40
83) Which of the following sentences contains an idiomatic expression?
A) Our monthly sales quota is unrealistic.
B) We don’t expect to meet our monthly sales quota.
C) Making our monthly sales quota will be a piece of cake.
D) The sales quota is very reasonable.
E) These products are all quite popular.
AACSB: Diverse and multicultural work environments
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Synthesis
Learning Outcome: Describe the opportunities and challenges of communicating in a diverse
world
84) To English-speaking U.S. listeners, routine Arabic speech may sound
A) excited or angry.
B) disinterested.
C) timid.
D) excessively soft.
E) musical.
AACSB: Diverse and multicultural work environments
Difficulty: Easy
Classification: Conceptual
Learning Outcome: Describe the opportunities and challenges of communicating in a diverse
world
41
85) When speaking in English to people who use English as a second language, the best
approach is to
A) forget about feedback; just make sure you get your message across.
B) repeat your sentences often, a little louder each time.
C) speak slowly and clearly.
D) use plenty of adjectives such as fantastic and fabulous.
E) limit your sentences to no more than 5 words each.
AACSB: Diverse and multicultural work environments
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Critical Thinking
Learning Outcome: Describe the opportunities and challenges of communicating in a diverse
world
86) During conversations with non-native English speakers, you should
A) immediately rephrase statements they don’t seem to understand.
B) avoid paying too much attention to nonverbal feedback.
C) avoid including any words or phrases from their native language.
D) write everything down before you say it and show it to the other person as you speak.
E) use exaggerated physical gestures.
AACSB: Diverse and multicultural work environments
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Conceptual
Learning Outcome: Describe the opportunities and challenges of communicating in a diverse
world
42
87) When speaking with someone from another culture, avoid
A) talking down to the other person.
B) using any foreign phrases.
C) paying any attention to the person’s body language.
D) asking for clarification so you don’t offend them.
E) adjusting your conversational style.
AACSB: Diverse and multicultural work environments
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Conceptual
Learning Outcome: Describe the opportunities and challenges of communicating in a diverse
world
88) If you translate a written message from English into another language, it is a good idea to
A) translate it word for word.
B) have it back-translated.
C) use several translators.
D) rely on internet translators alone, since human translators cannot match their accuracy.
E) use an interpreter.
AACSB: Diverse and multicultural work environments
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Conceptual
Learning Outcome: Describe the opportunities and challenges of communicating in a diverse
world
43
89) As used in everyday language, ________ mean more than the sum of their literal parts, so
they cannot be taken literally.
A) noun clauses
B) prepositional phrases
C) idiomatic phrases
D) adverbial clauses
E) transitions
AACSB: Diverse and multicultural work environments
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Conceptual
Learning Outcome: Describe the opportunities and challenges of communicating in a diverse
world
90) The phrase ________ refers to dedicated software and online services that offer various
forms of automated translation.
A) machine interpolation
B) digital interpretation
C) online transcription devices
D) computerized translation tools
E) idiomatic translation tools
AACSB: Diverse and multicultural work environments
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Conceptual
Learning Outcome: Describe the opportunities and challenges of communicating in a diverse
world
44
91) In conversations with a nonnative English speaker with whom you have a longstanding
business relationship, you notice that he consistently makes language mistakes that could hurt his
credibility. In response, you should
A) ignore the errors because correcting him could compromise your business interactions.
B) interrupt him and point out the errors, then explain that no one will take him seriously unless
he learns to speak correctly.
C) politely offer advice on the appropriate words and phrases to use.
D) imitate the errors yourself in the hope that he will recognize the need to correct them.
E) encourage him to watch news programs and model his speech patterns after the newscasters.
AACSB: Diverse and multicultural work environments
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Conceptual
Learning Outcome: Describe the opportunities and challenges of communicating in a diverse
world
92) In conversations with others whose first language is not English, you should
A) not interrupt, even if you do not understand or need to correct a misconception.
B) refuse to speak unless a translator is present.
C) warn them up front that, because of language differences, nothing you say should be taken as
contractual or binding.
D) use exaggerated facial expressions and hand gestures to make sure your point gets across.
E) always demand that a witness be present.
AACSB: Diverse and multicultural work environments
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Conceptual
Learning Outcome: Describe the opportunities and challenges of communicating in a diverse
world
45
93) When writing to audiences whose first language is not English, using plenty of transitions
A) will help your readers follow your train of thought.
B) is insulting, since it will seem that you are talking down to them.
C) will confuse readers, since it will make your message longer.
D) is useful only if your readers belong to a high-context culture.
E) should be avoided, since it will make your writing sound simple and unsophisticated.
AACSB: Diverse and multicultural work environments
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Conceptual
Learning Outcome: Describe the opportunities and challenges of communicating in a diverse
world
94) Citing numbers and dates
A) does not differ among cultures.
B) differs slightly among cultures, but is consistent among all that are low-context.
C) varies so widely among cultures that it is impossible to accommodate expectations.
D) should be done carefully when communicating with audiences from other cultures.
E) should always follow European style, unless you are communicating with others in the U.S.
AACSB: Diverse and multicultural work environments
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Conceptual
Learning Outcome: Describe the opportunities and challenges of communicating in a diverse
world
46
95) Mobile devices can help you learn another language or communicate with someone who
doesn’t speak your language.
AACSB: Diverse and multicultural work environments
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Conceptual
Learning Outcome: Describe the opportunities and challenges of communicating in a diverse
world
96) Because high-quality translation software is now widely available, the demand for
multilingual communicators continues to decrease.
AACSB: Diverse and multicultural work environments
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Conceptual
Learning Outcome: Describe the opportunities and challenges of communicating in a diverse
world
97) In intercultural conversations, speaking slowly is usually regarded as a sign of disrespect.
AACSB: Diverse and multicultural work environments
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Conceptual
Learning Outcome: Describe the opportunities and challenges of communicating in a diverse
world
98) Briefly describe at least three strategies for writing effective multicultural messages.
AACSB: Diverse and multicultural work environments
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Conceptual
Learning Outcome: Describe the opportunities and challenges of communicating in a diverse
world
47
99) A new employee who speaks English as a second language has just joined the design team
you lead. You notice that she often looks confused during conversations. Describe at least three
useful strategies for this situation.
AACSB: Diverse and multicultural work environments
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Critical Thinking
Learning Outcome: Describe the opportunities and challenges of communicating in a diverse
world
100) When doing business in other cultures, what are some strategies you can use to promote
effective intercultural communication?
AACSB: Diverse and multicultural work environments
Difficulty: Difficult
Classification: Conceptual
Learning Outcome: Describe the opportunities and challenges of communicating in a diverse
world