Question

Abimbola is telling a scary story as part of a class presentation. Her classmates will be listening to the story in a room with the lights lowered. She wants to add other elements to the story to make it more suspenseful.

Which verbal communication strategies should Abimbola use? Check all that apply.

take a pause right before the scariest moment
slow down her speaking rate after the scariest moment
speed up her speaking rate at the scariest moment
increase her volume at the scariest moment
become quieter after the scariest moment

Answer 1

- take a pause right before the scariest moment — yes. Strategic silence builds tension and makes listeners anticipate the next line.
- slow down her speaking rate after the scariest moment — yes. Slowing lets the moment sink in and prolongs tension.
- speed up her speaking rate at the scariest moment — no. Rushing usually reduces suspense (it can convey panic, but doesn’t build eerie buildup).
- increase her volume at the scariest moment — yes. A sudden increase can startle and heighten the impact.
- become quieter after the scariest moment — yes. Dropping to a whisper or very low volume pulls listeners in and maintains unease.