ATestBankPartIIChapterSelectingaTopicandPurpose

Chapter 4 Selecting a Topic and a PurposeTrue-False Questions

Students are to indicate whether each of the following statements is true or false by circling the appropriate letter.

Multiple Choice Questions

Students are to indicate the best answer for each question by circling the correct letter.1.Which of the following people is likely to give a speech oncurriculum and textbooksa.The head of a travel agency.b.The real estate agent.c.The movie director.

d.The middle-school principal.

2.Most people speak best about subjects __________.a.in which they are most interestedb.with which they are most familiarc.about which they are most curiousd.at which they are most surprised

3.For __________ speeches, you can think of subjects about which

you hold strong opinions and beliefs.a.persuasive

http://www.doczj.com/doc/4044cfb0bf23482fb4daa58da0116c175e0e1ed7.html rmativehttp://www.doczj.com/doc/4044cfb0bf23482fb4daa58da0116c175e0e1ed7.html memoratived.introductory

4.If you are having trouble selecting a topic, there are a numberof __________ procedures you can follow to get started.a.creativeb.regularc.identifyingd.brainstorming

5.If personal inventory doesn’t work, try a technique called__________.a.groupingb.clusteringc.categorizingd.classifying

6.Which of the following topic ideas is NOT likely to be includedin the sublist for Three Gorgesa.Academy Awards.b.Yangtze River.c.Chongqing.d.Mountains.

7.All of the following topic ideas are relevant to the categoryof plans and policies EXCEPT __________.a.Develop Solar Powerb.Cook Yunnan food

c.Change graduation Requirementsd.Build a New Computer Center

8.When your general purpose is to persuade, you act as __________.a.an advocate or a partisanb. a politician or a statesmanc.an academician or a researcherd. a marketer or an advertiser

9.All of the following specific purpose statements are effective

EXCEPT __________.

a.to inform my audience about recent discoveries of dinosaurfossils

b.to inform my audience that yoga is extremely cool

c.to persuade my audience that harsher penalties are needed toprevent the practices of fraudulent land developersd.to inform my audience about the scientific uses of hot-airballoons

10. Which of the following tips for specific purpose statementsis false

a.Write the purpose statement as a full infinitive phrase.b.Avoid figurative language in your purpose statement.c.Express your purpose as a question, not as a statement.d.Make sure your specific purpose is not too vague or general.11.No matter how well you construct your speeches, they are likelyto __________ unless you speak about matters of interest toyour listeners.a.fall flat

b.become offensivec.misleadd.be illogical

12.You should choose a specific purpose you can achieve __________.a.in no more than an hourb.in the allotted timec.in the least possible timed.in no less than 10 minutes

13.A six-minute speech will consist of roughly __________ words.a.120 to 150b.300 to 350c.520 to 800d.720 to 900

14.Which of the following specific purpose statements is NOTlikely to be handled well in the time allotted for classroom speechesa.To inform my audience about the rise and fall of ancient Rome.b.To persuade my audience to convert to vegetarianism.

c.To inform my audience of the history, styles, and culturalimpact of qipao.

d.To inform my audience about the role of technology in Chinesehistory.

15.Which of the following tips for central idea is falsea.Make sure the central idea is not too specific.b.Express the central idea as a full sentence.

c.State the central idea as a declarative sentence, not as aquestion.

d.Avoid figurative language in the central idea.

16.The central idea “Banning violent content on t elevision is agood idea” is considered ineffective because __________.a.it is not a full sentenceb.it is a questionc.it is too general

d.it includes figurative language

17.According to your textbook, brainstorming is especially helpfulwhen you are having trouble __________.a.determining the general purposeb.determining the specific purposec.phrasing the central idead.choosing a speech topic

18.After choosing a topic, what is the next step of speechpreparation

a.Phrasing the central idea.b.Analyzing the occasion.

c.Determining the general purpose.d.Selecting the specific purpose.

http://www.doczj.com/doc/4044cfb0bf23482fb4daa58da0116c175e0e1ed7.html ing Yahoo or other subject-based searchengines on the

Internet is recommended in your textbook as one method of__________ for a speech topic.a.siftingb.consultingc.brainstorming

d.deliberating

20.Which of the following is out of place in a speech to informa.Advocating.b.Explaining.c.Reporting.d.Telling.

21.When the general purpose of your speech is to __________, youact primarily as a teacher or lecturer.a.convinceb.entertain

http://www.doczj.com/doc/4044cfb0bf23482fb4daa58da0116c175e0e1ed7.html rmd.persuade

22.Advocating a position is most appropriate when the generalpurpose of your speech is to __________.a.inspireb.persuadec.entertain

http://www.doczj.com/doc/4044cfb0bf23482fb4daa58da0116c175e0e1ed7.html rm23.“Improving personal relationships” is a poorly phrasedspecific purpose for a speech because it is __________.a.too technical for a classroom speech

b.written as a sentence rather than a declarative phrasec.written as a fragment rather than a full infinitive phrased.expressed in figurative language

24.“Knowing how to deal with stress” is a poorly phrasedspecific purpose for a classroom speech because it __________.a.is too technical

b.does not include a reference to the audiencec.contains figurative language

d.written as a sentence rather than a declarative phrase25.According to your textbook, what is the most important earlystep in the process of developing a successful speecha.Creating a preliminary bibliography.b.Researching for speech materials.c.Formulating the specific purpose.

d.Brainstorming for a central idea.

26.As a specific purpose statement, “To inform my audience aboutcomputer technology” is too __________.a.trivialb.broadc.technicald.detailed

27.“To inform my audience about the basic steps in carmaintenance and how to protect their investment with autoinsurance” is a poorly phrased specific purpose statement fora classroom speech because it __________.a.is too specific

b.contains figurative languagec.contains more than one distinct idea

d.is written as a statement instead of a question

28.“To inform about saving for retirement” is a poorly phrasedspecific purpose statement because it __________.a.is too specific

b.does not include a reference to the audiencec.contains figurative language

d.is written as a statement instead of a question

29.As a specific purpose statement, “To inform my audience aboutglobal warming” is too __________.a.scientificb.broadc.personald.detailed

30.Identify the flaw in the following specific purpose statement

for a classroom speech: “To inform my audience about the solar system.”a.It’s too shallow.b.It’s tooc.It’s too remote.d.It’s too impersonal.

31.Identify the flaw in the following specific purpose statement

for a classroom speech: “To inform my audience about the stock market.”

a.It’s too figurative.b.It’s too detailed.c.It’s too general.d.It’s too technical.

32.The specific purpose of Stephanie’s informative speech is “Toinform my audience about ballet.” Are there any flaws inStephanie’s specific purpose

a.Yes. Stephanie’s specific purpose is too broad.b.Yes. Stephanie’s specific purpose is too impersonal.c.Yes. Stephanie’s specific purpose is written as a statementrather than a question.

d.Yes. Stephanie’s specific purpose mentions her audience.

33.“To inform my audience about the three basic steps inpreventive medicine” is an example of a __________.a.specific purposeb.thesis statementc.central idead.general purpose

34.“To inform my audience about the symptoms, causes, andtreatment of chronic fatigue syndrome” is an example of a__________.a.thesis statementb.general purposec.specific purposed.main point

35.“To inform my audience how our local water treatment facilityensures th e safety of our drinking water” is an example of a__________.a.specific purposeb.transition statementc.general purposed.central idea

36.“To inform my audience about the four major elements in ropeclimbing” is an example of a __________.

a.speech topicb.general purposec.specific purposed.thesis statement

37.According to your textbook, “Getting an internship at a major

corporation requires a great deal of work, but the rewards are well worth the effort” is an example of a(n) __________.a.speech proposalb.specific purpose

http://www.doczj.com/doc/4044cfb0bf23482fb4daa58da0116c175e0e1ed7.html rmative thesisd.central idea

38.“The three main methods of harvesting trees in professionallogging are selective cutting, clear cutting, and row thinning”is an example of a __________.a.specific purposeb.transitionc.central idead.signpost

39.“The three major factors to consider when purchasing a bicycle

are the kind of riding you plan to do, the amount of riding you plan to do, and the amount of money you are willing to spend”is an example of a __________.a.specific purposeb.central ideac.general purposed.topic statement

40.Chang thinks he’d like to give an informative speech for classon what it’s like to be an international student on a .college campus. His specific purpose is “To persuade my

audience to be more accepting of international students.” His central idea is “An international student’s accent, use ofEnglish, and cultural customs should be accepted rather than criticized.” Has Chang made any mistakes in this processa.No. Chang has covered all the bases for an informativespeech.

b.Yes. Chan g’s specific purpose contains too much figurativelanguage.

c.Yes. Chang’s central idea contains two or more unrelatedideas.

d.Yes. Chang’s specific purpose is not suitable for an

informative speech.Short Answer Questions

1.The specific purpose is a single infinitive phrase that statesprecisely what a speaker hopes to accomplish in his or herspeech.

2. A one-sentence statement that sums up or encapsulates the majorideas of a speech is called the central idea.

3.List at least three questions you should ask about thesuitability of your specific purpose for your audience.a.b.c.

Possible answers include:

Does my purpose meet the assignment

Can I accomplish my purpose in the time allottedIs the purpose relevant to my audienceIs the purpose too trivial for my audienceIs the purpose too technical for my audience

4.Explain what is wrong with the following poorly written centralidea for a persuasive speech: “Some thing must be done aboutcybercrime.”

It is too general; it does not indicate what “must be done.”5.Explain what is wrong with the following poorly written centralidea for an informative speech: “How to tell fake antique crocks.”It is not written as a complete sentence.

6.Explain what is wrong with the following poorly written centralidea for an informative speech: “W hat are the major styles ofChinese silk embroidery”

It is written as a question, rather than as a statement.

7.Explain what is wrong with the following poorly written centralidea for a persuasive speech: “Graffiti artists are a publicnuisance.”

It is expressed with figurative language.

8.What is wrong with the following specific purpose statement for

an informative speech Rewrite the statement to conform with the criteria given in your textbook for effective specific purposestatements.

Ineffective

Specific Purpose: The major beliefs of the Buddhistreligion.

Error:It is written as a fragment, not as afull infinitive phrase.More Effective

Specific Purpose:To inform my audience about the majorbeliefs of the Buddhist religion.

9.What is wrong with the following specific purpose statement for

an informative speech Rewrite the statement to conform with the criteria given in your textbook for effective specific purposestatements.Ineffective

Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about World War II.Error:It is too vague or general; doesn’tindicate what specific aspects of WorldWar II will be dealt with in the speech.More Effective

Specific Purpose:To inform my audience about World War IIcausalities.

10.What is wrong with the following specific purpose statement fora persuasive speech Rewrite the statement to conform with thecriteria given in your textbook for effective specific purpose statements.Ineffective

Specific Purpose: What measures should be taken to reverserural brain drain

Error:It is written as a question, not as astatement.More Effective

Specific Purpose:To persuade my audience that threemeasures should be taken to reverserural brain drain.Essay Questions

1.Your textbook discusses four methods of brainstorming for a

speech topic. In a brief essay, identify and explain three of those methods.2.Why is determining the specific purpose such a vital step inthe process of preparing a speech

3.What is the difference between a specific purpose and a central

idea Illustrate your answer by developing a specific purpose statement and a central idea for a hypothetical speech about atopic of your choice.

4.What are the characteristics of a well-worded central ideaExplain why each characteristic is important.

5.Imagine that you have been asked to inform a local communitygroup about life as a college student. In a well-developed

essay, describe what your general purpose, specific purpose, and central idea would be for this speech. Then draft threemain points for a speech on this topic.