1. Which of the following is NOT a cause of public speaking anxiety?
A. feeling conspicuous
B. speaking English as a second language
C. undergoing evaluation
D. distorting reality
E. experiencing repeated failures
2. Cognitive restructuring is like:
A. replacing old plumbing with new, efficient copper pipes.
B. hitting a grand slam in a baseball game.
C. using logical order in a speech outline.
D. effectively listening to one's girlfriend or boyfriend.
E. fine-tuning a stereo to cut out static noise.
3. Gerald Phillips feels that one of the causes of public speaking anxiety is:
A. a deficiency in skills.
B. noncomprehension of coping skills.
C. tense muscles.
D. hypersensitivity.
E. unfamiliar pronunciations.
4. All of the following are ways to reduce your public speaking anxiety EXCEPT:
A. focusing on the audience.
B. speaking on a familiar topic.
C. overpreparing.
D. visualizing a positive experience.
E. being hypersensitive.
5. Perceiving one's speaking ability as more negative than it actually is is an example of:
A. interpretation.
B. chronic apprehension.
C. irrational beliefs.
D. the need for therapy.
E. the evaluation of stimuli.
6. The process called ______ reduces communication apprehension through muscle relaxation techniques.
A. systematic desensitization
B. cognitive restructuring
C. skills training
D. distortion reality
E. encoding
7. A person who scores high on the PRCA-24 would most likely be characterized as:
A. state apprehensive.
B. unconditional apprehensive.
C. conditional apprehensive.
D. traitlike apprehensive.
E. culturally apprehensive.
8. Irrational beliefs are a focus of which method for reducing anxiety?
A. systematic desensitization
B. skills training
C. cognitive restructuring
D. deep breathing
E. visualization of positive experiences
9. ______ is learned; therefore, it can be unlearned.
A. Apprehension toward public speaking
B. Shyness
C. Co-culture
D. Stage fright
E. Low communication apprehension
10. Being aware of irrational and negative thoughts about public speaking is the first step in which of the following methods of dealing with communication apprehension?
A. skills training
B. cognitive restructuring
C. focus on the audience
D. social encounters
E. ethnocentrism
11. All of the following are tips to help you reduce public speaking anxiety EXCEPT:
A. practice positive self-statements.
B. check out the room before you speak.
C. memorize your entire presentation.
D. look at the audience before you start.
E. visualize a positive experience.
12. Telling yourself that "these people are my friends; they aren't going to make fun of me" before giving a speech is an example of:
A. audience-centered communication.
B. a negative self-statement.
C. systematic desensitization.
D. a coping statement.
E. psychological reassurance.
13. Cognitive restructuring involves:
A. learned associations.
B. refuting irrational beliefs.
C. physiological processes.
D. skill building.
E. behavior change.
14. Puerto Ricans, Koreans, Filipinos, and Middle Easterners are much less apprehensive when communicating than:
A. Japanese and Micronesians.
B. Swedes and Australians.
C. African Americans and Chinese Americans.
D. Latinos and Euroamericans.
E. Germans and the Irish.
15. After following the four steps of cognitive restructuring, immediate recall of positive coping skills can become as automatic as:
A. remembering one's first day of school.
B. recalling one's parents' anniversary.
C. riding a bicycle.
D. taking the SAT.
E. listening effectively.
16. ______ focuses on changing negatively held beliefs a speaker has about him- or herself that are based primarily on specific irrational beliefs.
A. Mysticism
B. Systematic desensitization
C. Cognitive restructuring
D. Skills training
E. Distortion reality
17. Skills training theory states that:
A. overemphasizing stress creates distortion.
B. people have stage fright because they are poor communicators.
C. negative statements should be substituted for positive ones.
D. apprehension is learned; therefore, it can be unlearned.
E. believing you will fail creates failure.
18. The statement "I'll never be a competent public speaker" best describes:
A. apprehension toward public speaking.
B. a lack of preparation.
C. a self-fulfilling prophecy.
D. stage fright.
E. a negative self-statement.
19. A speaker with a pounding heart, sweaty palms, and feelings of anxiety should:
A. be considered a chronic apprehensive.
B. definitely not speak that day.
C. realize that she or he has not practiced enough.
D. realize that it's time to stop being childish.
E. know that this anxiety can be channeled and used to motivate.
20. Which of the following statements BEST summarizes the research on skills training as a method for reducing apprehension?
A. Skills training is the most effective method.
B. Skills training is a useless approach.
C. Skills training should be supplemented by other methods.
D. Skills training is more effective with Euroamericans than other groups.
E. Skills training only works for speakers younger than 30.
21. A more or less permanent, predictable pattern of CA behavior that has become characteristic of an individual's personality is often described as ______ communication apprehension.
A. statelike
B. pseudo
C. traitlike
D. arbitrary
E. complex
22. Jake scores a 68 on the PRCA-24 and is considered a "moderate." What category typifies Jake's CA?
A. situation-specific
B. traitlike
C. communicative
D. co-cultural
E. potential
23. The statement "In the past I was a terrible communicator but now I am learning how to really communicate effectively" best describes:
A. skills training.
B. negative self-statements.
C. audience-centered communication.
D. self-talk.
E. new coping skills.
24. Expert performers:
A. no longer experience stage fright.
B. focus on the audience, not the speech content.
C. are born, not made.
D. need very little rehearsal time.
E. use their anxiety to motivate their audience.
25. Which one of the following correctly defines communication apprehension?
A. preconceived notions of concern regarding public speaking in diverse cultural settings
B. fear or anxiety associated with either real or anticipated communication encounters
C. nervous episodes of dry throat and shaking hands while delivering public orations
D. an understanding of the difficulties inherent in cross-cultural communication interactions
E. the degree to which a public speaker fears presenting a specific topic
26. Cognitive restructuring focuses on:
A. getting rid of all anxiety while speaking.
B. providing advance training to expert speakers.
C. completing the four or five sessions needed to be effective.
D. changing negative labels.
E. examining muscle tension and stress.
27. The most successful and cost-effective form of reducing apprehension is:
A. systematic desensitization.
B. psychotherapy.
C. cognitive restructuring.
D. apprehensive situation avoidance.
E. skills training.
28. When we overemphasize our imperfections as speakers, we tend to:
A. distort positive feedback.
B. create low communication apprehension.
C. create high communication apprehension.
D. distort our apprehension level.
E. set a self-fulfilling prophecy.
29. Which of the following is NOT a step in cognitive restructuring?
A. knowing when you do not have the aptitude to be a great public speaker
B. practicing new coping statements
C. learning new coping statements
D. identifying negative self-statements
E. All of the above are steps in cognitive restructuring.
30. This method of anxiety management suggests that because apprehension toward public speaking is learned it can be unlearned.
A. systematic desensitization
B. electroshock therapy
C. skills training
D. distortion reality
E. cognitive restructuring
31. A combination of skills training, cognitive restructuring, and systematic desensitization could:
A. confuse novice speakers.
B. take a lifetime of work.
C. be executed by many effective speakers.
D. be taught in most beginning public speaking classes.
E. work for some speakers but has not been tested.
32. Systematic desensitization is best described as the process of:
A. becoming aware of your ethnocentrism.
B. reinforcing apprehension caused by dialect.
C. increasing reticence in communication.
D. switching codes while speaking.
E. learning muscle relaxation techniques.
33. The method of reducing communication apprehension that includes the study and demonstration of a specific communication behavior is called:
A. cognitive restructuring.
B. skills training.
C. systematic desensitization.
D. social encounters.
E. high communication apprehension.
34. If Paul is nervous about communicating at cocktail parties but easily makes public speeches, he experiences ______ communication apprehension.
A. traitlike
B. no
C. minor
D. situational
E. social
35. All of the following are reasons listed in the text for communication apprehension EXCEPT:
A. feeling conspicuous and inspected.
B. facing an unfamiliar audience.
C. feeling subordinate to an audience.
D. experiencing systematic desensitization.
E. undergoing evaluation.
36. Someone who perceives repeated failures with regard to his or her own public speaking is likely to:
A. be considered a low apprehensive.
B. distort positive responses.
C. use systematic desensitization unknowingly.
D. automatically cognitively restructure without choice.
E. enroll in more than one public speaking course.
37. All of the following have tendencies toward high apprehensions EXCEPT individuals:
A. for whom English is a second language.
B. who engage in more feminine behaviors.
C. from Hawaii.
D. who engage in more masculine behaviors.
E. reared in rural areas.
38. "Derogatory comments that anxious people often make to themselves about public speaking" best describes:
A. skills training.
B. coping statements.
C. self-fulfilling prophecies.
D. negative self-talk.
E. communication apprehension.
39. The method for reducing communication anxieties that identifies negative self-statements before, during, and after a speech is known as:
A. skills training.
B. coping mechanisms.
C. systematic desensitization.
D. cognitive restructuring.
E. exorcism.
40. The program of treatment for communication apprehension with the highest success rate is:
A. cognitive restructuring.
B. skills training.
C. stage fright techniques.
D. distortion reality.
E. systematic desensitization.
41. Believing that you will fail your history exam, staying out late the night before the exam, not studying sufficiently for the exam, and then failing your history exam best describes:
A. a self-fulfilling prophecy.
B. negative self-talk.
C. a fear of failure.
D. a coping strategy.
E. high communication apprehension.
42. The statement "I must be the best speaker in the class and totally comfortable or I am a bad person" illustrates someone adhering to:
A. self-fulfilling prophecies.
B. irrational beliefs.
C. systematic desensitization.
D. chronic communication apprehension.
E. cognitive restructuring.
43. All of the following are common causes of anxiety in public speaking EXCEPT:
A. repeated failures.
B. novel or formal speaking situations.
C. dissimilar audiences.
D. feeling subordinate to the audience.
E. systematic desensitization.
44. ______ will help remove some basic fears while you are making a speech.
A. A self-fulfilling prophecy
B. Ignoring apprehension
C. Using very little eye contact
D. An audience-centered focus
E. Speaking without any preparation
45. Anxiety about performing a speech because of lack of experience or practice involves:
A. facing a novel or formal speaking situation.
B. undergoing evaluation.
C. feeling conspicuous.
D. dealing with an unfamiliar audience.
E. experiencing traitlike communication apprehension.
46. If you learn how to perform successfully, your apprehension will be reduced by using:
A. skills training.
B. coping skills.
C. negative self-talk.
D. high communication apprehension.
E. self-fulfilling prophecies.
47. The strategy for coping with communication apprehension that focuses on the physical responses to fear is called:
A. skills training.
B. cognitive restructuring.
C. relaxation amplification.
D. systematic desensitization.
E. positive coping statements.
48. The statement that best illustrates a self-fulfilling prophecy is:
A. "No one likes what I am saying."
B. "My topic is so boring, why did I pick it?"
C. "I know I'll forget my opening statement."
D. "My favorite part of the speech is the applause!"
E. "That's a speech only a mother could love."
49. Individuals with high traitlike communication apprehension are:
A. apprehensive only in public speaking situations.
B. apprehensive because of their cultural group.
C. referred to as low CAs.
D. ordinarily calm and relaxed.
E. apprehensive about communicating most of the time.
50. A speaker who rehearses and revises a speech several times before speaking is:
A. ill-prepared and insecure.
B. highly apprehensive.
C. working toward effective speech making.
D. utilizing the skills desensitization method.
E. adhering to the fallacy of perfectionism.
51. Being nervous about your teacher listening to your speech represents which of the following reasons for communication apprehension?
A. fear of evaluation
B. negative self-statement
C. an unfamiliar audience
D. formality
E. none of the above
52. Which of the following CA reduction strategies focuses on the physiological effects of apprehension?
A. cognitive restructuring
B. skills training
C. visualization
D. systematic desensitization
E. overpreparation