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Chapter 4 Selecting a Topic and a Purpose
True-False Questions
Students are to indicate whether each of the following statements is true or false by circling the appropriate letter. 1. T F Usually the speech topic is determined by the occasion, the audience, and the speaker’s qualifications. 2. T F There are three broad categories of potential topics. 3. T F If you started out free-associating from movies, you would doubtless end up somewhere completely different. 4. T F Usually general purpose will fall into one of two overlapping categories—to inform or to persuade. 5. T F Your specific purpose is not necessarily appropriate for your audience. 6. T F If you find that you can’t fulfill your specific purpose without relying on technical words and concepts, you should reconsider your purpose. 7. T F The central idea is what you hope to accomplish. 8. T F The central idea usually emerges after you have done your research and have decided on the main points. 9. T F The central idea should be expressed either as a full sentence or an infinitive phrase. 10. T F The characteristics that make a well-worded central idea are essentially the same things that make a well-worded specific purpose. 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 on curriculum and
textbooks?
a. 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 __________.
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a. in which they are most interested b. with which they are most familiar c. about which they are most curious d. at which they are most surprised
3. For __________ speeches, you can think of subjects about which you hold
strong opinions and beliefs. a. persuasive b. informative c. commemorative d. introductory 4. If you are having trouble selecting a topic, there are a number of
__________ procedures you can follow to get started. a. creative b. regular c. identifying d. brainstorming
5. If personal inventory doesn’t work, try a technique called __________.
a. grouping b. clustering c. categorizing d. classifying
6. Which of the following topic ideas is NOT likely to be included in the
sublist for Three Gorges? a. Academy Awards. b. Yangtze River. c. Chongqing. d. Mountains.
7. All of the following topic ideas are relevant to the category of plans and
policies EXCEPT __________. a. Develop Solar Power b. Cook Yunnan food
c. Change graduation Requirements d. Build a New Computer Center
8. When your general purpose is to persuade, you act as __________.
a. an advocate or a partisan b. a politician or a statesman c. an academician or a researcher d. a marketer or an advertiser
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9. All of the following specific purpose statements are effective EXCEPT
__________.
a. to inform my audience about recent discoveries of dinosaur fossils b. to inform my audience that yoga is extremely cool
c. to persuade my audience that harsher penalties are needed to prevent the
practices of fraudulent land developers
d. to inform my audience about the scientific uses of hot-air balloons
10. Which of the following tips for specific purpose statements is 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 likely to
__________ unless you speak about matters of interest to your listeners. a. fall flat
b. become offensive c. mislead
d. be illogical
12. You should choose a specific purpose you can achieve __________.
a. in no more than an hour b. in the allotted time
c. in the least possible time d. in no less than 10 minutes
13. A six-minute speech will consist of roughly __________ words.
a. 120 to 150 b. 300 to 350 c. 520 to 800 d. 720 to 900
14. Which of the following specific purpose statements is NOT likely to be
handled well in the time allotted for classroom speeches?
a. 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 cultural impact of
qipao.
d. To inform my audience about the role of technology in Chinese history.
15. Which of the following tips for central idea is false?
a. 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 a question.
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d. Avoid figurative language in the central idea.
16. The central idea “Banning violent content on television is a good idea”
is considered ineffective because __________. a. it is not a full sentence b. it is a question c. it is too general
d. it includes figurative language
17. According to your textbook, brainstorming is especially helpful when you
are having trouble __________.
a. determining the general purpose b. determining the specific purpose c. phrasing the central idea d. choosing a speech topic
18. After choosing a topic, what is the next step of speech preparation?
a. Phrasing the central idea. b. Analyzing the occasion.
c. Determining the general purpose. d. Selecting the specific purpose.
19. Using Yahoo or other subject-based search engines on the Internet is
recommended in your textbook as one method of __________ for a speech topic.
a. sifting b. consulting c. brainstorming d. deliberating
20. Which of the following is out of place in a speech to inform?
a. Advocating. b. Explaining. c. Reporting. d. Telling.
21. When the general purpose of your speech is to __________, you act primarily
as a teacher or lecturer. a. convince b. entertain c. inform d. persuade
22. Advocating a position is most appropriate when the general purpose of your
speech is to __________.
