Lesson T4.1.2

T4.1.2 Short speeches and presentations Quiz: KS3 English, Unit 4

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson T4.1.2, Short speeches and presentations: 20 multiple choice questions for the KS3 English (National Curriculum), Unit 4: Spoken English, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. What is the main purpose of a short speech or presentation?

    • To inform, persuade or entertain an audience within a clear and limited time.
    • To keep the audience silent for as long as possible while the speaker reads notes.
    • To read a long list of facts aloud so that the audience has nothing left to learn.
    • To avoid answering any questions from the audience after the talk has ended.

  2. What is a good way to open a short presentation?

    • Ask the audience to guess the topic and then refuse to tell them the answer.
    • Apologise for being nervous and say that you have forgotten what you were going to say.
    • State the topic clearly and say why it matters to the audience.
    • Start by reading out a long list of unrelated facts before stating the topic at all.

  3. Why is it helpful to use signposting language, such as 'First, ... Next, ... Finally', in a presentation?

    • It means the speaker does not need to prepare any content, because the phrases carry the speech.
    • It guides listeners through the structure so they can follow the main points.
    • It shows that the speaker is reading directly from a script and cannot speak without notes.
    • It makes the presentation longer, which is always required to earn full marks for speaking.

  4. What is the most effective way to use notes during a short presentation?

    • Memorise the whole speech word for word so that no notes at all are needed to speak.
    • Read every word from a full script without looking up at the audience at any point.
    • Hold a blank piece of paper so that the audience can see you are prepared for the talk.
    • Use brief prompts or key words so that you can speak naturally and keep eye contact.

  5. Which closing line best finishes a short presentation?

    • That's it, I'm done now, so yeah, that's the end of the talk, see ya.
    • So, to sum up, the main benefit is clear, and I hope you will consider it. Thank you.
    • I've run out of things to say, so I'll stop here, and nobody needs to ask questions.
    • I forgot the rest of my speech, so you can all go home now, thanks I suppose.

  6. Why should a speaker check the time limit before a short presentation?

    • To decide whether the speech should be read at high speed to fit into a short slot.
    • To make sure the presentation is no longer than two minutes, whatever the topic may be.
    • To find out whether the audience will be bored, so the speaker can shorten the speech at once.
    • To make sure the main points are delivered within the allowed time and the talk does not overrun.

  7. Which feature helps a short speech to keep to the point?

    • A set of random facts about many different subjects, all delivered quickly to the audience.
    • A clear focus on one central idea, with each point linked back to it.
    • A list of loosely related topics with no link between them and no clear conclusion at all.
    • Long digressions about personal memories that do not connect to the topic in any way.

  8. What is a good way to deal with a question from the audience during a presentation?

    • Answer with a joke that has nothing to do with the question that was asked.
    • Tell the questioner that the question is silly and that nobody should ask it at all.
    • Pretend not to hear the question and continue speaking to avoid answering it.
    • Listen carefully, answer clearly and say so if the answer is not known.

  9. Why might a speaker use a simple visual aid in a presentation?

    • To replace the speech entirely, so the speaker can sit down without saying anything at all.
    • To cover the speaker's nerves, so that the audience cannot see the speaker shaking at all.
    • To make the talk harder to follow, so that the audience gives it more attention than needed.
    • To support a key point so that listeners can see and remember it more easily.

  10. What is the effect of a rhetorical question at the start of a short speech?

    • It shows that the speaker does not know the topic and is hoping the audience will explain it.
    • It engages the audience and makes them think about the topic before the speaker explains it.
    • It confuses the audience, so they cannot follow the rest of the speech afterwards at all.
    • It makes the audience answer aloud, so the speaker can judge how much they know already.

  11. Which element makes a short speech more persuasive?

    • A promise to say nothing controversial, so that no one in the audience will object.
    • A loud voice that drowns out all other ideas, so that the audience cannot disagree.
    • A long list of unrelated statistics that the audience cannot check or remember at all.
    • A clear reason, supported by an example, that the audience can relate to.

  12. Why is eye contact important during a short speech?

    • It helps the speaker connect with the audience and show confidence in their message.
    • It forces the audience to answer questions out loud at the end of the speech.
    • It proves that the speaker has memorised every word of the speech without notes at all.
    • It means the speaker does not need to use any notes or preparation for the talk.

  13. What is a useful strategy if a speaker loses their place during a presentation?

    • Start the speech again from the very beginning, even if the audience has already heard it.
    • Begin shouting so that the audience forgets the mistake and does not notice it at all.
    • Pause, look at the notes calmly, and then pick up from the last clear point.
    • Stop speaking entirely and leave the stage without finishing the speech at all.

  14. Which sentence best signposts a new point in a short speech?

    • Anyway, let's just talk about something else, because this is not the point really.
    • Another key reason to consider is the effect on local families.
    • This is the end of the speech, so please ignore anything I said before this point.
    • I've forgotten what I was going to say, so this bit is just a random pause really.

  15. What is the purpose of a conclusion in a short speech?

    • To read the notes again from the start so that the audience hears the speech twice over.
    • To apologise for the content so that the audience feels sorry for the speaker afterwards.
    • To summarise the main message and leave the audience with something to remember.
    • To introduce a completely new topic that has never been mentioned during the speech at all.

  16. Which opening is the most effective hook for a short talk about recycling?

    • Recycling is a topic. It has bins. Some people do it and some people don't.
    • Okay, so I didn't really prepare, so this will probably be quite short, sorry.
    • Did you know that a single plastic bottle can take up to 450 years to break down?
    • Hello, my name is Sam, and I am going to talk to you about a topic today.

  17. Why is it important to speak at a suitable pace during a presentation?

    • The pace does not matter, as long as the speech is finished before the timer goes off.
    • A slow pace guarantees that every listener falls asleep before the speech has finished at all.
    • A steady pace helps listeners follow the ideas and gives important points space to land.
    • A very fast pace shows the speaker is confident, so the audience should be impressed by it.

  18. Which action best shows control when a speaker is nervous?

    • Hide behind the board and speak without looking at anyone in the audience at any time.
    • Speak as quickly as possible so that the speech ends before the nerves can take hold.
    • Take a breath, pause before speaking, and keep to a planned structure.
    • Stop the speech and walk out of the room to avoid the audience seeing any nerves at all.

  19. Which is a sensible way to prepare for a short presentation?

    • Avoid practising aloud because speaking to yourself makes the speech sound unnatural.
    • Prepare only the first sentence and improvise the rest in front of the audience.
    • Write the speech the night before and never read it through again before the event.
    • Plan the main points, practise aloud and time the talk against the set limit.

  20. Which statement is most accurate about a short speech delivered to a class?

    • It should be clear and well-structured, with a purpose that the audience can identify.
    • It should avoid any structure, so that the audience cannot predict what is coming next.
    • It should last as long as the speaker likes, since the length of a speech never matters.
    • It should use only quotations from other people, with no ideas from the speaker at all.

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