Group Communication
Preparing Speeches
Public Speaking
Informative Speeches
Misc.
100

Which of the following statements BEST defines a group?

  • A group is composed of no fewer than three individuals.
  • A group cannot be successful in a highly individualist culture.
  • A group is still a group even if members are primarily interested in individual accomplishment while in the group.
  • A group has no common purpose

A group is composed of no fewer than three individuals.

100

The group I will be speaking to is composed of mostly Black, middle-class females who have been successful in business. Most are young and college educated. Those statements are typical of statements from what?

  • A general purpose
  • A specific purpose
  • A speaker analysis
  • An audience analysis

An audience analysis 

100

What kind of topics are important for a speech?

  • Topics that only you find interesting.
  • Topics that matter to your listeners as well as to yourself.
  • All of the above
  • Any kind of topics.

Topics that matter to your listeners as well as to yourself.

100

Informative speaking differs from persuasive speaking in which of the following ways?

  • Informative speaking convinces; persuasive speaking teaches.
  • Persuasive speaking often serves as a precursor to informative speaking.
  • The primary goal of informative speaking is having an audience learn; the primary goal of persuasive speaking is having an audience act.
  • Informative speaking preaches; persuasive speaking teaches.

The primary goal of informative speaking is having an audience learn; the primary goal of persuasive speaking is having an audience act.

100

What is one of the most effective ways to make an informative speech engaging for an audience? 

A) Presenting basic information that is easy to understand
B) Finding credible sources without any regard for the novelty of the information
C) Including novel and unexpected information that challenges the audience without overwhelming them
D) Using only personal anecdotes and avoiding factual sources

C) Including novel and unexpected information that challenges the audience without overwhelming them

200

Which of the following statements BEST describes social loafing?

  • Social loafing is primarily a male behavior; few females exhibit it.
  • Social loafing is more common in collectivist cultures.
  • Social loafing is the tendency of team members to reduce their work effort.
  • Social loafing is negative synergy

Social loafing is the tendency of team members to reduce their work effort.

200

When preparing to make a speech to a group of college professors, you ask yourself the following questions: What events, concerns, and needs motivated them to come? What is their interest level? What else might be competing for their attention? When asking these questions you are engaging in what kind of audience analysis?

  • Demographic audience analysis
  • Psychological audience analysis
  • Contextual audience analysis


Contextual audience analysis

200

What is the purpose of your thesis statement?

  • To serve as the attention-getter.
  • To end your speech.
  • To give a clear statement of what your speech is about.
  • None of the above


To give a clear statement of what your speech is about.

200

If you listened to someone outline in great detail the sites and vegetation of the Arboretum at JMU, this would be an example of what?

  • Informing through explanation.
  • Informing through description.
  • Informing through definition.
  • Informing through demonstration.

Informing through description.

200

Which of the following group roles is responsible for keeping the group on task by managing the agenda and monitoring progress toward goals?

A) Harmonizer
B) Information Seeker
C) Expediter
D) Social-Emotional Leader  

Expediter

300

All of Jim’s friends show up for dinner at 5:30 even though the dining hall is open until 7:30. What is this an example of?

  • An explicit norm.
  • None of the above
  • An implicit norm.Correct answer.
  • Formal roles.
An Implicit norm 
300

With regard to audience purpose, it is generally reasonable to say that what?

  • There may be a variety of purposes for listening within an audience.
  • All members are always there for the same purpose.
  • Audience demographics have no correlation to audience purpose.
  • Gender is generally the best predictor of purpose.

There may be a variety of purposes for listening within an audience.

300

Why would it be important to conduct research for your speech?

  • To reflect what you discovered in research instead of your own preconceptions.
  • To give yourself time to refute ideas in research that don't support your claims.
  • To be able to say that you did research, thereby giving credibility to your speech.
  • To find sources that confirm what you are wanting to say.

To reflect what you discovered in research instead of your own preconceptions.

300

Which of the following statements BEST describes the benefits of visual aids?

  • They can increase the speaker’s credibility.
  • They can clarify a difficult or complex point.
  • They can gain the attention of an audience.
  • All of the above

All of the above

300

During which stage of group development do group members work relatively smoothly toward the completion of a task, achieving synergy through the pooling of skills, ideas, and resources?

A) Forming
B) Storming
C) Norming
D) Performing

Performing

400

Breaking down a problem into its constituent parts during team discussion is which of the following steps in the Standard Agenda?

  • Analyzing the problem
  • Identification of the problem
  • Criteria development
  • Evaluating problem solutions


Analyzing the problem

400

What does completeness as a criterion for an effective speech outline mean?

  • It means using only phrases, no single term or word, for each point.
  • It means making each separate point a single word or phrase for clarity.
  • It means that all main points, but not sub-points, must be in full sentences.
  • It means using only complete sentences throughout the first draft of the outline.

It means using only complete sentences throughout the first draft of the outline.

400

In terms of public speaking, what are the three general purposes?

a)To inform, persuade, and entertain/celebrate/honor.

B)None of the above

c)To persuade, act, and adjust your speaking style.

d)To inform, make people laugh, and have fun.

To inform, persuade, and entertain/celebrate/honor.

400

True or False: When using a PowerPoint presentation, the speaker should list all of the major points so that the audience can follow along 

False

400

Question: Which of the following is not a characteristic of a group with an appropriate level of cohesion?

A) High commitment to achieving the group's purpose
B) Members frequently experience anger and tension
C) Group members listen to and support each other
D) Members exhibit fewer attendance issues

Members frequently experience anger and tension



500

Which of the following statements BEST describes groupthink?

  • Groupthink is a process of group members’ stressing disagreement and skepticism.
  • Groupthink is a process of group members’ stressing cohesiveness and agreement instead of skepticism and optimal decision making.
  • Groupthink is a process of breaking rigid thinking by placing a problem in a different frame of reference.
  • Groupthink is a process where group members gather to decide issues.

Groupthink is a process of group members’ stressing cohesiveness and agreement instead of skepticism and optimal decision making.

500


How would an audience member know that a speaker was giving an extemporaneous speech?

  • The title 'Extemporaneous Speaker' is listed by his/her name in the program.
  • The speaker uses a few notes to look at and talks in a conversational tone.
  • The speaker uses no notes and recites a memorized text.
  • The speaker has a manuscript that is read directly to the audience.

The speaker uses a few notes to look at and talks in a conversational tone.

500

Which of the following vocal qualities is most important for keeping an audience engaged during a presentation? 

A) Speaking with consistent volume throughout the speech
B) Maintaining a fast rate of speaking to show enthusiasm
C) Varying rate, volume, and pitch to avoid monotony and communicate enthusiasm
D) Keeping pitch low to signal authority and control over the subject

Varying rate, volume, and pitch to avoid monotony and communicate enthusiasm

500

You’re using a graph to illustrate an important point in your speech. You finish the point and prepare to move on to another point not illustrated by the graph. What should you do here?

  • Cover the graph or remove it and place it face down on a tabletop.
  • Hand the graph to one of your listeners to hold until you ask for it back.
  • Leave the graph visible to your audience in case you need to remind listeners of the point later in your speech.
  • Stand in front of the graph so that the graph doesn’t become a distraction.


Cover the graph or remove it and place it face down on a tabletop.

500

Question: Which of the following is a key strategy for addressing public speaking anxiety?

A) Completely avoiding public speaking situations
B) Practicing relaxation techniques and imagining negative outcomes
C) Systematic desensitization, cognitive restructuring, and skills training
D) Relying on the fight or flight instinct to reduce anxiety

Systematic desensitization, cognitive restructuring, and skills training

M
e
n
u