Question 53

Harsh voice qualities usually come from too much tension in the throat and jaw.

This statement presents a fact by identifying a specific cause of harsh voice qualities, which is the tension in the throat and jaw. It is presented as an observable phenomenon rather than a subjective opinion.

A) One of the worst voice qualities is harshness.

This statement reflects a subjective judgment about voice qualities, categorizing harshness as one of the "worst." Such a classification is inherently opinion-based and lacks an objective basis.

B) Harsh voice qualities usually come from too much tension in the throat and jaw.

This statement is factual as it attributes harsh voice qualities to a measurable cause—tension in the throat and jaw. It can be supported by vocal physiology and is not influenced by personal feelings.

C) Your voice will sound unpleasant if it is shrill, grating, hard, piercing, brassy, too loud, or too nasal.

While this statement outlines various qualities that can make a voice unpleasant, it is still somewhat opinion-based as it implies a subjective assessment of what constitutes an unpleasant sound.

D) Because tension occurs in higher pitched voices, women tend to have shriller voices than men, which usually makes them less desirable as public speakers, newscasters, or political candidates.

This statement combines factual elements about voice pitch with an evaluative opinion regarding desirability in public speaking roles. The latter part introduces a subjective perspective, making it not purely factual.

Conclusion

The correct answer, B, is definitive as it provides a clear, objective cause-and-effect relationship regarding voice quality. In contrast, all other options reflect subjective opinions or judgments, which do not meet the criteria for presenting a factual statement. Thus, only option B delivers a fact rather than an opinion.