Chapter 16 multiple choice

Competence and character are the most important factors affecting a speaker’s credibility

True

Research shows that a speaker’s credibility is strongly affected by his or her delivery.

True

Research indicates that evidence is usually more persuasive when it is stated in specific rather than general terms.

True

Reasoning from specific instances involves progressing from a number of particular facts to a general conclusion.

True

The following statement is an example of reasoning from principle: "Places such as Singapore that allow caning and other forms of corporal punishment have exceedingly low crime rates. If caning were used in the United States, the U.S. would have lower crime rates as well."

False

In addition to being illogical, the ad hominem fallacy is also unethical.

True

The slippery slope fallacy assumes that because something is popular, it is therefore good, correct, or desirable

False

One of the advantages of using causal reasoning in a persuasive speech is that the relationship between causes and effects is usually fairly obvious.

False

As your textbook explains, it is unethical to use emotional appeal in a persuasive speech on a question of policy.

False

The most important question to ask when assessing analogical reasoning is whether the two cases being compared are essentially alike

True

According to your textbook, the two most important factors affecting the credibility of a persuasive speaker are
a. competence and character.
b. prestige and charisma.
c. character and reputation.
d. popularity and intelligence.
e. charisma and competence.

a. competence and character

According to your textbook, the following statement is an example of what type of fallacy?
How can we be so concerned about shielding children in the U.S. from Internet pornography when millions of children around the world continue to be sold into slavery every year?
a. either-or
b. red herring
c. false deduction
d. ad hominem
e. invalid analogy

b. red herring

When giving a persuasive speech to an audience that opposes your point of view, it is especially important that you use to answer their objections to your views.
a. visual aids
b. syllogisms
c. credibility statements
d. emotional appeals
e. evidence

e. evidence

According to your textbook, as a persuasive speaker, your two major concerns with respect to reasoning are to
a. establish credibility and reason correctly.
b. make sure your reasoning is clear and credible.
c. avoid fallacies and support reasoning with testimony.
d. adapt reasoning to both hostile and favorable listeners.
e. make sure your reasoning is sound and persuasive

e. make sure your reasoning is sound and persuasive

Which of the following is presented in your textbook as a guideline for reasoning from specific instances in a persuasive speech?
a. reinforce your argument with statistics and testimony
b. include at least one extended example among your specific instances
c. avoid generalizing too hastily
d. all of the above
e. a and c only

e. a and c only

According to your textbook, emotional appeal is not appropriate in which kind of persuasive speech?
a. the speech on a question of fact
b. the speech on a question of value
c. the speech on a question of proof
d. the speech on a question of policy
e. the speech on a question of ethics

a. the speech on a question of fact

To create common ground with an audience in the introduction of a persuasive speech, your textbook recommends that you
a. show the audience that you share their values.
b. use statistics to show the extent of a problem.
c. confront the audience for failing to do the right thing.
d. all of the above.
e. a and b only.

a. show the audience that you share their values.

According to your textbook, when you reason from principle in a persuasive speech, you should give special attention to
a. deciding whether you need to support your general principle with evidence.
b. showing that the analogy underlying your general principle is valid.
c. establishing your credibility to speak on the matter of principle at hand.
d. avoiding the fallacy of post hoc, ergo proper hoc in your reasoning.
e. balancing the time you spend on your general principle and minor premise.

a. deciding whether you need to support your general principle with evidence.

What error in reasoning is exemplified by the following statement?
I always wear my blue sweater when I take an exam, but I couldn’t find it yesterday. If I had worn it yesterday, I would not have flunked my accounting exam.
a. circular thinking
b. hasty generalization
c. invalid analogy
d. false cause
e. faulty deduction

d. false cause

When reasoning analogically, you infer that
a. a causal relationship can be established between two or more events.
b. what is true in one case will also be true in a similar case.
c. a general principle is validated by a question of fact.
d. your position is true because it is demonstrated by statistical trends.
e. a specific conclusion is true because it is verified by a general principle.

b. what is true in one case will also be true in a similar case.