TEST BANK FOR CHAPTER 1
1.1 Multiple Choice Questions
1.1-1. The first step to critical thinking is to
A. identify the assertion or action.
B. consider what evidence is available.
C. consider what the evidence means.
D. consider other conclusions.
E. keep an open mind.
Answer: A
Page ref: 4
1.1-2. Communication is a complex activity influenced by a variety of factors, including
A. cultural differences.
B. cognitive abilities.
C. social norms.
D. all of the above.
Answer: D
Page ref: 4
1.1-3. A(n) _____ is something that represents something else and is used to convey meaning.
A. medium
B. message
C. symbol
D. idea
Answer: C
Page ref: 10
1.1-4. The use of an X to indicate that one should avoid a certain behavior (such as an X
through a picture of a cigarette to indicate no smoking) is an example of
A. a symbol.
B. encoding.
C. decoding.
D. verbal communication.
Answer: A
Page ref: 10
1.1-5. Which of the following is the key component of communication?
A. participants
B. channels
C. noise
D. all of these
Answer: D
Page ref: 10–13
,1.1-6. Calling someone “darling” to indicate you are intimate is an example of
A. the content meaning of a message.
B. the relationship meaning of a message.
C. a nonverbal message.
D. a personal narrative.
Answer: B
Page ref: 11
1.1-7. If Paul’s mother was cold and distant during his childhood, the _____ meaning he
associates with the word “mother” is likely to be negative.
A. content
B. connotative
C. denotative
D. significant
Answer: B
Page ref: 11
1.1-8. The manner in which you discipline your child may be different in the grocery store
versus at your home because of this component of human communication.
A. setting
B. participants
C. message creation
D. noise
Answer: A
Page ref: 12
1.1-9. In terms of the _____ of the communication process, asking your classmate versus your
instructor for a ride home is likely to have a different impact.
A. setting
B. message creation
C. channels
D. participants
Answer: D
Page ref: 12
1.1-10. Ending a relationship by writing “It’s over” on a sticky note is a problem of which
component of communication?
A. meaning creation
B. channel
C. participants
D. noise
Answer: B
Page ref: 13
,1.1-11. The component of communication that enables a sender of a message to know that the
message was received is called
A. the message channel.
B. noise.
C. feedback.
D. setting.
Answer: C
Page ref: 13
1.1-12. Messages can be transmitted through which of the following channels?
A. the body
B. the voice
C. a cell phone
D. smoke
E. all of these
Answer: E
Page ref: 14
1.1-13. Which of the following is an example of “noise” that can affect communication in a
classroom?
A. a car alarm going off outside a classroom window
B. an overly warm room
C. hungry students
D. a professor who uses big words that students don’t understand
E. all of these
Answer: E
Page ref: 14
1.1-14. When you realize that you are angry and convert that anger into a scowl and a rude
comment to your partner, you have _____ a message.
A. decoded
B. symbolized
C. processed
D. encoded
Answer: D
Page ref: 15
1.1-15. _____ models of communication reveal that communication is an ongoing process and
each communicator is a sender and receiver at the same time.
A. Linear
B. Non-linear
C. Interactive
D. Transactional
Answer: D
Page ref: 16
, 1.1-16. Concepts such as age, race, and socioeconomic status represent _____ forces which
influence communication.
A. societal
B. individual
C. contextual
D. cultural
Answer: B
Page ref: 17
1.1-17. _____ is the term used to describe how all individual members of the same culture do not
think and behave in the same manner.
A. Dynamic
B. Heterogeneous
C. Unique
D. Homogeneous
Answer: B
Page ref: 18-19
1.1-18. Communication is a _____ process in which people generate meaning through the
exchange of verbal and nonverbal messages in specific contexts and embedded in culture.
A. continuing
B. linear
C. transformative
D. transactional
Answer: D
Page ref: 20
1.1-19. Which of the following units create ethical codes to reflect beliefs and values?
A. individuals
B. group
C. communities
D. all of the above
Answer: D
Page ref: 22
1.1-20. In terms of communication ethics, if you fail to mention to your roommate that you
accidentally scraped the bumper of her car when you pulled your car into the garage, you
have engaged in
A. privacy.
B. secrecy.
C. disqualification.
D. authentic communication.
Answer: B
Page ref: 23
1.1 Multiple Choice Questions
1.1-1. The first step to critical thinking is to
A. identify the assertion or action.
B. consider what evidence is available.
C. consider what the evidence means.
D. consider other conclusions.
E. keep an open mind.
Answer: A
Page ref: 4
1.1-2. Communication is a complex activity influenced by a variety of factors, including
A. cultural differences.
B. cognitive abilities.
C. social norms.
D. all of the above.
Answer: D
Page ref: 4
1.1-3. A(n) _____ is something that represents something else and is used to convey meaning.
A. medium
B. message
C. symbol
D. idea
Answer: C
Page ref: 10
1.1-4. The use of an X to indicate that one should avoid a certain behavior (such as an X
through a picture of a cigarette to indicate no smoking) is an example of
A. a symbol.
B. encoding.
C. decoding.
D. verbal communication.
Answer: A
Page ref: 10
1.1-5. Which of the following is the key component of communication?
A. participants
B. channels
C. noise
D. all of these
Answer: D
Page ref: 10–13
,1.1-6. Calling someone “darling” to indicate you are intimate is an example of
A. the content meaning of a message.
B. the relationship meaning of a message.
C. a nonverbal message.
D. a personal narrative.
Answer: B
Page ref: 11
1.1-7. If Paul’s mother was cold and distant during his childhood, the _____ meaning he
associates with the word “mother” is likely to be negative.
A. content
B. connotative
C. denotative
D. significant
Answer: B
Page ref: 11
1.1-8. The manner in which you discipline your child may be different in the grocery store
versus at your home because of this component of human communication.
A. setting
B. participants
C. message creation
D. noise
Answer: A
Page ref: 12
1.1-9. In terms of the _____ of the communication process, asking your classmate versus your
instructor for a ride home is likely to have a different impact.
A. setting
B. message creation
C. channels
D. participants
Answer: D
Page ref: 12
1.1-10. Ending a relationship by writing “It’s over” on a sticky note is a problem of which
component of communication?
A. meaning creation
B. channel
C. participants
D. noise
Answer: B
Page ref: 13
,1.1-11. The component of communication that enables a sender of a message to know that the
message was received is called
A. the message channel.
B. noise.
C. feedback.
D. setting.
Answer: C
Page ref: 13
1.1-12. Messages can be transmitted through which of the following channels?
A. the body
B. the voice
C. a cell phone
D. smoke
E. all of these
Answer: E
Page ref: 14
1.1-13. Which of the following is an example of “noise” that can affect communication in a
classroom?
A. a car alarm going off outside a classroom window
B. an overly warm room
C. hungry students
D. a professor who uses big words that students don’t understand
E. all of these
Answer: E
Page ref: 14
1.1-14. When you realize that you are angry and convert that anger into a scowl and a rude
comment to your partner, you have _____ a message.
A. decoded
B. symbolized
C. processed
D. encoded
Answer: D
Page ref: 15
1.1-15. _____ models of communication reveal that communication is an ongoing process and
each communicator is a sender and receiver at the same time.
A. Linear
B. Non-linear
C. Interactive
D. Transactional
Answer: D
Page ref: 16
, 1.1-16. Concepts such as age, race, and socioeconomic status represent _____ forces which
influence communication.
A. societal
B. individual
C. contextual
D. cultural
Answer: B
Page ref: 17
1.1-17. _____ is the term used to describe how all individual members of the same culture do not
think and behave in the same manner.
A. Dynamic
B. Heterogeneous
C. Unique
D. Homogeneous
Answer: B
Page ref: 18-19
1.1-18. Communication is a _____ process in which people generate meaning through the
exchange of verbal and nonverbal messages in specific contexts and embedded in culture.
A. continuing
B. linear
C. transformative
D. transactional
Answer: D
Page ref: 20
1.1-19. Which of the following units create ethical codes to reflect beliefs and values?
A. individuals
B. group
C. communities
D. all of the above
Answer: D
Page ref: 22
1.1-20. In terms of communication ethics, if you fail to mention to your roommate that you
accidentally scraped the bumper of her car when you pulled your car into the garage, you
have engaged in
A. privacy.
B. secrecy.
C. disqualification.
D. authentic communication.
Answer: B
Page ref: 23
