单选题 Questions 11-15 are based on the following passage.
Among the many ways in which people communicate through speech, public speaking has probably received more study and attracted more attention than any other. Politicians campaigning for public office, salespeople presenting products, and preachers delivering sermons all depend upon this form of public communication. Even people who do not make speaking a part of their daily work are often asked to make public speeches: students at graduation, for instance, or members of churches, clubs, or other organizations. Nearly everyone speaks in public at some time or other, and those who perform the task well often become leaders.
There are many reasons for speaking in public. A public speaker may hope to teach an audience about new ideas, for example, or provide information about some topic. Creating a good feeling or entertaining an audience may be another purpose. Public speakers, however, most often seek to persuade an audience to adopt new opinions, to take certain actions, or to see the world in a new way.
Public speakers usually know well in advance when they are scheduled to make an address. Consequently, they are able to prepare their message before they deliver it. Sometimes, though, speakers must deliver the message unprepared, or off the cuff, such as when they are asked to offer a toast at a wedding reception or to participate in a televised debate or interview.
When they do not have to speak unprepared, most speakers write their own speeches. Politicians and business executives sometimes employ professional writers who prepare their speeches for them. These professional writers may work alone or in small teams. Although the speaker may have some input into the contents of the speech, the writers sometimes have a great influence over the opinions expressed by their employers. Regardless of how a speech is prepared, the person who delivers it is given credit for its effect upon its hearers.

单选题 Public speaking is well known to the average people because ______.

【正确答案】 B

【答案解析】[解析] 第1段和第1句话指出：“演讲比起其他形式的交流活动被研究得更多、更引人注目。”从下面几个句子来看，人们以这样或那样的方式埘演讲这一活动了解不少：“政治家竞选国家官员(public office)、销售员推介产品、传教士传道等，使用的都是这一宣传方式。即使平时不做演讲的人在某些场合下也不得不做演讲，如：即将毕业的学生(论文答辩或毕业典礼)，教会、俱乐部或其他组织和机构的成员。几乎每个人都在这样或那样的场合做过演讲，而善于演讲的人经常成为领导。”这与B的意思吻合，故应选B。

单选题 Which of the following is rarely the purpose of public speaking?

【正确答案】 B

【答案解析】[解析] 原文第2段列举了演讲活动通常的目的。第2段第2句提到，演讲者也许想教一种新思想或告知一件新事项。最后一句指出，演讲者的目的经常是说服人接受新观念、采取某种行动或改变世界观(see the world in new ways)。综合本段所谈的内容，演讲的目的当然不足演讲者自身得到快乐，这与B的意思吻合，故本题选B。