DESIGNING AND DELIVERING ORAL AND ONLINE PRESENTATIONS

Multiple Choice

1. Speeches and oral presentations are much like any other messages in that

a. they require similar planning.

b. the size of the groups to which they are delivered is similar.

c. the interaction between the audience and speaker is similar.

d. they deal with emotional or personal issues to a similar extent.

2. When you prepare a speech or presentation, your first step involves

a. analyzing the situation

b. choosing the right words.

c. planning the content, length, and style of your speech or presentation.

d. doing all of the above

3. The two most common purposes of business presentations are to

a. analyze and synthesize.

b. regulate and validate.

c. inform and persuade.

d. illustrate and entertain.

4. One of the steps in analyzing your audience is tO

a. determine whether your audience is comfortable listening to the language you speak.

b. remember to keep your speech or oral presentation short.

c. define your purpose.

d. prepare a detailed, informative outline.

5. Selecting the right medium for your presentation is

a. easy-you're simply giving a speech.

b. an important decision since technology offers a number of choices.

c. only an issue when addressing audiences from other cultures.

d. not something you need to think about early on.

6. When organizing a speech or presentation, your first step is to

a. develop an outline.

b. define the main idea.

c. write the introduction.

d. decide on the delivery style.

7. The best way to clarify your main idea in a presentation is to

a. provide a lengthy handout for your audience to review during your presentation.

b. describe it using jargon and complicated language to emphasize its importance.

c. develop a single sentence that links your subject and purpose to your audience's frame of reference.

d. allow your audience to gradually figure it out on their own.

8. For business presentations, time restraints are usually

a. rigid, permitting little or no flexibility.

b. meaningless-audiences expect presenters to take a little more time than they're allotted.

c. imposed only on lower-level employees.

d. not important if you are presenting to your colleagues.

9. When using electronic slides, try to average one slide for

a. each minute you speak.

b. every 3 minutes you speak.

c. every 7 minutes you speak.

d. every 10 minutes you speak.

10. The average speaker talks at a rate of about

a. 50 words a minute.

b. 10 double-spaced pages an hour.

c. 2,000 words an hour.

d. 125 to 150 words per minute.

11. If you have 10 minutes or less to deliver a presentation

a. speak as quickly as you possibly can.

b. limit yourself to four or five main points.

c. you can assume your audience is already interested.

d. organize your presentation as you would a brief written message.

12. Longer speeches and presentations are organized like

a. reports.

b. memos.

c. letters.

d. e-mail messages.

13. When organizing a speech, use the indirect order if your purpose is to

a. entertain and the audience is resistant.

b. motivate and the audience is receptive.

c. persuade and the audience is resistant.

d. inform and the audience is receptive.

14. When preparing an outline for your speech, keep in mind that

a. it can serve as the foundation of your speaking notes.

b. you should keep each item to two- to three-word descriptions of what you will say.

c. you can leave out all transitions.

d. this is not the place to include "stage directions."

15. To reduce the formality of a talk

a. deliver your remarks in a conversational tone.

b. use a large room.

c. seat the audience in rows.

d. do all of the above.

16. Formal speeches differ from informal ones in that

a. formal speeches always include obscure, unfamiliar vocabulary.

b. formal speeches are always much longer.

c. formal speeches are often delivered from a stage or platform.

d. all of the above are the case.

17. In the introduction to your speech, it is important to

a. discuss the three or four main points on your outline.

b. establish credibility.

c. ask for audience input.

d. boast about your qualifications.

18. As a speaker, how you go about establishing credibility depends in part on

a. your relationship with the audience.

b. whether or not you are a well-known expert in the subject matter.

c. whether you will introduce yourself or have someone else introduce you.

d. all of the above.

19. To arouse interest at the start of a speech, whether it's serious or light,

a. always start things off with a joke.

b. encourage the audience to take your subject personally.

c. tease the audience by not mentioning specifically what you'll be talking about.

d. do none of the above.

20. "Now that we've reviewed the problem, let's take a look at some solutions" is an example of

a. a poor transition.

b. a good transition between major sections of a speech.

c. a small link between sentences or paragraphs in a speech.

d. the kind of wording that should never appear in a speech