Final answer:
Apologizing for nervousness during a speech does not alleviate speech anxiety and may highlight it instead. Effective methods include practice and focusing on the message. Exercises from history indicate false anecdotes regarding the American colonists and the Panic of 1819.
Step-by-step explanation:
Speech anxiety is a common issue that many people face when required to speak in public. Apologizing for nervousness during a speech generally does not alleviate anxiety and may even draw more attention to it. Instead of apologizing, it is more effective to practice relaxation techniques, prepare thoroughly, and focus on the message rather than the anxiety.
The act of anticipating giving a public speech can stimulate the sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the body's 'fight-or-flight' response. This stimulation can lead to physical symptoms of anxiety such as increased heart rate, sweating, and shaking. It is the body's natural response to perceived threats or challenges. Focusing on deep breathing and positive visualization can help calm the sympathetic nervous system.
Regarding Exercise 8.1.3, the Conciliatory Proposition was a proposal made by the British government to end the conflict with the American colonists by addressing some of their grievances, but it did not give in to most of the demands. Therefore, the proper answer to that would be 'b. False'.
In Exercise 12.1.2, the Panic of 1819 led to a widespread distrust in financial institutions, including the Second Bank of the United States. This distrust was due to the role the bank played in tightening credit in a bid to control inflation, which contributed to the economic crisis. As such, the answer is 'b. False' as the Panic did not increase faith in the bank.
For the hypothesis test regarding fear of public speaking, the student is testing the claim that the percentage of students who fear public speaking at her school is less than the Gallup Poll's reported 40 percent. Given that 135 out of 361 students reported a fear, the student could use a one-sample z-test for proportions to determine if the survey results provide enough evidence to support her belief.