Southern New Hampshire University
COM-212 Public Speaking
EXAM 8 questions and answers
After completing interviews, Caroline begins reviewing research of sales
trends. Her research and interviews reveal an important sales tendency
that she wants to stress during her presentation. The company’s
highest-spending clients are businesses in very competitive fields.
Therefore, these businesses are the most likely to pay for even incremental
improvements in software.
Caroline thinks the board will be impressed by this finding, but she wants to
incorporate testimonials into her presentation to drive her point home.
Select the statement that describes Caroline incorporating testimony
into a speech effectively.
● Caroline makes her claim before relating a quotation from a highly
successful sales manager that supports her main point.
After writing a few early drafts, Caroline is confident she has narrowed her
presentation's focus. She still believes the connection between clients'
industries and overall revenue should be the main takeaway.
Caroline asks Amy to read the earlier parts of her presentation, hoping to
get useful feedback.
"I'm just glad you have a focus," Amy responds. "That's a lot of information
we gave you and I was worried you'd get buried in it."
"You must have hired me for a reason," Caroline replies.
Choose the properly scoped topic for Caroline’s speech.
● Identifying highly competitive fields of business and assessing their
contribution to overall revenue
Caroline asks her friend David, who works as a school teacher, to listen to her finished
presentation. After listening, David looks confused and says, "I'm sure it's good but I
didn't understand some of what you said."
Caroline realizes she’s forgetting something: David, like several of the board members,
does not have experience with sales. Caroline had assumed everyone in her audience
would be familiar with her topic, but now she fears that some board members will be
confused.
Which of the following strategies from Caroline’s speech uses abstract terminology?
●Caroline suggests that the company focus more specifically on an older
demographic.
After the board meeting, Amy approaches Caroline with an update on the results of her
presentation. The company will be pursuing a new client strategy due to her
presentation.
"Do you have a transcript of your speech?" Amy asks. "I want to show it to members of
other departments. They can use it as a guide for making informative speeches."
Caroline couldn't believe that she was a model for others. "Sure!" she responds. "Just
remind them it takes hard work."
Refer to the sample informative speech by former President Barack Obama regarding
the death of Osama Bin Laden. Select the statement that describes a way in which this
informative speech was effective.
●He uses a microphone during the speech to make sure the audio is amplified and
clear.
Caroline receives a round of applause from board members after finishing her
presentation. She asks if anyone has a question and one board member shakes his
head.
"That was one of the smoothest presentations I've seen," the man claims. "So many of
these talks sound like people just want to use statistics to sound intelligent."
Caroline breathes a sigh of relief. She had worried her audience wouldn't fully
understand her points, but her planning paid off. She made a great impression with her
bosses.
Select the statement that does NOT describe a way for Caroline to enhance her
audience's understanding.
●Speaking in a consistently flat tone throughout sections of her speech
Caroline works for an online retail company that sells software to
businesses. One day, the sales director asks her to collate information on
key accounts and customer profiles before presenting her findings at a
board meeting. Caroline begins this task by conducting interviews with the
sales team.
Caroline prepared for her interviews with the members of the sales
team by __________ each of them so that she could select the best
people to speak about these topics. Even though Caroline had a list of
prepared questions to ask, she wrote a note to herself to __________
so that her interviewees could elaborate on topics they brought up.
● researching, ask follow-up questions
Caroline’s company sells software to companies across the globe. In order
to complete her assignment, Caroline has to talk online with workers
located in the United States and abroad, as well as in-person with workers
in her city.
At first, Caroline is overwhelmed with the number of different methods she
needs to utilize to collect interview data. But she knows completing this
work will impress the board members.
Which of the following would be an appropriate way for Caroline to
analyze content during interview follow-up for an in-person interview?
● Caroline listens to a recording of an interview with a salesman and
uses timestamps to mark answers.
Caroline starts writing her speech for the board meeting. She wants board
members to understand the relationship between clients’ industries and the
company’s overall revenue. She considers adding suggestions for how the
board should use this data, but worries she will sound presumptuous. She
calls Amy, the sales director, for advice.
"Sticking to information is the better plan," Amy decides after hearing
Caroline's query. "Let the board decide what to do next. They're in that
position for a reason."
"Maybe I should be a board member," Caroline jokes.
Which of the following describes a demonstration speech?
● A doctor speaking at a conference shows how to perform a new
procedure to help a choking person.
Caroline has more information than she can use for her presentation. Feeling overwhelmed, she
takes a lunch break with her friend June, who has made several presentations as a marketer for
a publishing house.
"Have you ever felt like this before?" asks Caroline after describing her situation.
June laughs in response. "Having too much information is part of the process. You've got to
focus on the strongest evidence you've got!"
Which of the following shows Caroline making an effort to inform the audience?
● Caroline is careful to explain her three main points in a neutral, unbiased way.
On the day of the board meeting, Amy introduces Caroline by stating that Caroline will be
making a valuable report on company sales. Though still a little nervous, Caroline greets the
members of the board and launches into her presentation.
Caroline's explanation of how new competitive industries have emerged in the economy
made the audience realize her speech was based on __________ information. Caroline
told her audience to listen carefully whenever she was about to make a main point,
relying on __________ to help the audience make connections.
● recent, transitions
