Deck 12: Developing Oral and Online Presentations

Question 1

Arun is preparing a presentation for his organization and he has been asked to analyze the situation thoroughly before embarking on the presentation. To be able to adjust his message and delivery he needs to focus on ________.

A) the seating arrangement
B) knowing the state of mind of the audience
C) the mode of delivery
D) reducing distractions

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Integrating the storytelling approach into the structure of your presentation is ________.

A) a great way to capture and keep the audience's attention
B) not effective in the indirect approach
C) usually avoided in a professional setting
D) more feasible when paired with the direct approach

Answer 2

A

Question 3

The only sure way to measure the length of your presentation is to ________.

A) define your main idea in a sentence
B) be aware of audience needs
C) complete a practice run
D) compare it to your previous presentation time

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Presentations not only highlight your communication skills but also help you demonstrate how you ________.

A) grasp basic issues
B) simplify problems
C) understand verbal communication
D) handle challenging situations

Question 5

Shanda has been asked to prepare online presentations that people can either view live or download later from the company website. She has to prepare a ________.

A) webcast
B) screencast
C) twebinar
D) webinar

Question 6

Oral presentations delivered in person or online offer important opportunities to put all your ________ skills on display.

A) technical
B) interpersonal
C) research
D) communication

Question 7

During the planning stage of presentations, if you define your main idea, limit your scope and verify timing, and outline your content, you are ________.

A) analyzing the situation
B) gathering information
C) organizing information
D) selecting the right medium

Question 8

Cameron is preparing to present his views to a possibly "hostile" audience. Your advice to him would be to ________.

A) recognize that angry audiences care deeply but are likely to be open to listening
B) use the direct approach and confront their hostility
C) consider the indirect approach and work to keep his own emotions under control
D) use the AIDA model to grab their attention

Question 9

Juanita is giving her first training presentation to her team. Her manager has asked Juanita to make sure her presentation fits the allotted time, since there are other presentations following hers. Therefore, Juanita should ________.

A) focus on meeting audience needs and expectations more than keeping to the time allotted
B) limit her scope
C) limit audience questions in the end
D) avoid summarizing

Question 10

Barry realizes that planning oral presentations is much like planning other business messages. Therefore, the first step in this process would be to ________.

A) organize the information
B) select the right medium
C) gather information
D) analyze the situation

Question 11

You can take control of the apprehension surrounding presentations by ________.

A) overcoming nervousness
B) conducting proper research
C) understanding nonverbal cues
D) using the three-step writing process

Question 12

Evan has organized his material around conclusions and recommendations because his purpose is to ________ his audience.

A) motivate
B) inform
C) persuade
D) understand

Question 13

For the ________ of the presentation, be prepared to explain the who, what, when, where, why, and how of your subject.

A) introduction
B) body
C) final section
D) summary

Question 14

Whenever you're up against a time or space constraint, try to view it as a creative challenge and ________.

A) focus on the most essential message points that are important to your audience
B) focus on the most essential message points that are important to you
C) skip the visual element of your presentation
D) give people printed handouts with additional detail

Question 15

As with written communications, analyzing the situation involves defining your purpose and ________.

A) problem-solving approach
B) persuasion strategy
C) selecting the right medium
D) developing an audience profile

Question 16

Becka is presenting her analysis regarding the latest tool that her team has developed to her colleagues in the organization. Her manager has advised her to gauge the audience's experience because not everybody has the same background and experience. Therefore, Becka should ________.

A) analyze the mood that people will be in when she speaks to them
B) think about the mix of general concepts and specific details she will need to present
C) analyze the mix of men and women, age ranges, socioeconomic and ethnic groups, occupations, and geographic regions represented
D) anticipate possible objections or questions

Question 17

While the right techniques used in the right way can help a speaker build a strong connection with the audience, too often though ________ gets in the way.

A) a language barrier
B) lack of knowledge
C) lack of planning
D) not knowing the audience

Question 18

To avoid struggling to get your main idea across to the audience, you should ________.

A) figure out the one key message you want audience members to walk away with
B) reward their goodwill with a presentation that is clear, concise, and upbeat
C) recognize that uninterested audiences care deeply but might not be open to listening
D) not try hard to hold their attention throughout

Question 19

Ronan is giving a presentation to convince the board of directors that they should build a new plant in Dallas to eliminate bottlenecks. He has "presenter's block" and needs help defining his main idea. Your suggestion to him would be to ________.

A) prepare a descriptive summary, so that the members get all the details
B) ask the board to summarize, so that he knows that he has relayed the message correctly
C) limit his scope
D) compose a one-sentence summary that links his subject and purpose to his audience's frame of reference

Question 20

Nancy Duarte, whose design firm has years of experience creating presentations for corporations, offers this rule of thumb: for an important one-hour presentation that uses 30 slides, allow ________ to research, conceive, create, and practise.

A) 36 to 90 hours
B) a day
C) 30 minutes per slide
D) 3 times the expected presentation time

Question 21

Transitional words such as therefore, because, and in addition can be ________.

A) used as links between sentences and paragraphs
B) distracting to the audience when used often
C) helpful for only longer presentations
D) avoided as fillers

Question 22

Which of the following is NOT true of free-form slides?

A) They provide complementary information through both textual and visual means.
B) They limit the amount of information to prevent cognitive overload.
C) They require the same time to be created as structured slides.
D) They help viewers process information by identifying priorities and connections.

Question 23

Many speakers like to prepare both a detailed planning outline and a simpler ________ that provides all the cues and reminders they need in order to present their material.

A) speaking note
B) speaking outline
C) organizational plan
D) audience outline

Question 24

One of the most common mistakes beginner speakers make is ________.

A) not adapting to the audience
B) using free-form slides
C) not planning their outline
D) stuffing slides with too much text

Question 25

Filomena is giving a presentation to her team, which is a small group of people she already knows. Her presentation style should be ________.

A) a formal style because it is still an office presentation
B) storytelling style
C) a casual style that encourages audience participation
D) the direct approach

Question 26

Derrick knows that visuals for presentations need to be simpler than visuals for printed documents. Therefore, when he is creating his presentation, he should ________.

A) not use structured slides because they are usually loaded with details
B) not use jumbled layouts that force the eye to traverse all over the screen to assemble the meaning of the visual
C) not keep the level of detail at an absolute minimum
D) work to keep related information within no more than one illustration

Question 27

Vikram needs to know if a presentation outline has any other purpose apart from planning his actual speech. Your reply would be that it ________.

A) doesn't have any other purpose
B) helps limit the scope
C) gives the audience a preview of what is to come
D) also helps him plan his speaking notes

Question 28

Nadia is planning to use visually oriented free-form slides that many presentation specialists now advocate. While creating her slides, Nadia should make sure that ________.

A) she follows the same basic format and template throughout the presentation
B) the structure does not change randomly from one slide to the next
C) the structure changes randomly from one slide to the next
D) the number of slides are fewer than would be with the structured slides approach

Question 29

Many presentation experts would argue that ________.

A) audiences come to hear you speak, not to read your slides
B) electronic presentations are not leading to "death by PowerPoint"
C) structured presentations are favourable for educational presentations
D) visual and textual content should always be balanced

Question 30

Well-designed ________ overcome the drawbacks of the alternative approach by providing complementary information through textual and visual means, limiting the amount of information delivered at any one time to prevent cognitive overload, and helping viewers process information by identifying priorities and connections.

A) electronic presentations
B) structured slides
C) free-form slides
D) transparencies

Question 31

To help build your credibility before a presentation, ________.

A) give the audience what they came for, that is, begin with your presentation, do not spend time introducing yourself beyond your name and designation
B) introduce yourself, keep your comments brief, but don't be afraid to mention your accomplishments
C) introduce yourself, keep your comments brief, but don't go through your accomplishments
D) allow someone else to introduce you but leave your accomplishments for the supporting materials

Question 32

Jonas was giving a presentation and when it was time to for his final remarks he said, "Well, I guess that's it." Instead of what Jonas did, you would have ________.

A) made sure your final remarks were memorable and had the right emotional tone
B) said the same thing because it was a familiar audience and a casual presentation
C) used the final remarks to further establish credibility
D) ended it more optimistically

Question 33

The most important way to hold an audience's attention is to ________.

A) use appealing visuals
B) show how your message relates to their individual needs and concerns
C) anticipate-and answer-your audience's questions
D) use clear, vivid language

Question 34

In addition to getting the audience's attention and establishing your credibility, a good introduction gives your audience a preview of what's ahead. Your preview should ________.

A) provide an anecdote to generate interest
B) focus on content, not the structure of your presentation
C) identify major supporting points of your presentation
D) always precede the introduction

Question 35

One of the ways to arouse audience interest is to ________.

A) avoid storytelling
B) try focusing on better visuals
C) focus the presentation on the audience's sense of hearing only
D) open with an amusing observation about yourself

Question 36

Before ending your presentation, tell listeners that you're about to finish and ________.

A) do not repeat the main points because they are obvious by now
B) give recommendations if it is a direct approach
C) reinforce your theme by restating your main supporting points
D) summarize if it is an indirect approach

Question 37

Which of these instances best represents the statement "death by PowerPoint"?

A) A visually-loaded presentation about "glaucoma after 60" at a retirement home, given by a local eye specialist
B) A presentation that freezes due to well-known and recurrent software glitches in PowerPoint
C) A simple, authentic and clean slide with minimal design elements that distract
D) An informative presentation to junior high school students regarding "chocolate and tooth decay" using adaptations of extensive graphs and charts from the 1950s

Question 38

Which of the following is NOT true of structured slides?

A) Highly structured bullet points keep the audience's attention.
B) Easy-to-design slides save time and money.
C) They are a good choice for routine presentations.
D) They can be more effective at conveying complex ideas or sets of interrelated data.

Question 39

While preparing for his presentation, John is working on arousing audience interest in his topic and establishing his credibility. Which part of the presentation is he working on?

A) Introduction
B) Body
C) Presentation outline
D) Summary

Question 40

The close of your presentation should do which of the following?

A) End with a joke to show your sense of humour
B) Put your audience in the appropriate emotional state
C) Anticipate audience questions and concerns
D) Thank your audience

Question 41

________ is usually the most effective and easiest delivery mode.

A) Following builds
B) Using transitions
C) Speaking from notes
D) Reciting from memory

Question 42

Marcel is all set to give his presentation in a couple of days, but he is really nervous and about to lose sleep over it. He wants to know, what is the best antidote for anxiety that will give him confidence and help him overcome glitches. What is your suggestion?

A) Creativity
B) Visualization
C) Preparation
D) Breathing techniques

Question 43

Whether or not you can establish ground rules for Q&A depends on the audience and the situation. If you are presenting to a ________, establish some guidelines, such as the number of questions allowed per person and the overall time limit for questions.

A) small group of high-ranking executives
B) large group of high-ranking executives
C) group of potential investors
D) group of peers

Question 44

Visualizing your success is one of the suggested techniques to overcome anxiety during a presentation. When you do this, you are supposed to visualize yourself ________.

A) feeling confident and able to handle any situation
B) finishing the presentation
C) not failing
D) in your best business attire

Question 45

You don't want to be fumbling with controls while the audience is watching and waiting, so make sure ________.

A) you're comfortable with the equipment you'll be expected to use
B) the equipment you use is new
C) you get your own equipment
D) you don't rely on anyone else to operate the equipment

Question 46

In a presentation, ________ control how one slide replaces another, such as having the current slide gently fade out before the next slide fades in.

A) transitions
B) hyperlinks
C) builds
D) source codes

Question 47

What can hamper the nonverbal communication between you and your audience and therefore limit opportunities for interaction?

A) Dimming the lights too much
B) Speaking from notes
C) Using structured slides
D) Telling a personal anecdote right at the beginning

Question 48

When you're speaking to high-ranking executives in your company, the ________ period will often consume most of the time allotted for your presentation.

A) Q&A
B) summary
C) introduction
D) conclusion

Question 49

When people advise speakers to "stop worrying about being perfect" or that "everyone makes mistakes," they are ________.

A) wrong, because successful speakers focus on perfection; any distractions can take away from the message being conveyed
B) right, because successful speakers focus on making an authentic connection with their listeners, rather than trying to be perfect
C) asking you foresee mistakes
D) not concerned with a quality product

Question 50

If you are having fears, you should ________.

A) stop your presentation and exit the stage
B) apologize and let the audience know about this
C) use an anecdote to lighten the mood
D) think about your topic and try to read your audience's reactions

Question 51

The preferred highlight and accent colour is ________.

A) green
B) red
C) yellow
D) blue

Question 52

Mayada is giving a presentation on the new design elements included in a tool created by her team. To explain the functionalities, she is planning to use multimedia elements. Audio and video clips ________.

A) can be used to support points of her presentation, but are not replacements for them
B) can eventually replace the need for an actual presenter
C) are generally preferred in business presentations
D) are generally avoided in business presentations

Question 53

Yuen is presenting her analysis to her Japanese clients. When you deliver an oral presentation to people from other cultures, it is important to take into account ________.

A) that you may not need an interpreter
B) that a sign-language interpreter is a must
C) that language is a more important consideration than local mannerisms or customs
D) any cultural differences in appearance, mannerisms, and other customs

Question 54

Ken is working on a presentation that has a large number of points in a sequence. To help the audience focus on one point at a time, he can use ________.

A) decorative animation
B) transitions
C) builds
D) functional animation

Question 55

Barry is giving a presentation at his organization's annual summit, but he is given very little time to present. To effectively get his message across, he can ________.

A) use the direct approach
B) distribute printed handouts or other support materials at the end of his presentation
C) load his slides with more information
D) limit introduction and conclusion

Question 56

Which of these techniques will help you convert anxiety into positive energy?

A) Take a five-minute break from speaking.
B) Breathe slowly and deeply.
C) Memorize your presentation.
D) Visualize your failure and how to avoid it.

Question 57

You can animate just about everything in an electronic presentation, but ________.

A) avoid animations as they are tedious
B) make sure an animation has a purpose
C) use videos instead
D) use them sparingly as they can be distracting

Question 58

The ________ period is one of the most important parts of an oral presentation. It gives you a chance to obtain important information, to emphasize your main idea and supporting points, and to build enthusiasm for your point of view.

A) introductory
B) middle
C) question-and-answer
D) conclusion

Question 59

When would reading an entire speech be appropriate?

A) For any presentation because the audience knows you may be nervous
B) For speakers with presentation anxiety during a formal speech only
C) For speeches that are longer than one hour and in front of a large audience
D) When delivering legal information or policy statements that must be conveyed in an exact manner

Question 60

When you deliver an oral presentation to people from other cultures, it is important to take into account any cultural differences in ________. To make appropriate changes for a specific audience or occasion, consult your host or interpreter.

A) presentation medium
B) mannerisms
C) visuals used
D) eating habits

Question 61

You have been invited to speak at a seminar on the importance of networking online. Before giving your presentation, you decide to post the main points of your presentation on your company blog and encourage comments. Which of the following actions will be most beneficial to both the audience and the presenter?

A) Monitoring audience tweets about the presentation during the presentation.
B) Posting the main points of your presentation on the company blog, viewing the comments after the presentation, and setting up a discussion forum to discuss the issues.
C) Posting the main points of your presentation online, but disabling comments in order to encourage live audience feedback during the presentation.
D) Discussing relevant online comments during the presentation, responding to any live-audience feedback, and encouraging further feedback after the presentation through an online forum.

Question 62

Organize short presentations as you would a report or proposal.

Question 63

Knowing your audience's size will help you adjust both your message and your delivery.

Question 64

Using a storytelling model can be a great way to catch and hold the audience's attention.

Question 65

If you are asked a difficult or complex question, avoid the temptation to ________.

A) answer it
B) sidestep it
C) refuse to answer
D) respond with another question

Question 66

Innovations in ________ continue to reshape the nature of presentations.

A) audience behaviour strategies
B) communication
C) social media
D) management techniques

Question 67

Which of the following is important when giving presentations online?

A) Send preview study materials ahead of time.
B) Keep your presentation as simple as possible.
C) Ask for feedback frequently.
D) All of the above

Question 68

The most important way to hold an audience's attention is to use the storytelling technique.

Question 69

With oral communication you have to rely primarily on spoken words to link various parts and ideas.

Question 70

What term refers to three-dimensional selves beamed over a company's hyperadvanced information network?

A) Holograms
B) Artificial intelligence
C) Supersensory experience
D) Multisensory experience

Question 71

A line of communication created by people in an audience to connect with others inside or outside the room, with or without the knowledge of the speaker, which is akin to texting with your classmates or live-blogging during a lecture, is generally known as ________.

A) the backchannel
B) datasourcing
C) the datachannel
D) backnoise

Question 72

If your audience is uninterested, the best strategy is to build your credibility as you present compelling reasons to accept your message, address potential objections as you move forward, and show confidence but a willingness to answer questions and concerns.

Question 73

To capture audience attention, share an intriguing, unexpected, or shocking detail.

Question 74

Planning presentations is unlike planning other business messages in that you don't have to select the medium.

Question 75

The most important aspect of any presentation is ________.

A) length
B) using the right tools that complement your presentation
C) knowing what the audience needs
D) getting the audience to receive, understand, and embrace your message

Question 76

As multiple outlines can lead to anxiety and confusion, speakers should only prepare one speaking outline.

Question 77

Jasmine is giving a presentation to an angry group of investors. She is quite sure that during the Q&A round at least some of them will ask hostile questions. In this situation, Jasmine should ________.

A) sidestep the questions
B) allow herself to show her emotional commitment to the subject
C) respond honestly and directly while keeping her cool
D) refuse to answer those questions

Question 78

If you can't express your main idea in a single sentence, you probably haven't defined it clearly enough.

Question 79

When people ask questions, to what should you pay attention?

A) Nonverbal signals
B) The complexity of the topic
C) The audience reaction
D) All of the above

Question 80

Which of these scenarios would be considered part of the backchannel?

A) A presenter uploading his presentation, after he has presented it, on the company wikipage
B) The presenter requesting his audience email their comments to him after the presentation
C) Audience members texting each other during a presentation
D) A presenter using the Internet during his presentation