Final answer:
The statement that being fully prepared for a speech can reduce stage fright by up to 75 percent is true and relates to the general understanding that thorough preparation can alleviate anxiety about public speaking. A hypothesis test would involve a comparison of the observed sample proportion against the assumed population proportion to confirm if the school's percentage is under 40%. Anticipating a public speech can stimulate the sympathetic nervous system as part of the 'fight or flight' stress response.
Step-by-step explanation:
For most beginning speakers, the biggest part of stage fright is fear of the unknown. It's often claimed that being fully prepared for a speech can significantly reduce stage fright. While exact figures can vary, the concept that preparation helps alleviate stage fright is true, as it gives the speaker a sense of control and familiarity with the material, thus reducing anxiety. In the context of the provided information, conducting a hypothesis test to determine if the percentage of students fearing public speaking at a school is less than 40%, involves comparing the observed sample proportion (135 out of 361 students) to the assumed population proportion (40%). If the calculated test statistic falls within the critical region defined by the chosen significance level, the null hypothesis (that the true proportion is at least 40%) can be rejected in favor of the alternative hypothesis (that the true proportion is less than 40%).
Regarding the question of how anticipating a public speech can stimulate the sympathetic nervous system, this response is part of the body's natural 'fight or flight' reaction to potential threats, even if the threat is psychological, such as the fear of public speaking. Anticipation of the event can cause the release of stress hormones like adrenaline, which trigger various physiological responses designed to enable a quick reaction to danger, such as increased heart rate, rapid breathing, and heightened senses.