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Read the given passage and answer the question. Many speakers ignore their hearers; stare over their heads or at the floor. They seem to be delivering a soliloquy. There is no sense of…

Question and options

Read the given passage and answer the question.
Many speakers ignore their hearers; stare over their heads or at the floor. They seem to be delivering a soliloquy. There is no sense of communication, no give and take between the audience and the speaker. That kind of attitude would kill a conversation; it also kills a speech. Good delivery is conversational tone and directness enlarged. Talk to the Community Chest just as you would to John Smith. What is the Chest Committee, after all, but a collection of John Smiths? Everyone has the ability to deliver a talk. If you question this statement, try it out for yourself; knock down the most ignorant man you know; when he gets on his feet he will probably say some things and his manner of saying them will be almost flawless. We want you to take that same naturalness with you when you speak in public. To develop it, you must practice. Don’t imitate others. If you speak spontaneously you will speak differently from anyone else in the world. Put your own individuality, your own characteristic manner into your delivery.

In order to be a successful orator, one should
  1. Speak with determination and conviction
  2. Speak with naturalness and in an individualistic manner
  3. Imitate big orators
  4. Speak in an unnatural tone.

Answer and explanation

Correct answer: B - Speak with naturalness and in an individualistic manner
The author asks speakers to carry their natural conversational manner into public speaking, not to imitate others, and to put their "own individuality" into their delivery. A successful orator therefore speaks with naturalness and in an individual manner. Imitating big orators and an unnatural tone are what he warns against, and determination and conviction are not mentioned.

Practice for these exams

  • CUSAT CAT LLM

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