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Chapter 07

Communicating across Cultures

True / False Questions

1. Cross-cultural business communication skills are only necessary for employees of companies
that do business internationally.

True False

2. Our dominant culture has little impact on who we are and how we think.

True False

3. There can be many subcultures within one culture.

True False

4. Geography, history, and religion all play major roles in influencing culture.

True False

5. Ethnocentrism is sensitivity to the different dimensions of cultural difference.

True False

6. Hand gestures vary in meaning from culture to culture.

True False

7. Some nonverbal communication movements, such as eye contact, are the same in every culture.

True False

8. People in the United States tend to be monochronic, meaning they view time in a relaxed way.

True False

9. Edwardo and his co-workers often show up and start meetings fifteen or even thirty minutes later
than scheduled, indicating that they are probably members of a polychronic culture.

True False

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10. In low-context cultures, individualism is highly valued.

True False

11. Because they spend a lot of time explaining background information, people from high-context
cultures often seem evasive and indecisive to people from low-context cultures.

True False

12. The measure of how people view relationships between superiors and subordinates is referred to
as culture context.

True False

13. A word in one language may or may nothave a corresponding word in another language.

True False

14. Back translating involves translating a sentence beginning with the last word and ending with the
first word in order to ensure a literal translation.

True False

15. Two-word verbs combine a verb with a second element to create a different meaning than the two
words would have on their own.

True False

16. Colloquialisms add color and an additional level of meaning to messages, so they should be used
frequently when communicating with nonnative English speakers to help them better understand
your message.

True False

17. If you plan to do business abroad, you should focus your research solely on the people of the
culture you are about to visit.

True False

18. Researched cultural stereotypes can serve as useful basic models to help you adapt your
behavior to interacting with other cultures.

True False

19. When communicating with a nonnative English speaker, it is best to err on the side of simplicity to
increase the likelihood of clear communication.

True False

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Multiple Choice Questions

20. Which of the following statements about good cross-cultural communication skills is not true?

A. They eliminate the chance that there will be culture-related misunderstanding.


B. They make it possible for your company to hire a wider variety of good people.
C. They increase your ability to understand the needs of customers from other countries.
D. They can help you persuasively explain to foreign customers how your company can meet
their needs.
E. They can help you be a more effective employee.

21. The way that Calista and the other people from her native city collectively understand and
interpret the world is referred to as their

A. norm.
B. culture.
C. belief.
D. ethos.
E. language.

22. Which of the following statements about culture is true?

A. A person always represents the culture of his or her national origin.


B. Our dominant culture affects how we communicate, but not how we think.
C. The differences between national cultures are strong and unchanging.
D. It is impossible to communicate with people unless you understand their cultural roots.
E. Cultures change as people, ideas, and things move across borders.

23. Which of the following statements about factors that affect culture is true?

A. The climate of a country can impact the habits and values of that country's culture.
B. A country with changing borders tends to be more insular than a country with fixed borders,
such as those created by mountains or oceans.
C. Religion no longer has much bearing on a country's culture.
D. Business people from different cultures almost never share the same goals.
E. While countries that have undergone relatively recent changes in leadership are affected by
their history, more peaceful countries are not.

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24. The tendency to see only the features of your own culture as "normal" is called

A. ethnocentrism.
B. the power distance.
C. individualism.
D. low-context culturalism.
E. collectivism.

25. Danny is an American whose company has sent him to handle a business deal in Japan. While
he is there, Danny's host offers him unfamiliar foods, refuses to make prolonged eye contact, and
bows frequently. Danny thinks the food and frequent bowing are weird and that refusing to make
eye contact is rude. In his mind, the way things are done in the United States is the "right" way.
What tendency is Danny exhibiting?

A. racism
B. individualism
C. ethnocentrism
D. collectivism
E. culturalism

26. Which of the following statements about body movements is true?

A. The meanings of body movements are generally the same around the world.
B. Some body movements have clear meanings that are a crucial part of communication, while
others do not.
C. If a movement has meaning in one culture, it has meaning in another culture, even if the
meaning is slightly different.
D. A movement that is respectful in one culture will be respectful in another culture.
E. Even though the meanings of body movements vary by culture, eye contact is the same
around the world.

27. A culture that sees time as something that must be planned to be used as efficiently as possible
is

A. monochronic.
B. polychronic.
C. collectivistic.
D. individualistic.
E. short-term oriented.

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28. Langdon always makes it to appointments on time and feels that meeting deadlines is an
important part of his job. Langdon most likely belongs to a(n) ______ culture.

A. collectivist
B. individualist
C. polychronic
D. monochronic
E. short-term oriented

29. When meeting with clients, Rachelle avoids spending time chatting about things like what they did
last weekend or what movie they saw most recently. Instead, she focuses on getting down to
business so that the meeting ends on time and she can move on to her next task for the day.
Rachelle most likely belong to a(n) ______ culture.

A. long-term oriented
B. polychronic
C. monochronic
D. short-term oriented
E. indulgent

30. Which type of culture thinks extensive planning is unwise and views being on time to an event as
being fairly unimportant?

A. monochronic
B. polychronic
C. uncertainty avoidant
D. indulgent
E. feminine

31. Rosita has a meeting scheduled for 2:00 p.m. today, but she already knows she won't be there
until at least 2:15. However, this doesn't bother her. In her mind, she'll get there when she get's
there. Furthermore, she knows that the client she's meeting with will also show up late. No one
will feel impatient or rushed just because they are not starting on time. Rosita and her client most
likely belong to a ______ culture.

A. polychronic
B. monochronic
C. long-term oriented
D. short-term oriented
E. collectivist

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32. Barron and Gyeong want to convince Amaro that his tools supply store should buy their
company's brand of ratchets. When they all meet, instead of beginning their sales pitch, Barran
asks Amaro if he caught the local soccer team's most recent match. This leads to a discussion of
the team's season and then to talk about Gyeong's son, who plays soccer for the nearby
university. Eventually, after they have each talked about their families, Barron and Gyeong bring
the conversation around to their product. This meeting would most likely happen in a ______
culture.

A. masculine
B. monochronic
C. polychronic
D. restraint
E. feminine

33. Which of the following statements about space and culture is true?

A. Attitudes toward space tend to be the same in all cultures.


B. People from cultures that view space as belonging to everyone tend to stand in line and wait
their turn.
C. In some cultures, keeping two feet of distance from the person with whom you are speaking is
considered impolite.
D. Cultures that place emphasis on personal space tend to be polychronic cultures.
E. People from cultures that view space as belonging to individuals tend to stand closer together
than people from cultures that see space as belonging to all.

34. A culture where people tend to express themselves directly and explicitly is a(n) ______ culture.

A. low-context
B. high-context
C. indulgent
D. low-restraint
E. polychronic

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35. Melissa wants her company to adopt more environmentally friendly practices, so she has created
a presentation to give to the board of directors. She begins her presentation by explaining some
background information on these practices, such as why they are important for the environment
and the company's image. Melissa then moves on to discussing exactly what measures she feels
her company should adopt, and why she feels they are the best options. Given this information,
Melissa is most likely from a(n) ______ culture.

A. high-context
B. polychronic
C. low-context
D. intimate
E. short-term oriented

36. Background information is explicitly stated in a ______ culture, but is largely implied in a(n)
______ culture.

A. monochronic; polychronic
B. feminine; masculine
C. low-context; high-context
D. low power distance; high power distance
E. collectivistic; individualistic

37. A culture with strong group orientation and coherent, stable traditions that make it possible for
shared assumptions to stand in for explicitly stated background information is a ______ culture.

A. low-context
B. short-term oriented
C. long-term oriented
D. power distance
E. high-context

38. Wei is giving a sales presentation in which she describes her company's product and how it will
meet the needs of the people she is talking to. She does not explicitly state everything she wants
the audience to know. Rather, she relies on body language, tone of voice, and eye movements to
give cues that her audience members can use to understand her full message. Wei most likely
belongs to a(n) ______ culture.

A. high-context
B. power distance
C. low-context
D. polychronic
E. individualistic

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39. Which of the following statements about social hierarchy is true?

A. Social classes exist in all cultures, but have little impact on how intimately people are
addressed.
B. People from cultures that stress equality are likely to be offended by questions about class
status.
C. People from cultures with strict social classes are quick to use first names.
D. A person from a culture that stresses equality is most likely to ask questions determining a
person's class status.
E. Class status has little to no impact on how people address each other.

40. Geert Hofsted refers to the way people view relationships between superiors and
subordinates as

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

41. Cultures that exhibit a high power distance

A. make decisions by consensus.


B. expect employees to do as their superiors direct.
C. tend to spread out authority so that no one person is too powerful.
D. leave employees to make their own decisions on a case-by-case basis.
E. encourage people to voice their opinions, no matter what role they inhabit.

42. In cultures that have low power distance

A. great emphasis is placed on the authority of superiors.


B. employees look to their boss to make even minor decisions.
C. authority is shared between many people.
D. may be hesitant to offer comments during online conversations.
E. no one is permitted to have any authority at all.

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43. Marina's boss has absolute authority in her office. He makes the decisions, and Marina is
expected to simply do as he says. Marina most likely lives in a ______ culture.

A. high-context
B. high power distance
C. low power distance
D. low context
E. collectivistic

44. Carly and Trent own a small graphic design company together. They can make decisions for the
company by themselves, but they often ask for input from other employees and believe that
decisions made by consensus tend to be better for the company as a whole. Carly and Trent's
company has a(n) ______ culture.

A. low-context
B. high power distance
C. low power distance
D. high-context
E. individualistic

45. Tamiko and her friends all have social media accounts that they use to talk to each other.
However, they rarely add people that they don't know very well to their friends lists, and they
almost never comment on posts made by companies or celebrities because they don't want to
overstep their authority. Tamiko and her friends are likely members of a

A. culture with a high power distance.


B. culture with a low power distance.
C. high-context culture.
D. low-context culture.
E. culture that views space as belonging to the individual.

46. The Protestant work ethic is the belief that

A. planning work in advance is folly because all outcomes belong to God.


B. true work involves one's hands, not one's mind.
C. pleasure should be taken when and where it can be found.
D. if hard work is put ahead of pleasure, success will follow.
E. emphasis should be placed on respecting tradition and saving face in social situations.

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47. Which of the following statements about the expression of emotions is true?

A. Some Middle Eastern cultures express sorrow with loud wailing.


B. Laughter is always viewed as a spontaneous display of pleasure.
C. Asian cultures tend to prefer strong public displays of affection.
D. The expression of emotion is frowned upon in business situations.
E. Westerners frown on public displays of affection.

48. Which of the following statements about workplace values is true?

A. Canadian culture views the employee-employer relationship like a family and expects it to last
for a lifetime.
B. All cultures believe that if you put hard work before pleasure, success will follow.
C. Cultures that place emphasis on interpersonal relationships rather than planning, as is the
case in Spain, tend to be more relaxed in business.
D. American culture focuses on networking and interpersonal relationships rather than
maximizing production or planning.
E. Cultures that have high power distance also tend to expect workers to be free to move from job
to job.

49. Which of the following statements about language is true?

A. Words in languages other than English typically only have one meaning.
B. All languages contain equivalent language components, such as verbs and conjunctions.
C. A word in one language may have no corresponding word in another.
D. Precise translation is typically an easy matter.
E. Words like yes mean the same thing in every culture.

50. Which procedure involves two translators, one with first-language skills in one language, and one
with first-language skills in another, translating a message from one language to another and then
back to the first language so that the original message can be compared with the second
translation?

A. back translating
B. literal translating
C. cultural translating
D. high-context translating
E. power distance translating

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51. Which of the following statements about back translating is true?

A. It involves one translator translating a message into a new language. The translated message
is then reviewed by a second translator for accuracy.
B. It requires three translators.
C. If the translations are good, the second translation will match the original message.
D. It only works with Latinate languages.
E. It is the only way to translate idioms and colloquialisms accurately.

52. Elisa grew up speaking Spanish, but learned to speak English as an adult, and she now works as
a translator for a U.S. company that has frequent business interactions with South American
businesses. Elisa's translating skills are good, and the company typically relies on her alone to do
their translating. However, they are currently involved in negotiating an extremely important
contract and need the wording in Spanish to be exactly right, so they hire George, a freelance
translator and native English speaker to help. Elisa translates the English message into Spanish,
and George translates the Spanish message back into English. They then compare the original
message with George's translation to make sure they match. What process have Elisa and
George completed?

A. first-language translation
B. back translation
C. equivalency translation
D. high-context translation
E. low-context translation

53. Which of the followings statements about language and international business is true?

A. When executives have no common language, they are likely to use English.
B. English is the primary business language of the Americas, while German is the primary
business language of Europe.
C. English is so prevalent in international business that an executive from Cuba and an executive
from Peru would use it to communicate with each other.
D. Because English is the main language of international business, non-native English speakers
have no problems understanding it.
E. English is only used to conduct business when a Canadian, American, or English company is
involved.

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54. Colette is a business executive from France, and Franz is a business executive from Germany.
Colette does not speak German, nor does Franz speak French. Which language are they most
likely to conduct business in?

A. French
B. German
C. Spanish
D. English
E. Greek

55. Two-word verbs consist of

A. an adjective and a verb combined to create an adverb.


B. a noun and a modified verb combined to create a compound verb.
C. a verb and a second element that, when combined, creates a new meaning.
D. two verbs that are joined by a hyphen for clarity.
E. a verb combined with a prefix or a suffix to create a different verb.

56. Check in does not mean the same thing as the words check and in do on their own. Check in is
an example of

A. a two-word verb.
B. an equivalency term.
C. an idiom.
D. a colloquialism.
E. jargon.

57. Which of the following is true of two-word verbs?

A. They should never be used when speaking to nonnative speakers.


B. Nonnative speakers may not understand many of them.
C. Two-word verbs are covered extensively in language textbooks.
D. Nonnative English speakers are rarely confused by two-word verbs.
E. The use of two-word verbs is generally unavoidable as they lack suitable substitutions.

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58. Which of the following is an example of a two-word verb?

A. international communication
B. close tightly
C. calm down
D. crawl under
E. negotiate quickly

59. Jean Luc and Oscar own a small manufacturing company in Louisiana, and they are meeting with
two executives of a Mexican retail chain in the hopes of convincing them to carry their products.
Jean Luc begins the pitch, and after a couple of minutes, Oscar jumps in to say, "Jean Luc really
hit the nail on the head when he said these products offer better value than what you're currently
carrying." The Mexican executives both speak English, but they look at each other in confusion.
What mistake did Oscar make?

A. He used a colloquialism.
B. He used jargon.
C. He used a two-word verb.
D. He spoke with too much familiarity.
E. He exhibited high-context culture traits while dealing with a low-context culture.

60. Which of the following statements about colloquialisms is true?

A. Unfamiliar colloquialisms can cause problems even for native English speakers.
B. Colloquialisms are generally easy for international communicators to understand.
C. Colloquialisms are almost never defined on ESL websites.
D. In the United States, colloquial expressions are rarely used.
E. It is impossible to replace colloquialisms with plain language.

61. Which of the following should you not do when preparing to communicate with people from
another culture?

A. research the culture


B. think about yourself and your company
C. be open to change
D. assume stereotypes are accurate representations of individuals
E. adapt your English to your audience

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62. Which of the following statements about stereotypes is true?

A. They are not based on real life observations.


B. They are perpetuated by generalizations about cultures.
C. They have no use in the modern world.
D. They are flexible and constantly changing.
E. They help us better get to know individuals.

63. Which of the following is an example of a stereotype?

A. Zoe must like spicy food because she is Cuban.


B. Lillian Stark is English, and she prefers that people whom she does not know well call her Ms.
Stark.
C. Akiko is Japanese and bows when greeting someone.
D. Roberto, a Brazilian, is often late to meetings and likes to chat before getting down to
business.
E. James, an American, dislikes even moderate public displays of affection.

64. When speaking with an unfamiliar audience made up of nonnative English speakers, you should

A. talk clearly and use simple words and sentence structure.


B. be sure to include plenty of slang to make your language colorful.
C. talk exactly as you would to a native English speaker so as not to make the nonnative
speakers feel singled out.
D. use simple yes/no questions to make it easy for them to answer.
E. avoid trying to confirm understanding so that you do not embarrass them.

65. Which of the following statements about adapting in international business is true?

A. Adapting to the practices of international partners is always feasible.


B. Adapting to the practices of international partners is always ethical.
C. Buying information and influence are widely accepted and ethical practices.
D. When you have to choose between making a deal and behaving ethically, you should always
make the deal.
E. When faced with an ethical decision, your company will likely tell you to choose the ethical
path.

Short Answer Questions

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66. Briefly explain why it is important to have cross-cultural business communication skills.

67. Identify and give a brief example of three major factors that influence a country's culture.

68. Give an example of how the meaning of body movements or positions often mean different things
in different cultures.

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69. Briefly explain the difference between monochronic and polychronic cultures.

70. Describe the difference between low-context cultures and high-context cultures.

71. Create a brief scenario describing the operations of a business in a low power distance culture.

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72. Describe the back translating process.

73. Provide examples of two different situations where international business communications would
most likely be conducted in English.

74. List at least five ways you might conduct research on the culture of another country.

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75. What should you do to adapt your English when speaking with nonnative English speakers?

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Chapter 07 Communicating across Cultures Answer Key

True / False Questions

1. Cross-cultural business communication skills are only necessary for employees of companies
that do business internationally.

FALSE
Cross-cultural communication is important for employees of companies that do business
internationally, but the rising diversity of the United States workforce means that cross-cultural
communication skills are often needed even in purely domestic businesses.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 07-01 Explain why effective cross-cultural communication is important for today's businesses.
Topic: Cultural Intelligence and Diversity in Business Communications

2. Our dominant culture has little impact on who we are and how we think.

FALSE
Our dominant culture impacts almost everything about us.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 07-01 Explain why effective cross-cultural communication is important for today's businesses.
Topic: Cultural Intelligence and Diversity in Business Communications

3. There can be many subcultures within one culture.

TRUE
There can be many subcultures within one culture.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 07-01 Explain why effective cross-cultural communication is important for today's businesses.
Topic: Cultural Intelligence and Diversity in Business Communications

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McGraw-Hill Education.
4. Geography, history, and religion all play major roles in influencing culture.

TRUE
Geography, history, and religion all play major roles in influencing culture.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 07-02 Describe three major factors that influence a country or region's culture.
Topic: Cultural Intelligence and Diversity in Business Communications

5. Ethnocentrism is sensitivity to the different dimensions of cultural difference.

FALSE
Ethnocentrism is the tendency to see only your own cultural practices and beliefs and
"normal."

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 07-02 Describe three major factors that influence a country or region's culture.
Topic: Cultural Intelligence and Diversity in Business Communications

6. Hand gestures vary in meaning from culture to culture.

TRUE
Hand gestures, as well as other body movements, vary in meaning from culture to culture.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 07-03 Describe cultural differences regarding body positions and movements and apply this knowledge
when communicating across cultures.
Topic: The Role of Cultural Dimensions and Differences in Communication

7. Some nonverbal communication movements, such as eye contact, are the same in every
culture.

FALSE
Although many cultures attribute the same meaning to certain nonverbal communication
movements, the use and appropriateness of eye contact varies from culture to culture.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking

7-20
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McGraw-Hill Education.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 07-03 Describe cultural differences regarding body positions and movements and apply this knowledge
when communicating across cultures.
Topic: The Role of Cultural Dimensions and Differences in Communication

8. People in the United States tend to be monochronic, meaning they view time in a relaxed
way.

FALSE
Although people in the United States do tend to be monochronic, people with this view see
time as a commodity that must be used as efficiently as possible.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 07-04 Describe the impact of culture on views and practices concerning human relationships and apply this
knowledge when communicating across cultures.
Topic: The Role of Cultural Dimensions and Differences in Communication

9. Edwardo and his co-workers often show up and start meetings fifteen or even thirty minutes
later than scheduled, indicating that they are probably members of a polychronic culture.

TRUE
Polychronic cultures view time in a relaxed way, and members often show up late to meetings
and social functions.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Apply
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 07-04 Describe the impact of culture on views and practices concerning human relationships and apply this
knowledge when communicating across cultures.
Topic: The Role of Cultural Dimensions and Differences in Communication

10. In low-context cultures, individualism is highly valued.

TRUE
In low-context cultures, individualism is highly valued.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 07-04 Describe the impact of culture on views and practices concerning human relationships and apply this
knowledge when communicating across cultures.
Topic: The Role of Cultural Dimensions and Differences in Communication

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11. Because they spend a lot of time explaining background information, people from high-context
cultures often seem evasive and indecisive to people from low-context cultures.

FALSE
High-context cultures have stable traditions and a strong group orientation. This allows people
from these cultures to rely on shared assumptions rather than clearly stating relevant
background information. To people from low-context cultures, this omission of information may
seem evasive or indecisive.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 07-04 Describe the impact of culture on views and practices concerning human relationships and apply this
knowledge when communicating across cultures.
Topic: The Role of Cultural Dimensions and Differences in Communication

12. The measure of how people view relationships between superiors and subordinates is referred
to as culture context.

FALSE
The measure of how people view relationships between superiors and subordinates is referred
to as power distance.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 07-04 Describe the impact of culture on views and practices concerning human relationships and apply this
knowledge when communicating across cultures.
Topic: The Role of Cultural Dimensions and Differences in Communication

13. A word in one language may or may nothave a corresponding word in another language.

TRUE
A word in one language may or may not have a corresponding word in another language.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 07-05 Describe language issues that can cause trouble for nonnative speakers.
Topic: Adapting Communication to Global Audiences

7-22
Copyright © 2018 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
14. Back translating involves translating a sentence beginning with the last word and ending with
the first word in order to ensure a literal translation.

FALSE
Back translating involves two translators, each with first-language skills in a different language.
The first translator translates the message from the original language to the new one, then the
second translator translates the message from the new language back into the old one. If the
translations are good, the second translation matches the original version of the message.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 07-05 Describe language issues that can cause trouble for nonnative speakers.
Topic: Adapting Communication to Global Audiences

15. Two-word verbs combine a verb with a second element to create a different meaning than the
two words would have on their own.

TRUE
Two-word verbs combine a verb with a second element to create a different meaning that the
two words would have if you looked at each one individually.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 07-05 Describe language issues that can cause trouble for nonnative speakers.
Topic: Adapting Communication to Global Audiences

16. Colloquialisms add color and an additional level of meaning to messages, so they should be
used frequently when communicating with nonnative English speakers to help them better
understand your message.

FALSE
Colloquialisms do add color and have meaning for people who are familiar with them, but they
can be confusing for nonnative English speakers.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 07-05 Describe language issues that can cause trouble for nonnative speakers.
Topic: Adapting Communication to Global Audiences

7-23
Copyright © 2018 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
17. If you plan to do business abroad, you should focus your research solely on the people of the
culture you are about to visit.

FALSE
If you plan to do business abroad, don't forget to research yourself. Understanding more about
how and why you and your culture do things will help you better understand how you differ
from people from other cultures and will ultimately help prevent some frustrations.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 07-06 Describe ways to prepare for effective cross-cultural communication.
Topic: Cultural Intelligence and Diversity in Business Communications

18. Researched cultural stereotypes can serve as useful basic models to help you adapt your
behavior to interacting with other cultures.

TRUE
Researched cultural stereotypes can serve as useful basic models to help you adapt to
interacting with people from other cultures. However, you should be quick to adjust to
individuals as you interact with them and discover the ways in which they depart from
generalizations.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 07-06 Describe ways to prepare for effective cross-cultural communication.
Topic: Cultural Intelligence and Diversity in Business Communications

19. When communicating with a nonnative English speaker, it is best to err on the side of
simplicity to increase the likelihood of clear communication.

TRUE
Some nonnative English speakers have an excellent grasp of English and will be able to follow
along and understand you even if you use slang and colloquialisms. However, others will only
have a basic understanding of the language. As a result, until you get to know a person, it is
best to err on the side of simplicity when communicating with a nonnative English speaker.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 07-06 Describe ways to prepare for effective cross-cultural communication.
Topic: Cultural Intelligence and Diversity in Business Communications

7-24
Copyright © 2018 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Multiple Choice Questions

20. Which of the following statements about good cross-cultural communication skills is not true?

A. They eliminate the chance that there will be culture-related misunderstanding.


B. They make it possible for your company to hire a wider variety of good people.
C. They increase your ability to understand the needs of customers from other countries.
D. They can help you persuasively explain to foreign customers how your company can meet
their needs.
E. They can help you be a more effective employee.
Although good cross-cultural communication skills can help reduce the risk of culture-related
misunderstandings, they will not eliminate this risk.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 07-01 Explain why effective cross-cultural communication is important for today's businesses.
Topic: Cultural Intelligence and Diversity in Business Communications

21. The way that Calista and the other people from her native city collectively understand and
interpret the world is referred to as their

A. norm.
B. culture.
C. belief.
D. ethos.
E. language.
A group's culture consists of the ways members collectively understand and interpret the
world.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 07-01 Explain why effective cross-cultural communication is important for today's businesses.
Topic: The Role of Cultural Dimensions and Differences in Communication

7-25
Copyright © 2018 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
22. Which of the following statements about culture is true?

A. A person always represents the culture of his or her national origin.


B. Our dominant culture affects how we communicate, but not how we think.
C. The differences between national cultures are strong and unchanging.
D. It is impossible to communicate with people unless you understand their cultural roots.
E. Cultures change as people, ideas, and things move across borders.
Cultures are not stagnant. Both internal and external factors, such as advances in technology,
more permeable borders, and the spread of capitalism, have altered cultures around the
world.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 07-01 Explain why effective cross-cultural communication is important for today's businesses.
Topic: The Role of Cultural Dimensions and Differences in Communication

23. Which of the following statements about factors that affect culture is true?

A. The climate of a country can impact the habits and values of that country's culture.
B. A country with changing borders tends to be more insular than a country with fixed borders,
such as those created by mountains or oceans.
C. Religion no longer has much bearing on a country's culture.
D. Business people from different cultures almost never share the same goals.
E. While countries that have undergone relatively recent changes in leadership are affected
by their history, more peaceful countries are not.
Several factors can have a major impact on a country's culture, including history, the role of
religion, and even geography and climate.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 07-02 Describe three major factors that influence a country or region's culture.
Topic: The Role of Cultural Dimensions and Differences in Communication

7-26
Copyright © 2018 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
24. The tendency to see only the features of your own culture as "normal" is called

A. ethnocentrism.
B. the power distance.
C. individualism.
D. low-context culturalism.
E. collectivism.
The tendency to see only the features of your own culture as "normal" is called ethnocentrism.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 07-02 Describe three major factors that influence a country or region's culture.
Topic: Cultural Intelligence and Diversity in Business Communications

25. Danny is an American whose company has sent him to handle a business deal in Japan.
While he is there, Danny's host offers him unfamiliar foods, refuses to make prolonged eye
contact, and bows frequently. Danny thinks the food and frequent bowing are weird and that
refusing to make eye contact is rude. In his mind, the way things are done in the United States
is the "right" way. What tendency is Danny exhibiting?

A. racism
B. individualism
C. ethnocentrism
D. collectivism
E. culturalism
This is an example of ethnocentrism, which is the tendency to see only your own culture's
customs as "normal."

AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Apply
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 07-02 Describe three major factors that influence a country or region's culture.
Topic: Cultural Intelligence and Diversity in Business Communications

7-27
Copyright © 2018 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
26. Which of the following statements about body movements is true?

A. The meanings of body movements are generally the same around the world.
B. Some body movements have clear meanings that are a crucial part of communication,
while others do not.
C. If a movement has meaning in one culture, it has meaning in another culture, even if the
meaning is slightly different.
D. A movement that is respectful in one culture will be respectful in another culture.
E. Even though the meanings of body movements vary by culture, eye contact is the same
around the world.
Some movements have clear meanings, while others are less defined, but they are still an
important part of nonverbal communication. The meanings of movements often vary from
culture to culture.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 07-03 Describe cultural differences regarding body positions and movements and apply this knowledge
when communicating across cultures.
Topic: The Role of Cultural Dimensions and Differences in Communication

27. A culture that sees time as something that must be planned to be used as efficiently as
possible is

A. monochronic.
B. polychronic.
C. collectivistic.
D. individualistic.
E. short-term oriented.
A culture that sees time as something that must be planned to be used efficiently is
monochronic.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 07-04 Describe the impact of culture on views and practices concerning human relationships and apply this
knowledge when communicating across cultures.
Topic: The Role of Cultural Dimensions and Differences in Communication

7-28
Copyright © 2018 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
28. Langdon always makes it to appointments on time and feels that meeting deadlines is an
important part of his job. Langdon most likely belongs to a(n) ______ culture.

A. collectivist
B. individualist
C. polychronic
D. monochronic
E. short-term oriented
Monochronic cultures see time as something not to be wasted. They place great importance
on being on-time to appointments and meeting deadlines.

AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Apply
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Learning Objective: 07-04 Describe the impact of culture on views and practices concerning human relationships and apply this
knowledge when communicating across cultures.
Topic: The Role of Cultural Dimensions and Differences in Communication

29. When meeting with clients, Rachelle avoids spending time chatting about things like what they
did last weekend or what movie they saw most recently. Instead, she focuses on getting down
to business so that the meeting ends on time and she can move on to her next task for the
day. Rachelle most likely belong to a(n) ______ culture.

A. long-term oriented
B. polychronic
C. monochronic
D. short-term oriented
E. indulgent
People from monochronic cultures like to stick to a schedule and conduct business quickly and
efficiently.

AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Apply
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 07-04 Describe the impact of culture on views and practices concerning human relationships and apply this
knowledge when communicating across cultures.
Topic: The Role of Cultural Dimensions and Differences in Communication

7-29
Copyright © 2018 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
30. Which type of culture thinks extensive planning is unwise and views being on time to an event
as being fairly unimportant?

A. monochronic
B. polychronic
C. uncertainty avoidant
D. indulgent
E. feminine
Polychronic cultures think extensive planning is unwise and consider being late to be of little
importance.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 07-04 Describe the impact of culture on views and practices concerning human relationships and apply this
knowledge when communicating across cultures.
Topic: The Role of Cultural Dimensions and Differences in Communication

31. Rosita has a meeting scheduled for 2:00 p.m. today, but she already knows she won't be there
until at least 2:15. However, this doesn't bother her. In her mind, she'll get there when she
get's there. Furthermore, she knows that the client she's meeting with will also show up late.
No one will feel impatient or rushed just because they are not starting on time. Rosita and her
client most likely belong to a ______ culture.

A. polychronic
B. monochronic
C. long-term oriented
D. short-term oriented
E. collectivist
Polychronic cultures view time in a relaxed way and do not see anything wrong with showing
up late to a scheduled meeting.

AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Apply
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 07-04 Describe the impact of culture on views and practices concerning human relationships and apply this
knowledge when communicating across cultures.
Topic: The Role of Cultural Dimensions and Differences in Communication

7-30
Copyright © 2018 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
32. Barron and Gyeong want to convince Amaro that his tools supply store should buy their
company's brand of ratchets. When they all meet, instead of beginning their sales pitch,
Barran asks Amaro if he caught the local soccer team's most recent match. This leads to a
discussion of the team's season and then to talk about Gyeong's son, who plays soccer for the
nearby university. Eventually, after they have each talked about their families, Barron and
Gyeong bring the conversation around to their product. This meeting would most likely happen
in a ______ culture.

A. masculine
B. monochronic
C. polychronic
D. restraint
E. feminine
Polychronic cultures tend to take business at a slow pace. Members will engage in casual talk
before getting to the real purpose of the meeting.

AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Apply
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 07-04 Describe the impact of culture on views and practices concerning human relationships and apply this
knowledge when communicating across cultures.
Topic: The Role of Cultural Dimensions and Differences in Communication

33. Which of the following statements about space and culture is true?

A. Attitudes toward space tend to be the same in all cultures.


B. People from cultures that view space as belonging to everyone tend to stand in line and
wait their turn.
C. In some cultures, keeping two feet of distance from the person with whom you are
speaking is considered impolite.
D. Cultures that place emphasis on personal space tend to be polychronic cultures.
E. People from cultures that view space as belonging to individuals tend to stand closer
together than people from cultures that see space as belonging to all.
People from North America typically feel most comfortable standing about two feet away from
whomever they are speaking with. In other cultures, however, people who are speaking with
each other stand closer together, and trying to keep two feet of distance from a conversational
partner would be considered impolite.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Learning Objective: 07-04 Describe the impact of culture on views and practices concerning human relationships and apply this
knowledge when communicating across cultures.

7-31
Copyright © 2018 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Topic: The Role of Cultural Dimensions and Differences in Communication

34. A culture where people tend to express themselves directly and explicitly is a(n) ______
culture.

A. low-context
B. high-context
C. indulgent
D. low-restraint
E. polychronic
A low-context culture is one in which people tend to express themselves directly and explicitly.

AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 07-04 Describe the impact of culture on views and practices concerning human relationships and apply this
knowledge when communicating across cultures.
Topic: The Role of Cultural Dimensions and Differences in Communication

35. Melissa wants her company to adopt more environmentally friendly practices, so she has
created a presentation to give to the board of directors. She begins her presentation by
explaining some background information on these practices, such as why they are important
for the environment and the company's image. Melissa then moves on to discussing exactly
what measures she feels her company should adopt, and why she feels they are the best
options. Given this information, Melissa is most likely from a(n) ______ culture.

A. high-context
B. polychronic
C. low-context
D. intimate
E. short-term oriented
People from low-context cultures tend to be frank and to share relevant background
information when communicating.

AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Apply
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Learning Objective: 07-04 Describe the impact of culture on views and practices concerning human relationships and apply this
knowledge when communicating across cultures.
Topic: The Role of Cultural Dimensions and Differences in Communication

7-32
Copyright © 2018 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
36. Background information is explicitly stated in a ______ culture, but is largely implied in a(n)
______ culture.

A. monochronic; polychronic
B. feminine; masculine
C. low-context; high-context
D. low power distance; high power distance
E. collectivistic; individualistic
Background information is explicitly stated in a low-context culture, but is largely implied in a
high-context culture.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 07-04 Describe the impact of culture on views and practices concerning human relationships and apply this
knowledge when communicating across cultures.
Topic: The Role of Cultural Dimensions and Differences in Communication

37. A culture with strong group orientation and coherent, stable traditions that make it possible for
shared assumptions to stand in for explicitly stated background information is a ______
culture.

A. low-context
B. short-term oriented
C. long-term oriented
D. power distance
E. high-context
A high-context culture has strong group orientation and coherent, stable traditions that make it
possible for shared assumptions to stand in for explicitly stated background information.

AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 07-04 Describe the impact of culture on views and practices concerning human relationships and apply this
knowledge when communicating across cultures.
Topic: The Role of Cultural Dimensions and Differences in Communication

7-33
Copyright © 2018 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
38. Wei is giving a sales presentation in which she describes her company's product and how it
will meet the needs of the people she is talking to. She does not explicitly state everything she
wants the audience to know. Rather, she relies on body language, tone of voice, and eye
movements to give cues that her audience members can use to understand her full message.
Wei most likely belongs to a(n) ______ culture.

A. high-context
B. power distance
C. low-context
D. polychronic
E. individualistic
People from high-context cultures use body language, eye movements, tone of voice, and
other nonverbal cues to provide meaning rather than using concrete, explicit, and direct
language to explain their meaning.

AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Apply
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Learning Objective: 07-04 Describe the impact of culture on views and practices concerning human relationships and apply this
knowledge when communicating across cultures.
Topic: The Role of Cultural Dimensions and Differences in Communication

39. Which of the following statements about social hierarchy is true?

A. Social classes exist in all cultures, but have little impact on how intimately people are
addressed.
B. People from cultures that stress equality are likely to be offended by questions about class
status.
C. People from cultures with strict social classes are quick to use first names.
D. A person from a culture that stresses equality is most likely to ask questions determining a
person's class status.
E. Class status has little to no impact on how people address each other.
People from cultures that stress equality are likely to be offended by questions about class
status.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 07-04 Describe the impact of culture on views and practices concerning human relationships and apply this
knowledge when communicating across cultures.
Topic: The Role of Cultural Dimensions and Differences in Communication

7-34
Copyright © 2018 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
40. Geert Hofsted refers to the way people view relationships between superiors and
subordinates as

A. restraint.
B. uncertainty avoidance.
C. power distance.
D. collectivism.
E. individualism.
Power distance is the term Hofsted uses to describe how people view relations between
superiors and subordinates.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 07-04 Describe the impact of culture on views and practices concerning human relationships and apply this
knowledge when communicating across cultures.
Topic: The Role of Cultural Dimensions and Differences in Communication

41. Cultures that exhibit a high power distance

A. make decisions by consensus.


B. expect employees to do as their superiors direct.
C. tend to spread out authority so that no one person is too powerful.
D. leave employees to make their own decisions on a case-by-case basis.
E. encourage people to voice their opinions, no matter what role they inhabit.
Cultures with high power distance expect employees to do as their superiors direct.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 07-04 Describe the impact of culture on views and practices concerning human relationships and apply this
knowledge when communicating across cultures.
Topic: The Role of Cultural Dimensions and Differences in Communication

7-35
Copyright © 2018 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
42. In cultures that have low power distance

A. great emphasis is placed on the authority of superiors.


B. employees look to their boss to make even minor decisions.
C. authority is shared between many people.
D. may be hesitant to offer comments during online conversations.
E. no one is permitted to have any authority at all.
In a low power distance culture, authority is widely shared.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 07-04 Describe the impact of culture on views and practices concerning human relationships and apply this
knowledge when communicating across cultures.
Topic: The Role of Cultural Dimensions and Differences in Communication

43. Marina's boss has absolute authority in her office. He makes the decisions, and Marina is
expected to simply do as he says. Marina most likely lives in a ______ culture.

A. high-context
B. high power distance
C. low power distance
D. low context
E. collectivistic
High power distance cultures have a high level of separation between superiors and
subordinates. Superiors hold the power to make decisions and give directions, while
subordinates are expected to do as they have been directed to do.

AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Apply
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 07-04 Describe the impact of culture on views and practices concerning human relationships and apply this
knowledge when communicating across cultures.
Topic: The Role of Cultural Dimensions and Differences in Communication

7-36
Copyright © 2018 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
44. Carly and Trent own a small graphic design company together. They can make decisions for
the company by themselves, but they often ask for input from other employees and believe
that decisions made by consensus tend to be better for the company as a whole. Carly and
Trent's company has a(n) ______ culture.

A. low-context
B. high power distance
C. low power distance
D. high-context
E. individualistic
Cultures with a low power distance tend to share authority and reach decisions by consensus.

AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Apply
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Learning Objective: 07-04 Describe the impact of culture on views and practices concerning human relationships and apply this
knowledge when communicating across cultures.
Topic: The Role of Cultural Dimensions and Differences in Communication

45. Tamiko and her friends all have social media accounts that they use to talk to each other.
However, they rarely add people that they don't know very well to their friends lists, and they
almost never comment on posts made by companies or celebrities because they don't want to
overstep their authority. Tamiko and her friends are likely members of a

A. culture with a high power distance.


B. culture with a low power distance.
C. high-context culture.
D. low-context culture.
E. culture that views space as belonging to the individual.
Cultures that have a high power distance tend to have a large degree of separation between
superiors and subordinates, and this can make people reluctant to participate in online
discussions for fear that they might overstep their authority.

AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Apply
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Learning Objective: 07-04 Describe the impact of culture on views and practices concerning human relationships and apply this
knowledge when communicating across cultures.
Topic: The Role of Cultural Dimensions and Differences in Communication

7-37
Copyright © 2018 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
46. The Protestant work ethic is the belief that

A. planning work in advance is folly because all outcomes belong to God.


B. true work involves one's hands, not one's mind.
C. pleasure should be taken when and where it can be found.
D. if hard work is put ahead of pleasure, success will follow.
E. emphasis should be placed on respecting tradition and saving face in social situations.
The Protestant work ethic is the belief that if hard work is put ahead of pleasure, success will
follow.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 07-04 Describe the impact of culture on views and practices concerning human relationships and apply this
knowledge when communicating across cultures.
Topic: The Role of Cultural Dimensions and Differences in Communication

47. Which of the following statements about the expression of emotions is true?

A. Some Middle Eastern cultures express sorrow with loud wailing.


B. Laughter is always viewed as a spontaneous display of pleasure.
C. Asian cultures tend to prefer strong public displays of affection.
D. The expression of emotion is frowned upon in business situations.
E. Westerners frown on public displays of affection.
Some Middle Eastern cultures express sorrow with loud wailing and would view a Westerner's
more controlled emotions as cold and uncaring.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 07-04 Describe the impact of culture on views and practices concerning human relationships and apply this
knowledge when communicating across cultures.
Topic: The Role of Cultural Dimensions and Differences in Communication

7-38
Copyright © 2018 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
48. Which of the following statements about workplace values is true?

A. Canadian culture views the employee-employer relationship like a family and expects it to
last for a lifetime.
B. All cultures believe that if you put hard work before pleasure, success will follow.
C. Cultures that place emphasis on interpersonal relationships rather than planning, as is the
case in Spain, tend to be more relaxed in business.
D. American culture focuses on networking and interpersonal relationships rather than
maximizing production or planning.
E. Cultures that have high power distance also tend to expect workers to be free to move
from job to job.
Cultures that place emphasis on interpersonal relationships rather than planning, as is the
case in Spain, tend to be more relaxed in business.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Learning Objective: 07-04 Describe the impact of culture on views and practices concerning human relationships and apply this
knowledge when communicating across cultures.
Topic: The Role of Cultural Dimensions and Differences in Communication

49. Which of the following statements about language is true?

A. Words in languages other than English typically only have one meaning.
B. All languages contain equivalent language components, such as verbs and conjunctions.
C. A word in one language may have no corresponding word in another.
D. Precise translation is typically an easy matter.
E. Words like yes mean the same thing in every culture.
A word in one language may have no corresponding word in another.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 07-05 Describe language issues that can cause trouble for nonnative speakers.
Topic: Cultural Intelligence and Diversity in Business Communications

7-39
Copyright © 2018 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
50. Which procedure involves two translators, one with first-language skills in one language, and
one with first-language skills in another, translating a message from one language to another
and then back to the first language so that the original message can be compared with the
second translation?

A. back translating
B. literal translating
C. cultural translating
D. high-context translating
E. power distance translating
Back translating involves two translators, one with first-language skills in one language, and
one with first-language skills in another. The first translator translate a message in a
second language. The second translator then translates the message back into the first
language. The original message is then compared with the second translation. If they match,
the first translation was good as well.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 07-05 Describe language issues that can cause trouble for nonnative speakers.
Topic: Adapting Communication to Global Audiences

51. Which of the following statements about back translating is true?

A. It involves one translator translating a message into a new language. The translated
message is then reviewed by a second translator for accuracy.
B. It requires three translators.
C. If the translations are good, the second translation will match the original message.
D. It only works with Latinate languages.
E. It is the only way to translate idioms and colloquialisms accurately.
When back translating, the translations are good if the second translation matches the original.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 07-05 Describe language issues that can cause trouble for nonnative speakers.
Topic: Adapting Communication to Global Audiences

7-40
Copyright © 2018 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
52. Elisa grew up speaking Spanish, but learned to speak English as an adult, and she now works
as a translator for a U.S. company that has frequent business interactions with South
American businesses. Elisa's translating skills are good, and the company typically relies on
her alone to do their translating. However, they are currently involved in negotiating an
extremely important contract and need the wording in Spanish to be exactly right, so they hire
George, a freelance translator and native English speaker to help. Elisa translates the English
message into Spanish, and George translates the Spanish message back into English. They
then compare the original message with George's translation to make sure they match. What
process have Elisa and George completed?

A. first-language translation
B. back translation
C. equivalency translation
D. high-context translation
E. low-context translation
This is an example of back translation.

AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Apply
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Learning Objective: 07-05 Describe language issues that can cause trouble for nonnative speakers.
Topic: Adapting Communication to Global Audiences

53. Which of the followings statements about language and international business is true?

A. When executives have no common language, they are likely to use English.
B. English is the primary business language of the Americas, while German is the primary
business language of Europe.
C. English is so prevalent in international business that an executive from Cuba and an
executive from Peru would use it to communicate with each other.
D. Because English is the main language of international business, non-native English
speakers have no problems understanding it.
E. English is only used to conduct business when a Canadian, American, or English company
is involved.
English has become the most commonly used language for international business
when executives have no common language.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 07-05 Describe language issues that can cause trouble for nonnative speakers.
Topic: Adapting Communication to Global Audiences

7-41
Copyright © 2018 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
54. Colette is a business executive from France, and Franz is a business executive from
Germany. Colette does not speak German, nor does Franz speak French. Which language
are they most likely to conduct business in?

A. French
B. German
C. Spanish
D. English
E. Greek
When executives do not share a common language, they will most likely use English to
communicate.

AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Apply
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 07-05 Describe language issues that can cause trouble for nonnative speakers.
Topic: Adapting Communication to Global Audiences

55. Two-word verbs consist of

A. an adjective and a verb combined to create an adverb.


B. a noun and a modified verb combined to create a compound verb.
C. a verb and a second element that, when combined, creates a new meaning.
D. two verbs that are joined by a hyphen for clarity.
E. a verb combined with a prefix or a suffix to create a different verb.
A two-word verb is created when a verb and a second element are combined to create a new
meaning.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 07-05 Describe language issues that can cause trouble for nonnative speakers.
Topic: Adapting Communication to Global Audiences

7-42
Copyright © 2018 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
56. Check in does not mean the same thing as the words check and in do on their own. Check in
is an example of

A. a two-word verb.
B. an equivalency term.
C. an idiom.
D. a colloquialism.
E. jargon.
Check in is an example of a two-word verb.

AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Apply
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 07-05 Describe language issues that can cause trouble for nonnative speakers.
Topic: Adapting Communication to Global Audiences

57. Which of the following is true of two-word verbs?

A. They should never be used when speaking to nonnative speakers.


B. Nonnative speakers may not understand many of them.
C. Two-word verbs are covered extensively in language textbooks.
D. Nonnative English speakers are rarely confused by two-word verbs.
E. The use of two-word verbs is generally unavoidable as they lack suitable substitutions.
Nonnatives will learn some two-word verbs while studying English. However, two-word verbs
are largely missing from language textbooks and dictionaries, and not all will be known to
nonnative speakers, so it is best to use them sparingly.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 07-05 Describe language issues that can cause trouble for nonnative speakers.
Topic: Adapting Communication to Global Audiences

7-43
Copyright © 2018 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
58. Which of the following is an example of a two-word verb?

A. international communication
B. close tightly
C. calm down
D. crawl under
E. negotiate quickly
Calm down is an example of a two-word verb. Calm down has a different meaning than calm
and down do on their own.

AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Learning Objective: 07-05 Describe language issues that can cause trouble for nonnative speakers.
Topic: Adapting Communication to Global Audiences

59. Jean Luc and Oscar own a small manufacturing company in Louisiana, and they are meeting
with two executives of a Mexican retail chain in the hopes of convincing them to carry their
products. Jean Luc begins the pitch, and after a couple of minutes, Oscar jumps in to say,
"Jean Luc really hit the nail on the head when he said these products offer better value than
what you're currently carrying." The Mexican executives both speak English, but they look at
each other in confusion. What mistake did Oscar make?

A. He used a colloquialism.
B. He used jargon.
C. He used a two-word verb.
D. He spoke with too much familiarity.
E. He exhibited high-context culture traits while dealing with a low-context culture.
The phrase "hit the nail on the head" is an example of a colloquialism. These can be confusing
to nonnative English speakers.

AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Apply
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Learning Objective: 07-05 Describe language issues that can cause trouble for nonnative speakers.
Topic: Adapting Communication to Global Audiences

7-44
Copyright © 2018 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
60. Which of the following statements about colloquialisms is true?

A. Unfamiliar colloquialisms can cause problems even for native English speakers.
B. Colloquialisms are generally easy for international communicators to understand.
C. Colloquialisms are almost never defined on ESL websites.
D. In the United States, colloquial expressions are rarely used.
E. It is impossible to replace colloquialisms with plain language.
Unfamiliar colloquialisms can cause problems even for native English speakers. This problem
is multiplied for nonnative English speakers.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 07-05 Describe language issues that can cause trouble for nonnative speakers.
Topic: Adapting Communication to Global Audiences

61. Which of the following should you not do when preparing to communicate with people from
another culture?

A. research the culture


B. think about yourself and your company
C. be open to change
D. assume stereotypes are accurate representations of individuals
E. adapt your English to your audience
While stereotypes can have some basis in truth, they should be viewed as generalizations, not
accurate representations of individuals.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 07-06 Describe ways to prepare for effective cross-cultural communication.
Topic: Adapting Communication to Global Audiences

7-45
Copyright © 2018 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
62. Which of the following statements about stereotypes is true?

A. They are not based on real life observations.


B. They are perpetuated by generalizations about cultures.
C. They have no use in the modern world.
D. They are flexible and constantly changing.
E. They help us better get to know individuals.
When we generalize about cultures perpetuates we perpetuate stereotypes.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 07-06 Describe ways to prepare for effective cross-cultural communication.
Topic: Cultural Intelligence and Diversity in Business Communications

63. Which of the following is an example of a stereotype?

A. Zoe must like spicy food because she is Cuban.


B. Lillian Stark is English, and she prefers that people whom she does not know well call her
Ms. Stark.
C. Akiko is Japanese and bows when greeting someone.
D. Roberto, a Brazilian, is often late to meetings and likes to chat before getting down to
business.
E. James, an American, dislikes even moderate public displays of affection.

The statement "Zoe must like spicy food because she is Cuban" conveys a stereotype. It
assumes that all Cubans like spicy food and that Zoe must therefore like spicy food because
she is Cuban. This shows no consideration for what Zoe as an individual actually prefers. The
other statements do not engage in stereotyping because, rather than making an assumption
about someone based on their nationality, they note people's nationalities and make
observations about what they are like as individuals.

AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Apply
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Learning Objective: 07-06 Describe ways to prepare for effective cross-cultural communication.
Topic: Cultural Intelligence and Diversity in Business Communications

7-46
Copyright © 2018 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
64. When speaking with an unfamiliar audience made up of nonnative English speakers, you
should

A. talk clearly and use simple words and sentence structure.


B. be sure to include plenty of slang to make your language colorful.
C. talk exactly as you would to a native English speaker so as not to make the nonnative
speakers feel singled out.
D. use simple yes/no questions to make it easy for them to answer.
E. avoid trying to confirm understanding so that you do not embarrass them.
When speaking to an unfamiliar audience of nonnative English speakers, you should talk
clearly and use simple words and sentence structure.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 07-06 Describe ways to prepare for effective cross-cultural communication.
Topic: Adapting Communication to Global Audiences

65. Which of the following statements about adapting in international business is true?

A. Adapting to the practices of international partners is always feasible.


B. Adapting to the practices of international partners is always ethical.
C. Buying information and influence are widely accepted and ethical practices.
D. When you have to choose between making a deal and behaving ethically, you should
always make the deal.
E. When faced with an ethical decision, your company will likely tell you to choose the ethical
path.
Most businesspeople will tell you to make the ethical choice, not only because they are ethical,
but also because the Internet quickly spreads news of company scandals, often with negative
results for the company in question.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 07-06 Describe ways to prepare for effective cross-cultural communication.
Topic: Cultural Intelligence and Diversity in Business Communications

Short Answer Questions

7-47
Copyright © 2018 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
66. Briefly explain why it is important to have cross-cultural business communication skills.

Answers should note that cross-cultural communication skills will help communicators better
understand their customers' needs and sell their products and services internationally and
domestically; that increasing workplace diversity means that cross-cultural communication
skills will better enable businesspeople to communicate and interact with co-workers; and that
cross-cultural communication skills can enrich people's personal and business lives and put
them in positions to be challenged, to grow, and to feel like they've made a difference.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 07-01 Explain why effective cross-cultural communication is important for today's businesses.
Topic: Cultural Intelligence and Diversity in Business Communications

67. Identify and give a brief example of three major factors that influence a country's culture.

Answers should identify geography, history, and religion as the three major factors. Examples
of each factor will vary, but the following are possible examples:

Geography: how much rain or snow a country receives each year

History: a major war that impacted the country's government

Religion: a religious ban on eating a certain type of food

AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 07-02 Describe three major factors that influence a country or region's culture.
Topic: Cultural Intelligence and Diversity in Business Communications

7-48
Copyright © 2018 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
68. Give an example of how the meaning of body movements or positions often mean different
things in different cultures.

Answers will vary. Examples may include the following: bowing is seen as polite during a
greeting or farewell in certain cultures, while U.S. natives do not bow when meeting or leaving
each other; the "OK" hand signal in the U.S. is considered a positive reaction, while countries
like Russia, Germany, and Brazil see it as rude; and holding up the forefinger in the United
States means "one," while in parts of Europe, the thumb is used to signal the same thing.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 07-03 Describe cultural differences regarding body positions and movements and apply this knowledge
when communicating across cultures.
Topic: Cultural Intelligence and Diversity in Business Communications

69. Briefly explain the difference between monochronic and polychronic cultures.

Answers should note that monochronic cultures regard time as something that must be
scheduled in order to be used as efficiently as possible, while polychronic cultures see
extensive scheduling as unwise. Monochronic cultures place emphasis on being punctual and
sticking to a schedule, while polychronic cultures see lateness as being of little consequence
and conduct business at a relaxed pace.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 07-04 Describe the impact of culture on views and practices concerning human relationships and apply this
knowledge when communicating across cultures.
Topic: The Role of Cultural Dimensions and Differences in Communication

70. Describe the difference between low-context cultures and high-context cultures.

Answers should note that low-context cultures blend many traditions and value individualism,
while high-context cultures have coherent, stable traditions and focus on the group as a whole.
Low-context culture communicators are careful to explicitly state all relevant background
information, while high-context culture communicators are less explicit and rely in part on
shared assumptions to fill in unspoken information.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation

7-49
Copyright © 2018 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 07-04 Describe the impact of culture on views and practices concerning human relationships and apply this
knowledge when communicating across cultures.
Topic: The Role of Cultural Dimensions and Differences in Communication

71. Create a brief scenario describing the operations of a business in a low power distance
culture.

Examples will vary, but should note that authority in the office is widely shared and decisions
are frequently made by consensus.

AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Apply
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 07-04 Describe the impact of culture on views and practices concerning human relationships and apply this
knowledge when communicating across cultures.
Topic: The Role of Cultural Dimensions and Differences in Communication

72. Describe the back translating process.

Answers should explain the back translating requires two translators: one who is a native
speaker of one language and a second who is a native speaker of another language. The first
translator translates the original message into his or her native language, then the second
translator translates the message back to the original language. The original message and the
second translation are compared. If they match, all of the translations are good.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Apply
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 07-05 Describe language issues that can cause trouble for nonnative speakers.
Topic: Adapting Communication to Global Audiences

73. Provide examples of two different situations where international business communications
would most likely be conducted in English.

Examples will vary. Possible answers include an American company communicating with a
Brazilian company, and an Austrian company communicating with a Spanish company.

AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Apply

7-50
Copyright © 2018 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 07-05 Describe language issues that can cause trouble for nonnative speakers.
Topic: Adapting Communication to Global Audiences

74. List at least five ways you might conduct research on the culture of another country.

Answers will vary. Possible examples include: conducting library and online research, talking
with people who have experience with the culture, taking an international business course,
socializing with nonnatives in your own country, and attending festivals and other cultural
events.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 07-06 Describe ways to prepare for effective cross-cultural communication.
Topic: Cultural Intelligence and Diversity in Business Communications

75. What should you do to adapt your English when speaking with nonnative English speakers?

Answers should note that good ways to adapt to nonnative English speakers include using
simple and clear language; talking slowly and with good enunciation; and avoiding phrases
that nonnative English speakers may not be familiar with, such as two-word verbs and
colloquialisms. Good adaption also includes carefully wording one's questions so that they do
not call for yes/no answers, do not include double questions, and avoid negative questions.
English communicators should also do their best to make sure they are being understood.

AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Learning Objective: 07-06 Describe ways to prepare for effective cross-cultural communication.
Topic: Cultural Intelligence and Diversity in Business Communications

7-51
Copyright © 2018 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.

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