Chapter 1: Understanding Communication
Multiple Choice
1. Your author discusses numerous propositions about communication. An
implication of them for managers is that they need to ___
a. explore the context of employees
b. increase the use of “black holes”
c. be less reliant on time sequencing
d. all of the above
Ans: a
2. The “Law of Large Numbers” implies that____
a. any message sent to enough people could be interpreted in almost any
conceivable way
b. for any message, we should expect some unreasonable interpretations
c. communicators have fallen into “black holes”
d. all of the above
e. a and b
Ans: e
3. What is true regarding primary and secondary messages?
a. Most message receivers should pay more attention to primary messages than
secondary messages
, b. Secondary messages are not as powerful as primary messages
c. Most message receivers do not react to secondary messages
d. None of the above
Ans: d
4. What is true about high-context cultures?
a. They communicate in ways that depend on the shared experiences and
relationships of the communicators
b. Examples of high-context cultures are Germany, Sweden and the U.S.
c. The message itself relays much of the contextual information
d. All of the above
Ans: a
5. Your author presents a “typical” (but incorrect) model of communication. What
does it convey?
a. Context exists outside of communicators
b. Communicators share the same context
c. The typical model does not include context
d. a and b
Ans: d
6. Your author discusses the “blackout” tactic. Which of the following statements
are true about this technique?
a. It helps to clarify the speaker’s meaning
b. It signals the speaker’s sensitivity to other potential interpretations
c. It magnifies the “law of large numbers” principle
d. All of the above
e. a and b
, Ans: e
7. What does the following describe? “This acts as a lens through which issues are
viewed, highlighting certain images and refracting others. When we share this
with others we manage meaning because we assert that our interpretations
should be taken as real over other possible interpretations.”
a. framing
b. secondary messages
c. context construction
d. the law of large numbers
Ans: a
True/False
8. Meanings cannot be constructed without an actual verbal message from a
sender.
Ans: false
9. “Context” and “situation” represent similar concepts.
Ans: false
10. In deciphering meaning, the content of communication is usually more
important than the context of communication.
, Ans: false
11. According to your author, credibility is an “efficiency tool,” as it helps people pay
attention to messages from sources they deem competent, dynamic and have
their best interests in mind.
Ans: true
12. Time sequencing does not have a significant impact on context construction.
Ans: false
13. Your author argues that there is usually one primary message in each
communication event.
Ans: false
14. The most effective communicators minimize ambiguity in messages.
Ans: false
15. Senders of communication are most often the cause of communication
breakdowns.
Ans: false
Multiple Choice
1. Your author discusses numerous propositions about communication. An
implication of them for managers is that they need to ___
a. explore the context of employees
b. increase the use of “black holes”
c. be less reliant on time sequencing
d. all of the above
Ans: a
2. The “Law of Large Numbers” implies that____
a. any message sent to enough people could be interpreted in almost any
conceivable way
b. for any message, we should expect some unreasonable interpretations
c. communicators have fallen into “black holes”
d. all of the above
e. a and b
Ans: e
3. What is true regarding primary and secondary messages?
a. Most message receivers should pay more attention to primary messages than
secondary messages
, b. Secondary messages are not as powerful as primary messages
c. Most message receivers do not react to secondary messages
d. None of the above
Ans: d
4. What is true about high-context cultures?
a. They communicate in ways that depend on the shared experiences and
relationships of the communicators
b. Examples of high-context cultures are Germany, Sweden and the U.S.
c. The message itself relays much of the contextual information
d. All of the above
Ans: a
5. Your author presents a “typical” (but incorrect) model of communication. What
does it convey?
a. Context exists outside of communicators
b. Communicators share the same context
c. The typical model does not include context
d. a and b
Ans: d
6. Your author discusses the “blackout” tactic. Which of the following statements
are true about this technique?
a. It helps to clarify the speaker’s meaning
b. It signals the speaker’s sensitivity to other potential interpretations
c. It magnifies the “law of large numbers” principle
d. All of the above
e. a and b
, Ans: e
7. What does the following describe? “This acts as a lens through which issues are
viewed, highlighting certain images and refracting others. When we share this
with others we manage meaning because we assert that our interpretations
should be taken as real over other possible interpretations.”
a. framing
b. secondary messages
c. context construction
d. the law of large numbers
Ans: a
True/False
8. Meanings cannot be constructed without an actual verbal message from a
sender.
Ans: false
9. “Context” and “situation” represent similar concepts.
Ans: false
10. In deciphering meaning, the content of communication is usually more
important than the context of communication.
, Ans: false
11. According to your author, credibility is an “efficiency tool,” as it helps people pay
attention to messages from sources they deem competent, dynamic and have
their best interests in mind.
Ans: true
12. Time sequencing does not have a significant impact on context construction.
Ans: false
13. Your author argues that there is usually one primary message in each
communication event.
Ans: false
14. The most effective communicators minimize ambiguity in messages.
Ans: false
15. Senders of communication are most often the cause of communication
breakdowns.
Ans: false
