Deck 2: Culture and Interpersonal Communication

Question 1

In a ______________________ culture, such as ______________________, both men and women are encouraged to be modest and oriented to maintaining quality of life.

A) masculine, the United States
B) masculine, Japan
C) feminine, the United States
D) feminine, Norway

Answer 1

D

Question 2

In a low-context culture,

A) you get to know business associates before transactions occur.
B) great importance is given to silence.
C) much emphasis is placed on face-saving.
D) information is communicated in the verbal message.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

In _______________-tolerant cultures, uncertainty causes anxiety.

A) high-ambiguity
B) low-ambiguity
C) high-context
D) low-context

Answer 3

B

Question 4

In a ______________________ culture, such as ______________________, there is a great difference between the power held by the elite and the ordinary citizen.

A) high-power-distance, Sweden
B) high-power-distance, Brazil
C) low-power-distance, Sweden
D) low-power-distance, Brazil

Question 5

According to ______________________, speakers make their communication styles similar to listeners' to gain their approval and achieve greater efficiency.

A) communication accommodation theory
B) the Linguistic Relativity Hypothesis
C) cultural sensitivity
D) the principle of adjustment

Question 6

All of the following are individualistic cultures EXCEPT

A) The United States.
B) Japan.
C) Australia.
D) Canada.

Question 7

All of the following are good ways to improve intercultural communication EXCEPT

A) reducing your ethnocentrism.
B) recognizing differences within the culturally different group.
C) educating yourself about the new culture.
D) accepting that deep down, all humans are alike.

Question 8

Which of the following is NOT true in regard to the acculturation process?

A) Younger people have an easier time.
B) Better educated people have a harder time.
C) Both cultures are changed during the process.
D) Previous exposure to the new culture can make the process easier.

Question 9

______________________ cultures are also collectivist cultures.

A) High-context
B) Low-context
C) High-power-distance
D) Low-power-distance

Question 10

All of the following signify a low-context culture EXCEPT

A) "Let's get right down to business."
B) "Say what you mean, and mean what you say."
C) "A verbal contract isn't worth the paper it's written on."
D) "But first, let's all get to know each other better."

Question 11

All of the following are characteristics of high-power-distance cultures EXCEPT

A) friendships occur within your social class.
B) assertiveness with a superior is viewed positively.
C) students are not expected to challenge instructors.
D) you rely more on symbols of power, for example, courtesy titles like Dr. or Mrs.

Question 12

All of the following could be included in a description of culture EXCEPT

A) genetic similarity.
B) a common language.
C) common values.
D) similar beliefs.

Question 13

In a(n) ______________________ culture, members are responsible for the entire group.

A) collectivist
B) high-power-distance
C) individualistic
D) masculine

Question 14

Susannah loves the freedom in her writing class and the way the writing assignments are open to interpretation. She is probably a member of a _____________ culture.

A) feminine
B) masculine
C) low-ambiguity-tolerant
D) high-ambiguity-tolerant

Question 15

______________________ is the relatively specialized lifestyle of a group of people.

A) Race
B) Nationality
C) Culture
D) Religion

Question 16

All of the following are true in regard to a short-term orientation EXCEPT:

A) Students with this outlook will attribute their success or failure to luck or chance.
B) Executives with this orientation value self-reliance and personal freedom.
C) Organizations with this orientation focus on future profits.
D) Cultures with this outlook see humility as a virtue only for women.

Question 17

______________________ is the process through which you learn your native culture.

A) Acculturation
B) Culture shock
C) Enculturation
D) The adjustment principle

Question 18

All of the following exemplify an individualistic culture EXCEPT

A) "looking out for number one."
B) the "me generation."
C) the lone ranger, riding into the sunset.
D) "there is no 'I' in 'team'."

Question 19

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a culture with a long-term orientation?

A) They believe marriage is a moral arrangement.
B) They are more apt to save for the future.
C) They believe humility is a virtue for men and women.
D) They believe marriage is a practical arrangement.

Question 20

______________________ culture is one in which people are treated as individuals, rather than in terms of the groups to which they belong and teaches a respect for other cultures, and their beliefs.

A) exclusionist
B) universalist
C) high-context
D) masculine

Question 21

In the final stage of culture shock, you engage in

A) recovery.
B) adjustment.
C) the crisis phase.
D) the honeymoon period.

Question 22

Social Darwinism holds that cultures evolve, and some are more advanced than others.

Question 23

Which of the following is NOT in the list of most long-term oriented countries?

A) Japan
B) U.S.
C) China
D) Russia

Question 24

Which of the following is NOT true in relation to culture?

A) Understanding cultures means accepting the cultural beliefs of other cultures.
B) Personality can cause more differences among people than culture.
C) It is important to look at the similarities between cultures.
D) Culture affects all of our communication.

Question 25

Culture is passed from generation to generation genetically.

Question 26

Cultures with an exclusionist orientation teach respect for other cultures and their beliefs.

Question 27

People from ____________ cultures prefer clear-cut rules to follow.

A) low-ambiguity-tolerant
B) masculine
C) high-ambiguity-tolerant
D) feminine

Question 28

Seeing your own culture as inherently better than other cultures is termed

A) stereotyping.
B) enculturation.
C) ethnocentrism.
D) acculturation.

Question 29

Happiness can be measured in terms of _______________

A) wealth and health.
B) individualism and collectivism.
C) leisure and life control.
D) uncertainty avoidance and long-term orientation.

Question 30

The U.S. possesses the following attributes, EXCEPT

A) it's highly masculine.
B) it's individualistic.
C) it's high context.
D) it's low context.

Question 31

Which of the following is NOT true in regard to cultures high in indulgence?

A) They place less importance on friendships.
B) They do not place great value on thriftiness.
C) They are more optimistic and have more positive attitudes.
D) They have more satisfying home lives.

Question 32

A commitment to the ways and beliefs of your culture is termed

A) ethnic identity.
B) culture.
C) enculturation.
D) cultural sensitivity.

Question 33

The first stage in culture shock is the

A) crisis.
B) honeymoon.
C) adjustment.
D) recovery.

Question 34

Acculturation is the process by which you learn the rules and norms of a culture different from your native culture.

Question 35

Which of the following is NOT a way to achieve cultural sensitivity?

A) Recognize differences in meaning.
B) Recognize and face your own fears of acting inappropriately toward members of different cultures.
C) Be rule conscious.
D) Downplay the differences between yourself and those from other cultures.

Question 36

All of the following are true about stereotypes, EXCEPT

A) stereotypes can be negative.
B) they operate on the level of conscious awareness.
C) stereotypes can be positive.
D) they're a fixed impression of a group of people.

Question 37

If one is not careful, ethnic identity can lead to

A) enculturation.
B) acculturation.
C) ethnocentrism.
D) stereotyping.

Question 38

A fixed impression of a group of people is called a

A) schema.
B) stereotype.
C) culture.
D) label.

Question 39

Mariah is aware of the cultural differences between herself and others and wants to decrease it. She has the _______________ degree of ethnocentrism.

A) equality
B) avoidance
C) indifference
D) sensitivity

Question 40

Enculturation helps develop ethnic identity, which can help protect an individual against discrimination.

Question 41

Interpersonal competence is universal across cultures.

Question 42

Cultural relativism means accepting and agreeing with the customs of another culture.

Question 43

Discuss four guidelines to follow when communicating with someone with a general disability.

Question 44

In high-power-distance cultures, students are encouraged to challenge the teacher during classroom discussions.

Question 45

Gender is determined by biology while sex is shaped by society.

Question 46

Describe at least three ways to improve intercultural communication, and provide examples where appropriate.

Question 47

Enculturation is the process through which you learn the culture into which you are born.

Question 48

What are four major distinctions among cultures, and how does the United States rank for each?

Question 49

Collectivist cultures are competitive; individualistic cultures are cooperative.

Question 50

The melting pot is a more accurate metaphor for cultural diversity in the U.S. than the salad bowl.

Question 51

A person in a collectivist culture is proud to stand out or above the crowd.

Question 52

Organizations can be viewed in terms of masculinity or femininity.

Question 53

What is enculturation? How were you, personally, encultured into your native culture?

Question 54

The adage "Say what you mean, and mean what you say" exemplifies a high-context culture.

Question 55

According to communication accommodation theory, we are more attracted to people who have communication patterns similar to our own.

Question 56

In high-context cultures, criticism should only take place in private.

Question 57

Your culture does NOT affect how happy you are.

Question 58

Why should we learn about other cultures and develop intercultural competence? Discuss at least three reasons we need to improve our intercultural competence.

Question 59

Cultures with long-term orientation believe that mothers do NOT need to say home to care for their children.

Question 60

Members of masculine cultures are more likely to seek win-win solutions.