PART V: MULTIPLE CHOICE AND ESSAY QUESTIONS FOR THE NINE
CHAPTERS NOT REQUIRED IN THE THREE EXAMS
Chapter 6: Kimchi and Korea
1. They are known as the Irish of Asia:
a. The Chinese
2. This nation was widely known as the Hermit Kingdom:
a. Japan
3. A Korean marriage can be described historically as:
a. egalitarian
4. This nation was invaded and ruled by several other nations during its history for long periods:
a. Japan
5. In Korea, the most important birthday for a man is:
a. The 20th
ESSAY QUESTIONS
1. What happened in Korea in 1950? How has it affected this nation?
2. South Korea has been described as the most Confucian nation in the world, even though
approximately 25% of its population is Catholic. Why?
Chapter 8: The Finnish Sauna
1. What are the differences between the manifest and hidden or latent roles of the sauna in
Finnish culture?
1) John Sibelius’ Finlandia is:
a. A play that celebrates Finland’s Russian connections
2) The closest meaning of the complex Finnish word, Sisu is:
a. The best type of vodka
3) The sauna is a place where:
a. Everybody is equal*
4) In Finnish culture, active silence represents:
a. Discomfort with nonverbal communication
Chapter 9: The Danish Christmas Luncheon
1. Several countries celebrate Christmas festivities. However, the Christmas luncheon is a
unique manifestation of Danish culture. Why?
Multiple-choice questions
1) Denmark is a:
a. High power distance country
2) The Danes are tolerant about everything except:
a. Religious differences
3) The Law of Jante is:
a. The manifestation of a “non–showy” culture*
4) Among the elements of flexicurity are:
a. Regular pay increases and weak unions
Chapter 20: Belgian Lace
1. Identify the two major ethnic groups in Belgium. What is the origin of the tension
between them and what are the consequences of these tensions?
Why?
Multiple-choice questions
1) The two major ethnic groups in Belgium are:
a. The Germans and the Flemish
2) Belgians tend to be very individualistic but their __________________ is strong.
a. Family orientation*
3) Which of the following are two of Belgium’s most famous products?
a. Lace and vodka
4) A key characteristic of Belgian life is the tendency to:
a. Adopt extreme positions on important issues
Chapter 29: South African Townships
1. How would you describe Nelson Mandela’s influence on the creation of South Africa? Please
describe three specific factors.
1) Nelson Mandela could be described as manifesting the spirit of:
a. Ubuntu*
2. How many entrances and exits existed in each Township?
a. two*
3. Nelson Mandela’s style of leadership could be described as that of a (n):
a. zealot
4. In the GLOBE study of 62 national societies, the only nation that needed to be treated as two
distinctive cultures was:
a. Japan
Chapter 32: Estonian Singing
1. This nation has prospered economically since the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1990:
a. Ukraine
2. This nation accomplished its revolution without bloodshed and through the use of large
singing folk concerts:
3. Today in Estonia, the group that has much less power than it did 25 years ago is:
a. Polish immigrants
4. Some of the citizens of this nation might today be described as stateless. This nation is:
a. Poland
1. How has Estonia fared since the breakup of the Soviet Union? Why?
2. Why is the Baltic so important to Estonia in today’s world?
3. Describe the history of folk singing in Estonia and how it manifested itself as the Estonian
Singing Revolution.
4. How has tourism affected Estonia? Why do so many Finns visit Estonia for a day or two?
5. Would you describe Estonia today as a backward nation? Why or why not?
Chapter 33: The Polish Village Church
1. What is the Partitioning in Polish history? When did it occur? What three nations were
involved? How has it affected this nation’s identity?
3. What happened to Poland between 1918 and 1936? What happened to Poland between 1936
and 1990? How is Poland doing today politically and economically?
1. All the following nations were involved in the Polish Partitioning except for:
a. Russia
2. This nation suffered the most casualties during World War II:
a. Austria
3. The cultural metaphor for Poland is:
a. The Partitioning
4. The Polish word Kumoterstwo can be translated as:
a. the Partitioning
b. favoritism*
e. helpfulness
Chapter 35: The Portuguese Bullfight
1. What is Portugal’s historical relationship with Spain? What are two cultural differences
between the two countries?
2. What are the six rounds of the Portuguese bullfight? Describe two significant ways in
which the Portuguese bullfight differ from its Spanish counterpart.
Multiple-choice questions
1) In the 18th century, the Marquis de Pombal prohibited:
a. Public drunkenness
2) In the context of a bullfight, the forcados are:
a. Mounted horsemen
3) The post bullfight shaking of hands between the cavaleiros and the forcados represents:
a. The coming together of the social classes*
4) The Fado houses are places where:
a. Young people enjoy dancing and feasting
Chapter 38: Cultural Metaphors for the Caribbean
1. How is the Caribbean a region of variety and contrast? Please discuss.
2. What impact does the history of colonial conquest have on the present day Caribbean?
3. Why is the Ackee metaphor very suitable for Jamaica? Please describe this metaphor.
What are some of the other notable metaphors for the islands of the Caribbean?
Multiple-choice questions
1) The open or ripe Ackee fruit in Jamaican culture represents:
a. Ritualistic identity
2) The metaphor of No Ball is used to explain:
a. Ethical leadership*
3) Liming is a process in which various people:
a. Build structures using limestone
4) Which one of the following is an additional metaphor for the Caribbean?
a. The rum shop*
PART VI DISCUSSION QUESTIONS BY CHAPTER
Chapter 1: Understanding Cultural Metaphors
1. Culture has sometimes been compared to a “computer program that, once activated by a
few commands or stimuli, begins to operate automatically and seemingly in an
independent manner.” Do you agree with this description? Why or why not?
2. What are two of the consequences of cultural mistakes in business? Research and provide
two current examples of cross-cultural mistakes in international business.
3. Why are U.S. Americans at a particular disadvantage in learning about cultural mindsets
of foreign cultures?
Chapter 2: The Thai Kingdom
1. What are the three types of face? (Preserving your face and giving face and personal
code of ethics/honor.) Describe the two types of authority-ranking cultures: paternalistic
and authoritarian.
4. Identify two characteristics separating Thais and U.S. Americans. How are they similar
to one another?
culture? Why or why not?
Chapter 3: The Japanese Garden
1. How have Japanese and U.S. American corporate cultural practices influenced
each other? Provide at least two examples of each.
2. What are two of the main elements of Japanese culture using the Hofstede and
GLOBE frameworks?
3. Is the Japanese garden an appropriate metaphor for Japanese culture? Why or why
not?
4. What is the Carlos Ghosn effect?
5. How did China influence Japan in its early history?
6. What are wa, kata and seishin? How do they influence Japanese culture? How
does the U.S. Constitution differ from the original Japanese constitution in terms
of harmony vs life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness?
Chapter 4 : Bedouin Jewelry and Saudi Arabia
1. How are traditional and modern values in tension in Saudi Arabia? Have they
been successful in resolving this tension?
2. What is Saudi Arabia’s greatest asset today?
3. What is the origin of the word Bedouin? How do the Bedouin live in the deserts
of Saudi Arabia?
of women in this culture?
Chapter 5: Vietnam
1. What is the cultural metaphor for Vietnam? Do you feel it is appropriate? Why
or why not?
2. What has been the historical relationship between Vietnam and China? Why?
3. Discuss the history of French involvement in Vietnam. Is France still involved in
United States. How many Americans and Vietnamese died in the Vietnam War?
Chapter 6: Kimchi and Korea
1. What are chaebols? Do they exist in the U.S.A.? Why or why not? Are they legal
in the U.S.A.? Why or why not?
2. Do hamburgers reflect U.S. American-ness in the same manner that kimchi reflects
Korean-ness? Why or why not?
3. Why was Korea known as the hermit kingdom? Briefly describe the relationship
between Japan and Korea in the 20th Century.
Chapter 7: The Swedish Stuga
1. What is lagom? Historically, how did this concept evolve?
2. What are Swedish day fines? How do they differ from U.S. American fines given
for similar offenses in these two nations?
3. We have described Swedes as loners, but Sweden has an incredible number of
clubs, associations, etc.? How would you reconcile these two facts?
Chapter 8: The Finnish Sauna
1. Describe the relationships that Finland has had with both Sweden and Russia
historically. How have these relationships changed over time?
2. Discuss the implications of partial land redistribution that occurred in Finland in
1918. How does Communism relate to this policy?
3. Why is the Finnish sauna called a secular holy place? Do other national cultures
have a similar institution that functions as a secular holy place? If yes, which
Chapter 9: The Danish Christmas Luncheon
1. Numerous countries have Christmas festivities. Why is the Christmas luncheon an
appropriate metaphor for Denmark?
2. What exactly is meant by interdependent individualism? How is Danish culture a