Southern New Hampshire University
COM-212 Public Speaking
EXAM 4 questions and answers
1
Select the example that represents a speaker soliciting information about his audience.
In the speech that he prepares, the mayor makes sure to include
reasons why people from all different socioeconomic brackets will
benefit from a new stadium.
The mayor writes a speech that stresses how much people
opposing a new stadium have in common with those who support it.
The mayor brings up more reasons why a new stadium will be
good for the economy after he notices looks of skepticism in the
audience.
The mayor sends out questionnaires to measure people's
enthusiasm for a new stadium and to understand why they would
or would not support it.
RATIONALE
By sending out questionnaires to gather basic information about his audience, the mayor is soliciting information. In
the other examples, he is adapting to feedback and engaging in inclusive planning, but is not directly collecting
information.
CReOpNoCrtEaPnTissue with
this question Solicit
Information
2
A speaker at Tom’s church is making a presentation on his past mission to Africa and his work with a large
charity organization. He relates stories about and displays pictures of his trip through various African nations.
He is trying to raise $300,000 for his next trip back, and the amount catches Tom’s attention. He becomes
skeptical that such a large amount would be needed and starts listening for more details about the proposed
trip.
Which of Tom's reactions to the speaker reflects the evaluating stage of the listening process?
Tom understands that mission trips are expensive, but the
description of what the speaker says he will do in Africa
doesn't seem to necessitate spending that much money.
Tom nods his head while the speaker reviews his main reasons for
seeking $300,000, to indicate that he's following along.
The speaker's description of the diseases he saw and how the
money he raises goes to help eliminate these issues sticks with
Tom. He even brings it up later that week when his boss at work
mentions a recent news story on the process of sending medicines
to third world countries.
Tom raises his hand and asks the speaker to describe the problems
he encountered while touring some of the poorer areas of
Africa.
RATIONALE
When Tom assesses the speaker's information, he engages in the evaluation stage. When Tom provides a reaction to
what he is hearing by asking a question or nodding his head, he is responding. When Tom puts new information in
the context of what he has seen before, in this case a documentary, he is in the remembering stage.
The Evaluating Stage
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3
Sophie was shopping when she spotted a crowd in the park across the street. She crossed over and saw a
semicircle of people gathered around a young man. He was passionately talking about his experience at the
community health clinic. He explained that the city was threatening to pull the budget from the clinic but if
enough residents protested, the city would reconsider. At the end of the speech, most of the audience, many
of whom had been to the clinic before, signed his petition.
Sophie was surprised by how effectively the street speech called attention to the issue. Select the
statement below that best explains why the young man’s speech was so effective.
The speaker clearly rehearsed his speech several times
beforehand.
The speaker's vocal delivery made it easy for his audience to
follow his argument.
The crowd appreciated that the speaker made consistent
eye contact.
The speaker targeted the right audience with a clear and
focused message.
RATIONALE
"The speaker targeted the right audience with a clear and focused message" is correct because the speaker
targeted a sympathetic audience with a clear purpose. Nothing in the story suggests that the speaker rehearsed or
had a particularly effective delivery.
CONCEPT
Rules to Follow When Speaking
Best Practices in Public Speaking
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4
Which of the following scenarios represents an example of a speaker behaving unethically?
During a speech at a political rally, a politician invents an
anecdote about meeting supporters who claimed to benefit from
his policies.
A woman preparing for a speech at a school researches the
economic background of the students’ families.
A man at a tech conference admits that he has been paid a
small sum to speak there.
A woman leading a drug-therapy group describes her past
experiences with addiction.
RATIONALE
The scenario about the politician features a man intentionally deceiving his audience by creating a false story.
The other scenarios represent ethical behavior because they feature speakers simply doing research or disclosing
relevant information to the audience.
CONCEPT
The Importance of Studying
Ethics Rules to Follow When
Speaking
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5
Which of the following statements is an example of constructive criticism?
"The speaker has a droning voice, and any speech he gives will be
a complete bore."
"The speaker was dull. She should try to be more lively
and energetic."
"The speaker should make eye contact with the crowd whenever he
arrives at one of his main points."
"I don't agree that budget cuts are necessary, so he should drop
that argument if he gives the speech again."
RATIONALE
The statement about the "droning voice" includes insulting language. The statement about "budget cuts" is too
subjective. The statement about the "dull" speaker is too general. Only the statement recommending eye contact is
objective, specific, and constructive.
CONCEPT
Giving Effective Criticism
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6
Which of the following concepts from a speech about infrastructure spending best represents the
thesis of the speech?
The only solution is to increase infrastructure spending in our
small towns.
Unmaintained bridges make people walking across them
feel unsafe.
A lack of infrastructure spending results in increased risk
for motorists and pedestrians.
In the last two years, the number of potholes on main roads
has increased by 30%.
RATIONALE
The example focused on increased risks is correct, as it presents a summary of the main point of the speech.
CONCEPT
The Importance of Choosing a Good
Topic General Purpose
Defining the Thesis
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7
Which of the following scenarios does NOT describe a person engaged in a degree of active
listening?
A pastor tells his congregation a parable another pastor once
told him, but changes some of the details to make it more
relevant.
A businessman gives a speech promoting corporate synergy, using
arguments akin to those his boss once used in a speech.
A man repeats his doctor's advice word for word when telling
his family about his new diet.
A student struggles to remember a teacher's description
of photosynthesis when taking a science test.
RATIONALE
The man parroting his doctor's advice is repeating speaking points while the pastor is reflecting on them and the
businessman is paraphrasing them. These are the three degrees of active listening. The student is not engaged in
active listening.
CONCEPT
Listening and Critical Thinking
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8
Nikki is a financial advisor who routinely speaks to large groups about the importance of saving, investing,
and financial planning. Her speeches are targeted at college savings, retirement plans, and tax relief for
families with school-aged children. Today she is speaking at an inner-city union meeting.
Which of the following descriptions represents a cultural barrier of communication for Nikki's speech?
Nikki made exaggerated hand gestures and took long pauses
throughout her speech.
Nikki used language implying audience members brought in low
incomes, leaving many of them irritated.
Nikki planned to use visual aids but experienced problems with
the equipment.
Nikki kept her voice relatively low despite speaking in a
large auditorium with noisy air conditioning.
RATIONALE
Nikki's implication about audience income represents culture acting as a barrier, as it features a speaker making
assumptions about the lifestyle of a group of people. The other descriptions represent examples of technology and
environmental barriers, as well as a problem with the speaker's delivery.
CONCEPT
Context of Culture and Gender
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9
Scott is attending a conference focusing on the intersection of architecture and technology. A famous
architect is giving a presentation at the conference, and Scott is eager to hear it. During the presentation, a
number of crowd members seated near Scott cheer and clap loudly every time the architect makes a point.
He finds their behavior annoying and begins to focus on their reactions to see if they will calm down. After
the presentation, Scott cannot remember much of what the architect said.
Scott suffered from , which negatively affected his ability to listen to the architect's speech.
low concentration
lack of prioritization
confirmation bias
poor judgment
RATIONALE
Scott suffered from low concentration because the noisy crowd members created an auditory distraction that
prevented him from paying close attention to the speaker.
CONCEPT
Be a Serious Listener
Causes of Poor Listening
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10
Determine which speech topic is best suited for an informative speech.
A store manager talks to her staffabout why the new schedule
they will institute next week is an improvement over the old
one.
A politician describes the recent budget cuts to his constituents.
A man describes his parents' relationship during a celebration
for their wedding anniversary.
A filmmaker explains to an audience why he needs funding to
finish his documentary.
RATIONALE
The politician example is informative, as it features a speaker transferring knowledge about a subject to an
audience. The store manager and filmmaker examples are persuasive, as they feature a speaker trying to
convince an audience to adopt a point of view or take action. The other example is a speech for a special
occasion, as it is being made because of a wedding anniversary.
CONCEPT
Persuasive
Speeches
Informative Speeches
Speeches for Special Occasions
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11
Although Maurice was initially nervous about delivering a speech in front of coworkers at his new job, he
prepared effectively, and his speech was a success. Afterward, several of Maurice’s coworkers introduced
themselves and offered to meet with him later to further discuss his ideas.
By taking advantage of a public-speaking opportunity, Maurice managed to improve his .
professional network
self-esteem
critical thinking
personal satisfaction
RATIONALE
Maurice was able to meet new people in a business context. These people became part of his professional network.
CONCEPT
Career Benefits: Advancement
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12
Select the example that represents the receiving stage of the listening process.
A town council member concludes that her constituent is
upset about the new beach parking regulations.
An office worker determines that an argument between
her coworkers is about overtime pay.
A psychologist points out that a patient's story about her parents
is similar to one she had shared weeks ago.
A college student turns down the volume on his radio in order
to hear his roommate's question about course selection.
RATIONALE
The college student is attempting to accurately identify what his roommate is telling him, which depicts the
receiving stage. The office worker and town council members are putting the information presented to them into
context, which depicts the understanding stage. The psychologist is putting new information in the context of old
information, which depicts the remembering stage.
CONCEPT
The Remembering
Stage The
Understanding Stage
The Receiving Stage
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13
Which of the following is an example of a persuasive speech?
A pastor tells his congregation about the life of the
grandmother who has just passed away.
An elementary-school teacher gives a lecture about how
the digestive system works.
A politician explains to his constituents why raising taxes could
lead to infrastructure improvements.
A principal tells the graduation audience about all of the hard
work done by the valedictorian.
RATIONALE
The speech by the politician aims to encourage the audience to support a tax raise and is therefore persuasive. The
other speeches are either informative or examples of special occasion speeches.
CONCEPT
Informative Speeches
Persuasive Speeches
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14
Which of the following scenarios does NOT represent an example of someone using an effective
practice of public speaking?
A councilwoman raises her voice after noticing people in the
back of the room moving closer to hear her.
A union leader preparing a speech researches how many audience
members are nearing retirement age.
A grad student delivering a presentation removes several minor
points from her speech after thinking about time constraints.
A father delivering a toast at a wedding uses exaggerated
gestures and a variety of comical accents.
RATIONALE
The scenario with the union leader demonstrates a speaker analyzing the audience. The scenario with the
councilwoman demonstrates a speaker responding to feedback. The scenario with the grad student demonstrates a
speaker focusing a topic.
Only the scenario with the father is not necessarily an effective practice of public speaking, as gestures and
accents can sometimes prove to be distracting.
CONCEPT
Rules to Follow When
Speaking Best Practices in
Public Speaking
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15
Select the description of a speaker whose purpose is to inform.
The emcee at a fundraiser wants to take up time between
presenters.
The new head of a town council wants the citizens gathered at
an assembly to invest more money in the area's public schools.
A guest lecturer at a university wants students to understand
the sequence of events that led up to a foreign war.
A man preparing to speak at his brother's wedding tries to recall
anecdotes in which his brother acted foolishly at a young
age.
RATIONALE
The goal of the guest lecturer is to inform, as the speaker is communicating knowledge about a foreign war. The
goal of the town council head is to persuade because the speaker is trying to influence people's beliefs about the
importance of public education. The goal of the other speakers is to entertain.
CONCEPT
General Purpose
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16
Christopher works in Boston, and his boss works at the law firm’s New York office. Christopher’s boss runs
weekly staffmeetings for the human resources department in Boston through online video-conferencing
software.
Christopher and his colleagues can see his boss in his New York office, and he can see them in the conference
room. His boss begins each meeting with a presentation of indicators related to recruitment, employee
retention, and wellness across the four different branches of the firm.
Which of the following represents the channel that Christopher and his colleagues use to communicate?
The law firm that has multiple offices
The online video-conferencing software
The presentation of recruitment-related indicators
The conference room where everyone is gathered
RATIONALE
The channel is the method a sender uses to send a message to a receiver. In this case, the channel is the
video- conferencing software.
CONCEPT
Channel
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17
Which of the following scenarios represents planning for the physical context of a speech?
A woman decides not to mention the historical significance of
the location in which she delivers a speech.
A woman adds a number of pro-police statements when giving a
political speech in a town in the midst of a crime wave.
A man wears a suit to the board meeting that he is planning
to speak at.
A man about to give a speech on trade laws assumes that his
audience will have the same level of knowledge about them as
he does.
RATIONALE
The scenario where the woman decides not to mention the historical significance of the location of her speech is an
example of planning for physical context. The other examples are describing the person planning for audience
knowledge or audience psychology.
CONCEPT
Physical Context
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18
Which of the following descriptions represents an example of environmental context creating a
communication barrier during a speech?
A new school principal struggles to keep students interested, as
he is used to tailoring speeches to older audiences.
The lack of air conditioning in an auditorium forces a speaker
to speed up his speech and rush past a few key points.
An unexpectedly large number of women in the conference
room distracts a man making a budget proposal.
A political candidate fails to keep his tone solemn during a speech
after learning that he has won an election.
RATIONALE
The lack of air conditioning is the only answer related to the physical location in which the speech is taking place.
All of the other descriptions are related to situational context or biases.
Pamela is required to deliver a presentation in front of her philosophy class, but she is having trouble
choosing a topic. Because her class has covered a lot of material and there are so many possible options,
Pamela is intimidated by the thought of having to pick one. She remembers that brainstorming helped her
determine the focus of a project for another class.
Which of the following examples demonstrates Pamela’s brainstorming to determine a topic
for her presentation?
Pamela debates which topic in philosophy she would most like
to learn more about.
Pamela looks over her class notes to see which topic she is most
familiar with.
Pamela writes down as many topic ideas as she can think of on
a sheet of paper.
Pamela thinks about the time limit for the presentation and looks
for a topic with a narrow focus.
RATIONALE
The example of Pamela writing down possible topics is correct, as it features Pamela’s spontaneous generation
of a large number of ideas. The other examples depict Pamela choosing topics based on interest and expertise
as well as scoping the speech topic.
CONCEPT
Brainstorming
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20
Julie is a member of the sales team for a software company. As part of her job, Julie travels to promotional
events sponsored by the company in order to make presentations centered around a new tablet computer.
These events attract a wide variety of people, and Julie often finds herself changing her prepared speech
based on the audience she expects to encounter. Julie emphasizes different features of the tablet based on
the audience she
encounters.
Which of the following actions demonstrates Julie’s taking an audience's age into account when
making her presentation?
Julie reveals that the tablet comes with apps dedicated to
fantasy sports and athlete profiles.
Julie demonstrates how the tablet's text size and icons can be made
larger for those who do not see well.
Julie lists the ways in which families can use the tablet in order
to plan events and excursions.
Julie shows offthe advanced language features of the tablet,
which allow messages to be displayed in dozens of languages.
RATIONALE
In the example where Julie contemplates text and icon size, Julie is considering her audience's age by
remembering that older people may be more likely to have trouble seeing small icons and text. The other
examples are appeals to interests, group identity, and culture.
CONCEPT
Gender
(communication)
Defining the Thesis
Group Membership
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21
Which of the following historical figures believed that locating truth was instrumental for the
performance of communication?
Francis Bacon
Cicero
St. Augustine
Aristotle
RATIONALE
Francis Bacon believed that truth was paramount to the study and performance of communication.
CONCEPT
History of Public Speaking
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22
Determine which of the following statements is an example of ineffective criticism.
"You used a lot of hand gestures, and I feel that they may
have distracted the audience at times."
"I think people can follow your argument better if you pause
before introducing each main point."
"Try to narrow your focus a bit, as the second half of your
speech had too many tangential points."
"The concepts you discussed seem to be too complicated for you.
I think you're out of your depth."
RATIONALE
The first statement is too insulting to be constructive. The others are objective, specific, and constructive.
Harriet noticed a number of eye rolls from the male members of
the audience when she reached the point in her speech
concerning inappropriate office behavior.
Rosa struggled to understand the video-conferencing software she
was expected to use for an upcoming business presentation.
Ryan found it strange that there were no male athletes presenting
at a conference for sports memorabilia collectors.
Allan felt that the visiting professor's unusual speech pattern
and use of basic vocabulary made his speech sound
condescending.
RATIONALE
The scenario with Allan represents culture acting as a barrier because it features an assumption regarding
the speaker's vocabulary. The scenarios with Ryan and Harriet depict gender as a barrier, while the scenario
with Rosa depicts technology as a barrier.
CONCEPT
Causes of Poor Listening
Be an Open-Minded
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