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Brydon: Between One and Many textbook cover

Between One and Many: The Art and Science of Public Speaking, 4/e

Steven R. Brydon, California State University, Chico
Michael D. Scott, California State University, Chico

Ethical Speaking

Multiple Choice

Please answer all questions.


1	Ethics is
		A)	an all or nothing proposition
		B)	relevant only to public speakers
		C)	a system of principles of right and wrong that govern human conduct
		D)	all of the above


2	The view that ethical principles may vary from culture to culture is called
		A)	ethical relativism
		B)	cultural relativism
		C)	universalism
		D)	utilitarianism


3	You discover that a friend of yours is cheating on his or her significant other. Suppose that you are asked to tell a lie to prevent hurt feelings. You believe strongly that it is never right to lie, regardless of circumstances, and therefore tell the truth, even though people are hurt. Which ethical system are you following?
		A)	Utilitarianism
		B)	Universalism
		C)	Situational ethics
		D)	Cultural relativism


4	What ethical system helps explain why it is acceptable for the President of the United States to present a speech written by a ghostwriter, but it is unethical for a student in a public speaking class to do the same thing?
		A)	Universalism
		B)	Utilitarianism
		C)	Ethical relativism
		D)	Situational ethics


5	Suppose you are asked to make a sacrifice, such as paying a higher fee for your student government, so that the student union can be improved and all students gain the benefit in the long run. What ethical system would suggest that individual sacrifices for the good of the many are morally acceptable?
		A)	cultural relativism
		B)	universalism
		C)	utilitarianism
		D)	Situational ethics


6	Which of the following Greek philosophers believed that virtually any rhetorical deception was justified if it furthered the case of the rhetor?
		A)	Aristotle
		B)	Plato
		C)	Socrates
		D)	Sophists


7	James Jaksa and Michael Pritchard endorse which of the following ethical principles?
		A)	tell the truth
		B)	show respect for the power of words
		C)	invoke participatory democracy
		D)	all of the above


8	Karl Wallace believed in providing good reasons, which are
		A)	statements based on moral principles, offered in support of propositions about what we should believe and how we should act.
		B)	statements that arouse fears and hatreds in order to persuade them to do what the speaker wants.
		C)	statements that are designed to conceal the speaker's intentions from the audience.
		D)	emotional statements to which people are likely to respond automatically.


9	A student finds a speech on the Internet that seems perfect for the upcoming speech assignment. The student downloads the speech and presents it in class as his or her own work. This is an example of
		A)	the total rip-off
		B)	the partial rip-off
		C)	the accident rip-off
		D)	acceptable borrowing


10	Which of the following ethical norms applies to listeners?
		A)	Build goodwill and trustworthiness
		B)	Discussing both sides of a controversial issue
		C)	Avoiding plagiarism
		D)	Speak out in response to deception

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