Practice Exam for Midterm #2
According to natural selection, those with genes best suited to an environment are likely to (5)
a. struggle and then perish.
b. perish.
c. survive yet struggle.
d. survive and reproduce.
Research on the Big Five personality traits indicates that (5)
a. culture determines these traits.
b. differences among these traits in different countries are quite small.
c. national stereotypes about these traits are valid.
d. there are no cultural differences among these traits.
In follow-up experiments to his initial study, Milgram made the learner's protests more compelling by
having him complain of a heart condition, then scream and plead for release, and finally refuse to
answer. With this added condition,
(6)
a. the majority of participants still fully obeyed the experimenter's demands.
b. teachers were more reluctant to deliver initial shocks.
c. learners became more real and personal to the teacher.
d. fewer participants went to 450 volts.
After President Bush announced his position regarding a possible war with Iraq, he was unlikely to
change his mind. This most likely reflects the
(6)
a. we-they polarity between the political parties.
b. fact that public commitment reduces susceptibility to social influences.
c. fact that the high status of the office elicits a need for uniqueness.
d. fact that higher-status people are more suseptible to psychological reactance.
Which one of the following is NOT one of the characteristics that listeners typically attribute to
fast speakers?
(7)
a. objective
b. humorous
c. intelligent
d. knowledgeable
In surveys conducted on groups of younger and older people over several years, the results supported
the _____ explanation for how age plays a role in persuasion.
(7)
a. generational
b. life cycle
c. age
d. time
The larger the crowd, the _____ a person tends to be _____. (8)
a. more; calm
b. less; calm
c. more; aroused
d. less; aroused
Research indicates that minorities are most influential when they (8)
a. make use of two-sided rather than one-sided appeals.
b. unswervingly stick to their position.
c. argue positions that are greatly discrepant from the majority position.
d. show respect for the majority position.
Which of the following is NOT one of the 5 types of cultures
identified by Vontress? (L)
a. temporal
b. universal
c. ecological
d. regional
Group decision, performance, production, etc., is SUPERIOR
to the strongest member when (L)
a. the strongest member is labeled as the leader and leads the
group to a final goal or outcome.
b. information gathering is required.
c. the products of individual group members are kept anonymous.
d. rate busting occurs.
Essays:
Describe some aspects of persuasion. What are some reasons why metaphors are used in persuasive communication?
How can one help to prevent mistakes made by groupthink?