Final answer:
The audience's perception of the speaker's qualification to speak on a topic is called ethos. It is an appeal to ethics, credibility, and trust.
Step-by-step explanation:
The audience's perception of the speaker's qualification to speak on a topic is called ethos. Ethos is an appeal to ethics, credibility, and trust. It is established by presenting the speaker's character and qualifications. By invoking ethos, a speaker can gain the audience's trust and influence their perspective on the topic.