Question 1

North Americans consider time a precious commodity and correlate it with productivity, efficiency, and money.

Accepted Answer

This statement is generally true as North American culture places a high value on being productive and efficient, often equating these qualities with financial success. Time management is emphasized in many areas of life, such as work, school, and personal pursuits.

Question 2

Understanding a message involves listening to only the spoken words.

Accepted Answer

Understanding a message involves not only listening to the spoken words, but also paying attention to nonverbal cues, tone of voice, and context.

Question 3

Physical barriers to listening include only environmentally produced noises.

Accepted Answer

Physical barriers to listening refer to any obstacles that prevent or inhibit effective communication, including environmental noise, but also physical obstructions, language barriers, and cognitive differences.

Question 4

One of the best strategies to become a better listener is to question a speaker while he or she is still talking to ensure your comprehension.

Accepted Answer

Interrupting a speaker can disrupt their flow and may be perceived as rude. It's better to wait until they finish speaking to ask questions for clarification.

Question 5

To improve your listening ability, focus both on what is spoken and what is unspoken.

Accepted Answer

To truly understand and comprehend a message, it's important to not only listen to the words being spoken but also pay attention to tone, body language, and other nonverbal cues. This can help you pick up on underlying emotions or messages that may not be explicitly stated.

Question 6

When verbal and nonverbal messages conflict, listeners tend to believe the verbal message.

Accepted Answer

When verbal and nonverbal messages conflict, listeners tend to believe the nonverbal message because it usually reveals the true feelings or intentions of the sender.

Question 7

Brooke is listening to a difficult presentation on nanotechnology development. As a good listener, she should take complete notes of everything said.

Accepted Answer

Taking complete notes of everything said can be overwhelming and impractical. Instead, Brooke should focus on capturing key points, main ideas, and any important details that will help her understand and recall the presentation later.

Question 8

Most communication is nonverbal.

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that up to 93% of communication is nonverbal, including body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice. Only 7% of communication is conveyed through words.

Question 9

The United States is an example of a low-context culture.

Accepted Answer

The United States is typically considered a low-context culture, meaning that communication is typically direct and explicit, and relies less on unspoken understanding or implied meanings.

Question 10

Greg will be the student speaker for graduation. To ensure that his nonverbal cues support his verbal message, he should ask friends and family to monitor his conscious and unconscious body movements and gestures.

Accepted Answer

Yes, it is true that Greg should ask friends and family to monitor his nonverbal cues to ensure that they support his verbal message during his graduation speech. Nonverbal cues such as body movements, posture, facial expressions, and gestures can convey more meaning than words, so it is important that they align with the verbal message to create an effective communication.

Question 11

Our culture molds the way we think, behave, and communicate.

Accepted Answer

Our culture influences our thoughts, behavior, and communication patterns through socialization and exposure to cultural norms, values, and beliefs.

Question 12

Listening is a passive process.

Accepted Answer

Listening is an active process that requires attention, concentration and interpretation of the message being communicated. It involves not only hearing the words being spoken, but also understanding the context, tone, and nonverbal cues.

Question 13

Laura values individualism and personal responsibility in herself and coworkers. These values are typical of North American culture.

Accepted Answer

Yes, individualism and personal responsibility are often considered important values in North American culture, with an emphasis on self-reliance and independence.

Question 14

Most Americans communicate with business associates at approximately 1½ feet.

Accepted Answer

There is no empirical evidence to suggest that most Americans communicate with business associates at a distance of approximately 1½ feet. It may vary depending on cultural norms or personal preference.

Question 15

Zach's company does business globally. By associating with people from diverse cultures, Zach can widen his knowledge of intercultural messages and can increase his tolerance of differences.

Accepted Answer

Associating with people from diverse cultures can help Zach widen his knowledge of intercultural messages and increase his tolerance of differences, which can be beneficial for doing business globally.

Question 16

Both your personal appearance and the physical appearance of your business documents transmit immediate and important nonverbal messages.

Accepted Answer

Both personal appearance and the physical appearance of business documents can convey nonverbal messages to others. A well-presented appearance can create a positive impression, while a sloppy or disheveled appearance can send negative messages. Similarly, documents that are well-designed and professional-looking can inspire confidence in their content, while documents that are poorly designed or low-quality can detract from their perceived value.

Question 17

If you want to become a better listener, your first step is to stop talking.

Accepted Answer

To become a better listener, you need to focus on the speaker and avoid interrupting or dominating the conversation with your own thoughts or opinions. This requires you to stop talking and instead listen actively to what the speaker is saying.

Question 18

Individuals in Western cultures are more relaxed about social status and the appearance of power.

Accepted Answer

Western culture tends to place less emphasis on social status and the appearance of power compared to many other cultures. Individualism and a more relaxed approach to hierarchy are generally valued in Western societies.

Question 19

Communication style is the most important dimension of culture.

Accepted Answer

While communication style is a significant aspect of culture, it is not the most important dimension as culture encompasses a wide range of elements including values, beliefs, practices, customs, and social behaviors, among others.

Question 20

Individuals in high-context cultures prefer direct verbal interaction, value individualism, rely on logic, say "No" directly, and give authority to written information.

Accepted Answer

Individuals in high-context cultures rely heavily on nonverbal communication, place a high value on relationships and group harmony, and may use indirect language to avoid causing offense or disrupting social harmony. They also often prioritize oral communication over written communication and may give greater weight to the context and underlying meaning of a message rather than its explicit wording.

Quiz 1: Communicating in the Digital Age Workplace