan's audience can be characterized as __________.

Accepted Answer

A)   voluntary
B)   involuntary
C)   captive
D)   unmotivated

Question 6

A speaker who draws on accumulated experience with a particular audience and with similar groups in order to develop his or her speech is using __________ to analyze the audience.

Accepted Answer

A)   survey interviews
B)   common knowledge
C)   observation
D)   intuition

Question 7

Why is cultural or ethnic background an important demographic characteristic associated with audience analysis? What could happen if a speaker does not consider the cultural or ethnic background of an audience?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why is cultural or ethnic background an...

Question 8

When a speaker is advocating for acceptance of his viewpoint on a particular topic, the goal of the speech is to __________.

Accepted Answer

A)   persuade
B)   inform
C)   inspire
D)   entertain

Question 9

Before she developed her speech about gun violence and gun control legislation, Ellen distributed a questionnaire to audience members about their views on this divisive topic. Ellen is preparing for her speech by __________.

Accepted Answer

A)   analyzing the size of the audience
B)   analyzing the demographic makeup of the audience
C)   analyzing the speaking situation
D)   analyzing the attitudes and values of the audience

Question 10

What element most differentiates an informative speech from a persuasive one?

Accepted Answer

A)   a controversial topic
B)   conveying new information
C)   the action the speaker wants the audience to take
D)   ability to increase audience understanding

Question 11

Discuss the criteria for composing a specific purpose statement. Using the thesis statement, "Insomnia can be caused by stress, diet, and pre-bedtime habits," provide an appropriate specific purpose statement. Your answer should demonstrate an understanding of the various guidelines discussed in the text.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss the criteria for composing a specific...

Question 12

Keshia must find an appropriate topic for an informative speech assignment. She decides to make a list of subjects she finds interesting to see if this sparks an idea. This is an example of which technique for finding a topic?

Accepted Answer

A)   brainstorming
B)   self-inventory
C)   reviewing current media
D)   engaging with social media

Question 13

Summarize four general strategies for selecting an appropriate topic.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Summarize four general strategies for selecting an...

Question 14

The most important factor that contributes to an effective speech presentation is __________.

Accepted Answer

A)   organizing the content of the speech
B)   choosing an engaging delivery style
C)   selecting an appropriate topic
D)   conducting thorough research

Question 15

Which statement is correct regarding culture and speaking considerations?

Accepted Answer

A)   Audience culture is seldom an important variable for speakers to consider.
B)   Audience member views of age, class, and status tend to be gender-specific, not culture-specific.
C)   Culture is an important element of psychological audience analysis.
D)   Speech content should not offend the values, customs, or beliefs of audience members.

Question 16

Distinguish between captive and voluntary audience members. Provide an example of each, and explain why it is important for a speaker to recognize whether his or her audience is captive or voluntary.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Distinguish between captive and voluntary audience members....

Question 17

What should a speaker do if research indicates that the audience has little or no opinion about the chosen topic?

Accepted Answer

A)   provoke their interest
B)   choose another topic
C)   acknowledge their disinterest
D)   incorporate a humorous story

Question 18

For a classroom speaking situation, what consideration does the text advise is most essential to successfully selecting a speech topic?

Accepted Answer

A)   beginning your search as soon as you receive the assignment
B)   selecting a topic area currently in the news
C)   finding a topic your audience knows nothing about
D)   choosing the first idea you find viable

Question 19

It is easier for a speaker to adapt to listeners' needs and interests if __________.

Accepted Answer

A)   the audience has little or no background knowledge of the topic
B)   the audience is extremely large
C)   audience members are demographically similar
D)   audience members are culturally diverse

Question 20

When using current media to generate a speech topic, beginning speakers are cautioned to __________.

Accepted Answer

A)   avoid relying on just one source for the entire speech
B)   eliminate reviewing social media
C)   use only media sources from the past few months
D)   remove any source citations from the speech

Exam 8: Selecting a Topic and Connecting to the Audience