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Public Speaking for College and Career, 6/e
Hamilton Gregory

Selecting Topic, Purpose, and Central Idea

Multiple Choice Quiz



1

"To inform my audience about the dangers of 'space junk' that orbits the earth" is an example of a
A)central idea.
B)topic.
C)general purpose.
D)specific purpose.
2

What is the name for the technique of generating many ideas quickly and uncritically?
A)creative listmaking
B)brainstorming
C)inspired thinking
D)stimulated generation
3

For finding a good speech topic, which one of the following did the text NOT recommend?
A)Make a decision based on whether the topic will seem important to the instructor.
B)Comb through your personal experiences.
C)Investigate an issue about which you are curious to know more.
D)Search for interesting subjects on the Internet.
4

For a five-minute classroom speech, the topic "Natural Disasters in the Western Hemisphere" would be
A)too narrow.
B)manageable.
C)too broad.
5

"Life with a domineering cat and a neurotic dog" is a topic appropriate for which type of speech?
A)inspirational
B)informative
C)persuasive
D)entertaining
6

"A parent who reneges on child-support payments should be forced to pay or be sent to prison" is a topic appropriate for which type of speech?
A)inspirational
B)informative
C)persuasive
D)entertaining
7

What is the term for the precise goal that a speaker wants to achieve?
A)specific purpose
B)central idea
C)infinitive
D)target
8

The text advises that you begin purpose statements with an infinitive. Which one of the following follows this advice?
A)"How the pyramids in Egypt were constructed."
B)"Explain to my audience how the pyramids in Egypt were constructed."
C)"To explain to my audience how the pyramids in Egypt were constructed."
D)"Explaining to my audience how the pyramids in Egypt were constructed."
9

The text advises that a specific purpose statement should include a reference to the audience. Which one of the following follows this advice?
A)"To convince my listeners that international action should be taken to prevent poachers from slaughtering elephants."
B)"To make a case that international action should be taken to prevent poachers from slaughtering elephants."
C)"To argue that international action should be taken to prevent poachers from slaughtering elephants."
D)"To persuade that international action should be taken to prevent poachers from slaughtering elephants."
10

Which rule given in the text is violated by this statement for a classroom speech: "To explain to my listeners the chemical composition of vegetable oils."
A)Make your statement as precise as possible.
B)Don't be too technical.
C)Limit the statement to one major idea.
D)Begin the statement with an infinitive.
11

"To dazzle my boss with my presentation skills" is cited by the text as an example of
A)knowing your audience.
B)striving for excellence.
C)selfish motives.
D)hidden purpose.
12

Which one of the following items is the central idea?
A)Hypnosis
B)To inform
C)To explain to my listeners how hypnosis is being used in modern medicine.
D)Hypnosis is being used to relieve pain in cancer patients, burn victims, and backache sufferers.
13

Which one of the following is NOT a synonym for central idea?
A)specific purpose
B)core idea
C)controlling statement
D)thesis sentence
14

Which one of the following guidelines does the text suggest for creating the central idea of a speech?
A)Express the central idea in no more than three sentences.
B)Let the central idea control only the introduction of the speech.
C)Limit each speech to only one central idea.
D)Have the central idea announce your topic.
15

In the textbook's overview of a typical plan for a speech, which one of the following is considered a planning tool-not part of the speech itself?
A)transition
B)objectives
C)body
D)conclusion