Deck 12: Achieving Style Through Language

Question 1

The pattern of choices attributed to a person by others to characterize or distinguish him or her is referred to as __________.

A) archetype
B) genre
C) style
D) perception

Answer 1

style

Question 2

Which of the following statements is true about style?

A) Each speaker has a style that is determined by the speaker; it is speaker dependent.
B) A speaker's style is predetermined early in life and cannot be changed.
C) Style is unique; it sets each speaker apart from all others.
D) Style is determined by the audience; it is audience dependent.

Answer 2

Style is determined by the audience; it is audience dependent.

Question 3

What is the most significant resource for creating an effective speaking style?

A) language
B) eye contact
C) vocal variety
D) gestures

Answer 3

language

Question 4

The two types of oral style are __________.

A) audience centered and speaker centered
B) spoken and written
C) clear and ambiguous
D) performative and conversational

Question 5

Miriam used parallel wording to introduce each of her main points because she knew that an effective oral style should be __________.

A) simple
B) repetitive
C) informal
D) reflexive

Question 6

Reflexive language is an important element of oral language style because it __________.

A) educates the audience about the special terms associated with the topic
B) encourages repetition and aids memory
C) increases the speaker's credibility
D) helps listeners follow the speaker's thought progression

Question 7

Which of the following comparison statements of written style and oral style is false?

A) Oral style is more complex than written style.
B) Oral style is more repetitive than written style.
C) Oral style is less formal than written style.
D) Oral style is more reflexive than written style.

Question 8

The conversational oral style is generally more appropriate for __________.

A) protest speeches
B) formal sermons
C) polished lectures
D) presentations to small audiences

Question 9

In his speech on the West Nile Virus, Derrick informed the audience that "mosquitoes were the transformers of the disease." This statement contains a __________.

A) technical term
B) metaphor
C) malapropism
D) vocalized pause

Question 10

Reflexivity refers to the tendency of speakers to __________ more than writers do.

A) refer to themselves and to the audience
B) use less complex sentence structures
C) repeat themselves
D) analyze their ideas

Question 11

The two basic requirements for effective style in all speaking situations are __________.

A) simplicity and repetition
B) informality and reflexivity
C) vividness and clarity
D) accuracy and appropriateness

Question 12

The use of contractions is more common and the rules of grammar are followed less consistently in oral as opposed to written language use, and this contributes to a style that is __________.

A) balanced
B) varied
C) concise
D) informal

Question 13

Which of the following is a strategy for providing neutral definitions?

A) providing an operational definition
B) defining by using jargon with explanations
C) using metaphors and similes
D) relying on the connotation of keywords

Question 14

Earl explained what he meant by effective welfare reform by stating, "Welfare reform can only be considered effective when at least 40 percent of the adults currently on welfare are employed in full-time jobs that pay minimum wage or better." In this case, Earl was offering his audience a(n) __________.

A) technical definition
B) connotative definition
C) operational definition
D) denotative definition

Question 15

What do concrete words, maxims, and the active voice help to increase in your message?

A) clarity
B) vividness
C) rhythm
D) irony

Question 16

In his discussion of gun control, Evan warned his listeners that we could not adopt the approach used in England because comparing British laws with United States laws was like "comparing apples and oranges." Evan was using a language device for improving clarity known as __________.

A) a malapropism
B) a maxim
C) jargon
D) purposeful ambiguity

Question 17

Which of the following language strategies best provides "efficient use of words"?

A) active voice
B) personification
C) parallel wording
D) word economy

Question 18

Which two language strategies are designed to create subtlety rather than clarity?

A) inverted word order and personification
B) careful irony and purposeful ambiguity
C) parallel wording and word economy
D) maxims and antithesis

Question 19

A condensation symbol is a device for creating __________.

A) purposeful ambiguity
B) vividness
C) antithesis.
D) personification

Question 20

"The measure of a man is not how many times he has fallen, but how many times he has gotten back up." This statement is an example of which strategy for achieving rhythm?

A) metaphor
B) antithesis
C) inverted word order
D) concrete words

Question 21

In an attempt to add vividness to his speech, Victor claimed that opponents of the administration's policies were "just a bunch of braying, belligerent bullies." What stylistic device was he using?

A) metaphor
B) simile
C) personification
D) alliteration

Question 22

Because a plain style is favored by most Americans, speakers can achieve an effective plain style by __________.

A) spending hours on preparation, organization, editing, and practice
B) focusing more on clarity than on vividness and rhythm
C) inserting stories and personification as often as possible
D) concentrating on developing content and focusing less on language strategies

Question 23

In general, the style of any speech should reflect __________.

A) formality
B) consistency
C) conciseness
D) congruence

Question 24

Mainstream audiences in the United States overwhelmingly favor which style of presentation?

A) home
B) middle
C) plain
D) grand

Question 25

Which of the following statements represents sound advice for improving one's speaking style?

A) Write your stylistic devices into your presentation outline only.
B) You should incorporate stylistic devices into the outline while you write it, not after you are finished.
C) Ruthlessly remove any stylistic devices that do not seem to work during practice.
D) Try to incorporate as many varied stylistic devices as possible into your speech.

Question 26

Speakers can cultivate a more effective speaking style through strategic planning.

Question 27

Speakers typically choose language carefully and consciously, exercising considerable control over perceptions of style.

Question 28

A speaker's style is not always positive; it may be distracting and ineffective.

Question 29

A well-written essay generally makes a good manuscript for a speech.

Question 30

Informality in language style is more appropriate for speakers than writers.

Question 31

Accuracy in language style can be improved by the effective use of malapropisms.

Question 32

Student speakers should use a performative style in classroom speeches.

Question 33

Rhythm in a speech helps audience members understand the speech because it improves their ability to anticipate what is coming next.

Question 34

Dialogue is a strategy for creating personification in a speech.

Question 35

The most effective way to improve one's style is to practice a few skills at a time, gradually integrating more and more strategies into your repertoire of skills.

Question 36

Because style is based on the inferences and judgments of listeners, style is always __________ dependent.

Question 37

__________ style should be more informal, repetitive, and simpler than written style.

Question 38

References to the speaker, the audience, and the situation are more frequent in speaking than writing, because oral style is more __________ than written style.

Question 39

Vocalized pauses are evidence of the potential for __________ in oral style.

Question 40

One of the most important stylistic resources is __________, the process by which you establish the meaning of a new word for your audience.

Question 41

Concrete words and the active voice help to increase the __________ of your message.

Question 42

A simile states that one thing is like another; a __________ names a thing as if it were another.

Question 43

A pithy phrase or memorable quote that captures the essence of a speech is today called a __________.

Question 44

It is important to create __________ of language and delivery by matching a formal, serious tone with a formal and serious delivery style.

Question 45

To improve your style, choose your words with your __________ in mind.

Question 46

Identify and explain the five distinctions between oral style and written style. Explain the implications for the use of language in a speech.

Question 47

Explain how definitions can be persuasive. Provide an example from the text and explain how it might be used persuasively.

Question 48

Why are clarity, rhythm, and vividness important in a speech? Briefly identify a topic and thesis and provide an example of how clarity, rhythm, and vividness might be used a speech.

Question 49

What approach should speakers take to the question of how clear they should be? What strategies are available to the speaker to achieve appropriate levels of clarity?

Question 50

Explain the three principles that govern pacing and proportion in style choices. Identify how they differ and explain their appropriate use in the speech.