QUIZ ON CULTURAL DIMENSIONS

1. In ………………………. Cultures, written and spoken words carry the burden of shared meaning
A. High context
B. Low context
A

2. In _____, group members tend to be tightly knit, and they infer meanings that go beyond spoken
word.
A. high-context cultures
B. low-context cultures
A

3. In low-context cultures, which of the following would rate as HIGH when compared to high-context
cultures?
A. Use of nonverbal signs to communicate
B. Importance of relationships
C. Reliance on words to communicate
D. Preference for an indirect communication strategy
C
4. In low-context cultures ______________.
A. work and friend relationships are inseparable
B. feelings and thoughts are not explicitly expressed
C. one must read between the lines
D. feelings and thoughts are expressed in words
D
5. Which of the following is the most accurate statement concerning the role of context in cross-
cultural communication?
A. In high-context cultures the message is implicit; in low-context cultures the message is
explicit.
B. In high-context cultures there is a low sensory involvement; in low-context cultures there is a
high sensory involvement.
C. In high-context cultures the message is explicit; in low-context cultures the message is
implicit.
D. In high-context cultures there is a high sensory involvement; in low-context cultures there is
a low sensory involvement.
A
6. Which of the following is characteristic of a high-context culture?
A. Agreements made in writing are binding
B. Relationships are more important than immediate results
C. Clarity and confrontation are valued
D. Attention to detail is extremely important.
D
7. In which of the following types of culture are personal and business relationships more separated?
A. high-context cultures
B. object-context cultures
 C. low-context cultures
D. cross-context cultures
C
8. Latin America is, in general, a homogenous area with a low-context culture.
A. True
B. False
A
9. The Germans have a ………………………. culture
A. High context
B. Low context
B
10. In which type of culture do people tend to tend to schedule their time and do one task at a time?
A. Polychromic
B. Monochronic
C. High-context
D. Low-context
B
11. People in polychronic cultures view time as
A. Linear
B. Multidimensional
B
12. The phrase "time is money" is most consistent with which culture?
A. Brazil
B. Portugal
C. United States
D. Venezuela
C

13. As a hotel management trainee from Switzerland, you are on an internship program in Bangkok in a
5 star property. During your meetings with your Thai manager, you are constantly interrupted by a
ringing phone or another colleague coming through the open door. You would think:

A. She doesn't have much time to spend with you at these meetings. By letting the phone ring and
leaving the office door open, she thinks you will get the hint.

B. She is a master of multi tasking.

C. She is trying to show you that since she is so busy, she plays an important role in the organization.

14. Which of the following statements about time systems is true?

A. Monochronic time systems are linear; polychronic systems have a past, present, and future.
B. Monochronic time systems have a past, present, and future; polychronic systems have the
simultaneous occurrence of many events.
C. Monochronic time systems are non-linear, polychronic systems have a past, present, and
future.
D. Monochronic systems have the simultaneous occurrence of many events; polychronic
systems are non-linear.
D

15. Which of the following is NOT true about monochronic time systems?
A. They have a past, present, and future.
B. They emphasize involvement with people.
C. People adhere to time commitments.
D. People are accustomed to short-term relationships.
B

16. Which of the following is NOT true about polychronic time systems?
A. Time serves to order life.
B. They emphasize involvement with people.
C. People tolerate simultaneous involvement with several people.
D. People are accustomed to long-term relationships.
B
17. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of monochronic time systems?
A. Time is linear.
B. Time serves to order life.
C. People adhere to time commitments.
D. Relationships are more valuable than material systems.
B
18. All of the following are characteristic of polychronic cultures EXCEPT:
A. people may be highly distractible.
B. meetings have agendas.
C. plans change often.
D. relationships are more valuable than material objects.
A
19. According to Hofstede, ___________ reflects the looseness or tightness of the bond between
individuals and societal groups
A. power distance
B. individualism-collectivism
C. masculinity-femininity
D. uncertainty avoidance
E. long-term versus short-term orientation
B
20. According to Hofstede, a culture that has tight social frameworks, emotional dependence on
belonging to the organization, and a strong belief in group decisions would be rated high in collectivism
A. True
B. False
A

21. People from _____________ cultures tend to place greater emphasis on community goals and
subordinate their own wishes and goal
A. Collectivist
B. Individualist
A

22. Which of the following countries has the highest rating on individualism?
A. United Sates
 B. Canada
C. Mexico
A
23. Most European countries have a more liberal view toward privacy of information than the U.S.
A. True
B. False
B

24. You have just transferred from the USA to China and are now the head of the production team. A
team project was not accomplished on time because one of your team members neglected to complete an
important step in the process. In the next team meeting you:

A. Hold the team member responsible and ask him or her not to repeat the mistake again.

B. Review the steps involved with the whole team.

C. Ask each team member to speak out about the challenges they are facing and brainstorm ways to
overcome them.

25. In ____________ societies, men are expected to be assertive and focused on material success and
women are expected to be modest, tender and concerned with quality of life.
A. Individualistic
B. Collectivist
C. Masculine
D. Feminine
C
26. In the masculinity scale of cultural values, Japan rates higher than the United States.
A. True
B. False
A

27. Which one of Hofstede's value dimensions refers to the extent to which people in a society feel
threatened by ambiguous situations?

A. Power distance
B. Uncertainty avoidance
C. Individualism
D. Masculinity
B

28. In countries that score high on _____, people have increased levels of anxiety, nervousness, and
stress.

A. individualism
B. collectivism
C. uncertainty avoidance
D. power distance
C

29. According to Hofstede, power distance is the level of acceptance by a society of the unequal
distribution of power in institutions.
A. True
B. False
B

30. Brian works for a large, international organization. He is accustomed to walking into his boss' office
and asking questions whenever his boss is free. On a recent business trip to China, Brian was
embarrassed when he walked into the Manager's office and was met with cold stares and a request to
work with his immediate superior. This is an example of a difference in _______________
A. Power distance
B. Power equality
C. Power distribution
D. Power possession
A