Describe the best strategy a speaker can use to handle the following issues during a question-and-answer session:

(A) A man takes the microphone to ask a question, but instead spends 2 minutes (and counting!) making a rambling comment in which you can hardly find a question.
(B) A woman in the audience takes the mic and makes a hostile comment to you.
(C) When the question-and-answer session begins, no one raises hands to ask questions or make comments.

What will be an ideal response?

The best answers will engage each scenario (A, B, and C), describing the best way to handle each situation. These answers should include but are not limited to the following:
1. (A) The speaker should speak up during a pause in the statement/question and try to rephrase the question ("What I believe I hear you saying is…"). Only if necessary, the speaker should as politely as possible interrupt the extended question, thanking the questioner for his participation and inviting the man to speak with the presenter after the conclusion of the event.
2. (B) The speaker should avoid reacting defensively and should instead listen carefully to the comment. If there are grounds upon which the speaker can then make a productive comment, the speaker should do so. Otherwise, the speaker should thank the hostile woman for her comment, perhaps offer to speak with her after the event, and should move on to the next question.
3. (C) The speaker should allow some time for silence, because the audience may simply be gathering their thoughts. If there is still no participation, the extemporaneous speaker will expand upon a point perhaps abbreviated in the speech or add further information on the topic that was not included in the presentation, in an attempt to stimulate discussion. A final strategy is for the speaker to ask open-ended questions of the audience to stimulate commentary and discussion.