Public Speaking Study Guide Questions
Course Introduction
Public Speaking is a foundational course designed to develop students confidence and competence in oral communication. Through practical exercises, students learn essential strategies for organizing ideas, engaging diverse audiences, and delivering clear, persuasive presentations. The course covers techniques for controlling speech anxiety, using visual aids, and responding to audience feedback, preparing students for both academic and professional speaking situations. By participating in individual and group speeches, students refine their ability to inform, persuade, and inspire listeners with clarity and conviction.
Recommended Textbook
Public Speaking Handbook 5th Edition by Steven A. Beebe
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18 Chapters
900 Verified Questions
900 Flashcards
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Chapter 1: Introduction to Public Speaking
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Sample Questions
Q1) Elocution is the expression of emotion through posture,movement,gestures,facial expression,and voice.
A)True
B)False
Answer: True
Q2) Noise can only be physical.
A)True
B)False
Answer: False
Q3) An audience member is worried about an upcoming exam and is unlikely to remember much of what the speaker says.This is a type of A)external noise.
B)internal noise.
C)physical noise.
D)educational noise.
Answer: B
Q4) The ______ of a public-speaking experience is the environment or situation in which the speech occurs.
Answer: context
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Chapter 2: Speaking With Confidence
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Sample Questions
Q1) The textbook describes four styles of communication apprehension: average style,insensitive style,inflexible style,and confrontation style.Briefly explain each one.
Answer: 1.Average style: generally positive approach to communicating in public; overall heart rate when speaking publicly is in the average range. 2.Insensitive style: previous experience in public speaking; because of the experience,tend to be less sensitive to apprehension when speaking; lower heart rate when speaking. 3.Inflexible style: highest heart rate when speaking; some use this to enhance performance; fear motivates them to prepare and be at their best; for others,the anxiety of the style creates so much tension that their speaking performance is diminished. 4.Confrontational style: very high heart rate when beginning the presentation and then heart rate tapers off to more average levels; characteristic of more experienced speakers or people with some public-speaking background.
Q2) You will feel less nervous if you talk about something you are familiar with or have some personal experience with it.
A)True
B)False
Answer: True
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Page 4
Chapter 3: Presenting Your First Speech
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Sample Questions
Q1) After-dinner speeches and comic monologues have the general purpose to A)inform.
B)persuade.
C)entertain.
D)inspire.
Answer: C
Q2) In a speech with the general purpose to ______,you teach,define,illustrate,clarify,or elaborate on a topic.
A)persuade
B)entertain
C)inform
D)inspire
Answer: C
Q3) The ______ is a one-sentence summary of the speech content.
A)general purpose
B)central idea
C)specific purpose
D)blueprint statement
Answer: B
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Page 5
Chapter 4: Speaking Freely and Ethically
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Sample Questions
Q1) In the United States,_____ speech is legally protected.
A)libelous
B)no
C)free
D)slanderous
Q2) If your overall objective is to inform or persuade,it is probably ethical; if your goal is to coerce or manipulate,it is unethical.
A)True
B)False
Q3) You are still ethical if you avoid presenting information that could be potentially damaging to your case.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Discuss what<i> accommodation</i> in public speaking means-what it is,and what it is not.
Q5) ______ are the beliefs,values,and moral principles by which people determine what is right or wrong.
Q6) What are the guidelines for an ethical speaker?
Q7) Free speech is protected by the _____ Amendment.
Page 6
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Chapter 5: Listening to Speeches
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Sample Questions
Q1) Krysten just listened to Erin's speech about the Lord of the Rings trilogy.In her written critique,Krysten made the following comments: "I liked the visuals," "weak eye contact," and "the conclusion was good." Is this a good critique?
A)No; Krysten should have provided more descriptive information to Erin to reflect the specific strengths and weaknesses of the speech.
B)No; Krysten did not talk about the introduction and body of the speech.
C)Yes; Krysten put into writing what she thought was good and what needed work.
D)Yes; Krysten provided sufficient feedback so Erin can make corrections in future speeches.
Q2) Your own thoughts are among the biggest competitors for your attention when you are a member of an audience.
A)True
B)False
Q3) Explain the difference between facts and inferences,and provide an example of each.
Q4) What is the relationship between critical listening and critical thinking?
Q5) _____ is the process of using a method or standards to evaluate the effectiveness and appropriateness of messages.
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Chapter 6: Analyzing Your Audience
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Sample Questions
Q1) A _____ is an individual's perception of what is true or false.
Q2) When Robert asked his class,"How many of you just do not have enough time to do all the things you want to do in a day?" as his speech introductory device,almost everyone in the audience raised their hands.Robert took this audience reaction as
A)an indication of verbal responsiveness.
B)an interaction that crossed the line of appropriate behavior between speaker and listener.
C)restless movement,which indicated to Robert that he had better get on with his speech.
D)an indication of nonverbal responsiveness.
Q3) A speaker who analyzes the listeners and the occasion and adapts his/her speech according to them is defined as
A)a hard-working speaker.
B)an audience-centered speaker.
C)an over-zealous speaker.
D)a goal-centered speaker.
Q4) _______ includes an examination of the time and place of your speech,the size of your audience,and the speaking occasion.
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Page 8
Chapter 7: Developing Your Speech
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Sample Questions
Q1) Almost all speeches have an overall goal to inform,to persuade,or to entertain.This goal for your speech is known as its A)general purpose.
B)specific purpose.
C)central idea.
D)blueprint.
Q2) List four criteria for formulating a central idea.
Q3) "At the end of my speech,my audience will be able to list the three different types of Reggae music." This statement is an example of a A)central idea.
B)general purpose.
C)specific purpose.
D)blueprint.
Q4) What are the three most common general purposes for speeches?
A)to tell,to show,to teach
B)to excite,to engage,to convince
C)to inform,to persuade,to entertain
D)to demonstrate,to manipulate,to coerce
Q5) What are the steps involved in brainstorming for a topic?
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Chapter 8: Gathering and Using Supporting
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Sample Questions
Q1) In a library,print reference items are distinguished by A)the call number 300.
B)the prefix ref.
C)their location behind the circulation desk.
D)a red book cover.
Q2) Most subject-matter experts are too busy and don't care to grant interviews to students,but you should still contact them anyway just in case.
A)True
B)False
Q3) The first step in preparing for an interview is to establish a purpose or objective for it.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Before you decide that an interview is necessary,you should make sure that your question cannot easily be answered by looking at a Web site or reading a newspaper article or a book.
A)True
B)False
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Chapter 9: Organizing and Outlining Your Speech
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Sample Questions
Q1) List and explain the specific organizational strategies for organizing supporting evidence.
Q2) Internal summaries are often used in combination with internal previews to form transitions between major points and ideas.
A)True
B)False
Q3) A speech organizational pattern which goes one step beyond cause-and-effect to discuss ways to solve an effect is called
A)the motivated sequence.
B)a problem-solution pattern.
C)an extended cause-effect pattern.
D)a chronological pattern.
Q4) Historical speeches and how-to speeches are the two kinds of speeches that are usually organized chronologically.
A)True
B)False
Q5) ______organization is based on location or position.
Q6) ______ organization is by time or sequence.
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Chapter 10: Introducing Your Speech
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Sample Questions
Q1) If your topic is timely,a reference to a _______ can be a good way to begin your speech.
Q2) One way to build credibility in the introduction is to be prepared and appear confident.
A)True
B)False
Q3) Explain the purpose of using an anecdote or illustration in a speech introduction and provide an example of how you could use one.
Q4) If your speech is one of several being presented on the same occasion,such as in a speech class,at a symposium,or as part of a lecture series you may want to make a reference to _______.
Q5) As a speaker,your task is to ensure that your introduction convinces your audience to listen to you.
A)True
B)False
Q6) You can help establish listening motivation by showing the members of your audience how the topic affects them directly.
A)True
B)False
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Chapter 11: Concluding Your Speech
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Sample Questions
Q1) One of the most important functions of a speech conclusion is summarizing the speech.
A)True
B)False
Q2) Talia finishes a story in her speech conclusion that she started in the introduction.Talia is providing closure by _______.
Q3) The quality of a conclusion that makes a speech "sound finished" is called _______.
Q4) In addition to reemphasizing the central idea of the speech,the conclusion is also likely to restate the ________.
Q5) Which of the following is a method for summarizing a speech in the conclusion?
A)reemphasizing the central idea in a memorable way
B)using verbal cues to signal the end of the speech
C)using nonverbal cues to signal the end of the speech
D)motivating the audience to respond
Q6) Identify some verbal and nonverbal cues a speaker can use to provide closure.
Q7) Inspirational appeals or challenges are NOT part of effective conclusions.
A)True
B)False
Page 13
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Chapter 12: Using Words Well: Speaker Language and Style
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Sample Questions
Q1) Explain the various stylistic devices a speaker can use to create cadence.
Q2) Oral communication often uses a rather formal language and structure.
A)True
B)False
Q3) Explain the difference between a metaphor and a simile and provide an example of each.
Q4) A _______ is an implied comparison between two things or concepts.
Q5) One way to make your message memorable is to use figures of speech to create arresting images.
A)True
B)False
Q6) Memorized speeches usually sound as if they were written because the words and phrases are longer,more complex,and more formal than those used by most speakers.
A)True
B)False
Q7) Explain how speakers must adapt their language style to diverse listeners.
Q8) ________ is the attribution of human qualities to inanimate things or ideas.
Page 14
Q9) What are the major differences between oral and written language styles?
Q10) _______ is the use of identical grammatical patterns.
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Chapter 13: Delivering Your Speech
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Sample Questions
Q1) The most important aspect of speech delivery in North America is eye contact.
A)True
B)False
Q2) Cultural expectations can help you make decisions about your approach to using gestures.
A)True
B)False
Q3) Which of the following statements is the best guideline for using gestures in a speech?
A)Use as many gestures as possible in your presentation.
B)Keep your hands clasped in front of you or in back of you.
C)Every emotion can be expressed by a particular gesture.
D)Use gestures that work best for you.
Q4) Nonverbal expectancy theory asserts that people have certain expectations as to how you should communicate.
A)True
B)False
Q5) When a speaker delivers a speech word for word from memory without using notes,he/she is practicing _______ speaking.
Page 15
Q6) List six characteristics of a good vocal delivery.
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Chapter 14: Designing and Using Presentation Aids
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Sample Questions
Q1) Presentation aids help to gain and maintain attention.
A)True
B)False
Q2) Visual aids can help you communicate ideas with greater clarity and impact than you can words alone.
A)True
B)False
Q3) List and explain using specific examples)five techniques for creating effective computer-generated presentation aids.
Q4) Which of the following is an example of a two-dimensional presentation aid?
A)a model of the human heart
B)a puppy dog
C)a graph of population growth
D)a set of golf clubs
Q5) The most common presentation aids are three-dimensional.
A)True
B)False
Q6) Many public-speaking teachers discourage overuse of chalkboards or whiteboards.
A)True
B)False
Page 16
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Chapter 15: Speaking to Inform
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Sample Questions
Q1) What are the four strategies to enhance audience understanding?
Q2) Most speeches about ideas are organized topically.
A)True
B)False
Q3) A word picture is a lively description that helps your listeners to form a mental image by appealing to their senses of sight,taste,smell,sound,and touch.
A)True
B)False
Q4) At the heart of creating understanding is the ability to relate the information to listeners.
A)True
B)False
Q5) People who learn best by seeing words in print are a visual print learners.
A)True
B)False
Q6) Speeches about objects may be organized topically or chronologically,but not spatially.
A)True
B)False
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Chapter 16: Understanding Principles of Persuasive Speaking
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Sample Questions
Q1) The need for self-esteem is the need to feel loved and valued.
A)True
B)False
Q2) ________ is something you understand to be true or false.
A)A reason
B)An attitude
C)A belief
D)A value
Q3) Cognitive dissonance is the sense of mental discomfort a person experiences when new information conflicts with that person's attitudes,beliefs,values,or behavior.
A)True
B)False
Q4) In the process of persuading your audience,it is most difficult to change listeners' A)beliefs.
B)values.
C)emotions.
D)attitudes.
Q5) Define a proposition of policy and give an example of one.
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Chapter 17: Using Persuasive Strategies
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Q1) When a persuasive speaker attacks the person supporting an issue rather than the issue itself,which fallacy is the speaker committing?
A)non sequitur
B)hasty generalization
C)ad hominem
D)bandwagon
Q2) Marty's persuasive speech was about gun control and school violence.He made the statement,"Either we take guns out of the hands of everyone in this country,except the police and military,or we can expect massacres in schools all over this country." This kind of argument represents an
A)bandwagon fallacy.
B)ad hominem fallacy.
C)appeal to misplaced authority.
D)either/or fallacy.
Q3) A demagogue is a speaker who attempts to gain power or control over others by using impassioned emotional pleas and appealing to listeners' prejudices.
A)True
B)False
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19
Chapter 18: Speaking for Special Occasions and Purposes
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Q1) Marianne was so blown away by the announcement that she had won an award that she felt numb on her way to accept it.When she got to the microphone,she began to ramble and then thanked everyone she could think of for voting and supporting her.The speech ran several minutes long and had no organization.Was this appropriate for an acceptance speech?
A)Yes; award winners can take a lot of time to thank everyone who encouraged and assisted them.
B)Yes; there are no expectations that award acceptance speeches should be brief and organized.
C)No; impromptu acceptance speeches should be brief,gracious,and as organized as possible.
D)No; award winners are expected to prepare brief remarks in advance of the presentation.
Q2) A commencement address is a speech delivered at a graduation ceremony. A)True
B)False
Q3) What are the speaker's main objectives in a eulogy?
Q4) Identify and explain four guidelines for making group presentations.
Q5) An _________ is the mistaken use of a word that sounds much like the intended word.
Page 20
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