Question

Thank you for coming out on this cold December morning. Many of us, students AND professors, have a tough time making it to an 8:00 class on Monday mornings. It takes a little extra effort-leaving the warmth of our beds to brave the wintry weather. So having you join us, bright and early, for this presentation on campus policy recommendations is great. It is my pleasure to be here.1

But here at Regal University, handicapped students report being unable to even get to class. This is because of uncleared snow left to pile up on ramps, entrances, and walkways. According to the National Climatic Data Center, our winter season’s average temperature is twenty two degrees and we have an annual snowfall of over seventy eight inches. We must come up with a workable solution to enable all students to access the campus and classrooms safely. The snow creates a dangerous situation often blocking entrances, prohibiting wheelchairs from entering. Angie, a fellow classmate of mine, was injured when she tried to get through the snow last week. Her wheelchair tipped over. She will not be back this semester. According to campus security, during November and December alone, four student injury reports involved ice or snow covered ramps. 2
What does the speaker do in the beginning of her speech that conveys she is a credible, reliable speaker?
A) She comments on the hope for warmer weather soon.
B) She offers a solution to the problem of access for wheelchairs.
C) She encourages the audience to sign the petition to create better access.
D) Like the members of the audience, she is a member of the university population.

Answer 1

D. She makes it known that she is also a member of the university population. More students would find her to be reliable since she would understand what they're going through.

Answer 2

The correct answer is D) as the members of the audience, she is a member of the university population.

What the speaker does at the beginning of her speech that conveys she is a credible, reliable speaker is that as the members of the audience, she is a member of the university population.

She has credibility because although she is a teacher of Regal University, she is also a member of the university population, a member of the community that is affected by the harsh winter weather and the amount of snow that makes transportation to campus, dangerous.