3.5 Chapter Exercises — Stand up, Speak out
3.5 Chapter Exercises
Test Your Knowledge of Communication Apprehension
Table 3.1 Myths or Facts about Communication Apprehension
| Instructions: For each of the following questions, check either “myth” or “fact.” | Myth | Fact | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Audiences will be able to tell how nervous you feel. | ||
| 2. | Some stage fright might be a good thing, as you can channel it to make your delivery more energetic. | ||
| 3. | Most audiences are basically hostile, looking to see you make a fool of yourself. | ||
| 4. | Experienced speakers don’t feel any stage fright. | ||
| 5. | Most speakers tend to relax as they progress through their speeches. | ||
| 6. | Moving around the front of the room during your speech will make you less nervous. | ||
| 7. | Most audiences would rather see a speaker do well. | ||
| 8. | Focusing on yourself rather than the audience is an effective way to reduce your stage fright. | ||
| 9. | The positive or negative label you ascribe to the public speaking situation will influence how nervous you feel. | ||
| 10. | Telling a joke in your introduction is guaranteed to get the audience on your side. | ||
| Scoring: Myths: 1, 3, 4, 8, and 10; Facts: 2, 5, 6, 7, and 9 |