Deck 2: Communication, Culture, and Work

Question 1

According to the text,all of the following statements are true about the U.S.workforce except:

A) In the U.S., engineering companies that have embraced diversity are losing their competitive edge.
B) The U.S. Census Bureau predicts that by 2050 non-Hispanic whites will comprise only about one-half of the total population of the U.S.
C) The ability to work effectively with people from other countries is becoming an essential qualification for managers of most large companies.
D) Many foreign companies have set up operations in the U.S.

Answer 1

A
Explanation: Without embracing diversity, the engineering profession will be unable to compete effectively in the global marketplace.

Question 2

Culture refers to all of the following except

A) inherited and innate characteristics.
B) sets of values, beliefs and norms.
C) learned behaviors shared by a group.
D) a set of shared interpretations that affect the behaviors of a relatively large group of people.

Answer 2

A
Explanation: Culture is a set of learned behaviors; it is not innate.

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT identified in your text as a dimension that can help you understand your organization's culture?

A) what kinds of fun are considered appropriate
B) ways in which achievement is rewarded
C) the activities employees engage in
D) All of these are important aspects to learn about an organization's culture.

Answer 3

C
Explanation: You can learn about an organization's culture by understanding aspects such as company structure, power distribution, rewards, social interaction at work, tolerance for risk, emotional support, and the like.

Question 4

Which of the following is NOT true about organizational culture?

A) refers to the unique set of values of an organization
B) shapes the degree of cooperation and competition within the organization
C) governs the way employees interact with each other
D) workers who don't conform to their organization's culture are rewarded

Question 5

The preferred means of dealing with conflict is to

A) remain silent
B) talk about the conflict directly and openly
C) avoid clear expressions of disagreement
D) The preferred means of dealing with conflict varies across cultural groups.

Question 6

Speakers of nonstandard dialects of English

A) are perceived as more competent than speakers of standard English.
B) are recommended for higher-level jobs than speakers of standard English.
C) are recommended for lower-level jobs than speakers of standard English.
D) are judged to have messages with more significant content than speakers of standard English.

Question 7

First-generation college students from a working-class background tend to lack all of the following skills EXCEPT:

A) following rules
B) thinking critically
C) arguing persuasively
D) speaking assertively

Question 8

Which of the following statements about culture is most accurate?

A) Cultural variations rarely exist within a country.
B) The values we learn from our culture are important, but they don't affect our communication.
C) Most members of a culture can easily describe the "rules" of that culture.
D) We are usually not even aware of our own culture's "rules."

Question 9

When employees don't understand the unspoken rules of the organization they work for,this often results in

A) fewer complaints.
B) customer satisfaction.
C) reduced productivity.
D) a reduced amount of gossip.

Question 10

Which generation is most likely to regard correct spelling and grammar usage as a sign of competence?

A) Baby-Boomers
B) Gen Xers
C) GenY
D) Millenials

Question 11

Eye contact indicates

A) respect
B) disrespect
C) honesty
D) any of these; the meaning of eye contact varies depending on the culture.

Question 12

When a person is silent,how should you interpret this?

A) as a sign of timidity
B) as a sign of dislike
C) as a face-saving response
D) The meaning of silence varies depending on the culture, the context, and the individual.

Question 13

Our own culture's standards are usually

A) not obvious to us.
B) easy for us to describe.
C) meaningless.
D) strange.

Question 14

All of the following characteristics except _____________ can help define culture.

A) religion
B) socioeconomic background
C) sexual orientation
D) All of these characteristics can affect culture.

Question 15

Which of the following is NOT suggested by your text as a way to learn about an organization's culture?

A) Notice how you're treated when you deal with the organization's employees.
B) Observe how clean the workplace is.
C) Read written correspondence from the organization to see whether it has a welcoming tone.
D) All of these are effective ways to learn about an organization's culture.

Question 16

On the job,Millennials tend to

A) be technologically inept
B) dislike receiving feedback regarding their job performance
C) have a strong need for affirming feedback regarding their job performance
D) fear working in a diverse workplace

Question 17

Employees whose values match the values of the organization they work for generally ________________ than employees whose values don't match the organization.

A) are less successful
B) show more commitment to their jobs
C) seem less satisfied
D) change jobs more frequently

Question 18

Which of the following best describes the way cultural values develop?

A) A person who moves to another country in middle age will never adopt the values of the new culture.
B) A Korean born infant raised in the U.S. will have the same cultural values as her cousin who grew up in Seoul.
C) We are born with a specific set of cultural values that does not change throughout our lives.
D) Culture is learned, not innate.

Question 19

One approach for learning about the culture of an organization that would probably NOT be helpful is:

A) During your job interview, ask the interviewer if the company treats its employees respectfully.
B) Notice how you are treated when you visit the company.
C) Observe how well the building is maintained.
D) Chat with employees in the cafeteria.

Question 20

Cultural expectations are often ________________ to the people who live and communicate within that culture.

A) useless
B) invisible
C) overwhelming
D) disgusting

Question 21

In a culture where conflict is avoided,it is appropriate to

A) express negative emotions openly.
B) say "no" if you mean "no."
C) say "I'll consider it" if you mean "no."
D) explain unpleasant news in a matter-of-fact manner.

Question 22

Skylar is a very organized and timely individual.He always shows up for meetings 15 minutes early.He frowns upon colleagues who fail to arrive on time.Which orientation toward time would most accurately describe Sky's behavior?

A) Asian
B) standard
C) monochronic
D) polychronic

Question 23

In international business,a good general rule is:

A) Strive to get to know coworkers and quickly get on a first-name basis.
B) Be aware that customs in most other countries are much less formal than in the U.S.
C) Address people using their formal title until they invite you to talk to them on a first-name basis.
D) Follow your own customs, no matter what country you are in, because people don't expect foreigners to know their cultural rules.

Question 24

Which of the following is true about business cards in Japan?

A) Business cards are not important.
B) When you receive a business card, you should observe the card, then nod in acknowledgement.
C) You should hold it in one hand.
D) You should put it in your pocket.

Question 25

Which of the following best describes advocates' advice for how we should treat persons with disabilities?

A) Act awkwardly around them.
B) Use words that treat the disability as a feature and not an intrinsic part of who they are.
C) Honor their disabilities by treating them differently than we would treat others.
D) Stay away from them as much as you can because most people with disabilities are more comfortable associating only with other persons who have disabilities.

Question 26

The statement: "Time is money,so it should be rationed carefully" reflects a ______________ orientation toward time.

A) monochronic
B) deictic
C) polychronic
D) costly

Question 27

In some cultures,employees have a great deal of respect for persons in positions of authority.This cultural dimension is called

A) high-context versus low-context.
B) power distance.
C) uncertainty avoidance.
D) short-term versus long-term orientation.

Question 28

Members of a polychronic culture would probably

A) finish a telephone conversation before acknowledging a friend who has stepped into their office.
B) arrive promptly at meetings.
C) consider it a waste of time to begin a meeting with half an hour of socializing.
D) spend time getting to know a person before doing business with her or him.

Question 29

Members of a collectivist culture such as China will typically

A) try hard to achieve personal success.
B) believe that the welfare of an organization they belong to is as important as their own welfare.
C) place their own interests ahead of community interests.
D) strive to become an organizational "star."

Question 30

One guideline for interacting with people who have a disability is:

A) To prevent embarrassment, take care that you don't say "see you later" to a blind person.
B) When you are talking to a person who uses a wheelchair, position yourself at her or his eye level.
C) An effective way to reduce your awkwardness and create a sense of familiarity is to lean on a person's wheelchair.
D) If a person has difficulty speaking, you can assist her by finishing her sentences for her.

Question 31

Imagine that you are a female executive who has been sent to a Muslim country as part of a decision-making team.Although you hold the highest rank on the team,the locals will not talk to you until they have spoken to all the men on the committee.As an effective intercultural communicator,your best immediate response would be to

A) assert yourself and take control of the meeting before the men begin chatting.
B) stop all committee work and deliver a brief lecture on the rights of women.
C) accept the difference in standards for the time being.
D) insist that the locals acknowledge your rank by talking to you first.

Question 32

In Mexico,(a culture with high-power distance),a person who frequently questions the feasibility of a manager's proposals would probably

A) be thought of as a troublemaker.
B) be encouraged to ask more questions.
C) be promoted quickly.
D) be rewarded for his or her creativity.

Question 33

Which of the following indicates a low-context culture?

A) Legal contracts are lengthy.
B) Communicators often rely on subtle, nonverbal cues to convey meaning.
C) Social contexts reveal much information about relationships.
D) It is considered impolite to say "yes" or "no" directly.

Question 34

Which of the following is appropriate behavior for communicating with a person with a disability?

A) If you offer assistance, don't start helping the person until he or she accepts your offer.
B) Do not attempt to shake hands with a person who has an artificial limb.
C) Place your hand on the shoulder of a person in a wheelchair when you are speaking to him or her.
D) If a person uses a sign language interpreter, look at the interpreter while you are talking to the person who is hearing impaired.

Question 35

Jules takes time to chat with his friends at the beginning of the meeting,even though it means the meeting will start late.Jules' sociability illustrates a ________ time orientation.

A) monochronic
B) polychronic
C) central standard
D) disrespectful

Question 36

The Greek culture (a culture that avoids uncertainty)tends to

A) value tradition.
B) have few formal rules.
C) encourage new ideas.
D) enjoy the challenge of risk taking.

Question 37

Which of the following ways of saying "no" illustrates a high-context culture?

A) That would be difficult.
B) I refuse to do that.
C) I'm sorry; we just can't do that.
D) No way, man. Can't you see I'm busy?

Question 38

A common communication behavior in cultures that avoid conflict is

A) sparing others from unpleasant information.
B) hitting the table to emphasize a point.
C) clearly saying "no" if you don't support a proposal.
D) embarrassing others in public.

Question 39

Cultures that rely heavily on subtle nonverbal cues to convey meaning have a ________________ orientation.

A) low-context
B) high-context
C) parallel-context
D) sign language

Question 40

The ADA guarantees that people with disabilities

A) are given preference in being hired.
B) don't have to function in mainstream culture.
C) get to be interviewed first for jobs and have longer interviews.
D) receive reasonable accommodations in employment.

Question 41

Which activities would members of masculine societies typically choose as the most effective way to improve team competency?

A) creating a friendly atmosphere
B) making the working conditions more pleasant
C) team cooperation
D) using the most up-to-date methods

Question 42

An organization's culture can be described as the personality of the organization.

Question 43

A group that exists within a larger culture,yet has a clear identity of its own,is called a sub-culture.

Question 44

Our own culture impacts our behaviors significantly,yet it is hard for us to describe those cultural expectations,because we follow them unconsciously.

Question 45

If we think that each ethnic group has one unified style of communication,we are oversimplifying.

Question 46

Recent demographics suggest that by the year 2050 only about 50 percent of the total population of the U.S.will be non-Hispanic whites.

Question 47

Smaller groups that have their own clear identities within a large culture are called "sub-cultures."

Question 48

Some of the most powerful rules of an organization's culture are unspoken,yet they are clearly understood by the members.

Question 49

Culture is defined as a set of shared interpretations that each person of a particular race is born with.

Question 50

Most of us can fit comfortably in any organizational culture,as long as we are earning a good salary.

Question 51

Employees whose values match the values of their supervisors and of the organization tend to be more satisfied,more committed to their jobs,and more successful on the job.

Question 52

In organizations with a diverse workforce,it is usually constructive to

A) ignore cultural differences and just hope everyone will get along OK.
B) express pity for minorities and disabled persons.
C) divide the workforce into teams, with each team comprised only of persons from a single culture.
D) discuss cultural differences openly, as long as you avoid inflammatory remarks.

Question 53

In Scandinavian countries,whose culture is classified as "feminine," work teams tend to emphasize

A) individual competence.
B) cooperative problem solving.
C) personal performance.
D) individual job advancement.

Question 54

Which of the following is NOT recommended as a way to improve your own communication with members of other cultures?

A) Gain more knowledge about other cultures.
B) Recognize that persons of differing backgrounds can offer useful insights.
C) Lower your expectations for good performance when you are working with minorities.
D) Talk about differences openly but respectfully.

Question 55

It isn't important to learn about an organization's culture before you accept a job because organization's cultures change quickly.

Question 56

In order to learn about other cultures,which of the following is not necessary?

A) open-mindedness
B) willingness to learn new ways to approach an issue
C) observing how others conduct themselves
D) completely abandoning your own preferences

Question 57

We are born with knowledge of our culture's expectations; we do not need to learn them through experience.

Question 58

Which of the following attitudes would be most helpful if you encounter a practice in another country that you think is unethical?

A) "I won't interact with these people as long as they're acting like that."
B) "My culture's values are the purest in the world. This country is immoral."
C) "Perhaps I should be open to this practice, because I know that even back home not everyone agrees what the right approach is."
D) "Even though this is a morally significant problem, I will just do as they do while I'm in this country."

Question 59

An organization's culture can be described as its members' shared perception of "the way things are" in the organization.

Question 60

One way to start investigating a company's culture is to visit the company to observe how you are treated.

Question 61

Before you speak to a person with a visual impairment,identify yourself.

Question 62

Within any culture,we can find a wide variety of communication styles displayed; for this reason,we should avoid stereotyping members of that culture.

Question 63

The phrase "paraplegic" has exactly the same significance as the phrase "a person who is using a wheelchair."

Question 64

Employees who were raised in working class families often need to adopt different styles of language,nonverbal,and clothing in order to gain acceptance in middle-class careers.

Question 65

Those who speak a nonstandard dialect of English in the U.S.tend usually end up in lower level jobs than those who speak standard English.

Question 66

Rules for most nonverbal behaviors,such as eye contact,are universal.

Question 67

It is rude to lean on someone's wheelchair.

Question 68

In Mexico and Germany,you are expected to use a person's formal title unless that person has specifically invited you to address him or her casually.

Question 69

Euro-Americans tend to be more silent than African Americans,Puerto Ricans,and Mexican Americans.

Question 70

If you have trouble understanding a person who has a speech disability,pretend you understand so they won't have to repeat themselves.

Question 71

You don't need to ask persons with disabilities whether they would like help; just step forth quickly to assist them with tasks that may be hard for them (such as opening doors).

Question 72

A disability is not a defining characteristic of any person; it is simply one feature of their lives.

Question 73

The unwritten rules for smiling differ from one part of the U.S.to another.

Question 74

In the U.S.,social class can have a major impact on how people communicate on the job.
False

Question 75

Native Americans prefer to deal with conflict through silence rather than directly addressing the issues openly.

Question 76

Don't treat persons who have disabilities as if they are "different."

Question 77

The style of writing used in text messages (brevity and lack of attention to correct spelling)is viewed by the baby boomer generation as careless and incompetent.

Question 78

Members of generation Y are good at multitasking,but tend to ignore tasks they aren't interested in (which can be detrimental to their jobs and to themselves).
Culture and Communication in a Diverse Society: Regional Differences

Question 79

Wal-Mart does not use greeters at its stores in Germany,because in that culture it is not customary to talk to strangers.

Question 80

In all cultures,a person who avoids eye contact during a conversation is showing dishonesty or disrespect.