Chapter 4: Public Speaking and Cultural Challenges 4.1 Multiple Choice 1. According to the textbook, the example described Davona's dilemma in presenting her views about Paul McCartney’s speech on his musical career. Davona recognized the cultural differences between herself and her brother, Dan. What should be Davona's strategy in her speech? a. She should negotiate among the diverse values. b. She should attempt to use multiple paths to a shared goal. c. She should consider working through the lifestyle choices of others. d. She should recognize the diversity in viewpoints and experiences of the audience. Answer: d. She should recognize the diversity in viewpoints and experiences of the audience. Rationale: Davona should recognize the diversity in viewpoints and experiences of the audience to tailor her speech in a way that acknowledges and respects the various perspectives present. 2. Training in public speaking is a matter of learning about a. the cultural expectations of others. b. holding on to traditional beliefs. c. the individual speaker. d. becoming aggressive. Answer: a. the cultural expectations of others. Rationale: Public speaking training involves learning about the cultural expectations of others to effectively communicate and connect with diverse audiences. 3. Culture is a. everyone having the same beliefs and experiences. b. based on ethnic beliefs and values. c. a social group's system of meanings. d. based on psychological and political beliefs. Answer: c. a social group's system of meanings. Rationale: Culture refers to a social group's system of meanings, including beliefs, values, and practices, that are shared and transmitted across generations. 4. The cultural differences in your audience may include __________ differences. a. psychological b. educational c. economic d. all of the above Answer: d. all of the above Rationale: Cultural differences in an audience can encompass various aspects, including psychological, educational, economic, and more. 5. When you recognize that a country such as the United States possesses NOT a unitary culture but several subcultures and powerful co-cultures, you are focusing on a. multiculturalism. b. ethnic diversity. c. stereotypes. d. cultural barriers. Answer: a. multiculturalism. Rationale: Multiculturalism refers to the recognition and acceptance of diverse cultures within a society, including subcultures and co-cultures, as opposed to a single, unitary culture. 6. All of the following should be considered by the speaker regarding the audience EXCEPT: a. Audiences perceive events from different vantage points. b. Audiences interpret experiences through culturally shaped lenses. c. Audiences may not share the speaker's background or point of view. d. Audiences think and interpret messages the same as the speaker. Answer: d. Audiences think and interpret messages the same as the speaker. Rationale: It is important for speakers to understand that audiences may think and interpret messages differently from the speaker, based on their own backgrounds and perspectives. 7. Members of this type of group are defined by how their lifestyle differs from the dominant culture. a. subculture b. co-culture c. multiculture d. none of the above Answer: a. subculture Rationale: A subculture is a group within a larger culture that is defined by its distinct lifestyle or values, which may differ from those of the dominant culture. 8. Cultural relationships with others are built on a. face-to-face interactions. b. direct and indirect interactions. c. positive and negative self-talk. d. face-to-media interactions. Answer: a. face-to-face interactions. Rationale: Cultural relationships are often built and strengthened through face-to-face interactions, where individuals can directly communicate and exchange cultural perspectives. 9. When the Nobel Peace Prize winner Desmond Tutu made comments on the relationship of Isreael and Palestinians it caused public controversy, his speaking engagement was cancelled at University of St. Thomas. This controversy illustrates a. that Hamilton college was not accustomed to controversial speakers. b. the diversity of perspectives and values in our culture. c. the similarity between the speaker and the listeners. d. denying self-identity when facing differences. Answer: b. the diversity of perspectives and values in our culture. Rationale: The controversy surrounding Desmond Tutu's comments and the cancellation of his speaking engagement highlight the diversity of perspectives and values within a culture, as different individuals and groups may have varying opinions on the matter. 10. When a speaker defines a concept such as "family values," the speaker must a. give a generalized definition. b. define the term carefully so the audience knows exactly what the speaker means. c. use a conservative definition. d. not use such phrasing because it may be inappropriate. Answer: b. define the term carefully so the audience knows exactly what the speaker means. Rationale: When defining a concept like "family values," it is important for the speaker to provide a clear and specific definition to ensure that the audience understands the speaker's intended meaning. 11. Value orientations are a. ways that people are stereotyped. b. habitual ways of thinking. c. refer primarily to very conservative people. d. another way to describe family values. Answer: b. habitual ways of thinking. Rationale: Value orientations refer to habitual ways of thinking that influence how individuals perceive and evaluate the world around them, shaping their beliefs and behaviors. 12. Which of the following is an example of a liberal ideology? a. It takes a whole village to raise a child. b. It is the parent's responsibility to raise a child. c. It is the parent's responsibility to raise a child with government intervention. d. The government should use responsible intervention techniques in raising a child. Answer: a. It takes a whole village to raise a child. Rationale: The statement "It takes a whole village to raise a child" reflects a liberal ideology by emphasizing the collective responsibility of society in child-rearing, rather than solely relying on parents. 13. Which of the following is an example of middle-of-the-road ideology? a. America is in moral decline and must return to older family values. b. America has to give parents more aid in raising their children. c. It is better to help all forms of family—single and dual parent traditional and nontraditional— with their children than to deal with juveniles in prisons later. d. Parents must be made more responsible for the growth and actions of their children yet should have help available in the form of family planning agencies, subsidized adoption and abortion services, and sex education in the schools. Answer: d. Parents must be made more responsible for the growth and actions of their children yet should have help available in the form of family planning agencies, subsidized adoption and abortion services, and sex education in the schools. Rationale: This statement reflects a middle-of-the-road ideology by advocating for a balance between parental responsibility and societal support in child-rearing. 14. Given segments of your audience that are liberal, moderate, and conservative, which of the following might reflect an outcome resulting from negotiating diverse values? a. All pornographic material, in picture or words, will be banned from the Internet. b. Parents should be totally responsible for their own children and be held legally accountable for monitoring use of the Internet. c. While the government should support research and development of site ratings and security procedures to prevent minors from accessing inappropriate sites, parents should also be given easy access to Web security and control software to monitor and block a child's access to inappropriate material. d. Both parents and service providers should be held civilly liable for the harmful affects of inappropriate materials accessed by children through the Internet. Answer: c. While the government should support research and development of site ratings and security procedures to prevent minors from accessing inappropriate sites, parents should also be given easy access to Web security and control software to monitor and block a child's access to inappropriate material. Rationale: This outcome reflects a negotiated approach that considers both government intervention and parental responsibility, addressing the concerns of diverse audience segments. 15. If a speaker is giving a speech on police profiling, which of the following audience characteristics would be relevant? a. age b. race c. religion d. gender Answer: b. race Rationale: Race is a relevant audience characteristic when discussing police profiling, as it is a key factor in how individuals may be targeted or affected by such practices. 16. Both liberals and conservatives would agree that children need to be protected from harmful experiences such as inappropriate sex and violence. One faction might say that the only way to protect children is to remove all offensive material from places children may access. Another faction might argue that protecting children is entirely the responsibility of the parent(s). What strategy for dealing with cultural diversity might be best used to cope with this disagreement? a. working through the lifestyle of others b. maintaining self-identity in the face of cultural differences c. accepting multiple paths to shared goals d. recognizing diversity while calling for unity Answer: c. accepting multiple paths to shared goals Rationale: Accepting multiple paths to shared goals acknowledges that different approaches can be valid in achieving the common objective of protecting children, allowing for diversity in strategies while maintaining the goal of child safety. 17. How can speakers create a sense of tolerance and acceptance of multiple paths leading to common goals? a. negotiate a common set of values b. use metaphors and allegories to help people see how that which appears different has important commonalities c. surrender to the lifestyles of others d. recognizing similarities with others while maintaining your distinct identity Answer: b. use metaphors and allegories to help people see how that which appears different has important commonalities Rationale: Using metaphors and allegories can help people see the commonalities and underlying similarities in different approaches or perspectives, fostering tolerance and acceptance of diverse paths to common goals. 18. A person who wants to quit smoking is told he/she has the choice of several programs such as hypnosis, psychotherapy, the patch or nicotine gum, group therapy, and quitting cold turkey. Which strategy does the example represent? a. negotiating multicultural values b. accepting multiple paths to goals c. working through the lifestyle choices of others d. recognizing diversity Answer: b. accepting multiple paths to goals Rationale: This example illustrates accepting multiple paths to a goal by recognizing that there are various methods available to achieve the desired outcome of quitting smoking. 19. Recognizing and acknowledging cultural differences and seeking ways of creating cooperation in thought and action is a communication strategy called a. negotiating among diverse values. b. accepting multiple paths to a shared goal. c. working through the lifestyle choices of others. d. recognizing diversity while calling for unity. Answer: d. recognizing diversity while calling for unity. Rationale: Recognizing diversity while calling for unity involves acknowledging cultural differences and promoting cooperation without imposing a single set of values or beliefs. 20. According to the textbook, when Belinda told her story of Sparky, the dog that she adopted from the humane society, she found that it elicited emotional responses from the audience. What cognitive frame did Belinda use? a. narrative frame b. metaphorical frame c. valuative frame d. emotional frame Answer: a. narrative frame Rationale: Belinda used a narrative frame by telling a story about Sparky, which engaged the audience emotionally and helped them relate to her experience. 21. When a speaker is negotiating valuative differences in a public forum, how should the speaker present the differences in the speech? a. ignore the difference b. recognize the differences c. intensify the differences d. deliberately misguide the audience Answer: b. recognize the differences Rationale: In a public forum, it is important for the speaker to acknowledge and recognize valuative differences rather than ignoring or intensifying them. Recognizing differences allows for respectful dialogue and understanding. 22. Valuative framing is using a. images to deliver the message. b. stories to deliver the message. c. ethics to deliver the message. d. cultural differences to deliver the message. Answer: c. ethics to deliver the message. Rationale: Valuative framing involves using ethical considerations or principles to deliver a message, appealing to values and beliefs to persuade or influence the audience. 23. Narrative framing is using a. images to deliver the message. b. stories to deliver the message. c. ethics to deliver the message. d. cultural differences to deliver the message. Answer: b. stories to deliver the message. Rationale: Narrative framing involves using stories or narratives to deliver a message, engaging the audience emotionally and helping them relate to the content. 24. Which of the following is NOT one of the four dimensions of conversational style? a. direct/indirect b. elaborate/succinct c. conservative/liberal d. instrumental/affective. Answer: c. conservative/liberal Rationale: The four dimensions of conversational style are direct/indirect, elaborate/succinct, instrumental/affective. The dimension of conservative/liberal is not typically considered a part of conversational style. 25. Self-identity is a person's a. own life experiences and culture. b. own value orientation. c. varied value orientation. d. perceived experiences and culture. Answer: a. own life experiences and culture. Rationale: Self-identity refers to an individual's sense of who they are, shaped by their own life experiences, culture, values, and beliefs. 26. Daniel is a Jehovah's Witness who, based upon religious principle, refuses to pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States. His classmates harass him for his refusal. He feels it would be so much easier just to say the pledge and get the rest of the kids off his back. The difficulty that Daniel is experiencing relates to which strategy for communicating unity through diversity? a. recognizing diversity while calling for unity b. working through the lifestyle choices of others c. accepting multiple paths to shared goals d. maintaining self-identity in the face of cultural differences Answer: d. maintaining self-identity in the face of cultural differences Rationale: Daniel's difficulty in maintaining his refusal to pledge allegiance despite pressure from his classmates demonstrates the challenge of maintaining self-identity in the face of cultural differences. 27. When a speaker delivers a speech to a culturally diverse audience the speaker must a. surrender self-identity and identify with the diverse audience. b. maintain self-identity while understanding the audience's views are different. c. change his/her values that are conducive to the audience. d. never concern him/herself about the audience's views. Answer: b. maintain self-identity while understanding the audience's views are different. Rationale: When delivering a speech to a culturally diverse audience, it is important for the speaker to maintain their self-identity while recognizing and understanding that the audience's views may differ, promoting mutual respect and understanding. 4.2 True/False 1. A culture is a social group's system of meaning. Answer: True Rationale: Culture encompasses the shared beliefs, values, norms, and practices of a social group, providing a framework for interpreting and understanding the world. 2. Learning about the cultural practices and expectations of one's listeners is difficult. Answer: True Rationale: Understanding the cultural practices and expectations of listeners from diverse backgrounds can be challenging due to the complexity and diversity of cultures. 3. The public speaker must rely on cultural resources when assembling a speech. Answer: True Rationale: When preparing a speech for a diverse audience, the speaker should draw on cultural resources to ensure the message is culturally sensitive and relevant to the audience. 4. Multiculturalism is the recognition that a country possesses not a unified culture, but one with several subcultures and co-cultures. Answer: True Rationale: Multiculturalism acknowledges and embraces the diversity of cultures within a society, recognizing that a country is composed of various subcultures and co-cultures. 5. A subculture is when two cultures co-exist in a society. Answer: False Rationale: A subculture refers to a smaller cultural group within a larger society that shares distinctive beliefs, values, and practices that differ from those of the dominant culture. 6. A speaker should respect individual differences and cultural diversity while attempting to get a group of people to think alike and work together. Answer: True Rationale: An effective speaker should respect individual differences and cultural diversity while also encouraging unity and collaboration among diverse groups. 7. One strategy for managing cultural diversity is to recognize diversity while calling for unity. Answer: True Rationale: Recognizing diversity while calling for unity involves acknowledging and respecting cultural differences while also promoting a sense of common purpose and cooperation. 8. Identifying and recognizing differences in systems of meaning possessed by different groups in a society is focusing on cultural diversity. Answer: True Rationale: Focusing on cultural diversity involves understanding and acknowledging the differences in systems of meaning held by various cultural groups within a society. 9. The events that shape the thoughts and responses of one generation or group aren't necessarily transmitted to the next. Answer: True Rationale: Cultural transmission is not always direct or complete, and some cultural elements may change or be lost over time as they are passed from one generation to the next. 10. To be an effective speaker in a multicultural community, you must accept the lifestyle choices of others. Answer: False Rationale: While it is important to respect the lifestyle choices of others, accepting them as your own is not necessary. Effective communication in a multicultural community involves understanding and respecting diverse perspectives while also maintaining one's own values and beliefs. 11. When someone says that America can no longer be thought of as the "melting pot," but should be thought of as a "tossed salad," he/she is engaged in trying to recognize and emphasize cultural diversity. Answer: True Rationale: The metaphor of the "melting pot" suggests assimilation and blending of cultures, while the metaphor of the "tossed salad" emphasizes maintaining distinct cultural identities within a diverse society, thus recognizing and emphasizing cultural diversity. 12. When a person says, "There are always three ways to do things: the right way, the wrong way, or my way," he/she has accepted the idea of multiple paths to goals. Answer: False Rationale: This statement reflects a lack of acceptance of multiple paths to goals, as it suggests a rigid, myopic view that only the speaker's way is correct, disregarding other possible paths. 13. The tricky part of negotiating across valuative differences is to make sure that negotiations turn into erasures. Answer: False Rationale: The tricky part of negotiating across valuative differences is to find common ground and understanding without erasing or invalidating the values of others. 14. Metaphorical framing is using narratives to deliver messages. Answer: False Rationale: Metaphorical framing involves using metaphors or analogies to frame a message in a particular way, highlighting certain aspects or perspectives. 15. Rhetorical framing is the variety of conceptual borders that can be put on factually equivalent messages. Answer: True Rationale: Rhetorical framing refers to the way in which information is presented to influence how it is perceived, including the use of language, tone, and context to shape meaning and interpretation. 16. The three types of cognitive frames are metaphorical, valuative, and rhetorical. Answer: False Rationale: The three types of cognitive frames are metaphorical, valuative, and narrative, each serving different purposes in framing messages and shaping perception. 17. Narrative framing is using stories to deliver a message. Answer: True Rationale: Narrative framing involves using stories or narratives to convey a message, engaging the audience emotionally and helping them relate to the content. 18. Valuative framing is using stories to deliver a message. Answer: False Rationale: Valuative framing involves using ethical considerations or principles to frame a message, appealing to values and beliefs to persuade or influence the audience. 19. There is evidence to suggest that arguments featuring positive values are less persuasive than those featuring negative values. Answer: False Rationale: Research suggests that arguments featuring positive values are often more persuasive than those featuring negative values, as they can inspire hope, optimism, and a sense of possibility. 20. Self-identity is a person's own life experiences and culture. Answer: True Rationale: Self-identity encompasses an individual's sense of self, shaped by their own life experiences, cultural background, values, and beliefs. 21. In order to understand a multicultural society, we must first recognize the commonalty and then identify multiple values within that diversity. Answer: False Rationale: Understanding a multicultural society involves recognizing both commonalities and differences among cultures. It is not sufficient to only focus on commonalities; acknowledging and respecting diversity is also crucial. 22. A speaker can be true to him/herself and his/her commitments while adapting to others. Answer: True Rationale: A speaker can maintain authenticity and personal integrity while also adapting to the cultural norms and expectations of the audience, striking a balance between self-expression and cultural sensitivity. 23. When the speaker is speaking to an audience that has experienced an increasing unemployment rate for the last 10 years, motivating them to strive to work hard is NOT a difficult task. Answer: False Rationale: Motivating an audience that has experienced prolonged unemployment can be challenging due to the potential feelings of discouragement, disillusionment, and apathy that may exist within the audience. 24. Using profanity in a speech is a good idea because it is language that the audience uses. Answer: False Rationale: Using profanity in a speech is generally not a good idea, as it can be offensive to some audience members and can detract from the professionalism and effectiveness of the message. 25. A speaker should talk about a prohibited subject to his/her audience in a destructive manner. Answer: False Rationale: A speaker should approach prohibited subjects with sensitivity and respect, avoiding destructive or inflammatory language that may alienate or offend the audience. 26. If you are unable or unwilling to adapt to your listeners' culture, you will have great difficulty speaking to any but those who agree with you. Answer: True Rationale: Adaptability to listeners' culture is essential for effective communication, especially in diverse settings. Failure to adapt may result in difficulties in connecting with and engaging audiences who hold different cultural perspectives. 4.3 Short Answer 1. What is culture? Answer: Culture is a social group's system of meaning. 2. What is the difference between culture, co-culture, and subculture? Answer: Culture is a social group's system of meaning. Co-culture is when cultures co-exist in society as relatively complete ways of life. Subculture involves a small group of people who define their lifestyles at least in part by how they're different than the dominant culture. 3. What is multiculturalism? Answer: Multiculturalism is the recognition that a country, like the United States, is not a unitary culture but a series of subcultures and powerful co-cultures that interpenetrate yet are separate from each other. 4. How can a speaker accomplish the task of respecting individual differences and cultural diversity while attempting to get a group of people to think and work together? Answer: To accomplish the task of respecting individual differences and cultural diversity while attempting to get a group of people to think and work together the speaker must know something about other people's traditions which includes but is not limited to: how they talk to each other, beliefs and values that are important because of their upbringing and families, ways in which they signal disagreement or agreement, how they respond to each other, and how they talk in different situations. 5. Give an example of value orientation. Answer: The answers may vary. An example of value orientation is the idea that all cultures are ethnocentric. This means that each culture thinks that its culture is better than another culture. Another example may deal with religious beliefs. Although people will have religious beliefs, the culture may have varying degrees of value orientation. The example in the textbook is of "family values"; there are three perspectives (varying degrees) such as liberal, conservative, and middle-ofthe-road. 6. Explain why relevance is important for a speaker. Answer: The answers may vary, however they should include the concept that relevance is important because the speaker must acknowledge cultural experiences and expectations of the audience in order to connect/identify with the audience. Relevance will affect the listeners' response to a speaker calling for a unified thought and action. And if the topic is irrelevant to the listener, the listener will tune out the speaker. 7. What are the three strategies for communicating unity through diversity? Answer: (1) accepting multiple paths to shared goals, (2) choosing a rhetorical frame, and (3) maintaining self-identity in the face of cultural differences. 8. Define self-identity. Answer: Self-identity is a person's own life experiences and culture. 9. What are the four dimensions for conversational style? Answer: (1) direct/indirect; (2) elaborate/succinct; (3) personal/contextual; and (4) instrumental/affective. 10. Why should a speaker NOT use profanity in talking about opponents to his/her position even though members of his/her audience do? Answer: Answers may vary. Profanity is inappropriate and may be offensive to the audience. Even though they may use profanity, it doesn't mean that the speaker should use it. It is a moral judgment that the speaker must make. 4.4 Essay Questions 1. List four questions that a speaker must ask when preparing to talk publicly to a culturally diverse audience. Answer: (1) Can you respect individual differences and cultural diversity while attempting to get a group of people to think alike and work together? (2) Can you recognize the diversity of your audience's experiences? (3) Can you be true to yourself and your commitments while adapting to others? (4) Can you successfully negotiate the differences between what audiences expect of you and what you expect of yourself? 2. Explain the differences between co-culture and subculture and give an example of each. Answer: A co-culture is a culture that co-exists in a society as a relatively complete way of life. An example of a co-culture is the culture of manhood versus the culture of womanhood. Another example is the military culture versus the civilian culture. Other examples may include the wealthy versus the poor, the employed versus the unemployed. A subculture is a small group of people that define their lifestyles at least in part by how they're different from the dominant culture. Some examples may include different religious groups, ethnic groups, and groups with different sexual orientations. 3. Explain how a speaker should respect individual differences and cultural diversity while attempting to get a group of people to think alike and work together. Answer: In a culturally diverse audience, it is necessary to inventory the audience's cultural traditions and be aware of how those differences might affect what is said in the speech. It is important that the speaker does an audience analysis to learn some things about the audience characteristics such as oral language traditions, values and beliefs, and their participatory practices. It is also important to work in partnership and recognize the differences between your values, behaviors, beliefs, and attitudes, and the audience's. These are important factors that will assess how the audience will react/respond to the contents of the speech as well as the speaker. 4. Provide an example of how a speaker might help an audience see that there is more than one way to achieve a desired goal. Answer: Answers will vary, but the answer should focus on how the technique helps the audience see that more than one path can be taken to reach a shared goal. For example, dealing with the problems of discipline and violence in schools could be addressed by saying, "We all want a safe learning environment. Some would seek to ensure this by placing metal detectors at the door, others by implementing a dress code or requiring all to wear uniforms, still others would have us increase the sanctions imposed on those who break the rules. The fact is all of this might be useful depending on the situation we face. One thing is clear, we want our children to be safe!" 5. Explain the tension that might exist between accommodating the lifestyle choices of other cultures and maintaining your own identity in the face of differences. Answer: The answer should recognize that accepting and accommodating the lifestyle choices of other cultures can lead to a transcendence of differences, yet you can run the risk of losing your own identity by accepting the others' way of thinking or doing. An example of this could be the effect of peer pressure to engage in behavior that your culture (e.g., family) rejects as inappropriate but is completely acceptable to the other. Test Bank for Principles of Public Speaking Kathleen M. German, Bruce E. Gronbeck, Douglas Ehninger, Alan H. Monroe 9780205857548, 9780205843893
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