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Chapter 02
Communicating Across Cultures
True / False Questions
1.
The ability to work harmoniously with people from other cultures helps in creating a
comfortable and productive workplace.
True False
2.
According to Geert Hofstede, culture is the collective programming of the mind which
distinguishes the members of one category of people from another.
True False
3.
Geert Hofstede defines national culture as that component of our mental programming which
we share with more of our compatriots as opposed to most other world citizens.
True False
4.
An understanding of your communication partner’s cultural roots will greatly enhance your
interpretive and interaction skills.
True False
5.
The topography of a country does not influence its culture.
True False
2-2
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in any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
6.
Ethnocentrism makes you a better cross-cultural communicator.
True False
7.
Ethnocentrism is the tendency to prefer the ideas of someone else’s culture rather than that
of one’s own.
True False
8.
In the United States an up-and-down movement of the head means “no” and a side–to-side
movement of the head means “yes.”
True False
9.
The use of fingers to indicate numbers varies by culture.
True False
10.
In the United States, people tend to be polychronic.
True False
11.
People from different cultures often vary in their attitudes toward space.
True False
12.
Americans belong to a high-context culture.
True False
2-3
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in any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
13.
People from cultures that stress human equality are most likely to quiz a person from another
culture to determine that person’s class status.
True False
14.
Lack of language equivalency exists because there are grammatical and syntactic differences
among languages.
True False
15.
The use of two-word verbs makes it easy for nonnative speakers of English to understand the
language.
True False
16.
The following sentence uses slang. The sales campaign was a failure.
True False
17.
The following sentence uses colloquial language. I’ll start the first part of the report, you start
the second, and we’ll touch base in a few days.
True False
18.
The reason stereotypes are powerful is that they are based to some degree on observable
likenesses within groups of people.
True False
19.
Continually checking for shared meaning can hamper the accuracy of the communication
process.
True False
2-4
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in any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
20.
Adapting to the cultural practices of one’s international partners might not always be
feasible.
True False
Multiple Choice Questions
21.
Which of the following is true about culture?
A.
Culture has no effect on the way you communicate.
B.
If cultural barriers are maximized, your company will have access to a larger talent pool.
C.
Being able to communicate cross-culturally will minimize problems stemming from
misinterpretations.
D.
The spread of capitalism and the explosive growth of electronic media have strengthened
national differences.
E.
Ethnocentrism makes you a better cross-cultural communicator.
22.
Being able to communicate cross-culturally:
A.
will hamper the productivity of a workplace.
B.
will enrich your business and personal life.
C.
requires you to be ethnocentric in your outlook.
D.
will maximize the problems stemming from misinterpretations.
E.
requires that you favor certain cultural practices over others.
2-5
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in any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
23.
Geert Hofstede defines culture as:
A.
the collective programming of the mind which distinguishes the members of one category
of people from another.
B.
the abstract system of signs common to every community of the world.
C.
the universal system of forms and conventions used by man.
D.
that component of our mental programming which we do not share with any of our
compatriots.
E.
that component of the human mind which is exclusive to every individual.
24.
Geert Hofstede defines national culture as:
A.
the abstract system of signs common to every community of the world.
B.
the universal system of forms and conventions used by man.
C.
that component of the human mind which is exclusive to every individual.
D.
that component of our mental programming which we share with more of our compatriots
as opposed to most other world citizens.
E.
that component of our mental programming which we share with people from other
cultures.
2-6
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in any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
25.
Ethnocentrism is best defined as:
A.
the belief that every culture has its own significance.
B.
the collective programming of the mind which distinguishes the members of one category
of people from another.
C.
the collective programming of the mind which we share with more of our compatriots as
opposed to most other world citizens.
D.
the tendency to see only one’s own cultural programming as “normal.”
E.
the belief that there is a universal system of forms and conventions underlying the use of
human language.
26.
Which of the following statements is true about cultural differences regarding body positions
and movements?
A.
In the United States, most people indicate the number “one” by holding up the thumb.
B.
Chinese people greet each other with kisses on both cheeks.
C.
In the United States an up-and-down movement of the head means “no” and a side–to–
side movement of the head means “yes.”
D.
To point to themselves, Americans point to their chests.
E.
To point to themselves, the Chinese point to their abdomen.
27.
Germans generally offer a handshake that is:
A.
brusque and firm with a single pump.
B.
moderate in grasp and repeated frequently.
C.
firm with three to five pumps.
D.
gentle, long-lasting, and sometimes with kisses on both cheeks.
E.
light, quick, and sometimes with a double kiss.
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in any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
28.
British nationals generally offer a handshake that is:
A.
brusque and firm, with a single pump.
B.
moderate in grasp and repeated frequently.
C.
soft, with three to five pumps.
D.
strong, long-lasting, and sometimes with kisses on both cheeks.
E.
moderate in grasp and includes a double kiss.
29.
French nationals generally offer a handshake that is:
A.
brusque and firm with a single pump.
B.
moderate in grasp and repeated frequently.
C.
firm with three to five pumps.
D.
strong, long-lasting, and sometimes with kisses on both cheeks.
E.
light, quick, repeated upon arrival and departure, and may include a double kiss.
30.
Americans generally offer a handshake that is:
A.
brusque and firm with a single pump.
B.
moderate in grasp and repeated frequently.
C.
firm with three to five pumps.
D.
light, quick, and sometimes with a double kiss.
E.
gentle, long-lasting, and sometimes with kisses on both cheeks.
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in any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
31.
Hispanics generally offer a handshake that is:
A.
brusque and firm with a single pump.
B.
moderate in grasp and repeated frequently.
C.
firm with three to five pumps.
D.
gentle, long-lasting, and sometimes with kisses on both cheeks.
E.
light, quick, and sometimes with a double kiss.
32.
Which of the following statements is true about cultural differences regarding body positions
and movements?
A.
In the United States an up-and-down movement of the head means “no” and a side–to–
side movement of the head means “yes.”
B.
Muslims generally accept gifts with the left hand.
C.
Touching with the left hand is considered a sign of respect among Muslims.
D.
To refer to themselves, the Japanese point to their faces.
E.
In Indonesia, looking directly at people, especially those who are older or in higher
positions is considered respectful.
33.
Which of the following is true about the attitudes of cultures toward various factors of human
relationships?
A.
In the United States, people tend to be polychronic.
B.
In the Middle East, people tend to be monochronic.
C.
North Americans tend to prefer about two feet of distance between themselves and those
with whom they speak.
D.
North Americans view personal space as belonging to all.
E.
In North America, it is considered a sign of disrespect to maintain eye contact when giving
formal speeches.
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in any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
34.
Which of the following is true about the attitudes of cultures toward various factors of human
relationships?
A.
In the Middle East, people regard time as something that must be planned in order to be
used as efficiently as possible.
B.
North Americans view personal space as a right and tend to respect this right of others;
thus, they stand in line and wait their turn.
C.
In North America, it is considered a sign of disrespect to maintain eye contact when giving
formal speeches.
D.
In the United States, people are polychronic, viewing time in a more relaxed way.
E.
In the United States, people see extensive planning as unwise and unnecessary.
35.
Which of the following is true about the attitudes of cultures toward various factors of human
relationships?
A.
In the United States, people are polychronic and view time in a more relaxed way.
B.
In the United States, people hold the view that important people should be late to show
that they are busy.
C.
In business negotiations, people from the United States move at a deliberately slow pace,
engaging in casual talk before getting to the main issue.
D.
North Americans view space as belonging to all; thus, they jostle for space when boarding
trains, standing at ticket counters, or shopping.
E.
Americans work hard to neutralize body odors or to cover them up and view body odor as
unsanitary.
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in any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
36.
American people:
A.
tend to be polychronic.
B.
belong to a low-context culture.
C.
consider touching with the left hand as a serious breach of etiquette.
D.
tend to be reticent in their relationships with others.
E.
tend to communicate implicitly.
37.
Which of the following is true about Asians?
A.
They belong to a low-context culture.
B.
They tend to express themselves explicitly.
C.
They tend to be reticent in their relationship with others.
D.
They tend to share all relevant background information when communicating.
E.
They avoid using a multimodal style when communicating.
38.
Which of the following is true about the attitudes of cultures toward various factors of human
relationships?
A.
People belonging to polychronic cultures regard time as something that must be planned in
order to be used as efficiently as possible.
B.
Communicators belonging to low-context cultures use a more multimodal style of
communication compared to those from high-context cultures.
C.
In individualistic cultures people are expected to look after themselves and their families.
D.
People from across cultures hold the common view that space belongs to all.
E.
Communicators belonging to high-context cultures tend to express themselves in concrete,
direct, and explicit ways.
2-11
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in any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
39.
Which of the following is true about the attitudes of cultures toward various factors of human
relationships?
A.
A collectivist culture promotes strong identification with social groups.
B.
A company with low power distance will most likely have a strong boss with weak
subordinates.
C.
In companies where high power distance exists, authority is widely shared and decisions
are often made by consensus.
D.
People belonging to polychronic cultures regard time as something that must be planned
in order to be used as efficiently as possible.
E.
People from across cultures hold the common view that space belongs to all.
40.
Which of the following is true about linear-actives, multi-actives, and reactives as defined by
Richard D. Lewis?
A.
Linear-actives are those who have several things going at the same time.
B.
People belonging to polychronic cultures regard time as something that must be planned
in order to be used as efficiently.
C.
Multi-actives plan their priorities not according to a time schedule but according to the
relative thrill or importance that each appointment brings with it.
D.
Linear-actives are those who do many things at once.
E.
Reactives are those who are impulsive and do not act with caution.
41.
Which of the following explains why it is difficult to make precise equivalent translations
between languages?
A.
Languages are based on the concepts, experiences, and views of the particular cultures
that developed them.
B.
A word in one language always has a corresponding word in another language.
C.
A word that seems the same in two languages always has the same meanings in both
languages.
D.
There are no grammatical and syntactic differences among languages.
E.
Like-meaning words are always used in the same way across cultures.
42.
Precise equivalent translations between languages is difficult because:
A.
languages are not based on the concepts, experiences, and views of the particular cultures
that developed them.
of the existence of multiple word meanings.
there are no grammatical and syntactic differences among languages.
like-meaning words are always used in the same way across cultures.
You must visit the museum.
B.
Greg is from Washington.
The car broke down last night.
Most tourists love this spot.
There is a scheduled trip to the zoo now.
