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 to manage
relationships.
B) It involves treating people as objects, responding to roles rather than the person, and having 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.
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,Topic: Interpersonal Communication Defined
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
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,interpersonal communication.
Topic: Interpersonal Communication Defined
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
9) Communication author Virginia Satir calls __________ "the largest single factor determining the kinds of
relationships [people make] with others."
A) romantic communication
B) physical health
C) family communication
D) emotional health
Answer: C
Learning Objective: 1.2 Explain why it is useful to study interpersonal communication.
Topic: Interpersonal Communication's Importance to Your Life
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
10) Which statement best describes the general correlation between social support and the prognosis of terminally ill
patients?
A) Patients who have strong social support die sooner.
B) Patients who have strong social support survive longer.
C) Patients are not impacted by their level of social support.
D) Social support is beneficial to patients if it comes from friends, not family members.
Answer: B
Learning Objective: 1.2 Explain why it is useful to study interpersonal communication.
Topic: Interpersonal Communication's Importance to Your Life
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
11) Which statement is true about interpersonal communication in the workplace?
A) Employers don't seek applicants with strong interpersonal skills.
B) It is more important to get along with your supervisors than your peers.
C) Applicants are sought after if they have the ability to listen to others and manage conflict.
D) Interpersonal communication in the workplace decreases productivity.
Answer: C
Learning Objective: 1.2 Explain why it is useful to study interpersonal communication.
Topic: Interpersonal Communication's Importance to Your Life
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
12) Currently, about __________ of all marriages end in divorce within twenty years of the wedding.
A) 10%
B) 25%
C) 50%
D) 75%
Answer: C
Learning Objective: 1.2 Explain why it is useful to study interpersonal communication.
Topic: Interpersonal Communication's Importance to Your Life
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
13) Alycia tells Zoe that a crowded restaurant is not the place to tell Fred that he failed to qualify for the interview.
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, She is referring to what aspect of communication?
A) Feedback
B) Channel
C) Context
D) Decoding
Answer: C
Learning Objective: 1.3 Describe the communication process, including key components and models of
communication as action, interaction, and transaction.
Topic: Interpersonal Communication and the Communication Process
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Apply What You Know
14) During the communication process, whose role is it to decode the message?
A) Sender
B) Intermediary
C) Messenger
D) Receiver
Answer: D
Learning Objective: 1.3 Describe the communication process, including key components and models of
communication as action, interaction, and transaction.
Topic: Interpersonal Communication and the Communication Process
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
15) This view of communication suggests that all elements involved in the communication process are
interconnected, meaning that a change in one can impact the rest.
A) communication as action
B) communication as transaction
C) communication as interaction
D) communication as message exchange
Answer: B
Learning Objective: 1.3 Describe the communication process, including key components and models of
communication as action, interaction, and transaction.
Topic: Interpersonal Communication and the Communication Process
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
16) Communication as ___________ is the oldest and most simplistic of the models of human communication.
A) action
B) interaction
C) transaction
D) system
Answer: A
Learning Objective: 1.3 Describe the communication process, including key components and models of
communication as action, interaction, and transaction.
Topic: Interpersonal Communication and the Communication Process
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
17) What is considered to be the most sophisticated and most realistic model of interpersonal communication?
A) communication as action
B) communication as interaction
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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 to manage
relationships.
B) It involves treating people as objects, responding to roles rather than the person, and having 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.
1
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,Topic: Interpersonal Communication Defined
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
2
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,interpersonal communication.
Topic: Interpersonal Communication Defined
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
9) Communication author Virginia Satir calls __________ "the largest single factor determining the kinds of
relationships [people make] with others."
A) romantic communication
B) physical health
C) family communication
D) emotional health
Answer: C
Learning Objective: 1.2 Explain why it is useful to study interpersonal communication.
Topic: Interpersonal Communication's Importance to Your Life
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
10) Which statement best describes the general correlation between social support and the prognosis of terminally ill
patients?
A) Patients who have strong social support die sooner.
B) Patients who have strong social support survive longer.
C) Patients are not impacted by their level of social support.
D) Social support is beneficial to patients if it comes from friends, not family members.
Answer: B
Learning Objective: 1.2 Explain why it is useful to study interpersonal communication.
Topic: Interpersonal Communication's Importance to Your Life
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
11) Which statement is true about interpersonal communication in the workplace?
A) Employers don't seek applicants with strong interpersonal skills.
B) It is more important to get along with your supervisors than your peers.
C) Applicants are sought after if they have the ability to listen to others and manage conflict.
D) Interpersonal communication in the workplace decreases productivity.
Answer: C
Learning Objective: 1.2 Explain why it is useful to study interpersonal communication.
Topic: Interpersonal Communication's Importance to Your Life
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
12) Currently, about __________ of all marriages end in divorce within twenty years of the wedding.
A) 10%
B) 25%
C) 50%
D) 75%
Answer: C
Learning Objective: 1.2 Explain why it is useful to study interpersonal communication.
Topic: Interpersonal Communication's Importance to Your Life
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
13) Alycia tells Zoe that a crowded restaurant is not the place to tell Fred that he failed to qualify for the interview.
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, She is referring to what aspect of communication?
A) Feedback
B) Channel
C) Context
D) Decoding
Answer: C
Learning Objective: 1.3 Describe the communication process, including key components and models of
communication as action, interaction, and transaction.
Topic: Interpersonal Communication and the Communication Process
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Apply What You Know
14) During the communication process, whose role is it to decode the message?
A) Sender
B) Intermediary
C) Messenger
D) Receiver
Answer: D
Learning Objective: 1.3 Describe the communication process, including key components and models of
communication as action, interaction, and transaction.
Topic: Interpersonal Communication and the Communication Process
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
15) This view of communication suggests that all elements involved in the communication process are
interconnected, meaning that a change in one can impact the rest.
A) communication as action
B) communication as transaction
C) communication as interaction
D) communication as message exchange
Answer: B
Learning Objective: 1.3 Describe the communication process, including key components and models of
communication as action, interaction, and transaction.
Topic: Interpersonal Communication and the Communication Process
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
16) Communication as ___________ is the oldest and most simplistic of the models of human communication.
A) action
B) interaction
C) transaction
D) system
Answer: A
Learning Objective: 1.3 Describe the communication process, including key components and models of
communication as action, interaction, and transaction.
Topic: Interpersonal Communication and the Communication Process
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
17) What is considered to be the most sophisticated and most realistic model of interpersonal communication?
A) communication as action
B) communication as interaction
4
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