Q&A Hero

Q: The title slide of your presentation should contain A) your name. B) your department affiliation (for internal audiences). C) your company affiliation (for external audiences). D) all of the above.

Q: During the revision stage of preparing your slide presentation, you should A) decide on the background color to use. B) decide where builds and transitions should be inserted. C) check for readability and clarity. D) determine your main idea.

Q: Hyperlinks are useful in slide presentations for A) providing additional details without having to incorporate each detail into a slide. B) customizing one electronic presentation for several audiences. C) accessing additional information during question-and-answer periods. D) doing all of the above.

Q: When using slide transitions, you should A) limit them to text; they are not appropriate for graphics. B) vary the direction, sometimes going from top to bottom and sometimes going from left to right. C) reveal information in a way that helps your audience better understand your message. D) do none of the aboveslide transitions have no place in business presentations.

Q: When adapting graphics for slides A) reduce the amount of detail. B) use full numbers, such as 2012, rather than '12. C) avoid using arrows or boldface type. D) don't use more than eight or nine graph lines.

Q: To make your text slides more readable A) limit the text on each slide to four or five lines with four or five words per line. B) use complete sentences with capitals and punctuation rather than short bulleted phrases. C) use the passive voice. D) do all of the above.

Q: When preparing text slides for an upcoming presentation, you should A) try to have a slide to go with every concept you want to convey. B) be sure to use complete sentences. C) limit each slide to expressing a single thought, concept, or idea. D) do none of the above.

Q: The predefined layouts in presentation software A) contain placeholders for specific slide elements such as titles and bulleted text. B) allow you to automate your slide show. C) allow you to add hyperlinks to your presentation. D) let you see an entire batch of slides at once.

Q: The slide master in presentation software A) allows you to save design elements so that they can be included on any new slides you add. B) automatically chooses the same fonts and typefaces for your slides. C) helps create a consistent-looking design for your entire slide show. D) does all of the above.

Q: When using thinner fonts in electronic presentations, A) use a wide variety of them, to keep the presentation interesting. B) include decorative fonts to help maintain audience interest. C) use boldface type so that letters won't look washed out. D) use all capital letters so type will stand out.

Q: When choosing fonts and type styles for slides, be sure to A) use script fonts for emphasis. B) limit your fonts to no more than two per slide. C) avoid boldface type. D) do all of the above.

Q: In business presentations, all background artwork should be considered to be A) a good way to keep the audience's attention. B) the key to good design. C) essentially decorative. D) essentially functional.

Q: Your policy for using clip art in presentations should be A) not to use any clip art, ever. B) to use clip art sparingly, if at all. C) to use clip art as much as possible in those presentations that need spicing up. D) to use just those pieces that you particularly like.

Q: When choosing a background for your slides, the most effective approach is to A) use dark colors such as blue. B) pair complex patterns with intricate borders. C) choose a simple design. D) use all of the above.

Q: When preparing a background design for slides A) you will need to consult a professional graphic artist. B) be careful when using the design templates that come with your software. C) any of the designs that come with your software program will do. D) none of the above are advised.

Q: If you are using yellow for your titles and text, the best background color would be A) white, if the slide is for a transparency. B) a darker shade of yellow. C) dark blue or purple. D) orange or red.

Q: In a presentation designed to reassure your audience after layoffs and bad news about company profitability, the best color to use would be A) blue. B) brown. C) red. D) any of the above.

Q: When it comes to using color in your slides, keep in mind that A) color can account for a large part of an audience's acceptance or rejection of an idea. B) color tends to distract viewers, which reduces their retention of the material. C) you should use as many colors as possible to maintain viewer interest. D) your choices are not that important as long as your slides are colorful.

Q: Four important design elements to consider when creating slides include all of the following except A) choosing color. B) selecting background designs. C) writing content. D) selecting fonts and type styles.

Q: A "slideument" is A) a particularly useful electronic slide that provides lots of information. B) a slide that is sent ahead of time to introduce the audience to your topic. C) an electronic slide that tries to function as both a presentation visual and a printed document. D) a slide that is also printed and distributed to the audience as a handout.

Q: Presentations featuring free-form slides tend to contain ________ presentations with structured slides. A) more slides than B) fewer slides than C) about the same number of slides as D) simpler slides than

Q: Unlike structured slides, free-form slides A) are completely random and have no design consistency. B) don't follow a rigid design structure. C) use the same color for background and text. D) contain extra-large fonts.

Q: The best visual for demonstrating the features of a software program would be a(n) A) overhead transparency. B) screencast. C) electronic slide show. D) flip chart.

Q: Which of the following visuals would be particularly helpful for recording ideas during a group brainstorming session? A) Flip chart B) Electronic presentation C) Screencast D) None of the above

Q: Chalkboards and whiteboards are particularly useful A) for small-group sessions. B) when making presentations for large audiences. C) for formal situations. D) for presentations on controversial topics.

Q: Overhead transparencies are A) no longer used. B) old-fashioned, but offer some advantages compared to electronic slides. C) appropriate only for highly technical presentations. D) none of the above.

Q: Using electronic presentation software A) is too difficult for most speakers. B) allows you to incorporate various multimedia elements in your presentations. C) allows you to make each slide much more complicated than you would a visual for a printed report. D) does all of the above.

Q: The most popular type of visual for business presentations is A) flip charts. B) whiteboards. C) electronic slides. D) overhead transparencies.

Q: A disadvantage of electronic presentations is A) they can only be prepared by expert designers. B) they are difficult to store or transport. C) programs require expertise and can malfunction. D) they cannot be customized to different audiences.

Q: An advantage of electronic presentations is A) they are relatively inexpensive to prepare and display. B) they are relatively easy to create and edit. C) the equipment is easy to use. D) they can be projected in full daylight.

Q: Studies show that visuals can improve learning by up to ________ percent. A) 50 B) 100 C) 200 D) 400

Q: Offer some practical suggestions for overcoming anxiety related to public speaking.

Q: List and briefly explain six strategies for holding your audience's attention during a business presentation.

Q: What six stages should you go through in preparing an effective outline for a presentation?

Q: Describe the four steps to organizing a presentation effectively.

Q: When planning a presentation, what does it mean to "analyze the situation"? Briefly explain each of the tasks involved.

Q: Define "backchannel" and describe the risks and benefits it provides for business presenters.

Q: Briefly explain how nervousness can actually improve the quality of your presentation.

Q: List the four delivery methods for oral presentations.

Q: Briefly describe the three tasks that an effective closing to a presentation should accomplish and give an example of a sentence that would be an ineffective ending.

Q: List two goals to achieve in the body of a business presentation.

Q: Give an example of one way to arouse audience attention at the beginning of a presentation on your company's new long-term disability insurance.

Q: Briefly explain the difference between a planning outline and a speaking outline.

Q: In a longer presentation, how does your purpose influence the way you organize your material?

Q: You've been asked to give a presentation on cybercrime. List two steps that can help you define the main idea of your presentation, and then provide an example of the second step.

Q: List the four steps involved in planning an oral presentation.

Q: The ________ refers to "a line of communication created by people in an audience to connect with others inside or outside the room, with or without the knowledge of the speaker."

Q: To help keep your audience's attention during a presentation, illustrate your ideas with diagrams, photographs, charts or other ________they will enliven your message, help you connect with the audience, and help people remember your message more effectively.

Q: You can overcome ________ related to public speaking by concentrating on your message and your audience, not on your fears.

Q: If you're addressing an audience that doesn't speak your language, consider using a(n) ________ to put your speech into terms they can easily understand.

Q: The easiest and most effective delivery mode for most business presentations is speaking from ________.

Q: If there is a lack of ________ at the end of your presentation, acknowledge it and be ready to offer a method for resolving the differences.

Q: In the body of your presentation, it is vital to ________ the ideas you are presenting around a common theme.

Q: Effective introductions often unite the audience around a common ________, such as helping solve a problem or capitalizing on an opportunity.

Q: When making a presentation to an unfamiliar audience, you need to establish ________ quickly by listing your qualifications.

Q: The ________ to your presentation aims to capture the audience's attention.

Q: For a large audience and an important event, you will generally need to establish a(n) ________ atmosphere and to deliver your remarks on a stage or platform.

Q: A presentation ________ helps you organize your material and can serve as the foundation of your speaking notes.

Q: The ________ ________ of a speech should be expressed in a one-sentence statement that links your subject and purpose to your audience's frame of reference.

Q: Early in the planning stages of a speech, you should develop a(n) ________ profile.

Q: The purpose of most business presentations is to inform or ________.

Q: When delivering presentations online, it is especially important to ask the audience for frequent feedback.

Q: Skilled presenters are quick to put a stop to audience members engaging in "backchannel" communication during a presentation.

Q: You should never ask to see the location for your presentation in advance, since doing so shows a lack of confidence.

Q: Making a presentation with the help of an outline or notes is the most effective and easiest delivery mode.

Q: Memorizing an entire business presentation is generally not very effective.

Q: To make your presentation memorable, your ending should be spontaneous and impromptu.

Q: If you sense a lack of consensus at the end of your presentation, you should acknowledge it and be ready to suggest a method for resolving the differences.

Q: At the close of an action-oriented presentation, it is unprofessional to "baby" the audience a visual that lists the action items, deadlines, and the name of the person or team responsible.

Q: You should always end business presentations in a cheerful, optimistic toneeven if it means glossing over obvious disagreements among your audience members.

Q: When concluding a presentation, don't bore your audience by restating points you already made in the body.

Q: As you conclude your presentation, it is vital to emphasize whatever you want your listeners to do or think.

Q: The ending is the least important part of a presentation.

Q: To keep an audience's attention, try to present every point you make in light of the audience's needs and values.

Q: Transitional words and phrases such as, "Now that we've covered..." are generally less important in oral presentations than in written reports.

Q: Giving your audience a preview of what you'll be talking about will reduce their interest and attention.

Q: Having someone else (such as a master of ceremonies) introduce you can help establish your credibility as a speaker.

Q: One good way to establish credibility is by exaggerating your qualifications. You can always correct any misconceptions later in your speech.

Q: If you have no working relationship with your audience, you have only a few minutes to convince them that what you have to say is worth listening to.

Q: One good way to arouse audience interest during the introduction of your presentation on a new product line would be to pass out samples of the product.