Early study of public speaking was known as:
a. public communication.
b. rhetoric.
c. public relations.
d. communication study.

B. rhetoric.

Explanation:

The first public speaking studies were known as rhetoric. These studies were almost entirely related to oratory and dialectic, in addition to analyzing the ways in which different groups in society communicated, in addition to teaching a speaker to communicate with eloquence, wisdom and expressing ideas in a beautiful, effective and persuasive way.

Rhetoric is currently a term used to describe an individual's ability to formulate a thought and express it through speech.