Public Speaking, Dsst Testing

Front 1

A speech outline should indicate the most important and the least important information according to which of the following principles?

Back 1

Subordination

A speech outline that follows the principle of subordination will make the information's order of importance clear. Main points are indicated by Roman numerals, while sub-points are indicated with capital letters.

Front 2

If a student needs an article about diabetes that appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association, which of the following would be the best tool to use?

Back 2

Periodical database

Journal of the American Medical Association is a type of periodical. Libraries have periodical databases that catalogue articles from journals and magazines.

Front 3

The speed at which a speech is delivered is referred to as which of the following?

Back 3

Rate
Rate is the speed at which a speech is delivered. Rate should be adjusted based on the occasion, the audience, the content, and the speaker's comfort.

Front 4

Which of the following explains how oral style differs from written style?

Back 4

More repetition

Redundancy occurs in speeches to help listeners remember major points. Repeating important concepts ensures that the audience will comprehend the information presented.

Front 5

Analyzing an audience based on beliefs, attitudes, and values is referred to as which of the following?

Back 5

Psychological profiling

Psychological profiling is the term used for analyzing an audience based on beliefs, attitudes, and values. A speaker can tailor an effective message to an audience by understanding their pre-existing thoughts and attitudes about a subject.

Front 6

Information gathered through research that reinforces points in a speech is referred to as which of the following?

Back 6

Supporting materials

Supporting materials consist of the information that a speaker uses to back up the arguments presented in a speech. Supporting materials may include examples, statistics, tests, and illustrations

Front 7

If a person is delivering a speech with evidence, which of the following factors will most likely make the speech more effective?

Back 7

Naturalness and conversational quality

Delivering a speech in a natural and conversational style has the greatest impact on speech effectiveness. Studies have shown that a speech with good delivery and solid evidence changes audience attitudes more than the same speech delivered poorly.

Front 8

Which of the following would be the best source for finding the state tree of Delaware?

Back 8

Gazetteer

A gazetteer is a geographical dictionary formatted like a regular dictionary. Information in a gazetteer relates to geographical topics, and brief facts about nearly 50,000 places in the world are included in the reference work.

Front 9

The dictionary definition of a word is referred to as which of the following?

Back 9

Denotative meaning

Denotative meaning refers to a word's literal meaning. It is the actual definition of the word

Front 10

What are the three primary purposes of most speeches?

Back 10

Inform, persuade, or entertain

The general purpose of most public speeches is to inform, to persuade, or to entertain listeners. An informative speech attempts to develop understanding, a persuasive speech attempts to influence, and an entertaining speech seeks to amuse people.

Front 11

In an audience analysis questionnaire, which type of question allows respondents to answer however they want?

Back 11

Open-ended

Open-ended questions on an audience survey invite more detailed answers from participants, although sometimes answers may not provide the desired information. Fixed-alternative questions offer a fixed choice between two or more answers, while scale questions require a rating.

Front 12

The use of language to defame, demean, or degrade people is referred to as which of the following?

Back 12

Name-calling

Name-calling is the term that refers to speakers who use language to put down individuals or groups. Name-calling involves using terms to debase people for their religious beliefs, sexual orientation, or ethnic background.

Front 13

Which of the following introductory methods would be appropriate for an audience that is distracted or disinterested?

Back 13

Making a startling statement

An apathetic audience may become active listeners if the introduction includes a surprising statement. The shock of the statement may cause listeners to focus on the speaker.

Front 14

Communication that uses more words than necessary to express an idea is referred to as which of the following?

Back 14

Clutter

Clutter refers to unnecessarily wordy speech. It is especially important in speeches to speak clearly and simply in order to avoid confusing or boring the audience.

Front 15

Which of the following indexes Web pages and scans them to find a requested topic?

Back 15

Search engine

A search engine indexes Web pages and checks them for Web sites that match the requested topic. Google, Yahoo, and Alta Vista are major search engines.

Front 16

Once a speech topic has been chosen, which of the following needs to be determined next?

Back 16

General purpose

The general purpose of a speech is the overall goal. After choosing a topic, a speaker needs to decide whether the general purpose is to inform or to persuade.

Front 17

Which of the following is most important for a speaker to do when addressing a knowledgeable audience?

Back 17

Emphasize that the subject matter will be new and useful

An audience that is familiar with the subject matter may assume that they will be listening to redundant information. A speaker should inform the audience that the information will be new, relevant, and useful and that the speech will not waste their time.

Front 18

How are facts and figures most often used in persuasive speeches?

Back 18

To provide a basis for an argument

Facts and figures are typically used early in a persuasive speech because they serve as the foundation of the argument. In informative speeches, data often illustrate points later in the speech.

Front 19

Which of the following terms describes the act of mistaking one word for another?

Back 19

Malapropism

A malapropism occurs when a speaker mistakes one word for another. For example, saying "obstacle" instead of "spectacle" is a malapropism.

Front 20

Which of the following often helps speakers relieve excess energy and apprehension during a speech?

Back 20

Making appropriate gestures and bodily movements

Making appropriate gestures and movements during a speech can greatly reduce a speaker's excess energy. Making gestures or walking around can be effective communication tools if they are purposeful.

Front 21

The perception held by listeners regarding a speaker's qualifications is referred to as which of the following?

Back 21

Credibility

A speaker will either gain or lose credibility in the introduction of a speech. Credibility refers to whether the audience believes a speaker is knowledgeable about a subject or not.

Front 22

What is the most important thing to consider when evaluating a speech based on artistic standards?

Back 22

Language and structure

Language, structure, and delivery should be considered when evaluating a speech based on artistic standards. Evidence, reasoning, and organization of the speech also relate to the artistic standard.

Front 23

According to studies, which of the following elements of a speech has the greatest emotional impact on listeners?

Back 23

Facial expressions

According to a study by Albert Mehrabian, facial expression has the greatest emotional impact of a speech. A speaker's facial expressions provide signals to listeners about the speaker's attitude.

Front 24

Which of the following patterns of organization begins with minor points, uses the strongest points in the middle, and ends with the weakest points?

Back 24

Pyramidal structure

Pyramidal structure organizes a speech like a pyramid with weak points at the beginning and end and strong points in the middle. This type of structure is rarely used and is typically only appropriate for a hostile audience.

Front 25

Opinions that support claims presented by a speaker are referred to as which of the following?

Back 25

Testimonial evidence

Testimonial evidence consists of opinions of the speaker or of an expert that support the claims presented in a speech. Although testimonies can be used in informative speeches, they are more critical in persuasive speeches.

Front 26

Audience adaptation cannot occur during a speech without which of the following?

Back 26

Eye contact

Eye contact is required for a speaker to make audience adaptations. By keeping an eye on the audience, a speaker can detect their comprehension and attitude.

Front 27

Speeches presented at formal occasions should be characterized by which of the following?

Back 27

Subtle humor

Formal occasions call for subtle humor rather than obvious jokes. Speeches given at formal occasions, such as ceremonies, should rely on structured, researched writing.

Front 28

A speaker who considers a public speech an opportunity to talk to a group about an important topic is using which of the following to reduce speech apprehension?

Back 28

Communication orientation

Communication orientation is a method of reducing public speaking apprehension that involves viewing a speech as merely a chance to talk to people. The speaker focuses on conveying a message rather than worrying about audience reactions.

Front 29

A speaker who concludes a speech by increasing the intensity of the presentation is using which of the following?

Back 29

Crescendo ending

With a crescendo ending, a speaker often increases the pace or uses dramatic gestures to indicate that the speech is reaching its climax. An audience realizes the speech is concluding because of the way the message is delivered.

Front 30

Which two characteristics best describe modern audiences?

Back 30

Unique and diverse

People's attitudes, beliefs, and experiences are constantly evolving, so audiences are unique. Even audiences consisting of people in the same age group will be diverse because of variables such as race, gender, culture, and religion.

Front 31

How can a speech student benefit from criticizing the speeches of others?

Back 31

Improve ability to evaluate own speeches

By criticizing the speeches of others, a speech student can learn how to self-evaluate. Criticizing a speech requires a student to listen closely and analyze a speech's arguments, organizational structure, and delivery.

Front 32

Questions prepared in advance of an interview are referred to as which of the following?

Back 32

Primary

Primary questions are the main questions that an interviewer plans to ask. Although primary questions may be open, closed, or neutral, they are always written before conducting the interview.

Front 33

Which of the following can be integrated into a speech to keep an audience attentive?

Back 33

Imagery

Imagery helps listeners stay attentive. Boring, predictable language can cause listeners to lose interest, but imagery can energize a speech.

Front 34

According to the principle of division, how many sub-points should a main point on an outline have if it is to be divided?

Back 34

At least two

According to the principle of division, if a main point is to be divided, it should have at least two points. Each point on an outline should be similar in importance.

Front 35

An informative speech that presents detailed information and research about a complex topic is referred to as which of the following?

Back 35

Expository speech

An expository speech is a type of informative speech that requires the speaker to perform detailed research on a topic. Expository speeches typically require organizational patterns that aid audience comprehension.

Front 36

In order for a testimony to be persuasive, it should have which of the following characteristics?

Back 36

Unbiased and current

Expert testimony is effective if it is unbiased and up-to-date. Testimony from a biased individual will have little effect or a negative effect on the persuasive nature of the speech.

Front 37

Which of the following refers to main points of a speech outline being worded in a similar structural pattern?

Back 37

Parallel

Parallel structure refers to statements being worded in a similar style. Parallel structure enables listeners to recognize that a main point is being made.

Front 38

What is the primary difference between evaluating speeches given in a speech course and evaluating speeches given in a professional situation?

Back 38

Setting

Setting is the main difference between classroom speeches and professional speeches. Although the delivery style of a business speech will most likely be different from one used in a classroom, transitions, vocal characteristics, and organizational structures are used in business speeches.

Front 39

If a brief example will not clearly explain a point for audience members, then it should be expanded into which of the following?

Back 39

Illustration

An illustration is an expanded and detailed example. An illustration describes a condition or a circumstance and makes an abstract idea easier to understand.

Front 40

Assuming that a speaker will be dull before listening to the speech is an example of which of the following types of barriers?

Back 40

Self-fulfilling prophecy

A self-fulfilling prophecy is a preset idea that can be a barrier to effective listening. An audience member who assumes a speaker is dull will probably find the speech boring.

Front 41

Which of the following is considered the key characteristic of the most effective and successful public speakers?

Back 41

Conversational quality

The ability to sound conversational during a public speech separates effective speakers from ineffective speakers. For example, former President Bill Clinton sounds like he is talking with audience members rather than to audience members during public speeches.

Front 42

According to Aristotle, the impression a speaker makes through his or her communication skills is referred to as which of the following?

Back 42

Ethos

Ethos is the image that a listener has about a speaker. Aristotle believed ethos was the most powerful element of persuasion, and modern research supports his theory.

Front 43

The amount of anxiety a person feels before giving a speech is referred to as which of the following?

Back 43

Anticipation reaction

Anticipation reaction is the nervousness a person feels prior to giving a speech. Anticipation reaction may occur while preparing a speech and when waiting to speak.

Front 44

The location and occasion of a speech refers to which of the following terms?

Back 44

Setting

The setting of a speech refers to its location and occasion. Before selecting a topic, a speaker should consider where the speech will occur and what the reason is for giving the speech.

Front 45

Which of the following is a common mistake made in speech conclusions?

Back 45

Introducing new ideas

New ideas or information should not be introduced at the end of a speech. The conclusion should reinforce or restate previously discussed information.

Front 46

Which best describes the following statement: "Since 1999, enrollment in trade schools has increased by 10% every three years"?

Back 46

Trend

Statistics that illustrate direction over time are referred to as trends. Trends can be beneficial in a persuasive speech when a speaker needs to provide support for an argument.

Front 47

Which of the following terms refers to the accepted manner of forming and accenting syllables in a word?

Back 47

Pronunciation

Pronunciation is the accepted standard for the sound and accent of words. Practicing speeches in front of people ensures that words are pronounced correctly.

Front 48

Taking ideas or phrases from two or three sources and presenting the combined material as one's own is referred to as which of the following?

Back 48

Patchwork plagiarism

Patchwork plagiarism occurs when a speaker steals from two or three sources to create one new speech that is presented as original work. Global plagiarism refers to stealing from one source, while incremental plagiarism occurs when quotes or paraphrases are not credited. Self-plagiarism is when an author reuses portions of his or her work without acknowledging the original publication.

Front 49

A speaker who asks audience members to cover their ears during part of a presentation about deafness is using which of the following methods to gain audience attention?

Back 49

Inviting audience participation

Inviting audience members to participate in a speech grabs their attention. An activity such as blocking out sound creates interest in the topic of deafness.

Front 50

Which of the following is NOT a typical method of generating speech topics?

Back 50

Venn diagram

A Venn diagram is used to compare and contrast two ideas and is not a typical method for brainstorming speech topics. Making an inventory of personal experiences and skills either with a list or by clustering ideas often generates topics, as does an Internet search.

Front 51

Which of the following is an advantage of limiting a speech topic?

Back 51

Analyze a subject in depth

A narrow topic enables a speaker to go into depth on a topic. With a topic that is too broad, a speaker may rush through numerous points in a superficial manner to complete the speech in a timely manner.

Front 52

Which of the following elements from the Toulmin model refers to the reasoning process that is either verbalized or implied during an argument?

Back 52

Warrant

The warrant is the logical statement that links the evidence with the claim. The warrant is the reason that the claim is considered credible.

Front 53

How does the inclusion of connectives benefit a speech?

Back 53

Increases unity and coherence

Connectives, such as transitions and signposts, improve the coherence and unity of a speech. Connectives help listeners follow the speech and understand the message.

Front 54

Which of the following is the primary purpose of an introduction to a speech?

Back 54

Gain the attention of the audience

The introduction of a speech should grab the attention of the audience. Attention can be gained by asking a question, telling a story, or providing interesting statistics.

Front 55

Which two factors are the most important when determining the outcome of a speech?

Back 55

Speaker and audience

The speaker and the audience determine the success or failure of a speech because the two must work together for effective communication to occur. An effective speaker is aware of the audience and adapts the message accordingly.

Front 56

While listening to an oral presentation, a speech critic should do which of the following?

Back 56

Evaluate the relevancy of supporting materials

The relevancy of supporting materials is an important element to consider when providing a speech evaluation. An evaluator should assess whether the facts, stories, and illustrations are useful in the speech.

Front 57

Which of the following is considered an advantage of memorizing a speech?

Back 57

Increased freedom for gestures and bodily movements

The memorized mode of speech delivery allows for greater bodily freedom and flexibility. Since the speaker requires no notes, the speaker is able to walk around the stage and make hand gestures.

Front 58

Competence, character, sociability, composure, and extroversion are aspects of which of the following?

Back 58

Source credibility

Source credibility is an element of intrinsic proof. It relates to the likelihood of a target audience believing the source of a message.

Front 59

A speech that intends to influence or change the feelings, behaviors, and beliefs of audience members would be considered which of the following?

Back 59

Persuasive speech

A persuasive speech is written to change the attitudes or beliefs of audience members. Politicians often give persuasive speeches in hopes of convincing people to vote for them or to support their legislative efforts.

Front 60

Which of the following would be most appropriate for introducing a speech about alternative music?

Back 60

Playing a brief excerpt from a song

A song excerpt would be appropriate for a speech about a type of music. The excerpt would grab audience attention and encourage listeners to focus on the speech topic.

Front 61

Which of the following appeals attempts to rise above a conflict in order to find similarities that will bring about unity?

Back 61

Transcendence

Transcendence is a positive emotional appeal that attempts to transcend people's differences to find unifying similarities between them. A speaker using transcendence would choose a perspective that is above a conflict in an attempt to find unity.

Front 62

Which of the following modes of speech delivery occurs when a speakers uses an outline or brief notes?

Back 62

Extemporaneous

Extemporaneous speaking occurs when a speaker uses notes or an outline when delivering a speech. Extemporaneous speaking is the mode most commonly taught in speech classes.

Front 63

Which of the following would be suitable for a politician who wants to rally supporters with a speech?

Back 63

Words with strong, connotative meanings

A politician trying to encourage supporters will use words with strong, connotative meanings. Connotative words are those that trigger emotions.

Front 64

Which of the following is considered a high-context culture?

Back 64

South Korea

Communication in high-context cultures, such as Korea, Latin America, and Japan, is based on context and the speaker rather than the spoken word. When giving a speech in a high-context culture, the speaker should provide supporting materials but allow listeners to make their own inferences to avoid offending them.

Front 65

Which of the following ethical concepts is based on the idea that no natural laws exist that must be followed absolutely?

Back 65

Situation ethics

Situation ethics is based on the belief that each individual situation must be assessed before a determination can be made about the right action to take. According to situation ethics, some moral principles can be ignored in certain situations if a decision is based on love.

Front 66

When evaluating the content of a speech, which of the following should be considered?

Back 66

Appropriateness of visual aids

The appropriate use and inclusion of visual aids is a consideration when evaluating speech content. Visual aids should provide useful information about a subject and improve the effectiveness of a speech.

Front 67

Which of the following demographic elements is most important for a speaker to consider when deciding what kind of supporting material to provide and what terms and language to use?

Back 67

Education

The education level of an audience determines the language to use, the type of supporting material to provide, and the way the speech is organized. For example, an audience educated in the subject will understand technical language and detailed supporting material, while a less educated audience may not.

Front 68

A skeptical audience is more likely to be persuaded by which of the following?

Back 68

Documented information from several, objective sources

Evidence is viewed as credible if it is documented and objective. Skeptical audiences are more likely to change their minds if evidence is provided from multiple sources instead of only one.

Front 69

Criticism of a speech should be based on which of the following?

Back 69

Accepted standards

The basis of any type of criticism should be accepted standards. All effective speeches should include certain aspects related to organization, style, delivery, and ethics.

Front 70

A speech topic is most appropriate if the speaker has which of the following?

Back 70

Subject matter competence

A speech topic is appropriate for a speaker if the speaker is knowledgeable about the subject or is willing to learn about the subject. The speaker should know more about the topic than the audience and should be a subject matter expert.

Front 71

Which of the following patterns of organization begins with information that is known to the audience and then progresses into information that is new and challenging?

Back 71

Familiarity-acceptance

Familiarity-acceptance begins with familiar information and moves into unfamiliar information. The pattern is useful with persuasive speeches given to skeptical audiences; the speaker begins with ideas that are agreeable to everyone and then moves towards new concepts.

Front 72

In his inaugural address, John F. Kennedy said, "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country." This statement is an example of which of the following?

Back 72

Antithesis

The statement is an example of antithesis. Antithesis is a rhetorical contrast of ideas through parallelism.

Front 73

Which of the following is a typical error that occurs when reasoning from specific instances?

Back 73

. Hasty generalization

Hasty generalizations often occur when using reasoning from specific instances. The sample of specific instances should be large enough to justify the conclusion.

Front 74

Assessing the age, gender, religion, and cultural background of audience members before selecting a speech topic is referred to as which of the following?

Back 74

Demographic audience analysis

A demographic audience analysis involves reviewing the demographic profile of audience members based on factors such as age, gender, religion, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic background. Speakers analyze demographic information in order to understand the attitude and knowledge of audience members.

Front 75

In an informative speech, which of the following states what the speaker hopes the audience will learn?

Back 75

Thesis

The thesis of a speech is the central idea that a speaker wants an audience to retain. With an informative speech, it is what the audience should learn; with a persuasive speech, it is what the audience should believe.

Front 76

What term is used for reminding an audience about the thesis during the conclusion of a speech?

Back 76

Instant-replay function

The instant-replay function serves to remind listeners of the main points of a speech. The instant-replay function could take the form of a summary or a catchy statement that highlights the thesis of the speech.

Front 77

With which of the following communication activities do people spend the most time?

Back 77

Listening

People spend more time listening than any other communication activity. Listening is an active and vital part of daily life.

Front 78

The tendency to attribute a complex event to a single cause often occurs with which of the following?

Back 78

Causal reasoning

People tend to assume that an event has one cause when there are usually multiple causes. For example, the election of a president may be caused by economic conditions, world affairs, and media exposure.

Front 79

When a speaker uses "he" in reference to both men and women, the speaker is using which of the following?

Back 79

Generic language

Generic language is the use of the word "he" to mean men and women. Listeners may take offense to the perceived assumptions made by a speaker who uses generic terms.

Front 80

Which of the following types of speech arrangements would be most appropriate for topics such as "the evolution of the modern automobile" or "the steps toward home ownership"?

Back 80

Temporal

The temporal pattern, which is also known as chronological, calls for organizing material from past to present or from the future to the past. Temporal is typically used for historical topics or for informative speeches where the order of events is important.

Front 81

The process of evaluating a speech based on its value, credibility, and thoroughness is referred to as which of the following?

Back 81

Critical analysis

Critical analysis occurs when the effectiveness of a speech is examined. A listener considers speaker credibility, information quality, organizational logic, and emotional message.

Front 82

Which of the following techniques can improve listening skills?

Back 82

Make eye contact with the speaker

Making eye contact with a speaker improves listening skills and comprehension. Looking at a speaker helps a listener stay focused on the message and reduces distractions.

Front 83

A speech that is delivered with sincerity and conviction uses which of the following as a method of persuasion?

Back 83

Emotional appeal

Effective speakers deliver speeches with sincerity and conviction and appeal to audiences with their emotions. A well-written speech with numerous emotional words and examples will fail if the speaker does not speak with sincerity.

Front 84

The idea that listeners search for information that supports their own opinions and values is referred to as which of the following?

Back 84

Selective exposure

The principle of selective exposure suggests that people seek out information that supports their values and behaviors. The principle also suggests that listeners avoid information that contradicts their belief systems.