Question 1

When considering the rhetorical situation for a speech,you should _______.
A)analyze the audience
B)adapt to the audience
C)determine a speech goal
D)all of the above

Accepted Answer

All of the above options are important when considering the rhetorical situation for a speech. Analyzing the audience helps the speaker understand their demographics, attitudes, beliefs, and values, which in turn helps them tailor their message accordingly. Adapting to the audience ensures that the speech is engaging, relevant, and persuasive. Determining a speech goal helps the speaker define and focus their message, guiding the content and structure of their speech.

Question 2

The difference between a topic and a subject is that _______.
A)a topic is a broad concept;a subject is a specific one
B)a topic is a type of speech;a subject is the base of a speech
C)a topic is a specific aspect of a subject
D)a topic is a generalized subject

Accepted Answer

A topic is indeed a more specific aspect of a broader subject, focusing on particular elements within the general area of the subject.

Question 3

The uncertainty reduction theory helps _______.
A)explain how we verify sources of information
B)explain the processes we go through to get to know strangers
C)explain the reason a speech needs to be given
D)us understand connections between subjects

Accepted Answer

The uncertainty reduction theory describes the processes we go through to get to know strangers and reduce uncertainty about them.

Question 4

Using the most updated edition of a source is a means of ensuring that source's _______.
A)authority
B)objectivity
C)currency
D)relevance

Accepted Answer

Using the most updated edition of a source ensures its currency, meaning that the information presented is up-to-date and relevant. However, it does not necessarily ensure its authority, objectivity, or relevance in comparison to other sources.

Question 5

Which of the following would be the best wording of the specific goal for a speaker who wants to support the implementation of a tax cut?
A)Should we adopt a tax cut now?
B)No one could possibly support a tax cut now.
C)I want the audience to believe that the United States should implement a tax cut.
D)I want the audience to understand three alternatives to cutting taxes.

Accepted Answer

Option C clearly states the specific goal of the speaker, which is to make the audience believe that a tax cut should be implemented. The other options either do not provide a specific goal or go against the speaker's objective.

Question 6

When you want to get the opinion of a large number of people on a topic,_______.
A)conduct an interview
B)conduct a survey
C)look for library sources
D)look for newspaper articles

Accepted Answer

When you want to get the opinion of a large number of people on a topic, the best choice is to conduct a survey. Surveys can reach a large number of people and can be structured in a way that allows for easy analysis of the data collected. Interviews may provide more depth, but are not efficient when trying to gather the opinions of a large number of people. Looking for library sources or newspaper articles may provide information on a topic, but will not provide the opinions of a large number of people.

Question 7

A specific speech goal _______.
A)tells exactly what the subject and topic are
B)states the response you want from your audience as a result of the speech
C)is another term for thesis statement
D)should be determined before you commit yourself to a topic

Accepted Answer

A specific speech goal should state the desired response or action from the audience as a result of the speech. It is important to determine this goal before committing to a topic or creating a thesis statement.

Question 8

How many sources should you use in a speech?
A)4-5
B)one for every two minutes of the speech
C)the number will vary depending on the topic,setting,and your own expertise
D)the number will vary depending on how much time you have to do the research

Accepted Answer

The number of sources will depend on several factors, such as the topic, setting, and your own expertise. It is important to use enough sources to back up your points, but not so many that your speech becomes overloaded with information. Therefore, the number of sources needed will vary from speech to speech.

Question 9

When giving a speech about homelessness in her county,Marjorie cites an article from her local newspaper.This is an example of using _______.
A)secondary research
B)primary research
C)plagiarism
D)a specific goal statement

Accepted Answer

Marjorie is citing information from a published source, which is an example of secondary research. Primary research involves gathering new information through methods like surveys or interviews. Plagiarism would involve presenting someone else's work as one's own without giving proper credit. A specific goal statement is a declarative sentence that summarizes the speaker's intended outcome or purpose for the speech, which is not relevant to this scenario.

Question 10

The specific speech goal should _______.
A)encompass no more than two ideas
B)be left in the infinitive form to ensure understanding
C)be revised so it includes the desired audience response
D)be revised so that it reflects the intent of your speech

Accepted Answer

A speech goal should be revised to include the desired audience response as it helps to ensure that the speech achieves its objective. A speaker should consider what specific response they want from the audience and revise the speech goal accordingly. The other options are not necessarily applicable to all speech goals.

Question 11

If you had several related ideas for a speech topic and wanted to explore the connections between them,you could _______.
A)interview an expert
B)brainstorm
C)create a concept map
D)conduct a survey

Accepted Answer

Creating a concept map is the best option as it allows you to visually map out the connections between your ideas and see how they relate to each other. This can help you to organize your thoughts and develop a coherent speech. Interviewing an expert or conducting a survey may provide additional information, but they may not necessarily help you to explore the connections between your ideas. Brainstorming may generate more ideas, but it may not provide a clear picture of how they all fit together.

Question 12

Data that you personally collect from the real world is considered _______.
A)primary research
B)credential research
C)secondary research
D)online research

Accepted Answer

Primary research refers to collecting data firsthand from the real world through methods such as surveys, interviews, and observations.

Question 13

To forecast audience reactions,a speaker should use the data collected to answer which of the following questions?
A)What is the audience's knowledge,and what are the interests of its members?
B)What is the age range of the audience,and what is its educational background?
C)What is the economic background of the audience,and what is the sex of its members?
D)What is the occasion of the speech,and what is my purpose?

Accepted Answer

To forecast audience reactions, a speaker should gather data on the audience's knowledge and interests. This will help the speaker tailor their message to the audience, making it more likely to be received positively. Age range, educational background, economic background, and sex may also be relevant factors, but they are not as directly related to predicting audience reactions as knowledge and interests. The occasion of the speech and the speaker's purpose are also important factors to consider.

Question 14

For a speech on ratings of nursing homes,which of the following would probably be the most important bit of data about an audience for a speaker?
A)education
B)geographic uniqueness
C)age
D)race
E)gender

Accepted Answer

Age is likely the most important bit of data because older audience members may have a more immediate and personal interest in the topic, either for themselves or for family members.

Question 15

_______ is an uncritical,unevaluative process of generating ideas.
A)Audience analysis
B)Brainstorming
C)Concept mapping
D)Contrasting

Accepted Answer

Brainstorming is the process of generating ideas without evaluating or criticizing them. It encourages participants to think creatively and come up with as many ideas as possible. This helps to generate a range of options, some of which may not have been considered otherwise.

Question 16

The reason for gathering demographic data is so that you can _______.
A)sound knowledgeable about audience specifics
B)know where to look for information
C)adapt the topic to the audience knowledge and interest level
D)change your topic area if the audience isn't interested

Accepted Answer

Gathering demographic data allows a speaker to adapt the topic to the audience's knowledge and interest level. By knowing the audience's age range, education, socioeconomic status, and other demographic factors, a speaker can tailor their message to the audience's needs and level of understanding. This helps to ensure that the audience is engaged, interested, and receptive to the message.

Question 17

When analyzing the speech setting,you should consider _______.
A)special expectations based on the setting
B)how much information the audience knows
C)the age of the audience
D)all of the above

Accepted Answer

When analyzing the speech setting, it is important to consider all of the above factors- special expectations based on the setting, how much information the audience knows, and the age of the audience. These factors can greatly impact the effectiveness of the speech and should be taken into account when preparing and delivering a speech.

Question 18

One likely way to get information about a prospective audience is _______.
A)through a comprehensive examination
B)through a chairperson or group contact
C)by stereotyping
D)by asking someone else

Accepted Answer

One likely way to get information about a prospective audience is through a chairperson or group contact. As they have direct access to the target audience and can give valuable insights about their needs, preferences, interests, and demographics.

Question 19

Which of the following is an example of plagiarism?
A)Alex paraphrases a paragraph from a book in his speech without an oral footnote.
B)Evan gives a speech that his friend wrote the previous semester.
C)Carole quotes a line from an article without an oral footnote.
D)All of the above

Accepted Answer

All of the options given are examples of plagiarism. Paraphrasing without proper citation, using someone else's work without permission, and quoting without proper citation are all forms of plagiarism.

Question 20

Your personal knowledge about a subject is _______.
A)largely irrelevant to speech preparation
B)too subjective to be used in a speech
C)a source for examples and personal experiences
D)the only source material necessary for any public speaker

Accepted Answer

One of the best ways to connect with your audience and provide specific examples or anecdotes is by using your personal knowledge and experiences about a subject. However, it is important to ensure that your personal knowledge is relevant and appropriate to the topic of your speech.

Quiz 11: Topic Selection and Development

When considering the rhetorical situation for a speech,you should _______.

The difference between a topic and a subject is that _______.

The uncertainty reduction theory helps _______.

Using the most updated edition of a source is a means of ensuring that source's _______.

Which of the following would be the best wording of the specific goal for a speaker who wants to support the implementation of a tax cut?

When you want to get the opinion of a large number of people on a topic,_______.

A specific speech goal _______.

How many sources should you use in a speech?

When giving a speech about homelessness in her county,Marjorie cites an article from her local newspaper.This is an example of using _______.

The specific speech goal should _______.

If you had several related ideas for a speech topic and wanted to explore the connections between them,you could _______.

Data that you personally collect from the real world is considered _______.

To forecast audience reactions,a speaker should use the data collected to answer which of the following questions?

For a speech on ratings of nursing homes,which of the following would probably be the most important bit of data about an audience for a speaker?

_______ is an uncritical,unevaluative process of generating ideas.

The reason for gathering demographic data is so that you can _______.

When analyzing the speech setting,you should consider _______.

One likely way to get information about a prospective audience is _______.

Which of the following is an example of plagiarism?

Your personal knowledge about a subject is _______.