Chapter 1: Introduction to Interpersonal Communication
Multiple Choice Questions
1) What elements distinguish interpersonal communication from other forms of human communication?
A) It is a distinctive, transactional form of human communication involving mutual influence for the purpose of
managing relationships.
B) It involves treating people as objects, responding to roles rather than the person, and distinctive conversations.
C) It is a mechanical, transactional form of human communication, where each person has a role to perform.
D) It involves communicating with someone you care about, communicating in an I-It relationship, and treating
people as individuals.
Answer: A
Learning Objective: 1.1 Compare and contrast definitions of communication, human communication, and
interpersonal communication.
Topic: Interpersonal Communication Defined
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
2) A(n) __________ is a connection established when you communicate with another person.
A) transaction
B) relationship
C) interaction
D) lifelong bond
Answer: B
Learning Objective: 1.1 Compare and contrast definitions of communication, human communication, and
interpersonal communication.
Topic: Interpersonal Communication Defined
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
3) What term is defined as the process of acting on information?
A) human communication
B) interpersonal communication
C) communication
D) impersonal communication
Answer: C
Learning Objective: 1.1 Compare and contrast definitions of communication, human communication, and
interpersonal communication.
Topic: Interpersonal Communication Defined
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
4) Sarita goes to a restaurant with her friends after class. While dining, Sarita communicates with the server only to
place an order, ask for more water, and request the bill. Which type of communication is she using with the server?
A) intrapersonal
B) impersonal
C) interpersonal
D) public
Answer: B
Learning Objective: 1.1 Compare and contrast definitions of communication, human communication, and
interpersonal communication.
Topic: Interpersonal Communication Defined
1
Copyright © 2020, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
, Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Apply What You Know
5) Which term describes the process of making sense out of the world and sharing that sense with others by creating
meaning through the use of verbal and nonverbal messages?
A) human communication
B) interpersonal communication
C) communication
D) relationship communication
Answer: A
Learning Objective: 1.1 Compare and contrast definitions of communication, human communication, and
interpersonal communication.
Topic: Interpersonal Communication Defined
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
6) Rashid went to dinner with his good friend Megan. They stayed at the restaurant for hours simply because they
were enjoying each other’s conversation. According to Martin Buber, their relationship is best described as
__________.
A) I-It
B) It-Thou
C) I-Thou
D) It-I
Answer: C
Learning Objective: 1.1 Compare and contrast definitions of communication, human communication, and
interpersonal communication.
Topic: Interpersonal Communication Defined
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Apply What You Know
7) Sammy and Jobeth are considering moving in together. Sammy is unsure, so she sits down to make a mental list
of the pros and cons of cohabitating with Jobeth. Sammy is demonstrating which form of communication?
A) interpersonal communication
B) impersonal communication
C) intrapersonal communication
D) intermediate communication
Answer: C
Learning Objective: 1.1 Compare and contrast definitions of communication, human communication, and
interpersonal communication.
Topic: Interpersonal Communication Defined
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Apply What You Know
8) What form of communication takes place when someone communicates the same message to many people at
once but the creator of the message is usually not physically present?
A) mass communication
B) public communication
C) small group communication
D) intrapersonal communication
Answer: A
Learning Objective: 1.1 Compare and contrast definitions of communication, human communication, and
interpersonal communication.
2
Copyright © 2020, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
Multiple Choice Questions
1) What elements distinguish interpersonal communication from other forms of human communication?
A) It is a distinctive, transactional form of human communication involving mutual influence for the purpose of
managing relationships.
B) It involves treating people as objects, responding to roles rather than the person, and distinctive conversations.
C) It is a mechanical, transactional form of human communication, where each person has a role to perform.
D) It involves communicating with someone you care about, communicating in an I-It relationship, and treating
people as individuals.
Answer: A
Learning Objective: 1.1 Compare and contrast definitions of communication, human communication, and
interpersonal communication.
Topic: Interpersonal Communication Defined
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
2) A(n) __________ is a connection established when you communicate with another person.
A) transaction
B) relationship
C) interaction
D) lifelong bond
Answer: B
Learning Objective: 1.1 Compare and contrast definitions of communication, human communication, and
interpersonal communication.
Topic: Interpersonal Communication Defined
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
3) What term is defined as the process of acting on information?
A) human communication
B) interpersonal communication
C) communication
D) impersonal communication
Answer: C
Learning Objective: 1.1 Compare and contrast definitions of communication, human communication, and
interpersonal communication.
Topic: Interpersonal Communication Defined
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
4) Sarita goes to a restaurant with her friends after class. While dining, Sarita communicates with the server only to
place an order, ask for more water, and request the bill. Which type of communication is she using with the server?
A) intrapersonal
B) impersonal
C) interpersonal
D) public
Answer: B
Learning Objective: 1.1 Compare and contrast definitions of communication, human communication, and
interpersonal communication.
Topic: Interpersonal Communication Defined
1
Copyright © 2020, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
, Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Apply What You Know
5) Which term describes the process of making sense out of the world and sharing that sense with others by creating
meaning through the use of verbal and nonverbal messages?
A) human communication
B) interpersonal communication
C) communication
D) relationship communication
Answer: A
Learning Objective: 1.1 Compare and contrast definitions of communication, human communication, and
interpersonal communication.
Topic: Interpersonal Communication Defined
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
6) Rashid went to dinner with his good friend Megan. They stayed at the restaurant for hours simply because they
were enjoying each other’s conversation. According to Martin Buber, their relationship is best described as
__________.
A) I-It
B) It-Thou
C) I-Thou
D) It-I
Answer: C
Learning Objective: 1.1 Compare and contrast definitions of communication, human communication, and
interpersonal communication.
Topic: Interpersonal Communication Defined
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Apply What You Know
7) Sammy and Jobeth are considering moving in together. Sammy is unsure, so she sits down to make a mental list
of the pros and cons of cohabitating with Jobeth. Sammy is demonstrating which form of communication?
A) interpersonal communication
B) impersonal communication
C) intrapersonal communication
D) intermediate communication
Answer: C
Learning Objective: 1.1 Compare and contrast definitions of communication, human communication, and
interpersonal communication.
Topic: Interpersonal Communication Defined
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Apply What You Know
8) What form of communication takes place when someone communicates the same message to many people at
once but the creator of the message is usually not physically present?
A) mass communication
B) public communication
C) small group communication
D) intrapersonal communication
Answer: A
Learning Objective: 1.1 Compare and contrast definitions of communication, human communication, and
interpersonal communication.
2
Copyright © 2020, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
