CHAPTER 1
Understanding Human Communication Test
Bank.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which element of human communication is represented in the
guiding principle: Adapt to the communication circumstances and
setting.
a. Self
b. Others
c. Content
d. Context
e. Structure
2. The textbook defines communication as the process of using verbal and
nonverbal messages to generate meaning within and across various
contexts, cultures, and channels. Which term in this definition refers to
where, when, with whom, and under what circumstances you
communicate?
a. messages
b. meaning
c. context
d. cultures
e. channels
3. According to your textbook, you listen to the equivalent of a book a day,
you speak about a book a week, you read the equivalent of a book a
month, and you write a book
a. every two months.
b. every six months.
c. every year.
d. every five years.
e. every ten years.
4. A study by the Business-Higher Education Forum listed strong
as the most important skill area for college students preparing
for a career.
a. oral communication skills
b. written communication skills
c. listening skills
d. computer skills
e. proficiency in your field of study
5. You generate meaning when you
a. speak.
b. write.
c. create visual images.
d. listen, read, and react to messages.
, e. do all of the above.
6. Your textbook presents seven basic elements of human communication.
The first elements on that list is
a. purpose
b. others
c. self
d. content
e. expression
7. The Guiding Principles of Human Communication
a. are verbal and nonverbal messages that generate meaning.
b*. focus on strategies that describe how to communicate and why certain
communication strategies succeed or fail.
c. are self-evident or universally recognized truths or beliefs.
d. are axioms proving that communication is personal, relational,
and intentional.
e. are theories, strategies, and skills.
8. Which element of human communication is expressed in the
axiom “Communication is symbolic”?
a. others
b. expression
c. context
d. content
e. structure
9. Josh realizes that his presentation to a group of young men at a juvenile
detention center will be difficult. He decides that they are more likely to
take his advice if he shares past experiences from his own juvenile run-
ins with the law. What element of communication has Josh taken into
account as he prepares his talk?
a. Expression
b. Structure
c. Others
d. Purpose
e. Context
10. What axiom does the Guiding Principle “Organize message
content” address?
a. Communication is personal.
b. Communication is intentional.
c. Communication is contextual.
d. Communication is structured.
e. Communication is symbolic.
11. Sidney tells his wife his attempt to repair the lamp he broke has failed and
that it will have to be trashed. His wife says “thanks a lot.” Sid knows
that his wife is not pleased. Which communication axiom is illustrated in
this scene?
a. Communication is intentional.
, b. Communication is symbolic.
c. Communication is irreversible.
d. Communication is structured.
e. Communication is retractable.
12. The communication element expression asks
a. Which channels are most appropriate given your purpose and content?
b. What skills will improve your ability to deliver your message?
c. How effectively do you convey and listen to verbal and
nonverbal messages?
d. How can practice help you prepare to communicate
effectively? e. All of the above
13. Kentry knows that he is respected and trusted by his friends. Thus, he feels
confident that he can get them to change their mind about going
downtown after midnight. What is the primary communication element
operating in this scenario?
a. Self
b. Others
c. Context
d. Content
e. Expression
14. The question “What do you want others to know, think, believe, or feel as
a result of communicating with them” is answered by addressing the
communication element of
a. expression.
b. structure.
c. self.
d. purpose.
e. others.
15. The psychosocial context of communication includes
a. the cultural environment in which you live.
b. the place where you will be interacting with others.
c. the setting and occasion of a communicative act.
d. the number of people with whom you communicate.
e. none of the above.
16. The logistical context of communication refers to
a. the cultural environment in which you live.
b. your emotional history, personal experiences, and cultural
background. c. the time, place, setting, and occasion in which you will
interact with
others.
d. whether communication occurs one-to-one, in groups, or between a
speaker and an audience.
e. interpersonal, group, and presentational communication.
17. According to your textbook, communication refers to the
interaction of three or more interdependent people who interact for the
purpose of achieving a common goal.
, a. intrapersonal
b. interpersonal
c. group
d. presentational
e. mediated
18. You are driving down the highway and want to stop for a bite of lunch.
On the horizon you see golden arches and a sign that reads “McDonalds.”
You are reacting to the axiom that communication is
a. relational.
b. symbolic.
c. contextual.
d. structured.
e. personal.
19. Linear models of communication
a. include the concepts of noise and feedback.
b. function in only one direction: a source creates a message and sends
it through a channel to reach a receiver.
c. recognize that we send and receive messages simultaneously.
d. illustrate the interrelationships among the key elements of
human communication.
e. all of the above.
20. Fred wants to let his girlfriend Wilma know how much he loves her but
he can’t decide whether he should send her flower, take her to dinner, or
send her a love letter. Fred is wrestling with a decision about
a. decoding.
b. feedback.
c. noise. d.
channel.
e. source and receiver.
21. A corporate CEO relates that when he fumbled his way through a
speech and started to ramble, he noticed that he was losing listeners and
then became even more unnerved. The CEO was reacting to
a. encoding.
b. the channel.
c. feedback.
d. noise.
e. the context.
22. Randy watches the Super Bowl game with his friends at a neighborhood
party. Lucky Levar has tickets and goes to the game. When they see
each other the next day, Randy complains that it was “no contest” while
Levar thinks the game was thrilling. What is the most likely
communication- related reason Randy and Levar experienced the game
differently?
a. They supported different teams.
b. They received the game through different channels.
c. There was more noise at the Super Bowl party.
d. Fan feedback was missing at the Super Bowl party.
Understanding Human Communication Test
Bank.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which element of human communication is represented in the
guiding principle: Adapt to the communication circumstances and
setting.
a. Self
b. Others
c. Content
d. Context
e. Structure
2. The textbook defines communication as the process of using verbal and
nonverbal messages to generate meaning within and across various
contexts, cultures, and channels. Which term in this definition refers to
where, when, with whom, and under what circumstances you
communicate?
a. messages
b. meaning
c. context
d. cultures
e. channels
3. According to your textbook, you listen to the equivalent of a book a day,
you speak about a book a week, you read the equivalent of a book a
month, and you write a book
a. every two months.
b. every six months.
c. every year.
d. every five years.
e. every ten years.
4. A study by the Business-Higher Education Forum listed strong
as the most important skill area for college students preparing
for a career.
a. oral communication skills
b. written communication skills
c. listening skills
d. computer skills
e. proficiency in your field of study
5. You generate meaning when you
a. speak.
b. write.
c. create visual images.
d. listen, read, and react to messages.
, e. do all of the above.
6. Your textbook presents seven basic elements of human communication.
The first elements on that list is
a. purpose
b. others
c. self
d. content
e. expression
7. The Guiding Principles of Human Communication
a. are verbal and nonverbal messages that generate meaning.
b*. focus on strategies that describe how to communicate and why certain
communication strategies succeed or fail.
c. are self-evident or universally recognized truths or beliefs.
d. are axioms proving that communication is personal, relational,
and intentional.
e. are theories, strategies, and skills.
8. Which element of human communication is expressed in the
axiom “Communication is symbolic”?
a. others
b. expression
c. context
d. content
e. structure
9. Josh realizes that his presentation to a group of young men at a juvenile
detention center will be difficult. He decides that they are more likely to
take his advice if he shares past experiences from his own juvenile run-
ins with the law. What element of communication has Josh taken into
account as he prepares his talk?
a. Expression
b. Structure
c. Others
d. Purpose
e. Context
10. What axiom does the Guiding Principle “Organize message
content” address?
a. Communication is personal.
b. Communication is intentional.
c. Communication is contextual.
d. Communication is structured.
e. Communication is symbolic.
11. Sidney tells his wife his attempt to repair the lamp he broke has failed and
that it will have to be trashed. His wife says “thanks a lot.” Sid knows
that his wife is not pleased. Which communication axiom is illustrated in
this scene?
a. Communication is intentional.
, b. Communication is symbolic.
c. Communication is irreversible.
d. Communication is structured.
e. Communication is retractable.
12. The communication element expression asks
a. Which channels are most appropriate given your purpose and content?
b. What skills will improve your ability to deliver your message?
c. How effectively do you convey and listen to verbal and
nonverbal messages?
d. How can practice help you prepare to communicate
effectively? e. All of the above
13. Kentry knows that he is respected and trusted by his friends. Thus, he feels
confident that he can get them to change their mind about going
downtown after midnight. What is the primary communication element
operating in this scenario?
a. Self
b. Others
c. Context
d. Content
e. Expression
14. The question “What do you want others to know, think, believe, or feel as
a result of communicating with them” is answered by addressing the
communication element of
a. expression.
b. structure.
c. self.
d. purpose.
e. others.
15. The psychosocial context of communication includes
a. the cultural environment in which you live.
b. the place where you will be interacting with others.
c. the setting and occasion of a communicative act.
d. the number of people with whom you communicate.
e. none of the above.
16. The logistical context of communication refers to
a. the cultural environment in which you live.
b. your emotional history, personal experiences, and cultural
background. c. the time, place, setting, and occasion in which you will
interact with
others.
d. whether communication occurs one-to-one, in groups, or between a
speaker and an audience.
e. interpersonal, group, and presentational communication.
17. According to your textbook, communication refers to the
interaction of three or more interdependent people who interact for the
purpose of achieving a common goal.
, a. intrapersonal
b. interpersonal
c. group
d. presentational
e. mediated
18. You are driving down the highway and want to stop for a bite of lunch.
On the horizon you see golden arches and a sign that reads “McDonalds.”
You are reacting to the axiom that communication is
a. relational.
b. symbolic.
c. contextual.
d. structured.
e. personal.
19. Linear models of communication
a. include the concepts of noise and feedback.
b. function in only one direction: a source creates a message and sends
it through a channel to reach a receiver.
c. recognize that we send and receive messages simultaneously.
d. illustrate the interrelationships among the key elements of
human communication.
e. all of the above.
20. Fred wants to let his girlfriend Wilma know how much he loves her but
he can’t decide whether he should send her flower, take her to dinner, or
send her a love letter. Fred is wrestling with a decision about
a. decoding.
b. feedback.
c. noise. d.
channel.
e. source and receiver.
21. A corporate CEO relates that when he fumbled his way through a
speech and started to ramble, he noticed that he was losing listeners and
then became even more unnerved. The CEO was reacting to
a. encoding.
b. the channel.
c. feedback.
d. noise.
e. the context.
22. Randy watches the Super Bowl game with his friends at a neighborhood
party. Lucky Levar has tickets and goes to the game. When they see
each other the next day, Randy complains that it was “no contest” while
Levar thinks the game was thrilling. What is the most likely
communication- related reason Randy and Levar experienced the game
differently?
a. They supported different teams.
b. They received the game through different channels.
c. There was more noise at the Super Bowl party.
d. Fan feedback was missing at the Super Bowl party.
