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In research presentation, I'm always impressed when some of the brightest in the room have humbly asked the researcher to back up and explain something that others might find very basic but that's just a bit outside the questioner's domain. A speaker can tell when he's being asked something out of sincere curiosity. And rather than make me doubt the questioner's ability, it confirms it for me. It shouts confidence.
In groups that know each other well, I've also sometimes used humor to help ask the embarrassing question. Referencing the most-respected person in the room, I've sometimes said, "To help John here better understand (pausing and giving a wink to John), can you go back to slide 2 and explain how you got to step XYZ". It always gets a chuckle. And I get my answer.