CPPS CPPS Stage Presence & Body Language 2

Question 1

What is the primary risk of 'swaying' or 'rocking' on stage during a presentation?

Accepted Answer

It distracts the audience and signals nervousness or discomfort

Answer

Repetitive swaying or rocking is a self-soothing nervous habit that draws negative attention and signals a lack of confidence.

Question 2

When a speaker faces the projection screen instead of the audience while pointing to slide content, they are committing which error?

Accepted Answer

Turning their back, losing voice projection and audience connection

Answer

Facing the screen breaks eye contact, muffles the voice, and severs the speaker–audience connection — always face the audience.

Question 3

In a large auditorium, a speaker should adjust gestures by:

Accepted Answer

Enlarging and slowing gestures so they are visible to the entire room

Answer

In large venues, gestures must be scaled up and slowed down to be legible from far distances, matching the space's scale.

Question 4

Which facial expression habit most damages trust and warmth with an audience?

Accepted Answer

Maintaining a flat, expressionless 'presentation face' throughout

Answer

A blank, expressionless presentation face comes across as robotic or disengaged, making it difficult for audiences to emotionally connect.

Question 5

When a CPPS candidate is evaluated on 'commanding the space,' assessors are looking for:

Accepted Answer

Intentional, confident movement that owns the performance area without pacing nervously

Answer

Commanding the space means deliberate, confident use of the performance area — moving with purpose rather than pacing anxiously.

CPPS - Certified Professional Public Speaker Practice Test