Comms Chapter 3

89) As used in everyday language, ________ mean more than the sum of their literal parts, so they cannot be taken literally. A) noun clauses B) prepositional phrases C) idiomatic phrases D) adverbial clauses E) transitions

C) idiomatic phrases

28) Cultural competency refers to A) the ability to adjust one's communication style to accommodate cultural differences. B) a state of being economically independent according to the standards of a particular culture. C) the ability to speak more than one language. D) a broad knowledge of culture, including music, art, and theatre. E) none of the above.

A) the ability to adjust one's communication style to accommodate cultural differences.

96) Because high-quality translation software is now widely available, the demand for multilingual communicators continues to decrease. True/False

Answer: FALSE

25) ________ is a shared system of symbols, beliefs, attitudes, values, expectations, and norms for behavior. A) Attitude B) Culture C) Disposition D) Preference E) Xenophobia

B) Culture

42) To convey meaning in a low-context culture such as the one existing in Germany, people rely more on A) gestures and vocal inflection. B) indirectness and metaphors. C) situational cues. D) explicit verbal communication. E) facial expressions.

D) explicit verbal communication.

30) Members of a well-established culture tend to view their culture as complete, which can dull or even suppress curiosity about other cultures. True/False

True

31) Studies have shown that people often have cultural biases of which they're not even consciously aware True/False

True

26) ________ is the practice of assigning a wide range of generalized attributes to an individual based on his or her membership in a particular culture or social group. A) Xenophobia B) Ethnocentrism C) Stereotyping D) Cultural pluralism E) Coherency

C) Stereotyping

87) When speaking with someone from another culture, avoid A) talking down to the other person. B) using any foreign phrases. C) paying any attention to the person's body language. D) asking for clarification so you don't offend them. E) adjusting your conversational style.

A) talking down to the other person.

15) As it applies to the contemporary workplace, the idea of diversity is limited to issues of race and ethnicity. True/False

Answer: FALSE

53) Differences in ________, including hand gestures or eye contact, are a major source of misunderstanding during intercultural communications. A) contextual cues B) nonverbal signals C) situational enhancements D) proverbial exchanges E) generational norms

B) nonverbal signals

50) The ratio of men and women in entry-level professional positions is ________; however, moving up the corporate ladder, the percentage of management roles held by men ________. A) grossly unequal; remains flat B) roughly equal; increases steadily C) essentially the same; decreases steadily D) skewed toward women; increases dramatically E) grossly unequal; increases steadily

B) roughly equal; increases steadily

24) ________ involves the practice of accepting multiple cultures on their own terms. A) Ethnocentrism B) Cultural flexibility C) Competency D) Cultural pluralism E) Cultural coherency

D) Cultural pluralism

27) When culture is fairly logical and consistent when viewed from the inside is said to be A) incomplete. B) stereotypical. C) xenophobic. D) pluralistic. E) coherent.

E) coherent.

6) Within three decades, the majority of the U.S. population will be made up of A) workers under the age of 40. B) non English speakers. C) Caucasians. D) immigrants. E) minorities.

E) minorities.q

43) The social media and technological skills of ________ are helping to change business communication practices. A) Generation X B) Generation Q C) Generation Y D) Generation Z E) Baby Boomers

Generation Y

How does the idea of coherency affect culture internally and externally to the organization?

In addition to being automatic, culture tends to be coherent; that is, a culture appears to be fairly logical and consistent when viewed from the inside. Certain norms within a culture may not make sense to someone outside the culture, but they probably make sense to those inside.

82) When writing to audiences whose first language is not English, using humor is generally A) a bad idea, since jokes usually depend on culture-specific information. B) an excellent way to establish a positive relationship. C) acceptable, but only in high-context cultures. D) acceptable, but only in low-context cultures. E) a good way to establish rapport, but only if you use ethnocentric jokes.

A) a bad idea, since jokes usually depend on culture-specific information.

84) To English-speaking U.S. listeners, routine Arabic speech may sound A) excited or angry. B) disinterested. C) timid. D) excessively soft. E) musical.

A) excited or angry.

7) In today's global business world, communication and cultureA) are not closely related and are rarely important to business communication. B) are so closely related that separating the two is virtually impossible. C) have become irrelevant since the advent of the Internet and the rise of social media. D) present challenges that can be overcome simply by learning your audience's language. E) have minimal effect on how business is conducted in the U.S.

B) are so closely related that separating the two is virtually impossible

52) A company that emphasizes ________ will encourage short-term sacrifices for the promise of better outcomes in the long term. A) a deterministic outlook B) a live-for-the-moment mentality C) an orientation toward the future D) a laissez-faire approach to planning E) openness and inclusiveness

C) an orientation toward the future

49) Associating youth with strength, and age with declining powers, is A) a universal trait that characterizes all cultures. B) common in European cultures, but not in the United States. C) common in the United States, but not in many Asian societies. D) an outdated practice. E) a politically correct approach.

C) common in the United States, but not in many Asian societies.

80) When writing to businesspeople in other countries, you should A) use an informal, friendly tone. B) keep your sentences and paragraphs long. C) be vague and general in your wording. D) make generous use of transitional words and phrases. E) include humor and pop-culture references throughout the document.

D) make generous use of transitional words and phrases

70) In the United States, the communication style tends to be A) abbreviated because of instant messaging. B) indirect. C) focused on social relationships instead of business. D) focused on group harmony. E) focused on content and transaction

E) focused on content and transaction.

4) Of the top 10 export markets for U.S. products, ________ percent have English as an official language. A) 2 B) 7 C) 15 D) 22 E) 30

A) 2

20) When you react ethnocentrically, you A) assume that your culture is superior to others. B) accept the differences that exist between your culture and other cultures. C) focus on the possibility that your words and actions will be misunderstood. D) show respect for other cultures. E) understand the long standing traditions of the other culture.

A) assume that your culture is superior to others

14) Culture influences how messages are sent and received in the workplace True/False

Answer: TRUE

11) Local markets and national borders are no longer impassable barriers to business, thanks in part to A) currency exchange rates. B) culture. C) transportation technologies. D) exports. E) better international communication skills.

C) transportation technologies.

13) The competitive advantage of a diverse workforce includes A) lower costs. B) limited viewpoints. C) duplication of employee talents. D) better identify with diverse markets. E) fulfilling legal requirements.

D) better identify with diverse markets.

How does increased diversity present challenges for the workplace?

Today's increasingly diverse workforce encompasses a wide range of skills, traditions, backgrounds, experiences, outlooks, and attitudes toward work-all of which can affect communication in the workplace. Supervisors face the challenge of connecting with these diverse employees, motivating them, and fostering cooperation and harmony among them. Teams face the challenge of working together closely, and companies are challenged to coexist peacefully with business partners and with the community as a whole. Elements of human diversity can affect communication at every stage of the communication process.

95) Mobile devices can help you learn another language or communicate with someone who doesn't speak your language. True/False

True

23) Ethnocentrism can be overcome in part by A) avoiding assumptions. B) judging other groups according to your own standards. C) ignoring the distinctions among cultures. D) remembering people from other cultures communicate in ways that are inferior to your own. E) asserting the superiority of your own culture.

A) avoiding assumptions.

45) Because of the low context culture, when it comes to decision-making customs, North American executives A) tend to focus on the results of the decisions they face. B) prefer to make their deals slowly, after much discussion. C) spend a lot of time on each little point to display their good faith. D) arrive at decisions through consensus, after an elaborate and time-consuming process. E) will usually give in if it allows them to avoid offending the other party

A) tend to focus on the results of the decisions they face

54) People in the United States generally A) view hard-earned material comfort as a worthy goal. B) believe that people who work hard are no better than those who don't work hard. C) condemn materialism and prize a carefree lifestyle. D) spend far less time on the job than German workers do. E) view luxury and comfort as harmful.

A) view hard-earned material comfort as a worthy goal.

36) By emphasizing principles of ________, a designer can make a website more accessible to people whose vision is limited. A) web accessibility B) organic design C) associative technology D) emblematic availability E) mobility

A) web accessibility

93) When writing to audiences whose first language is not English, using plenty of transitions A) will help your readers follow your train of thought. B) is insulting, since it will seem that you are talking down to them. C) will confuse readers, since it will make your message longer. D) is useful only if your readers belong to a high-context culture. E) should be avoided, since it will make your writing sound simple and unsophisticated.

A) will help your readers follow your train of thought.

60) Today's workplace includes the members of four generations: the Radio Generation, Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Generation Y. What challenges does the composition of the contemporary workforce pose for on-the-job communication?

Answer: Dramatically different world events, social trends, and technological advances have shaped the four generations. Therefore, each generation brings its own perspective into the workplace. Since people tend to resist change, they often assume that the way they're doing something must be the best way to do it.

32) What is ethnocentrism, and how can it be overcome?

Answer: Ethnocentrism is the tendency to judge all other groups according to one's own group's standards, behaviors, and customs and to see all other groups as inferior by comparison. You can overcome ethnocentrism by acknowledging distinctions, avoiding assumptions and avoiding judgments.

58) As a rule, your colleagues and customers around the world will use the same communication tools that you use True/False

Answer: FALSE

35) How can you adapt your communication style to that of a new culture you are encountering?

Avoid assumptions. Don't assume that others will act the same way you do, use language and symbols the same way you do, or even operate from the same values and beliefs. For instance, in a comparison of the 10 most important values in three cultures, people from the United States had no values in common with people from Japanese or Arab cultures.

22) The practice of accepting multiple cultures on their own terms is known as A) ethnocentrism. B) cultural pluralism. C) ethnography. D) stereotyping. E) cultural coherency.

B) cultural pluralism.

"All the characteristics and experiences that define each of us as individuals" is the definition of A) ethnicity. B) diversity. C) culture. D) pluralism. E) life experience.

B) diversity.

77) Written messages from Japanese businesspeople tend to be ________ than those written in the United States. A) more direct B) less direct C) less interesting D) shorter E) better illustrated

B) less direct

65) When adapting to other cultures, the "Golden Rule" is A) a helpful principle to follow. B) less effective than treating others the way they want to be treated. C) helpful, but only in Asian countries. D) helpful only when dealing with others in their "golden" years. E) an exercise in tolerance.

B) less effective than treating others the way they want to be treated.

69) In the United States, businesses value time and schedules that promote A) flextime. B) meetings starting and ending at designated times. C) that ability to walk in and out of meetings at will. D) the need to multitask during meetings. E) the need to improve teamwork functions during meetings.

B) meetings starting and ending at designated times.

78) In general, business correspondence in other countries is often ________ than that written used by U.S. businesspeople. A) less formal B) more formal C) more humorous D) less direct E) better illustrated

B) more formal

83) Which of the following sentences contains an idiomatic expression? A) Our monthly sales quota is unrealistic. B) We don't expect to meet our monthly sales quota. C) Making our monthly sales quota will be a piece of cake. D) The sales quota is very reasonable. E) These products are all quite popular.

C) Making our monthly sales quota will be a piece of cake.

18) The term ________ includes an appreciation for cultural differences that affect communication and the ability to adjust one's style when communicating across cultures. A) cultural intuition B) cultural insight C) cultural competency D) cultural dexterity E) cultural coherence

C) cultural competency

29) Most people belong to A) only one culture. B) only one culture at a time, but it can change over their lifetime. C) several different cultures. D) all cultures—although most do not realize it. E) no culture at all, due to increased globalization.

C) several different cultures.

33) What is culture? How does culture affect communication?

Culture is a shared system of symbols, beliefs, attitudes, values, expectations, and norms for behavior. Even though certain norms within a culture may not make sense to an outsider, they probably make sense to those inside that culture. Such coherence generally expedites internal communication, but it can create disharmony between cultures that don't view the world in the same way.

40) Nonverbal communication can be a reliable guide to determining the meaning of a message A) in all communication situations. B) across a wide range of electronic communication media. C) in the majority of intercultural communication situations. D) only if the sender and receiver assign the same meaning to nonverbal signals. E) if the sender has a basic grasp of cultural differences

D) only if the sender and receiver assign the same meaning to nonverbal signals

94) Citing numbers and dates A) does not differ among cultures. B) differs slightly among cultures, but is consistent among all that are low-context. C) varies so widely among cultures that it is impossible to accommodate expectations. D) should be done carefully when communicating with audiences from other cultures. E) should always follow European style, unless you are communicating with others in the U.S.

D) should be done carefully when communicating with audiences from other cultures.

19) How can one learn to show respect for others and to communicate effectively in business? A) Make basic assumptions about a culture based on past experience. B) Judge people based on dress and actions. C) Ignore the differences between another person's culture and your own. D) Hold firm to beliefs and biases that have been developed. E) Adapt your communication style to that of the new cultures you encounter.

E) Adapt your communication style to that of the new cultures you encounter.

73) When communicating with people from other cultures, it is best to apologize when you make a mistake.

True/False

16) How does intercultural communication affect cross-cultural and global business?

Chances are good that you'll be working across international borders sometime in your career. Thanks to communication and transportation technologies, natural boundaries and national borders are no longer the impassable barriers they once were. Local markets are opening to worldwide competition as businesses of all sizes look for new growth opportunities outside their own countries. Not surprisingly, effective communication is key to cross-cultural and global business. In a recent survey, nearly 90 percent of executives said their companies' profit, revenue, and market share would all improve with better international communication skills. In addition, half of these executives said communication or collaboration breakdowns had affected major international business efforts in their companies. The good news here is that improving your cultural communication skills could make you a more valuable job candidate at every stage of your career

39) Disabled employees can use ________ to pursue a greater range of career paths, thereby giving employers access to a broader base of talent. A) flexible initiatives B) coordinated systems C) assistive technologies D) revolving methodologies E) "saving face" technologies

C) assistive technologies

55) Compared to younger employees, older workers A) are less respected in all cultures. B) are more respected in all cultures. C) can offer broader experience and high degrees of "practical intelligence." D) are generally not highly respected in Asian societies. E) almost never find themselves in generational conflict with coworkers

C) can offer broader experience and high degrees of "practical intelligence."

76) If you will be living in another country where English is not the official language and you will be doing business in English, you A) will not need to learn that country's language. B) should learn only those words that are necessary for getting around. C) can show respect by making an effort to learn the language. D) should only deal with natives who can speak English. E) should have a translator be present for all conversations.

C) can show respect by making an effort to learn the language.

44) All of the following except ________ can promote ethical choices across cultures. A) sending honest messages B) respecting cultural differences C) capturing the moral high ground D) sending and receiving messages without judgment E) seeking mutual ground

C) capturing the moral high ground

Intercultural communication is the process of sending and receiving messages between people whose cultural backgrounds A) don't include verbal and/or nonverbal signs. B) don't include a common language but do include common nonverbal customs. C) could lead them to interpret verbal and nonverbal signs differently. D) allow them to interpret verbal and nonverbal signals in identical ways. E) tie them to a particular ethnic group in their local community.

C) could lead them to interpret verbal and nonverbal signs differently.

8) As businesses become more global, the workforce increasingly consists of employees with ________ national, religious, and ethnic backgrounds. A) similar B) identical C) diverse D) triangulated E) mixed

C) diverse

21) Xenophobia is the fear of A) bridges. B) unfamiliar environments. C) foreigners. D) change. E) crisis.

C) foreigners.

2) Intercultural communication can challenge supervisors in all of the following ways except A) connecting on an interpersonal level with diverse employees. B) providing motivation to diverse employees. C) getting a limited range of views and ideas from diverse employees. D) fostering cooperation among diverse employees. E) promoting harmony within the group of diverse employees

C) getting a limited range of views and ideas from diverse employees.

48) Meeting a deadline is generally less important than building a relationship for businesspeople in A) technical career fields. B) low-context cultures. C) high-context cultures. D) high-paying positions. E) environments that emphasize teamwork and collaboration.

C) high-context cultures.

68) In the United States, companies most often reward and promote an employee based on A) group success. B) equality. C) individualism. D) consensus. E) seniority.

C) individualism.

75) Learning about an unfamiliar culture A) can be accomplished only by living among its people. B) is generally a waste of time since no one in business expects you to do so. C) is a worthy undertaking, even if you learn only a small amount. D) requires at least one year of study before it is meaningful. E) is a bad idea, since it usually leads to overconfidence and embarrassing mistakes.

C) is a worthy undertaking, even if you learn only a small amount.

47) Women executives who travel abroad A) can count on being treated with respect, regardless of the countries they visit. B) should always assume they will not be taken seriously as businesspeople. C) may not be taken seriously as businesspeople, depending on the culture. D) should insist on meeting only with other female executives. E) are almost always treated with more respect outside the U.S. than inside the U.S.

C) may not be taken seriously as businesspeople, depending on the culture.

46) Compared to low-context cultures, high-context cultures tend to take a ________ approach regarding the meaning of business contracts. A) less flexible B) more literal C) more flexible D) more aggressive E) less literal

C) more flexible

91) In conversations with a nonnative English speaker with whom you have a longstanding business relationship, you notice that he consistently makes language mistakes that could hurt his credibility. In response, you should A) ignore the errors because correcting him could compromise your business interactions. B) interrupt him and point out the errors, then explain that no one will take him seriously unless he learns to speak correctly. C) politely offer advice on the appropriate words and phrases to use. D) imitate the errors yourself in the hope that he will recognize the need to correct them. E) encourage him to watch news programs and model his speech patterns after the newscasters.

C) politely offer advice on the appropriate words and phrases to use.

85) When speaking in English to people who use English as a second language, the best approach is to A) forget about feedback; just make sure you get your message across. B) repeat your sentences often, a little louder each time. C) speak slowly and clearly. D) use plenty of adjectives such as fantastic and fabulous. E) limit your sentences to no more than 5 words each.

C) speak slowly and clearly

57) Openness and inclusiveness A) are not characteristics of many cultures, whose members display a general unwillingness to accommodate outsiders. B) characterize all cultures, wherever they are found. C) are not truly characteristic of any culture, although some try to claim them. D) are typical only of small, dying cultures. E) will eventually weaken and destroy any culture.

A) are not characteristics of many cultures, whose members display a general unwillingness to accommodate outsiders.

79) When writing for multicultural audiences, it's important to A) be brief. B) be direct and assertive. C) address international correspondence exactly as you would in the United States. D) explain that you aren't sure about what they expect. E) apologize in advance for any mistakes.

A) be brief.

67) To help improve cultural competency, organizations should A) be respectful of core principles of any country, organization or culture. B) follow the tenets of the Golden Rule. C) adjust policies and procedure for each country where business is conducted. D) promote individualism within the organization. E) conduct all important communication in writing.

A) be respectful of core principles of any country, organization or culture.

71) Business communicators can improve their cultural competency by A) becoming aware of their own biases. B) becoming more rigid and less flexible. C) avoiding humor. D) apply the Golden Rule wherever possible. E) avoid working with those from tradition bound cultures.

A) becoming aware of their own biases.

38) Every attempt at communication between two people occurs within a A) cultural context. B) communication portal. C) nexus of convenience. D) cone of reciprocity. E) mutual environment.

A) cultural context.

56) Ability differences among employees and customers A) have led many companies to make websites more accommodating to persons with disabilities. B) disappear when those individuals enter the workplace. C) rarely affect their use of the internet and digital communication technology. D) are impossible to accommodate when it comes to web accessibility. E) none of the above.

A) have led many companies to make websites more accommodating to persons with disabilities.

86) During conversations with non-native English speakers, you should A) immediately rephrase statements they don't seem to understand. B) avoid paying too much attention to nonverbal feedback. C) avoid including any words or phrases from their native language. D) write everything down before you say it and show it to the other person as you speak. E) use exaggerated physical gestures

A) immediately rephrase statements they don't seem to understand

92) In conversations with others whose first language is not English, you should A) not interrupt, even if you do not understand or need to correct a misconception. B) refuse to speak unless a translator is present. C) warn them up front that, because of language differences, nothing you say should be taken as contractual or binding. D) use exaggerated facial expressions and hand gestures to make sure your point gets across. E) always demand that a witness be present.

A) not interrupt, even if you do not understand or need to correct a misconception.

41) In high-context cultures, A) people rely more on nonverbal circumstances and cues to convey meaning. B) people rely less on the environmental setting to convey meaning. C) the rules of everyday life are highly explicit. D) aggressive negotiation is expected. E) there is less emphasis on context.

A) people rely more on nonverbal circumstances and cues to convey meaning

97) In intercultural conversations, speaking slowly is usually regarded as a sign of disrespect True/False

Answer: FALSE

59) Cultural context refers to the pattern of physical cues, environmental stimuli, and implicit understanding that conveys meaning between members of the same culture

Answer: TRUE

9) Many difficulties in intercultural communication occur because people in different cultures have different A) genetics. B) assumptions about how people should think, behave, and communicate. C) environments. D) media. E) views, but similar core values.

B) assumptions about how people should think, behave, and communicate.

72) When adapting to business cultures, a sense of humor A) is inappropriate and unprofessional-business is no laughing matter. B) can help people move past awkward and embarrassing moments. C) is helpful unless you are in a management or executive position. D) is accepted and helpful in many cultures, but not in the U.S. E) will not help, since humor does not transfer from one culture to another

B) can help people move past awkward and embarrassing moments.

51) In a given culture, prevailing customs and attitudes that pertain to roles and status will influence the A) attitudes about instant gratification and long-term investing. B) expectations for who communicates with whom, what they communicate, and in what way. C) level of tolerance for people from other cultures or with divergent points of view. D) flexibility with which employers and workers plan each business day. E) change in the communication style of female executives.

B) expectations for who communicates with whom, what they communicate, and in what way.

88) If you translate a written message from English into another language, it is a good idea to A) translate it word for word. B) have it back-translated. C) use several translators. D) rely on internet translators alone, since human translators cannot match their accuracy. E) use an interpreter.

B) have it back-translated.

12) Nearly 90 percent of executives claim profit and revenue would increase with improvements in A) market share. B) international communication skills. C) Internet technology. D) understand of local idioms. E) the local talent pool

B) international communication skills.

81) When preparing a message to someone from another culture, you should A) never write more than a single paragraph. B) assume the audience is familiar with common U.S. phrases and references. C) be sure to remove all graphics, in case they might offend someone. D) be careful to express numbers and dates in the format used in that person's culture. E) use only simple sentences

D) be careful to express numbers and dates in the format used in that person's culture.

90) The phrase ________ refers to dedicated software and online services that offer various forms of automated translation. A) machine interpolation B) digital interpretation C) online transcription devices D) computerized translation tools E) idiomatic translation tools

D) computerized translation tools

37) Cultural differences appear in a number of important areas, including A) nonverbal differences. B) legal and ethical differences. C) religious differences. D) attitudes toward work and success. E) all of the above.

E) all of the above.

10) Every attempt to send or receive a message is influenced by A) word choice. B) diversity. C) written communication skills. D) verbal communication skills. E) culture.

E) culture.

5) The key to cross-cultural and global business is A) recognizing cultural biases. B) increased exports. C) cross cultural training. D) a diverse workforce. E) effective communication

E) effective communication.

66) Successful intercultural communication requires an ability to understand the other party's culture in addition to A) learning key words and phrases from that culture. B) working to promote group harmony. C) following strict rules of verbal communication. D) using the same approach to communication consistently. E) understanding how your own culture shapes the way you communicate.

E) understanding how your own culture shapes the way you communicate.