CHAPTER 1: Communication Perspectives

1. The process of putting our thoughts and feelings into words and nonverbal cues is called a. encoding b. decoding c. feedback d. semantics ANS: A 2. a. b. c. d. Selecting the word "rain" when you see precipitation represents a process called encoding decoding feedback semantics

ANS: A 3. Thinking "a person who is very careful about spending money" when someone describes a person as "thrifty" represents a process called a. encoding b. decoding c. feedback d. semantics e. communicating ANS: B 4. At dinner you get your father's advice on whether you should take economics or political science to meet a requirement. The next day when you see your father, you say, "I decided on economics." His understanding of your message is explained by a. cultural context b. historical context c. psychological context d. social context e. none of these answers are correct ANS: B

5. You are taking an exam right now. If you are taking it from your home computer, which of the following contexts will affect you the most? a. physical context b. social context c. historical context d. psychological context e. cultural context ANS: A 6. At a wedding reception, a romantic song begins to play, and the wedding guests begin to clink their glasses. The bride and groom know what this means, and begin to kiss. This is best explained by a. historical context b. psychological context c. physical context d. social context e. none of these answers are correct ANS: D 7. a. b. c. d. e. The route used to transmit messages is known as encoding decoding feedback noise a channel

ANS: E 8. Sarah and Stephen are meeting to talk about their class project, but Stephen is distracted, as he is worried about an exam in another class. He asks Sarah to repeat herself several times. This conversation is most strongly influenced by a. physical context b. physical noise c. internal noise d. semantic noise ANS: C

9. You approach your friend Tom to ask him about how he feels about his classes this fall. Tom is busy watching a squirrel and doesn't hear anything you've just said. The communication is being affected by a. historical context b. semantic noise c. psychological noise d. physical noise ANS: D 10. If you can't pay attention because a song lyric is stuck in your head, you are experiencing a. physiological noise b. semantic noise c. internal noise d. message filtering ANS: C 11. If you are having a hard time concentrating while you take an exam because of the movie playing in the classroom next door, you are being affected by which of the following? a. feedback b. decoding c. physical noise d. semantic noise ANS: C 12. A mother tells her child to go clean his room. He does this, although he mumbles something under his breath and makes a face to let her know that he's not happy about it. This is an example of a. context b. feedback channel c. decoding d. noise ANS: B

13. As Jones tells about his trip to the Grand Canyon, he notices Janet and Mark yawning. The information Jones is receiving is known as a. noise b. decoding c. encoding d. feedback e. channels ANS: D 14. The fact that many people will talk openly with perfect strangers while on an airplane or a bus suggests that a. we communicate to maintain our sense of self b. we communicate to exchange information c. we communicate to develop relationships d. we communicate to meet social needs ANS: D 15. Saying, "Rachel, will you please let us come down to the beach with you?" is a statement that suggests that a. we communicate to meet social needs b. we communicate to influence c. we communicate to develop relationships d. we communicate to exchange information e. we communicate to maintain our sense of self ANS: B 16. a. b. c. d. The exchange of information function of communication is best illustrated by saying "Do you want to study together?" to a new acquaintance explaining why you feel as you do about marriage giving reasons for buying a product providing directions to the doctor's office

ANS: D

17. Interpersonal communication is a. communication between a small number of people who have a relationship with each other b. communication that is emotional c. communication that is limited to romantic relationships d. all these answers are correct ANS: A 18. You couldn't help it. You ate Bonnie's potato chips. She hates it when you do that. When you see her next, you should choose to use a message that is a. a constructed message b. a spontaneous expression c. a scripted message d. influenced by the halo effect ANS: A 19. You are at a scary movie and shout, "Oh no!" when you see a particularly scary sequence. Your response is an example of a a. constructed message b. scripted message c. spontaneous expression d. immediacy ANS: C 20. The cashier at the store tells you, "Thank you for shopping." You're expecting her to say, "Have a nice day," and so you respond, "You, too." This is an example of a breakdown in which of the following kinds of communication messages? a. spontaneous expression b. constructed message c. scripted message d. semantic message ANS: C

21. If a friend declares that he/she will plan your upcoming trip and you agree that he/she should take this responsibility, the relationship most likely has an understood degree of a. immediacy b. control c. cultural tension d. conflict ANS: B 22. a. b. c. d. Which of the following statements are true about communication? Communication is an innate quality that does not need to be taught. It's easy to stop communicating. Communication is influenced by ethical implications. Communication is only used to exchange information and to meet needs.

ANS: C 23. a. b. c. d. Competent communication depends on having a friendly personality learning how to give strong feedback being both effective and appropriate avoiding noise

ANS: C 24. According to Brian Spitzberg, motivation is an important aspect of communication competence because a. we must know what is involved in communication b. we will only improve our communication if we want to c. it is always affective and appropriate d. along with incentives, it guarantees success ANS: B

25. To get the most from this course, you should write personal goals. Which of the following should be included in this process? a. You should clearly state the problem. b. You should make your goal specific. c. You should identify ways to know you have reached your goal. d. All of these answers are correct. ANS: D TRUE/FALSE 1. Using multiple channels to transmit messages leads to confusion and a less accurate interpretation of your message. ANS: F 2. The process of transforming feelings and concepts into symbols and organizing them into a message is called encoding. ANS: T 3. Because ethics are a matter of personal judgment, they are rarely considered or referenced during effective communication. ANS: F 4. The main role of feedback is to avoid semantic noise.

ANS: F 5. A moral dilemma occurs when we are faced with violating the truthfulness and honesty principle of communication ethics. ANS: T ESSAY 1. List and define the five characteristics of communication competence described by the book. Identify at least one with which you feel the most comfortable, and explain how you have exhibited communication competence in this area. ANS: Answer not provided.

2. Define three aspects of communication context and discuss how each affects interpersonal communication. ANS: Answer not provided. 3. Write a short dialogue that includes a spontaneous expression, scripted message and a constructed message. Label each. ANS: Answer not provided. 4. You're at the mall shopping for clothes. In one of the fitting rooms, you find a wallet with ID and $100 cash. You have the option of taking the money and leaving the wallet, or bringing everything to the service desk. Define the five ethical standards that influence our communication and apply them to this moral dilemma. ANS: Answer not provided.