Test Bank Chapter 4 Connecting Through Verbal Communication

Chapter 4: Connecting through Verbal Communication

Multiple Choice

1. Language can best be described as __________.
2. universal in meaning
3. subjective
4. unimportant to perception
5. neutral

Learning Objective: 4.1 Assess the power of language in communication events and our lives.

Topic: The Power of Language

Difficulty Level: Easy

Skill Level: Remember the Facts

1. Words can represent people, objects, concepts and events—although the words are not actually the items. This shows that language is __________.
2. always abstract
3. always concrete
4. a system of symbols
5. an unstructured system

Learning Objective: 4.1 Assess the power of language in communication events and our lives.

Topic: The Power of Language

Difficulty Level: Easy

Skill Level: Remember the Facts

1. When he reported to work at the construction site, Arnie was shocked to see that many of his new coworkers were female. To him, "construction worker" only referred to men. Arnie's perception is an example of what power of language?
2. to create bias
3. to unify meaning
4. to share thoughts and feelings
5. to make connections

Learning Objective: 4.1 Assess the power of language in communication events and our lives.

Topic: The Power of Language

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

1. Most of us are born with which language ability?
2. to form words
3. to make speech sounds
4. to understand meaning
5. to create sentences

Learning Objective: 4.2 Use the elements of language (sounds, words, grammar, and meaning) in effective communication.

Topic: The Elements of Language

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

1. There is a difference between the word “book” and the actual object, because “book” is just a word used to name the object and is not the actual thing. This shows that language is __________.
2. systemic
3. universal
4. symbolic
5. concrete

Learning Objective: 4.2 Use the elements of language (sounds, words, grammar, and meaning) in effective communication.

Topic: The Elements of Language

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

1. When your political science professor says, "The topic of immigration is a real hot potato!" some students in the class are confused about her meaning, as this is an example of __________.
2. jargon
3. poor grammar
4. a euphemism
5. an idiom

Learning Objective: 4.2 Use the elements of language (sounds, words, grammar, and meaning) in effective communication.

Topic: The Elements of Language

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

1. The study of meaning, or the association of words with ideas, feelings, and context, is known as __________.
2. noise
3. kinesics
4. semantics
5. grammar

Learning Objective: 4.2 Use the elements of language (sounds, words, grammar, and meaning) in effective communication.

Topic: The Elements of Language

Difficulty Level: Easy

Skill Level: Remember the Facts

1. At the most basic level, meanings derive from __________.
2. people
3. words
4. sounds
5. dictionaries

Learning Objective: 4.2 Use the elements of language (sounds, words, grammar, and meaning) in effective communication.

Topic: The Elements of Language

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

1. Words have only one precise meaning analogous to a standard dictionary definition. This statement illustrates what type of meaning?
2. social meaning
3. denotative meaning
4. cultural meaning
5. connotative meaning

Learning Objective: 4.2 Use the elements of language (sounds, words, grammar, and meaning) in effective communication.

Topic: The Elements of Language

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

1. When Beatrice and Cara heard someone talking about a professor with a really traditional perspective, Beatrice found this to be a positive attribute, while Cara found it to be a negative one. This difference in perception is an example of __________.
2. concreteness
3. abstraction
4. denotation
5. connotation

Learning Objective: 4.2 Use the elements of language (sounds, words, grammar, and meaning) in effective communication.

Topic: The Elements of Language

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

1. Which term is the most abstract?
2. beauty
3. flower
4. rose
5. bouquet

Learning Objective: 4.2 Use the elements of language (sounds, words, grammar, and meaning) in effective communication.

Topic: The Elements of Language

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

1. Word meanings become __________ when they refer to a specific person, place, or thing.
2. more abstract
3. vague
4. more concrete
5. intangible

Learning Objective: 4.2 Use the elements of language (sounds, words, grammar, and meaning) in effective communication.

Topic: The Elements of Language

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

1. If a candidate describes her proposed tax increase as a “positive economic inducement,” she is most likely using __________.
2. slang
3. jargon
4. analogy
5. doublespeak

Learning Objective: 4.2 Use the elements of language (sounds, words, grammar, and meaning) in effective communication.

Topic: The Elements of Language

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

1. Words that are used within a co-culture to obscure meaning and tend to change frequently can usually be categorized as __________.
2. jargon
3. slang
4. euphemisms
5. doublespeak

Learning Objective: 4.2 Use the elements of language (sounds, words, grammar, and meaning) in effective communication.

Topic: The Elements of Language

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

1. When Boyd says to his partner, "I'm ready to move forward with our relationship," he means dating exclusively, but his partner thinks he means moving in together. This exchange illustrates what communication barrier?
2. indexing
3. bypassing
4. inference
5. polarization

Learning Objective: 4.3 Explain how language can create barriers to effective communication.

Topic: Language-Based Barriers to Communication

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

1. The professor introduced the discussion by saying “Today's lecture will examine terrorism in the United States in the early 20th century.” What technique did he used to add specificity?
2. dating
3. connotation
4. bypassing
5. indiscrimination

Learning Objective: 4.3 Explain how language can create barriers to effective communication.

Topic: Language-Based Barriers to Communication

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

1. Laura asks her friend Analia, “Do you love or hate our communication professor?” This statement most clearly illustrates __________.
2. indexing
3. polarization
4. bypassing
5. metaphorical language

Learning Objective: 4.3 Explain how language can create barriers to effective communication.

Topic: Language-Based Barriers to Communication

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

1. The pendulum effect refers to the destructive and escalating aspects of __________.
2. abstraction
3. indexing
4. polarization
5. doublespeak

Learning Objective: 4.3 Explain how language can create barriers to effective communication.

Topic: Language-Based Barriers to Communication

Difficulty Level: Easy

Skill Level: Remember the Facts

1. Psychologist Deborah Tannen indicates that men tend to use language to __________ while women tend to use language to __________.
2. divert attention; gain attention
3. assert status; maintain social relationships
4. hide problems; establish control
5. create harmony; foster dissent

Learning Objective: 4.3 Explain how language can create barriers to effective communication.

Topic: Language-Based Barriers to Communication

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

1. The goal for competent communicators should be to use language that is __________.
2. gender-inclusive
3. gender-exclusive
4. masculinized
5. feminized

Learning Objective: 4.3 Explain how language can create barriers to effective communication.

Topic: Language-Based Barriers to Communication

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

1. Sexist language can usually be characterized as __________.
2. gender neutral
3. stereotypical
4. inclusive
5. homophobic

Learning Objective: 4.3 Explain how language can create barriers to effective communication.

Topic: Language-Based Barriers to Communication

Difficulty Level: Easy

Skill Level: Remember the Facts

1. When an individual purposefully chooses to use homophobic language, the intent is to __________.
2. hide any bias
3. demonstrate sensitivity
4. reduce indiscrimination
5. denigrate or devalue someone

Learning Objective: 4.3 Explain how language can create barriers to effective communication.

Topic: Language-Based Barriers to Communication

Difficulty Level: Easy

Skill Level: Remember the Facts

1. When anthropologist Edward T. Hall asserted “all people are captives of the language they speak,” he was referring to the role of __________ in language use.
2. emotion
3. culture
4. grammar
5. stereotypes

Learning Objective: 4.3 Explain how language can create barriers to effective communication.

Topic: Language-Based Barriers to Communication

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

1. What does the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis assert regarding language?
2. The language one speaks affects how one thinks.
3. Status, language, and power are clearly linked.
4. Language allows us to share our thoughts with others.
5. Each language has its own grammatical rules.

Learning Objective: 4.3 Explain how language can create barriers to effective communication.

Topic: Language-Based Barriers to Communication

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

1. Who does communication scholar Cheris Kramerae identify as muted groups within U.S. society?
2. the deaf and hard of hearing
3. government officials
4. the poor, women, people with disabilities, seniors, gays, blacks, Hispanics
5. dissenters and activists

Learning Objective: 4.3 Explain how language can create barriers to effective communication.

Topic: Language-Based Barriers to Communication

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

1. Individuals who use code-switching are concerned with __________.
2. utilizing appropriate and effective language
3. hiding the meaning of their words
4. showing off their unique language skills
5. increasing communication barriers between groups of people

Learning Objective: 4.3 Explain how language can create barriers to effective communication.

Topic: Language-Based Barriers to Communication

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

1. When individuals move between the language used by their co-culture and the dominant culture’s language, it is known as __________.
2. doublespeak
3. style-switching
4. jargon
5. metaphorical speaking

Learning Objective: 4.3 Explain how language can create barriers to effective communication.

Topic: Language-Based Barriers to Communication

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

1. Because some in the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender communities do not identify with any gender labels, use of such terms is not always appropriate. Instead, you should __________.
2. always avoid using identifying language
3. honor a person's wishes regarding use of the pronouns he or she
4. select the best pronoun based on biological gender
5. take your cues from the language of others

Learning Objective: 4.3 Explain how language can create barriers to effective communication.

Topic: Language-Based Barriers to Communication

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

1. Muted group theory suggests we must consider which concept when communicating?
2. Status and power are equal among all people.
3. Language is not an indication of status.
4. Language provides power to underrepresented groups.
5. Status and power are linked.

Learning Objective: 4.3 Explain how language can create barriers to effective communication.

Topic: Language-Based Barriers to Communication

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

1. In the United States, we are guaranteed the right to freedom of speech and freedom of the press. This right is granted to us by __________.
2. the First Amendment
3. the Second Amendment
4. the Fifth Amendment
5. the Tenth Amendment

Learning Objective: 4.4 Illustrate the impact of social influences on language.

Topic: Language and Social Influences

Difficulty Level: Easy

Skill Level: Remember the Facts

1. The increasing use of Reddit, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Pinterest, Facebook Twitter, and other social media outlets is most likely to __________.
2. eliminate our need for face-to-face communication
3. decrease people's responses to the issues of the day
4. enhance awareness of personal, social, and political issues
5. increase agreement between all kinds of communicators

Learning Objective: 4.4 Illustrate the impact of social influences on language.

Topic: Language and Social Influences

Difficulty Level: Easy

Skill Level: Remember the Facts

1. Sam was talking to Juan about a teacher, and said, “My teacher is out to lunch!” Juan wasn’t sure if Sam meant that the teacher was eating a meal, was unfair, was odd, or something else. Juan would have better understood Sam’s message if Sam had been more __________.
2. vivid
3. appropriate
4. accurate
5. colorful

Learning Objective: 4.5 Describe how accurate, vivid, immediate, and appropriate language can help

you be a more effective communicator.

Topic: How to Use Language Effectively

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

1. What communication strategy is most likely to result in reduced message clarity?
2. use of poor sentence structure
3. use of short words
4. use of vivid language
5. use of common words

Learning Objective: 4.5 Describe how accurate, vivid, immediate, and appropriate language can help

you be a more effective communicator.

Topic: How to Use Language Effectively

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

1. People tend to listen to __________ messages most attentively.
2. uninspiring
3. accurate
4. uninteresting
5. vivid

Learning Objective: 4.5 Describe how accurate, vivid, immediate, and appropriate language can help

you be a more effective communicator.

Topic: How to Use Language Effectively

Difficulty Level: Easy

Skill Level: Remember the Facts

1. Language that is direct, fresh, and conveyed in the active voice brings excitement and urgency to a message. This quality is referred to as __________.
2. accuracy
3. immediacy
4. vividness
5. appropriateness

Learning Objective: 4.5 Describe how accurate, vivid, immediate, and appropriate language can help

you be a more effective communicator.

Topic: How to Use Language Effectively

Difficulty Level: Easy

Skill Level: Remember the Facts

1. Tamika feels her audience is unaware of the health risks associated with living near high-voltage power lines. She wants to make her message regarding this danger relevant to her listeners. In this speaking situation, Tamika should increase her use of __________.
2. verbal immediacy
3. common words
4. formal language
5. metaphorical language

Learning Objective: 4.5 Describe how accurate, vivid, immediate, and appropriate language can help

you be a more effective communicator.

Topic: How to Use Language Effectively

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

1. A speech using the elements of effective language would include __________.
2. clichés
3. active verbs
4. scrambled sentence structure
5. distant tone

Learning Objective: 4.5 Describe how accurate, vivid, immediate, and appropriate language can help you be a more effective communicator.

Topic: How to Use Language Effectively

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

1. What type of language is usually the most appropriate for public speaking situations?
2. formal
3. stilted
4. natural
5. slang

Learning Objective: 4.5 Describe how accurate, vivid, immediate, and appropriate language can help

you be a more effective communicator.

Topic: How to Use Language Effectively

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

1. Which descriptive phrase is an example of a metaphor?
2. Joe's hat is bright red.
3. Joe is an early bird.
4. Joe is smiling ear to ear.
5. Joe is blind without his glasses.

Learning Objective: 4.5 Describe how accurate, vivid, immediate, and appropriate language can help

you be a more effective communicator.

Topic: How to Use Language Effectively

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

1. Which statement is correct about metaphorical language?
2. It links two closely associated terms.
3. It is a direct comparison using "like" or "as."
4. It is culture bound.
5. It is not commonly used.

Learning Objective: 4.5 Describe how accurate, vivid, immediate, and appropriate language can help

you be a more effective communicator.

Topic: How to Use Language Effectively

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

Essay Questions

1. Define the terms "language" and "words." How do we use these to create meaning?

Learning Objective: 4.2 Use the elements of language (sounds, words, grammar, and meaning) in effective communication.

Topic: The Elements of Language

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

1. Discuss the difference between connotative and denotative meanings. Provide examples that demonstrate these concepts.

Learning Objective: 4.2 Use the elements of language (sounds, words, grammar, and meaning) in effective communication.

Topic: The Elements of Language

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

1. Consider the difference between concrete and abstract terms. First define these concepts, and then select a term and develop an accompanying ladder of abstraction with at least five levels.

Learning Objective: 4.2 Use the elements of language (sounds, words, grammar, and meaning) in effective communication.

Topic: The Elements of Language

Difficulty Level: Difficult

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

1. Describe euphemisms and doublespeak. How are these used to obscure meaning?

Learning Objective: 4.2 Use the elements of language (sounds, words, grammar, and meaning) in effective communication.

Topic: The Elements of Language

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

1. Briefly discuss the concept of bypassing. What strategies can be used to reduce it?

Learning Objective: 4.3 Explain how language can create barriers to effective communication.

Topic: Language-Based Barriers to Communication

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

1. What is polarization? Why does it create a barrier to communication? What examples of polarization have you experienced or read about?

Learning Objective: 4.3 Explain how language can create barriers to effective communication.

Topic: Language-Based Barriers to Communication

Difficulty Level: Difficult

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

1. Does language shape our expectations about male and female roles in society? How does this affect the communication process?

Learning Objective: 4.3 Explain how language can create barriers to effective communication.

Topic: Language-Based Barriers to Communication

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

1. What two simple steps can everyone use to improve communication with someone from a different culture?

Learning Objective: 4.3 Explain how language can create barriers to effective communication.

Topic: Language-Based Barriers to Communication

Difficulty Level: Easy

Skill Level: Remember the Facts

1. Why is the use of accurate language critical to speakers? How can you improve your language accuracy?

Learning Objective: 4.5 Describe how accurate, vivid, immediate, and appropriate language can help

you be a more effective communicator.

Topic: How to Use Language Effectively

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

1. What is verbal immediacy? How does it enhance communication?

Learning Objective: 4.5 Describe how accurate, vivid, immediate, and appropriate language can help

you be a more effective communicator.

Topic: How to Use Language Effectively

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts