Question 1

You can keep you audience from tuning out by making sure your speech has a good balance between new information and supporting material.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. If the audience is presented with too much new information, they may struggle to follow along, become overwhelmed, and lose interest. However, if there is too much supporting material, the presentation may become boring and lack substance. A good balance between the two is key to keeping the audience engaged.

Question 2

As a listener,you have the ability to process words much faster than you generally need to while the speaker is sharing information.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that the average person can process speech at a rate of 125-150 words per minute, while the average speaker speaks at a rate of 100-120 words per minute. This means that as listeners, we have the ability to process words faster than the speaker is speaking, giving us the opportunity to not only listen to what is being said but also process it and potentially form responses.

Question 3

A way to combat information overload as a speaker is to avoid redundancy in your message.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A way to combat information overload as...

Question 4

Being a selfish listener can help you to maintain your powers of concentration.

Accepted Answer

Being a selfish listener means focusing solely on what the speaker is saying, without distractions or interruptions. This level of concentration can help improve listening skills and retention of information.

Question 5

Listening skills develop as you practice listening to speeches,music,and programs with demanding content.

Accepted Answer

Listening skills do improve with practice, especially when listening to content that requires focus and attention.

Question 6

When you are listening to a message and also evaluating it,you have to work harder than you do at other times to understand the speaker's message.

Accepted Answer

When we are evaluating a message while listening, we are not just trying to understand what the speaker is saying, but also analyzing and assessing the content of the message. This requires more effort and concentration than just passive listening.

Question 7

Nonverbal cues play a major role in communicating a message.

Accepted Answer

Nonverbal cues, such as facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice, can convey important information and emotions that may not be explicitly stated in words. Therefore, they play a significant role in communication.

Question 8

_____ is the process of using symbols to create meaning to achieve a goal.

Accepted Answer

The process of using symbols to create meaning to achieve a goal is the definition of rhetoric. Inference is the process of drawing conclusions from evidence, critical thinking is the process of analyzing and evaluating information to form a judgement, and logic is the process of reasoning and making valid conclusions.

Question 9

Heightened emotions do not affect your ability to understand a message.

Accepted Answer

Heightened emotions can affect one's ability to understand a message as it can lead to distorted perceptions or a biased interpretation of the message.

Question 10

When you prejudge a message,your ability to understand it increases.

Accepted Answer

Prejudging a message means to form an opinion about it before actually hearing or reading it. This can limit our ability to understand the message because we may be focused on our preconceived notions rather than objectively interpreting the message. It is important to approach messages with an open mind and without preconceptions in order to fully understand the content.

Question 11

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?

Accepted Answer

While Krysten provided some feedback, it was not specific or descriptive enough to be helpful to Erin. Krysten should have given more detail about what aspects of the visuals she liked and what could be improved about the eye contact. Additionally, Krysten should have provided feedback on the introduction and body of the speech as well. Without these details, Erin may not have enough information to make meaningful improvements in future speeches.

Question 12

Unmindful listeners are not conscious of whether they are paying attention or daydreaming.

Accepted Answer

Unmindful listeners are not aware or conscious of their level of attention, which means they may be distracted or daydreaming without realizing it.

Question 13

Because it has been directly observed that water boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit,this piece of information is considered

Accepted Answer

A fact is a statement that can be proven true through direct observation or evidence. Since it has been directly observed that water boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit, this piece of information is considered a fact.

Question 14

Emotion is primarily communicated by unspoken messages.

Accepted Answer

Emotions are conveyed mostly through non-verbal cues such as facial expressions, tone of voice, body language, and gestures. While words can certainly convey emotion, they are often less effective than non-verbal cues in communicating the nuances of feeling.

Question 15

By concentrating on both facts and major ideas,while also mentally summarizing the information you hear,you ultimately decrease your ability to remember messages.

Accepted Answer

This statement is incorrect. By concentrating on both facts and major ideas, while mentally summarizing the information, one can actually increase their ability to remember messages. This technique is called active listening and helps to better understand and retain information.

Question 16

Your own thoughts are among the biggest competitors for your attention when you are a member of an audience.

Accepted Answer

Our own thoughts tend to distract us and compete for our attention when we are part of an audience.

Question 17

After listening to a speech by a local politician,Jon had the opportunity to think about the speech.He discovered that evidence was misquoted,there were a number of scare tactics used,and some data was falsified to support the claims being made.Which of the following is TRUE of the speech Jon listened to?

Accepted Answer

The fact that evidence was misquoted, scare tactics were used, and data was falsified demonstrates that the politician used unethical rhetorical strategies to manipulate the audience.

Question 18

If you mentally criticize a speaker's style or message,your listening efficiency will increase.

Accepted Answer

Mentally criticizing a speaker's style or message has been found to decrease listening efficiency as it distracts you from focusing on the actual message being conveyed. Instead, practicing active listening and giving the speaker your full attention can help improve your listening skills.

Question 19

Listening barriers are created when we fail to select,attend to,or understand a message or remember what was said.

Accepted Answer

Listening barriers can occur when we do not focus or pay attention to a message, misunderstand what was said, or forget the message altogether.

Question 20

_____ are words,images,and nonverbal cues that create meaning for others.

Accepted Answer

The answer of _____ are words,images,and nonverbal cues that create...

Quiz 5: Listening to Speeches