Business Communication
Question Bank
Course Introduction
Business Communication explores the principles and practices essential for effective communication in organizational settings. This course covers various forms of business communication, including written, oral, and digital channels, emphasizing the development of clear, concise, and persuasive messaging tailored to diverse audiences. Students will learn strategies for crafting professional documents, delivering impactful presentations, engaging in productive meetings, and navigating intercultural communication. The course also addresses current trends such as virtual collaboration and the ethical considerations in business correspondence, preparing students to communicate confidently and efficiently in the modern workplace.
Recommended Textbook
A Concise Public Speaking Handbook 4th Edition by Steven A. Beebe
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26 Chapters
682 Verified Questions
682 Flashcards
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Page 2
Chapter 1: Speaking in Public
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30 Verified Questions
30 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) The nineteenth century practice of delivering famous speeches from history, instead of writing one's own speeches, is
A) formulation.
B) declamation.
C) lecturing.
D) public address.
Answer: B
Q2) It is an audience member's responsibility to properly encode a speaker's remarks.
A)True
B)False
Answer: False
Q3) Public speaking skills can make you more confident, but they have no impact on your long-term employment success.
A)True
B)False
Answer: False
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Page 3
Chapter 2: Improving Your Confidence
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Sample Questions
Q1) Insensitive speakers feel high levels of anxiety, and show the highest heart rates, all the way through their speeches.
A)True
B)False
Answer: False
Q2) Actually visualizing yourself in the room in which the speech will take place and imagining audience applause will only make you more nervous.
A)True
B)False
Answer: False
Q3) You will be less nervous if you speak on a topic with which you have had experience.
A)True
B)False
Answer: True
Q4) Speech anxiety is never beneficial to a speaker.
A)True
B)False
Answer: False
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Page 4
Chapter 3: Presenting Your First Speech
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Sample Questions
Q1) The three types of general purposes for giving speeches are
A) to entertain, to introduce, and to inform.
B) to entertain, to inform, and to persuade.
C) to persuade, to convince, and to move to action.
D) to inform, to demonstrate, and to persuade.
Answer: B
Q2) When selecting and narrowing your speech topic, you should ask yourself the question, "What are my interests, talents, and experiences?"
A)True
B)False
Answer: True
Q3) Travis presented a speech that consisted of a long list of statistics on auto sales in the United States. What technique should he have used to clarify and add interest to these statistics?
A) He should have put the statistics on an overhead transparency.
B) He should have compared the statistics to something the audience knows.
C) He should have repeated the statistics at least twice.
D) He should have made each statistic a main idea of the speech.
Answer: B
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Page 5
Chapter 4: Ethics and Free Speech
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Sample Questions
Q1) A speaker who is sensitive to and tolerant of differences does all of the following EXCEPT
A) avoids biased or offensive language.
B) learns about different beliefs and values.
C) listens to opposing viewpoints.
D) abandons his or her own convictions.
Q2) If you are speaking to an audience about filing their tax returns, and you attempt to convince listeners that they should find small ways to "get back at the government" by cheating on their income tax returns, you are violating a speaking ethic that expects speakers to
A) give the listener choices.
B) have a clear, responsible goal.
C) use sound evidence and reasoning.
D) acknowledge their sources.
Q3) Ethics are universal; all cultures hold the same basic, human ethics.
A)True
B)False
Q4) The First Amendment to the Constitution guarantees our freedom of speech. A)True
B)False
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Chapter 5: Listening
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Sample Questions
Q1) When listeners assign meaning to a message they are
A) selecting.
B) understanding.
C) attending.
D) remembering.
Q2) Arelational-oriented listener prefers a speaker who avoids emotion.
A)True
B)False
Q3) When you listen to empathize, you pay attention to both the nonverbal cues and the major ideas.
A)True
B)False
Q4) It's a good listening technique to try to mentally summarize the major idea that specific facts support.
A)True
B)False
Q5) Selecting, attending, understanding, and remembering are all a part of effective listening.
A)True
B)False
Page 7
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Chapter 6: Analyzing Your Audience
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Sample Questions
Q1) You're deciding on a speech topic, but need some information from your audience. Rather than asking them to divulge out loud their opinions on a couple of topics, you design a short questionnaire. The questionnaire asks whether a person agrees or disagrees with a series of statements regarding various topics. What form of survey are you using?
A) a close-ended, formal audience analysis survey
B) a close-ended, informal audience analysis survey
C) an open-ended, formal audience analysis survey
D) an open-ended, informal audience analysis survey
Q2) Aperson's gender is determined by the anatomy, female or male, with which that person is born.
A)True
B)False
Q3) Socioeconomic status is NOT a relevant factor in demographic audience analysis.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Values are more deeply ingrained than attitudes or beliefs and are therefore more difficult to change.
A)True
B)False
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Chapter 7: Adapting to Your Audience as You Speak
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Sample Questions
Q1) All of the following are ways to customize your message to your audience EXCEPT
A) using audience members' names to relate information to specific people.
B) referring to a significant event that happened on the date of your speech.
C) referring to a recent or local news event.
D) avoiding mention of specific groups or organizations.
Q2) John is a national political candidate speaking to a local audience. He should customize his standard speech to include mention of the local community.
A)True
B)False
Q3) People from _____ cultures will NOT enjoy a consensus-seeking discussion, and will prefer that you clearly establish your credibility.
A) high-power
B) high-context
C) low-power
D) low-context
Q4) Audience diversity refers to only the ethnicity and cultural background of audience members.
A)True
B)False
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Chapter 8: Developing Your Speech
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Sample Questions
Q1) During your speech, you ask the audience to sign a petition increasing the amount of student parking areas. The general goal of the speech is to
A) to persuade.
B) to entertain.
C) to castigate.
D) to inform.
Q2) Acentral idea can be worded as a phrase or a question.
A)True
B)False
Q3) When starting with a broad speech topic such as "basketball," it is necessary to narrow it down because
A) speeches on sports-related topics should be much briefer.
B) your audience may get bored with the topic unless they are interested in sports.
C) it will require less time to research.
D) it needs to fit within the time limits of your speech.
Q4) Brainstorming involves dividing your central idea into logical divisions.
A)True
B)False
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Chapter 9: Gathering Supporting Material
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Sample Questions
Q1) The domain of an educational Web site is usually .edu.
A)True
B)False
Q2) It is essential to evaluate Web resources before using them for speech research.
A)True
B)False
Q3) The purpose of a commercial Web site is to advocate a group's point of view.
A)True
B)False
Q4) The Internet's primary delivery system is known as
A) a database.
B) the World Wide Web.
C) Web directories.
D) a search engine.
Q5) What resource would you use in order to conduct a Boolean search?
A) a periodical index
B) the Internet
C) a knowledgeable expert
D) a specialized encyclopedia
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Chapter 10: Supporting Your Speech
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Sample Questions
Q1) The more experts who support your viewpoint and the larger the numbers you cite, reflect a principle within selecting the BEST supporting material known as A) magnitude.
B) variety.
C) proximity.
D) suitability.
Q2) The most authoritative source for statistics is the primary source. A)True
B)False
Q3) Jimmy wants to use a literary quotation as supporting material in his speech on great presidents of the twentieth century. The BEST advice for him is to A) keep the quote brief.
B) make sure it is long and important.
C) say "quote" and "unquote."
D) try to find quotes that are new to the audience.
Q4) Both analogies and definitions deal with relationships and comparisons. A)True
B)False
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Page 12
Chapter 11: Organizing Your Speech
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Sample Questions
Q1) Stating a problem and then discussing its causes pertains most directly to the problem-solution pattern of arranging points.
A)True
B)False
Q2) Deanna makes the claim in her persuasive speech that unregulated car emissions in major urban areas worldwide contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer, which contributes to global warming. Which typeof organizational pattern is reflected in this example?
A) problem-solution
B) spatial
C) topical
D) cause-effect
Q3) Specificity means that you can organize your supporting material either from general to specific or from specific to general.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Most cultures tend to organize and process information in a linear pattern.
A)True
B)False
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Chapter 12: Developing an Introduction
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Sample Questions
Q1) The final step in an introduction is to provide your audience with an overview of your speech. This step is known as
A) a summary.
B) an explanation.
C) a specific purpose.
D) a preview.
Q2) The purpose of a personal reference is to establish the speaker's authority over the audience.
A)True
B)False
Q3) A speech introduction that begins with, "Did you know that a light bulb has been invented that will last ten times as long as the ones we use today, but the government won't let it be marketed to thepublic?" is employing a device known as
A) a reference to a historical event.
B) a personal reference.
C) a startling statement.
D) an anecdote.
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Chapter 13: Developing a Conclusion
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Sample Questions
Q1) _____ lets the audience know the speech has ended.
A) Proximity
B) Accommodation
C) Closure
D) Recency
Q2) Alluding to the introduction in your conclusion will make your speech memorable and
A) motivate the audience to respond.
B) enhance your credibility.
C) invoke a sense of proximity.
D) leave your audience feeling completely satisfied.
Q3) In a persuasive speech, it is effective to make a final plea to get your audience to perform a specific action.
A)True
B)False
Q4) In order to provide the audience with a sense of closure, you should use
A) verbal and nonverbal signals.
B) a formal statement expressing your intent to provide closure.
C) the exact same closing line you used in your introduction.
D) a startling quote or statistic.
Page 15
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Chapter 14: Outlining and Revising Your Speech
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Sample Questions
Q1) Writing down your main ideas, subpoints, and supporting material, then using geometric shapes and arrows to indicate logical relationships is a technique known as A) graphing.
B) mapping.
C) brainstorming.
D) laddering.
Q2) You should include your central idea in your speaking notes.
A)True
B)False
Q3) In a preparation outline, the blueprint should come immediately after the A) speech body.
B) central idea.
C) conclusion.
D) introduction.
Q4) When developing a preparation outline, you should write out everything EXCEPT A) directions for delivering your speech.
B) your specific purpose and a blueprint.
C) transitions and signposts.
D) your main ideas and all support.
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Chapter 15: Using Words Well
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Sample Questions
Q1) A speaker's ability to use shorter words and phrases demonstrates that oral style is _____ than written style.
A) less formal
B) less personal
C) more repetitious
D) less interesting
Q2) Which of the following is an example of sexist language?
A) member of Congress
B) server
C) chair
D) policeman
Q3) Denotative meanings of words often reside within the individual.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Asimile is an implied comparison.
A)True
B)False
Q5) Sexist language is always a direct and intentional form of discrimination.
A)True
B)False
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Chapter 16: Methods of Delivery
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Sample Questions
Q1) One disadvantage of memorized is speaking is that you can't make on-the-spot adaptations to your audience.
A)True
B)False
Q2) What is one advantage of memorized speaking?
A) most natural delivery style
B) easiest for most speakers to do well
C) maximum eye contact with audience
D) best technique for persuasive speaking
Q3) Memorized speaking rarely sounds stiff, stilted, and overrehearsed.
A)True
B)False
Q4) In which of the following situations is the memorized speaking style acceptable?
A) during an emergency that requires precise wording
B) when you want to appear natural and conversational
C) when your speech doesn't require a strict organizational style
D) when you are accepting an award
Q5) An impromptu speech does not have to be organized.
A)True
B)False
18
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Chapter 17: Nonverbal Communication
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Sample Questions
Q1) The minister pounds his fist on the podium when he says the words "sin" and "evil." What function does this form of nonverbal communication serve?
A) regulating
B) complementing
C) emphasizing
D) contradicting
Q2) You can never use too many gestures in a speech.
A)True
B)False
Q3) Standing in front of an audience with one hand on your hip is a problem gesture termed
A) "parade rest."
B) "broken wing."
C) "don't worry, Ma."
D) "the fig leaf clutch."
Q4) If the audience focuses on your movement rather than on what you are saying, it is better to stand still.
A)True
B)False
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Chapter 18: Verbal Communication
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Sample Questions
Q1) All of the following are guidelines for rehearsing your speech EXCEPT
A) if possible, record audio or video of your rehearsals.
B) finish drafting your speech outline at least five hours before your speech performance.
C) practice your speech aloud to determine where you will need notes to prompt yourself.
D) present your speech to someone else so you can practice eye contact.
Q2) You should rehearse your speech standing up so you can get a feel for your use of gestures as well as your vocal delivery.
A)True
B)False
Q3) Audio or video recording your speech rehearsal is NOT effective in improving your final speech performance.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Most speakers average between 120 and 180 words per minute.
A)True
B)False
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Page 20
Chapter 19: Adapting and Delivering Your Speech
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Sample Questions
Q1) Yvonne was really nervous about her upcoming speech. On the day of the speech, she arrived early, used mental and physical relaxation techniques, and felt like she knew the speech. But all she couldthinkabout was how the audience wouldn't laugh at her funny moments in the speech and how the applause would be weak and disappointing. What tip for reducing delivery jitters that your textbook advises did Yvonne ignore?
A) Yvonne forgot to visualize her success; instead she visualized her failure.
B) Yvonne obviously did not know her speech as well as she could have or else she would have been in control of her nerves.
C) A speaker should never arrive early for a speaking engagement; the tension of waiting around to deliver the speech will only add to the speaker's nervousness.
D) Yvonne didn't ignore any tips regarding delivery jitters; this kind of speaker nervousness is natural and to be expected.
Q2) According to the text, it is wise to avoid ________ before speaking.
A) caffeine
B) carbohydrates
C) milk products
D) sugar
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Page 21
Chapter 20: Selecting Presentation Aids
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Sample Questions
Q1) Clip art consists of images that are either in printed form or stored as electronic images in a computer file.
A)True
B)False
Q2) Jennifer was giving a speech about date rape and wanted to use the statistic, "66% of all college women experience date rape while they are in college." To best demonstrate this figure, she can use all ofthe following EXCEPT
A) a line graph.
B) a drawing.
C) a pie chart.
D) a bar graph.
Q3) Which type of fonts should you use for titles?
A) serif fonts
B) sans serif fonts
C) script fonts
D) soft fonts
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Chapter 21: Preparing and Using Presentation Aids
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Sample Questions
Q1) It is perfectly acceptable to have an assistant help you with presentation aids during your speech.
A)True
B)False
Q2) Which of the following statements about preparing presentation aids is TRUE?
A) Use a great variety of dramatic colors throughout the presentation.
B) Decorative typefaces are usually the best choice.
C) Limit text to key words or phrases.
D) Avoid using a black and white color scheme.
Q3) Keeping backup supplies is a good way to avoid unexpected problems with your visual aids.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Some presentation aids speak for themselves, you don't need to explain them.
A)True
B)False
Q5) If you're competent using a computer, you really don't need to practice out loud with your PowerPoint.
A)True
B)False
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Chapter 22: Informative Speaking
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Sample Questions
Q1) A speech about procedures reviews how something works or describes a process.
A)True
B)False
Q2) In order to select and narrow your informative topic, you need to determine two things about your audience right away. What are those two things?
A) their level of knowledge about and interest in your topic
B) their personal experience with public speaking and their personal experience with your topic
C) their preferred learning style and their age
D) their age and socioeconomic status
Q3) Just like writers, it is seldom necessary for a speaker to repeat himself or herself, thus, redundancy should be avoided.
A)True
B)False
Q4) When informing your listeners about complex processes, the BEST approach is just to define and explain them.
A)True
B)False
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Chapter 23: Understanding Principles of Persuasive Speaking
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Sample Questions
Q1) An enduring conception of right or wrong, good or bad is a A) belief.
B) reason.
C) value.
D) attitude.
Q2) Appealing to a social need to persuade is effective because it reflects the desire to feel good about ourselves.
A)True
B)False
Q3) One common audience member response to cognitive dissonance is to simply stop listening to the speaker.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Britt's central idea was to persuade her audience to consider voting for an antismoking bill in the community. She was using what type of proposition?
A) a proposition of fact
B) a proposition of action
C) a proposition of value
D) a proposition of policy
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Chapter 24: Using Persuasive Strategies
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Sample Questions
Q1) Derived credibility refers to that which a speaker achieves after presenting a speech.
A)True
B)False
Q2) What is the first step in the motivated sequence?
A) establish need
B) grab attention
C) identify solution
D) identify action
Q3) If you reason deductively, you need evidence to document the truth of your initial generalization.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Speakers from the United States typically use factual inductive reasoning; they identify specific facts and use them to support a general proposition or conclusion.
A)True
B)False
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Chapter 25: Speaking on Special Occasions
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Sample Questions
Q1) When you make a speech placing someone's name in nomination for an office or award, what should you be sure to mention?
A) the nominee's qualifications for this award or office
B) funny stories that might be associated with the nominee
C) the history and significance of the award or office
D) past winners or office-holders that are in the audience
Q2) A special-occasion speech in which one of your goals is to build another speaker's credibility is
A) a speech of introduction.
B) a commemorative address.
C) an annual report.
D) a public-relations talk.
Q3) In a public relations presentation, the speaker should anticipate and prepare for criticism by
A) explaining more carefully the organization's plan.
B) ignoring any objections, and just remaining positive.
C) suggesting and countering potential problems or objections.
D) defending the position of the organization.
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Chapter 26: Speaking in Small Groups
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Sample Questions
Q1) A group leader who is objective, encourages group discussions and decisions, and guides when necessary is
A) a laissez faire leader.
B) a transformational leader.
C) an authoritarian leader.
D) a democratic leader.
Q2) Analysis is a process of examining the causes, effects, symptoms, history, and other background information that will help a group eventually reach a solution.
A)True
B)False
Q3) In a _____ format the group answers audience questions with short impromptu speeches.
A) panel
B) symposium
C) meeting
D) forum
Q4) Reflective thinking is John Dewey's five-step method of problem solving.
A)True
B)False
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