Communication Skills Verbal & Nonverbal Communication 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which type of communication accounts for the largest percentage of interpersonal communication according to research?
- Verbal words spoken
- Tone and vocal cues
- Nonverbal body language (Correct answer)
- Written messages
Correct answer: Nonverbal body language
Research suggests that nonverbal communication, including body language and facial expressions, accounts for a majority of interpersonal communication impact.
Question 2: What does 'active listening' primarily involve?
- Waiting silently for your turn to speak
- Fully concentrating, understanding, and responding to the speaker (Correct answer)
- Taking detailed notes during a conversation
- Agreeing with everything the speaker says
Correct answer: Fully concentrating, understanding, and responding to the speaker
Active listening requires full concentration on the speaker, understanding their message, and providing appropriate feedback.
Question 3: Maintaining eye contact during a conversation primarily conveys which of the following?
- Aggression toward the listener
- Disinterest in the topic
- Attentiveness and confidence (Correct answer)
- Submission to the speaker
Correct answer: Attentiveness and confidence
Appropriate eye contact signals to the other person that you are attentive, confident, and engaged in the conversation.
Question 4: Which term describes the study of how people use physical space in communication?
- Kinesics
- Proxemics (Correct answer)
- Haptics
- Paralinguistics
Correct answer: Proxemics
Proxemics is the study of how physical distance and spatial arrangements affect communication between people.
Question 5: A speaker who crosses their arms while talking is most likely conveying which nonverbal message?
- Openness and receptiveness
- Defensiveness or discomfort (Correct answer)
- Enthusiasm about the topic
- Authority over the audience
Correct answer: Defensiveness or discomfort
Crossed arms are commonly interpreted as a defensive or closed posture, indicating discomfort or resistance.
Question 6: What is 'paralanguage' in the context of verbal communication?
- A foreign language used in business
- The vocal elements beyond word choice, such as tone and pitch (Correct answer)
- Sign language used alongside speech
- The use of pauses and silence in writing
Correct answer: The vocal elements beyond word choice, such as tone and pitch
Paralanguage refers to vocal cues such as tone, pitch, rate, and volume that accompany spoken words and influence meaning.
Which type of communication accounts for the largest percentage of interpersonal communication according to research?