Q&A Hero

Q: Which of the following does your textbook mention as an advantage of extemporaneous delivery? a. It requires only a minimal amount of gesturing by the speaker. b. It reduces the likelihood of a speaker making vocalized pauses. c. It improves a speakers ability to articulate difficult words correctly. d. It requires little or no preparation before the speech is delivered. e. It allows greater spontaneity than does speaking from a manuscript.

Q: Speaking extemporaneously a. gives more control over language than does speaking from memory. b. is adaptable to more situations than is speaking from manuscript. c. offers more spontaneity and directness than does speaking impromptu. d. all of the above. e. b and c only.

Q: A speech that is fully prepared in advance but that is delivered from a brief set of notes or a speaking outline is called a(n) __________ speech. a. extemporaneous b. declamatory c. impromptu d. manuscript e. vocalized

Q: The __________ speaker uses only brief notes or a speaking outline to jog the memory. a. after-dinner b. commemorative c. informative d. extemporaneous e. persuasive

Q: Diego needs to make an impromptu response to another speaker at a staff meeting. Your textbook recommends that he should do all of the following except a. state the point he is answering. b. state the point he wishes to make. c. maintain eye contact with the audience. d. tell the audience how nervous he is about impromptu speaking. e. use signposts to help the audience keep track of his ideas.

Q: Which of the following does your textbook recommend when you need to speak impromptu? a. Maintain eye contact with the audience. b. Use signposts to help listeners keep track of your ideas. c. Tell the audience how nervous you are. d. all of the above e. a and b only

Q: According to your textbook, the __________ speaker delivers a speech with little or no immediate preparation. a. colloquial b. extemporaneous c. conversational d. impromptu e. declamatory

Q: In which situation would a speaker be most likely to recite a speech from memory? a. when making a toast at a wedding b. when responding to questions during a class lecture c. when reporting earnings to the yearly stockholders meeting d. when presenting a lengthy proposal to the city council e. when rallying a group to work for lower tuition

Q: When speaking from a manuscript, you should a. practice aloud to make sure the speech sounds natural. b. be certain the final manuscript is legible at a glance. c. work on establishing eye contact with the audience. d. all of the above. e. a and b only.

Q: A political candidate is running for office and must give a speech that will lay out the details of her platform. The speech will be widely covered by newspapers and television. What kind of delivery is the candidate most likely to use? a. manuscript b. impromptu c. monotonous d. colloquial e. memorized

Q: In which situation would a speaker be most likely to read from a manuscript? a. a speech accepting an award at a company banquet b. a speech in honor of a retiring employee c. a speech on international policy at the United Nations d. a speech on the activities of a church social committee e. a speech of welcome to new members of the Rotary Club

Q: Communication based on a speakers body and voice, rather than on the use of words, is called a. implicit communication. b. nonverbal communication. c. unintentional communication. d. instinctive communication. e. physical communication.

Q: Good speech delivery a. has a conversational quality. b. does not call attention to itself. c. requires a strong voice. d. all of the above. e. a and b only.

Q: Good speech delivery a. is accompanied by frequent gestures. b. requires that the speaker have a strong voice. c. sounds conversational even though it has been rehearsed. d. draws the attention of the audience away from the message. e. is best achieved by reading from a manuscript.

Q: T F To keep control of the question-and-answer session, a speaker should usually allow no more than one follow-up question from each questioner. Multiple-Choice Questions (Students are to indicate the best answer for each question by circling the correct letter.)

Q: T F Unless there is a moderator, the speaker is responsible for making sure the question-and-answer session stays on track and finishes within the specified time limits.

Q: T F When faced with an inquiry you cant answer during a question-and-answer session, you should usually try to bluff your way through the answer so as to preserve your credibility on the topic.

Q: T F When conducting a question-and-answer session, you should usually restate or paraphrase each question before you answer it.

Q: T F During a question-and-answer session, you should direct your answers primarily to the audience as a whole rather than solely to the individual questioner.

Q: T F If you are asked a hostile question during a question-and-answer session, you should avoid sounding hostile in your response.

Q: T F If you receive a hostile question during a question-and-answer session, you should respond in a hostile manner.

Q: T F As your textbook explains, you are most likely to be successful in a question-and-answer session if you approach each question as a challenge to your competence and intelligence.

Q: T F When answering questions after a speech, you should try to make your answers as long as possible to use up the time allotted.

Q: T F According to your textbook, when preparing for a question-and-answer session, you should anticipate possible questions, write out your answers in full, and practice the delivery of your answers.

Q: T F When preparing for a question-and-answer session, it is a bad idea to write out answers to possible questions because doing so can decrease the conversational quality of your delivery.

Q: T F When preparing for a question-and-answer session, it is unethical to anticipate potential questions and to write out answers ahead of time.

Q: T F Handling the question-and-answer session well can enhance a speakers credibility and strengthen the impact of his or her speech.

Q: T F The question-and-answer session can have as much impact on an audience as what a speaker says during the speech itself.

Q: T F A single practice session of two or three hours is usually the best way to rehearse your speech.

Q: T F According to your textbook, the final step in practicing your speech delivery is to prepare your speaking outline.

Q: T F According to your textbook, the first step in practicing your speech delivery is to go through your preparation outline aloud to see how it translates into spoken discourse.

Q: T F According to your textbook, the first step in rehearsing a speech is to practice in front of a mirror.

Q: T F You should try to look at the audience about 50 percent of the time while you are giving a speech.

Q: T F Poor eye contact during a speech can make you lose the attention of your audience.

Q: T F In the United States, public speakers who establish strong eye contact with listeners are usually perceived as less credible than speakers who have weaker eye contact.

Q: T F You should start to establish eye contact with the audience even before you begin to speak.

Q: T F As your textbook explains, learning how to gesture is one of the first things a beginning public speaker should concentrate on.

Q: T F When you reach the end of your speech, you should maintain eye contact with the audience for a moment after you finish talking.

Q: T F Since most people are nervous about public speaking, it is perfectly acceptable to finish a speech by declaring, Am I glad thats over!

Q: T F Frequent gestures are a sure sign of an effective speaker.

Q: T F When a speakers body language is inconsistent with her or his words, listeners often believe the body language rather than the words.

Q: T F Regional or ethnic dialects are fine in speeches as long as listeners find them acceptable.

Q: T F Over the years linguists have concluded that no dialect is inherently better or worse than another dialect.

Q: T F Dialects are usually based on regional or ethnic speech patterns.

Q: T F If you say the s in Illinois or the p in pneumonia, you are making a mistake in articulation.

Q: T F Most people recognize and understand about three times as many words in reading as occur in spontaneous speech.

Q: T F Most people recognize and understand about the same number of words in reading as occur in spontaneous speech.

Q: T F Pauses usually work best in a speech when they are planned in advance.

Q: T F Vocalized pauses are an effective way to increase a speakers credibility.

Q: T F A faster rate of speech is usually called for when a speaker is explaining complex information.

Q: T F People in the U.S. usually speak at a rate between 120 and 150 words per minute.

Q: T F Pitch is the relative highness or lowness of the speakers voice.

Q: T F A speaker always sounds louder to a listener than to the speaker.

Q: T F No two people have exactly the same vocal characteristics.

Q: T F The conversational quality of extemporaneous speaking means that a speech has been well rehearsed yet sounds spontaneous to the audience.

Q: T F In an extemporaneous speech, the exact wording is chosen at the moment of delivery.

Q: T F An extemporaneous speech is delivered with little or no immediate preparation.

Q: Identify and explain the four criteria for inclusive language discussed in your textbook.

Q: What does it mean to say that language should be appropriate to the speaker? Explain.

Q: What does it mean to say that language should be appropriate to the topic of a speech? Explain.

Q: One of the greatest differences between writing an essay and giving a speech is that the listener, unlike the reader, cannot turn to a dictionary or reread an authors words to discover their meaning. How does this complicate the task of a public speaker? Explain three specific steps a speaker can take to make his or her meaning clear despite these complications.

Q: In the column on the left are statements as they could have been made by a speaker. The column on the right shows what the speaker actually said. In each case explain what elements of language usage make the statements on the right more effective. Less Effective More Effective a. The impact of freedom in one part of the world has a great impact on freedom in other parts of the world. Freedom is like a drum; strike it anywhere and it resounds everywhere. (Adlai Stevenson) b. We should always negotiate from a position of strength, and we should always be willing to negotiate. Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate. (John F. Kennedy) c. Now is the time to ensure democracy for all citizens, to put an end to segregation, and to abolish racial injustice. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksand of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. (Martin Luther King)

Q: What is the difference between imagery and rhythm in the language of a speech? Identify and explain two devices each for enhancing the imagery and the rhythm of a speech.

Q: What is clutter in a public speech? Why is it a barrier to effective speechmaking? How can it be combated?

Q: What is the difference between using language accurately and using language clearly? Explain the three criteria given in your textbook for using language clearly.

Q: Identify and explain the four criteria given in your textbook for using language effectively.

Q: Explain the differences between abstract and concrete words. Why are public speakers usually advised to rely on the latter rather than on the former?

Q: What are the differences between connotative meaning and denotative meaning? Be sure to illustrate your answer with examples of each kind of meaning.

Q: Explain the following statement: Language is not neutral. The words we use to label an event determine to a great extent how we respond to it.

Q: Explain the following statement: On most occasions when we are looking for just the right word, what we are really looking for is just the right idea.

Q: Explain the following statement: Language does not mirror reality. Instead, language helps create our sense of reality by giving meaning to events.

Q: In public speaking, the use of language should be appropriate to: a. b. c. d.

Q: When you repeat the initial consonant sound of close or adjoining words, you are using the language device known as _______________ .

Q: The similar arrangement of a pair or series of related words is a language device called _______________ .

Q: A(n) _______________ is a figurative comparison that always contains the word like or as.

Q: Using _______________ words is the key to creating effective verbal imagery.

Q: Rearrange the following words in order from the most general and abstract to the most concrete and specific:

Q: Rearrange the following words in order from most general and abstract to most concrete and specific:

Q: Three methods explained in your textbook for using language clearly are: a. b. c.

Q: As your textbook explains, language should be appropriate to the topic, the audience, the occasion, and the _______________ .