Deck 1: Getting Started in Communication

Question 1

Communication models that view all communicators as responsible for sharing meaning are known as

A) transactional.
B) ethnocentric.
C) individualistic.
D) expressive.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Jennifer tells Susan, "I'll see you in the cafeteria at 7:00." Susan arrives at 7:00 in the morning, but she learns later that Jennifer intended to meet her for dinner at 7:00 p.m. Who is responsible for this unsuccessful communication?

A) Jennifer
B) Susan
C) Both Jennifer and Susan
D) Neither Jennifer nor Susan

Answer 2

C

Question 3

When a single speaker gives an oral presentation to an audience, the context is __________communication.

A) mass
B) public
C) group
D) interpersonal

Answer 3

B

Question 4

As Beth walks into class to take a midterm exam, she is nervous, but she says to herself, "You know you studied hard, so you will do just fine." Beth's self-talk is an example of

A) a dyad.
B) multiple dyads.
C) interpersonal communication.
D) intrapersonal communication.

Question 5

When people communicate, they negotiate the meanings of symbols. This means that communicators

A) argue.
B) use charades to act out meanings.
C) determine shared meanings.
D) are verbal.

Question 6

Which of the following are examples of verbal symbols to communicate the fact that you are tired?

A) The statement, "I am very tired"
B) A loud yawn
C) Closing your eyes
D) Putting your head down on the desk

Question 7

Which of the following statements is true about shared understanding in communication?

A) Agreement is the primary goal of communication.
B) The goal is for all parties to perceive, as clearly and accurately as possible, the ideas they intend to communicate.
C) Sharing ideas is more important than sharing emotions.
D) Speakers do not have to worry about effectively choosing symbols because meaning can be negotiated afterwards.

Question 8

When Rosa has to ask her boss a question, she would rather send a text-message than ask the question face-to-face. This illustrates the principle that

A) communication contexts produce different levels of anxiety for different people.
B) if we are confident in one communication situation, that confidence will carry over to other types of situations.
C) oral communication always produces more anxiety than does written communication.
D) verbal communication always produces more anxiety than does nonverbal communication.

Question 9

What is the main difference between Schramm's interaction model of communication and the action model that came before it?

A) The interaction model views communication as a circular process involving feedback.
B) The interaction model emphasizes the role of context.
C) The interaction model recognizes that feedback is often simultaneous.
D) The interaction model does not include the element of noise.

Question 10

Watching a movie at the theater, Kayla realizes she is cold. She thinks, "It's freezing in here," and she prepares to whisper this in her classmate's ear. Kayla is the

A) sender encoding a message.
B) receiver decoding a message.
C) sender decoding a message.
D) receiver providing feedback.

Question 11

When Kate asks Michael a question, he replies in a sarcastic tone. This sound of his voice is

A) verbal code.
B) nonverbal code.
C) an olfactory channel.
D) a gustatory channel.

Question 12

Which of the following statements is true of face-to-face communication?

A) The more important the message, the more important it is to use the face-to-face channel.
B) The face-to-face channel is best for simple messages.
C) The face-to-face channel is problematic because it does not allow for immediate feedback.
D) The face-to-face channel provides verbal but not nonverbal codes.

Question 13

Distractions that interfere with communication are referred to as

A) encoding.
B) decoding.
C) channels.
D) noise.

Question 14

When we talk to people and observe their behavior, which of the following are visible to us?

A) universal human needs
B) verbal and nonverbal symbols
C) cultural rules
D) cultural norms

Question 15

Which of the following are standards of behavior that are written down or otherwise spelled out explicitly?

A) norms
B) rules
C) contexts
D) semantics


Question 16

When Elisa visits England, people there think she has terrible table manners because she holds her knife in her right hand to cut food, following the American custom. Their judgment of Elisa is

A) ethnocentric.
B) high-context.
C) low-context.
D) individualistic.

Question 17

When people communicate because they enjoy the interaction, they are __________communicators.

A) instrumental
B) androgynous
C) homogenous
D) expressive

Question 18

Jeremy tells his mother that he's afraid he will fail his chemistry class. She recommends that he contact his professor immediately. Her advice is

A) typically feminine.
B) instrumental communication.
C) expressive communication.
D) mediated.

Question 19

Today's college students most frequently use which technology?

A) Laptop computers
B) Desktop computers
C) Cell phones
D) Game consoles

Question 20

Kristy texts Ivor: "Will you meet me for lunch?" Ivor is in a hurry, so he only has time to text back one word: "no." When Kristy receives this short message, she wonders if Ivor is angry with her. This illustrates the idea that

A) Verbal code can be difficult to decode accurately.
B) The more codes operating in a channel, the more chances exist for communication breakdown.
C) CMCs convey nonverbal code.
D) CMCs are rich medium channels.

Question 21

_______ is/are a system of moral principles that governs the conduct of people in relationship to others.

A) Ethics
B) Laws
C) Rules
D) Honesty

Question 22

Byron does not care for Tanisha's new hairstyle, but he tells her he likes it. This type of white lie is considered

A) unethical in every situation.
B) unethical in every culture.
C) a lesser ethical violation in the United States than hurting someone's feelings.
D) harmful to relationships.

Question 23

Which of the following is not listed in your book as a skill of competent communicators?

A) learning to speak a foreign language
B) communicating ethically
C) listening effectively
D) maintaining successful relationships

Question 24

Don realizes that he often loses his temper with his son, making his son nervous around him. When Don realizes he should speak to his son more calmly, he is exhibiting which skill of competent communicators?

A) Avoiding defensiveness
B) Reframing
C) Self-monitoring
D) Analyzing the speech audience

Question 25

Empowered communication refers to

A) the self-confidence that arises from learning effective communication.
B) participating in enriching professional, social, and civic activities.
C) greater understanding of your motivations, feelings, and capabilities.
D) enhanced professional success.

Question 26

In his Gettysburg address, Abraham Lincoln spoke of "government of the people, by thepeople, for the people," implying that Americans have a responsibility to communicate with our elected officials. Readiness to heed Lincoln's words is which benefit of studying communication?

A) empowered participation
B) improved citizenship
C) increased self-awareness
D) enhanced relationships

Question 27

A symbol communicated via the spoken word is __________.

Question 28

The ___________ model of communication introduced the idea of feedback.

Question 29

__________ is the process the sender uses in selecting verbal and nonverbal symbols to create a message.

Question 30

The means or method of transmitting the code, which could include media such as radio or television, is known as __________.

Question 31

__________noise refers to factors connected to thoughts or emotions (such as worry) that impede effective communication.

Question 32

Computer-mediated communication (CMC) is considered a __________ medium channel because it carries only one code and does not convey nonverbal messages.

Question 33

A culture in which people's understanding of messages is based less on the words spoken and more on the communication context is a __________ - context culture.

Question 34

__________ are groups of people bound by shared values, beliefs, attitudes, rules, and norms that interact with those of the larger culture.

Question 35

An example of a rich medium channel is __________.

Question 36

A system of moral principles governing people's behavior as they relate to others is known as __________.

Question 37

Using the transactional model, describe a recent telephone conversation you had. Briefly define each element of the communication process and then provide an example from that conversation to illustrate each element. To start, who was the sender, and who was the receiver?

Question 38

Briefly describe an experience you had when a cultural difference led to a communication problem. Why do you think this problem occurred? Briefly discuss the role of the following: semantic noise; rules, norms, attitudes, beliefs and values; high vs. low context; and ethnocentrism.

Question 39

When Ann confides in Maria that she is angry at her husband, Maria could give an expressive response or an instrumental response. Define both types of response. Note which is more often associated with men and which with women. Then provide a specific example of each response that Maria might give in this situation.

Question 40

Define communication context, considering both the narrow and broad perspectives. To explain the role of context in communication, define rules and norms and discuss how each can affect communication. Provide examples.

Question 41

Your textbook lists skills of competent communicators. Which four will be the most useful to you? Consider the skills you need at home, at work, or in college. Briefly describe those four skills and give specific reasons why they will be especially useful.