3.5 Whatever the topic or the style of your presentation, you should always put your audience first. Match the items below to discover some useful tips about how you can do that.

1. Be genuinely interested	a) to process the information.
2. Maintain	b) is appropriate in the host culture.
3. Avoid	c) if you know them.
4. Use individuals' names	d) in your audience as people.
5. Ask various kinds of	e) a good-natured attitude.
6. Give your audience time	f) sounding or looking superior.
7. Use as much eye-contact as	g) questions during the presentation.

3.6 Read and choose the best response to each question.

1. May I ask you a question?

a. No, of course not.

b. Please do.

c. No, that's a problem.

2. Do you mind telling me where you got those figures?

a. Well, actually, it's confidential.

b. Yes, I do.

c. Certainly.

3. I suppose you're in town for a week. Is that right?

a. You could say so.

b. That's right.

c. I'd prefer not to.

4. Don't you think we need to take a break?

a. I need a break.

b. I don't need a break.

c. That's a good idea.

5. All the job losses are in the plant, aren't they?

a. No, they aren't.

b. You're wrong.

c. Actually, some are at headquarters.

6. Could I ask you when you're going to leave?

a. Any moment.

b. That's a difficult question.

c. That's interesting.

3.7 Circle the appropriate word in italics.

One disadvantage/advantage of oral presentations over written reports is the opportunity to engage in two-way communication. The question-and-answer session is a vital/unimportant part of your presentation; don't plan/plan for it accordingly.

Normally, you should announce at the beginning of your presentation that you will be happy to answer any questions when you're through/back. Holding questions until the end prevents/prevails you from being interrupted and losing/gaining your train of thought or possibly running out/through of time and not being able to complete your prepared/finished remarks. Also, there is always the possibility that the listener's question will be answered/delivered in the course of your presentation.

The exception to a questions-at-the-end policy is when your topic is so complex/easy that a listener's question must be answered later/immediately if he or she is to follow the rest of the presentation. Another exception is formal/informal (and generally small/big) meetings, where questions and comments naturally occur throughout/ after the presentation.

As you prepare your presentation, anticipate what questions you might expect/wait from the audience. Make a list of them and think through impossible/possible answers. If necessary, make notes to refer to while answering. If your list of questions is very short/long, you should probably consider revising your presentation to incorporate some of the answers into your prepared remarks.

Always listen carefully to the question; don't repeat it/repeat it, if necessary, for the benefit of the entire audience; and look/don't look at the entire audience as you answer – not just at the questioner. Treat each questioner with unfailing courtesy. If the question is antagonistic, be firm but fair and polite.

If you don't know the answer to a question, freely say so and don't promise/promise to have the answer within a specific period. Then write down/never write the question to remind yourself to find the answer later. Do not risk/risk embarrassing another member of the audience by referring the question to him or her.

If your call for questions results in absolute silence, you may conclude either that you did a superb/bad job of explaining your topic or that no one wishes to be the first to ask a question. If you suspect the latter, to break the ice, you might start the questions yourself, by saying something like, "One question I'm frequently asked that might interest you is..." Or you may/can't ask the program chair ahead of time to be pre-pared to ask the first question if no one in the audience begins.