Q&A Hero

Q: Plagiarism does not apply to summarized or paraphrased information. A) True B) False

Q: The quality of fairness in a speaker refers to his or her effort to see all sides of an issue and to be open-minded. A) True B) False

Q: Emotional appeals are a legitimate way for a speaker to bolster a weak argument. A) True B) False

Q: When preparing speeches for the classroom, you must adhere to the same rules of use for copyrighted works as you would for a professional speech. A) True B) False

Q: Hate speech is offensive communication directed against a group's racial, ethnic, religious, gender, or other characteristics. A) True B) False

Q: It is easier to claim defamation regarding comments directed at a private person than a public figure. A) True B) False

Q: A stereotype is a generalization about an apparent characteristic of a group that is applied to all members of that group. A) True B) False

Q: Modern civic virtues are similar to the pillars of character, characteristics thought to exemplify the excellence of character so important in the early democracy of Greece. A) True B) False

Q: When speaking persuasively, it is ethical to omit relevant facts that support alternative viewpoints in an effort to bolster one's argument. A) True B) False

Q: Trustworthiness is a combination of honesty and dependability. A) True B) False

Q: Nearly 50 percent of the nation's 400 largest and most prestigious colleges and universities maintain policies that infringe their students' free speech. A) True B) False

Q: Conversation stoppers breach the acceptable rules of engagement for public conversations. A) True B) False

Q: Speakers who act as though everyone shares their points of view and points of reference exhibit reckless disregard for the truth. A) True B) False

Q: Slander, or speech that is potentially harmful to an individual's reputation at work or in the community, is illegal. A) True B) False

Q: The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees unconditional freedom of speech. A) True B) False

Q: Instrumental values are desirable states of being, such as living a comfortable life. A) True B) False

Q: Invective is not appropriate in positive public discourse. A) True B) False

Q: A world at peace is an example of a terminal value. A) True B) False

Q: Milton Rokeach identified two kinds of values: personal and terminal. A) True B) False

Q: Positive ethos includes competence, good moral character, and goodwill. A) True B) False

Q: The Greek word ethos means character. A) True B) False

Q: Ethics is the study of moral conducthow people should act toward one another. A) True B) False

Q: Listening to a lecture at an art museum would require ______ listening more than any other type. A) comprehensive B) critical C) empathic D) appreciative

Q: ______ listeners enjoy evaluating information and making reasoned judgments on it. A) People-oriented B) Action-oriented C) Content-oriented D) Time-oriented

Q: ______ involves evaluating evidence, analyzing assumptions and biases, and assessing the speaker's reasoning. A) Critical thinking B) Comprehensive listening C) Active listening D) Eliminating cultural barriers

Q: To ensure you hear and retain the speaker's most important points, you should A) try to suspend your biases. B) pay attention to introductions, transitions, and conclusions. C) watch the speaker's delivery for clues. D) listen critically.

Q: When trying to identify a speaker's main points, a listener can A) find clues anywhere but in the conclusion. B) look to the speaker's visual aids for clues. C) listen for transitions. D) watch for the speaker to emphasize the main points through delivery techniques.

Q: The primary danger of laziness and overconfidence in listening is that we may A) offend the speaker. B) embarrass ourselves. C) miss important information. D) have to ask questions.

Q: When listeners engage in scriptwriting, they A) try to predict what the speaker will say next. B) concentrate on the speaker's motives. C) focus on what they will say next. D) imagine the exchange as a story.

Q: Daydreaming, fatigue, illness, and strong emotions are examples of A) psychological listening distractions. B) internal listening distractions. C) external listening distractions. D) physiological listening distractions.

Q: Construction noise, automobile traffic, slamming doors, and poor ventilation are examples of A) external listening distractions. B) internal listening distractions. C) physical listening distractions. D) environmental listening distractions.

Q: Active listening is A) the physiological, largely involuntary process of perceiving sound. B) a focused, purposeful process. C) communicated through listenable language. D) also known as scriptwriting.

Q: Speakers who engage in dialogic communication A) try to impose their beliefs on the audience. B) approach a speech as an argument that must be won. C) approach a speech as an opportunity to achieve understanding with audience members. D) demonstrate dyadic communication.

Q: Listeners tend to pay attention to A) people to whom they are attracted. B) information that is associated with their beliefs and expectations. C) things they disagree with. D) what they find pleasant.

Q: Paying attention to information that is important to us, paying attention to information that touches on our own experiences and backgrounds, and sorting and filtering new information based on what we already know are key elements of A) subjective perception. B) selective perception. C) comprehensive listening. D) critical listening.

Q: The reflexive or automatic process of perceiving sound is called A) hearing. B) listening. C) circular response. D) the message-perception gap.

Q: The conscious act of recognizing, understanding, and accurately interpreting the messages communicated by others is called A) hearing. B) listening. C) perceiving. D) retaining.

Q: People competent in ______ tend to be more successful and efficient in both their personal and professional lives. A) dialogic communication B) selective perception C) listening D) empathy

Q: More than any other single communication act, college students A) write. B) listen. C) speak. D) read.

Q: Listening that is focused and purposeful is A) active listening. B) passive listening. C) comprehensive listening. D) appreciative listening.

Q: A study of young adults in the United States, Germany, and Israel found that Germans tended toward action-oriented listening, while Israelis and Americans exhibited both people- and time-oriented styles. A) True B) False

Q: When evaluating a speech, you should always start out with criticism so you can end on a positive note. A) True B) False

Q: Accents, awkward grammatical phrases, and word choice are acceptable reasons for listeners to tune out a speaker. A) True B) False

Q: Listeners who do not like a speaker's topic cannot be honest and fair in evaluating the speech. A) True B) False

Q: Critical evaluation of others' speeches can help listeners assess their own strengths and weaknesses as speakers. A) True B) False

Q: Appreciative listening is the appropriate listening purpose when a friend is upset about a romantic breakup. A) True B) False

Q: We cannot know a speaker's biases, so we should not try to identify them. A) True B) False

Q: Critical thinking is the ability to evaluate claims on the basis of well-supported reasons. A) True B) False

Q: One must be able to hear to listen. A) True B) False

Q: Listenable language is prepared for the listener rather than the reader. A) True B) False

Q: Active listeners listen for the speaker's main ideas and watch for his or her nonverbal cues. A) True B) False

Q: Because selective perception is a natural part of listener behavior, the listener is solely responsible for countering it. A) True B) False

Q: Differences in dialects or accents, nonverbal cues, word choice, and physical appearance can sometimes serve as cultural barriers to listening. A) True B) False

Q: When engaging in defensive listening, audience members decide either that they won't like what the speaker is going to say or that they know better. A) True B) False

Q: Scriptwriting occurs when we focus on what we, rather than the speaker, will say next. A) True B) False

Q: Daydreaming or recovering from a poor night's sleep can be considered internal listening distractions. A) True B) False

Q: Listening is another word for hearing. A) True B) False

Q: A listening distraction is anything that competes for attention you are trying to give to something else. A) True B) False

Q: Active listening is focused and purposeful. A) True B) False

Q: Monologues feature an open sharing of ideas in an atmosphere of respect. A) True B) False

Q: Selective perception is a process in which people pay attention to certain messages while ignoring others. A) True B) False

Q: College students spend more time listening than they do on any other communication activity, except for speaking. A) True B) False

Q: Unlike dyadic communication, public speaking is one-way communication. A) True B) False

Q: When evaluating another's speech, starting by saying something positive will most likely make the speaker more receptive to your ______.

Q: The ability to evaluate a speaker's claims based on well-supported reasons is a component of ______.

Q: Observing body posture, gestures, intonation, and other ______ aspects of delivery can help you listen better.

Q: Setting listening ______ helps active listeners prepare to get the most from the speaker's message.

Q: Listeners should refrain from ______ a speaker on the basis of his or her accent, appearance, or demeanor.

Q: To minimize ______ listening distractions, consciously focus on listening, avoid daydreaming, monitor yourself for lapses in attention, and plan on being well rested.

Q: Anything that competes for attention you are trying to give to something else is called a listening ______.

Q: In contrast to monologue, ______ communication encourages the speaker and the listener to reach conclusions together.

Q: Paying attention to certain messages and ignoring other messages is called ______.

Q: ______ is the act of focused and purposeful listening.

Q: When you evaluate a speech, how can you be compassionate and constructive in your criticism?

Q: Identify three guidelines for evaluating a speaker's evidence and reasoning.

Q: Define critical thinking, and explain why it is important in the process of communicating with others.

Q: Write a brief list of ways you can become a more active listener. Tailor your list to reflect your own strengths and weaknesses as a listener.

Q: Identify something you perceive to be a cultural barrier to listening, based on your own experience or a hypothetical situation, and explain how this barrier could be overcome.

Q: Define defensive listening, and explain two ways to eliminate it.

Q: Describe how a listener can plan ways of coping with common listening distractions.