Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 67%
Entry Exam
Passage / Scenario
What effect does your voice have on others? Does it persuade or irritate, attract or repel? One ofthe worst qualities is harshness. If you ever get the feeling that people are uncomfortable when you speak, it may be that your harsh tones are jarring their eardrums. Your voice will sound
unpleasant if it is shrill, grating, hard, piercing, brassy, to loud, or too nasal. Harsh voice qualities usually come from too much tension in the throat and jaw. Tension tightens muscles and blocks the relaxed voice tones essential to a pleasing impression. Because tension occurs in higher pitched voices, women tend to have shriller voices than men, which usually makes them
less desirable public speakers, newscasters, or political candidates.
According to the passage, what does the author imply about the effect of voice tones on public speaking?
Correct answer
A
Rationale
The author emphasizes the significance of voice tones in public speaking, suggesting that harsh voice qualities can make a person less desirable as a public speaker. The passage highlights that unpleasant voice qualities like being shrill, grating, or piercing can result from too much tension in the throat and jaw, which negatively impacts the audience's perception. Therefore, the correct answer is A, as the author implies that voice tones play a crucial role in making a positive impression on the audience in public speaking.