Communicating at Work, 12e (Adler)

Chapter 2 Communication, Culture, and Work

1) Which of the following statements is true of the U.S. workforce?

A) In the United States, engineering companies that have embraced diversity are losing their
competitive edge.
B) Most U.S. workers were born outside of the country.
C) The ability to work effectively with people from other countries is becoming an essential
qualification for workers in all industries.
D) Very few foreign companies have set up operations in the United States.

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) shared interpretations that affect the behaviors of a group.

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3) All of the following characteristics can help define culture except
A) religion.
B) socioeconomic background.
C) sexual orientation.
D) your neighbor's religion.

4) 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 United States 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, and it will be influenced by a variety of factors in our lives.

5) Miriam was born to a Syrian refugee living in Turkey and was adopted as a baby by a couple
living in the United States. As an adult, she moves to Wales for a job. Miriam is most likely to
hold beliefs and adhere to norms that belong to the culture in
A) Wales.
B) Ukraine.
C) the United States.
D) Syria.

6) 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 do not 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."

7) Our own culture's standards are usually

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

8) Cultural expectations are often ________ to the people who live and communicate within that
culture.
A) useless
B) invisible
C) overwhelming
D) disgusting

9) Liam was raised in Dublin. As a result, the dominant norms of Irish culture are largely
________ to Liam.
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A) invisible
B) obvious
C) not applicable
D) a mystery

10) Which of the following is not true about organizational culture?

A) It refers to the unique set of values of an organization.
B) It shapes the degree of cooperation and competition within the organization.
C) The way employees interact with each other is governed by organizational culture.
D) Workers who do not conform to their organization's culture are rewarded.

11) Which of the following are ways to learn about an organization's culture?
A) Notice how you are 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.

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12) One approach to 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.

13) Employees whose values match the values of the organization they work for generally
________ than employees whose values do not match the organization.
A) have less success in their careers
B) show more commitment to their jobs
C) seem less satisfied
D) change jobs more frequently

14) When employees choose not to follow the unspoken rules of the organization they work for,
they often
A) have fewer complaints.
B) promote higher customer satisfaction.
C) face negative consequences.
D) are rewarded by management.

15) Yolanda and her friend Dillon live in Canada, and they both consider themselves to be
Canadian. Even so, Yolanda, a woman, is a Catholic from a working-class family, while Dillon,
a man, is an atheist from a middle-class family. The different religious, gender, and social groups
Yolanda and Dillon belong to are referred to as
A) out groups.
B) co-cultures.
C) ethnicities.
D) norms.

16) Whether you are a Baby Boomer or a Millennial, the generation you belong to is an example
of 
A) a co-culture.
B) a norm.
C) a society.
D) an attitude.

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17) Which of the following statements about race, ethnicity, and communication is true?
A) Each race and ethnic group has a single style of communication that members use.
B) There are some patterns of communication that many members of various races and
ethnicities share.
C) Races and ethnicities deal with eye contact in the same way.
D) A person's race or ethnicity is the sole predictor of that person's communication style.

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

A) You should view it as a sign of timidity or shyness.
B) You should see it as a sign of dislike of you or something you have said.
C) You should recognize it as a face-saving response to a situation the person is uncomfortable
in.
D) You should know that the meaning varies depending on the culture, the context, and the
individual.

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19) Eye contact indicates
A) respect.
B) disrespect.
C) honesty.
D) a variety of things, depending on the culture.

20) The preferred means of dealing with conflict

A) is to remain silent.
B) involves talking about the conflict directly and openly.
C) involves avoiding clear expressions of disagreement.
D) varies across cultural groups.

21) When first-generation college students from working-class backgrounds arrive at college,
which one of the following skills are they likely to be proficient in?
A) how to follow rules
B) how to think critically
C) how to argue persuasively
D) how to speak assertively

22) Which of the following is true of children raised in middle- and upper-class families?
A) They typically learn to defer to authority.
B) They typically have a hard time speaking up.
C) They are frequently taught to think critically.
D) They usually have trouble arguing persuasively.

23) Which of the following is a true statement about children raised in working-class families?
A) They must often change their speech, language, clothing, and nonverbal patterns to be
accepted in professional life.
B) They are typically taught to think critically and devise creative solutions to the problems
placed in front of them.
C) They are unable to make the transition to working in a business or professional environment
because of their upbringing.
D) They are more likely than children from middle- and upper-class families to form persuasive
arguments.

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24) Which generation generally has the most seniority in organizations, was raised to believe
they could make meaningful changes, and enjoys the pressure to perform in the workplace?
A) Generation Xers
B) Generation Zers
C) Millennials
D) Baby Boomers

25) Which generation prioritizes fun and creativity on the job and has a strong desire for work-
life balance, but also tends to have more conservative and traditional values?
A) Millennials
B) Baby Boomers
C) Generation Xers
D) Generation Zers

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26) Which generation is, as a group, technologically adept and entrepreneurial and has older
members shifting into management roles?
A) Baby Boomers
B) Gen Xers
C) Gen Yers
D) Millennials

27) On the job, Millennials tend to

A) be technologically inept.
B) be workaholics.
C) have a strong need for recognition.
D) fear working in a diverse workplace.

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28) Which of the following statements is true about Generation Z?
A) The oldest members are rapidly shifting into management roles.
B) It is the first generation to have access to the Internet from a young age.
C) In the United States, it is the most ethnically diverse generation in history.
D) Members tend to hold traditional and conservative values.

29) Speakers of nonstandard dialects of English are

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

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30) Parinaaz grew up in India and recently moved to the United States. Although she speaks
English fluently, she has a strong accent. Which of the following statements about Parinaaz is
most likely true? 
A) Parinaaz is likely to experience bias against her and greater communication problems as a
result.
B) Parinaaz is likely to be recommended for a higher-level job than a person with a neutral
accent.
C) Parinaaz's accent will result in her being treated much the same as someone from the
Midwest.
D) Parinaaz is more likely to be recommended for a job with more public contact than someone
with a less pronounced speech style.

31) Which of the following statements is true about disability?

A) When interacting with people with disabilities, it is best to use group designations, such as
"the deaf."
B) The lives of most people in the United States will remain untouched by disability.
C) The Americans with Disabilities Act limits its definition of disability to visible impairments.
D) Disability is nondiscriminatory and can impact people of all races, ethnicities, ages, sexes,
and classes.

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32) The Americans with Disabilities Act has helped people with disabilities by 
A) giving them preference in being hired.
B) eliminating their need to function in mainstream culture.
C) ensuring they get to be interviewed first for jobs and have longer interviews.
D) improving accessibility and protecting their rights.

33) Which of the following best describes advocates' advice for how we should treat persons
with disabilities?
A) Act awkwardly around them.
B) Avoid assuming you know their needs and preferences.
C) Honor their disabilities by treating them differently than we would treat others.
D) Be certain not to use common expressions such as "See you later" because they could be
discriminatory.

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34) Which of the following is appropriate behavior for communicating with a person with a
disability?
A) Be sure to communicate in a clear and understandable manner.
B) Do not attempt to shake hands with a person who has an artificial limb.
C) Be sure to pet and interact with service animals so they do not see you as a threat.
D) If a person uses a sign language interpreter, look at the interpreter while you are talking to the
person who is hearing impaired.

35) Which of the following is a good guideline for interacting with people who have a disability?
A) To prevent embarrassment, take care that you do not say "see you later" to a blind person.
B) When you are talking to a person with a disability, look and speak directly to that person.
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 with a disability has difficulty speaking, you can assist that person by finishing his
or her sentences.

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36) Which of the following statements is true about male and female communication styles?
A) Male and female communication styles are often so different that it has been suggested that
the two sexes are two distinct co-cultures.
B) Research has indicated that there are no real differences in how men and women
communicate.
C) Female and male communication styles tend to only differ in significant ways among the
lower classes of a society.
D) Male and female communication style differences are largely nonexistent until after people
reach middle age.

37) Which of the following statements is true about gender and sex discrimination in the
workplace?
A) The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission interprets discrimination based on
gender identity and sexual orientation as sex discrimination, regardless or state or local laws.
B) Female full-time employees make wages equal to male full-time employees, but female part-
time workers make only 80 cents for every dollar earned by a man.
C) Thanks to the laws put in place by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission,
women no longer face sex-based issues in the workplace.
D) The differences in the career projections of men and women can be primarily traced to a lack
of interest in advancing professionally on the part of women.

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38) Which of the following is true of military veterans in the workplace?
A) Military veterans tend to work better in competitive rather than collaborative workplaces.
B) Military veterans are often able to complete tasks in stressful situations.
C) Military veterans have a higher well-being in the workplace than other Americans.
D) Military veterans often find it difficult to adapt and solve problems in a creative and quick
manner.

39) Which of the following statements is true about customs and behavior?
A) It is generally safe to assume that everyone in a particular culture will behave similarly.
B) Similarities shared across cultures are intercultural similarities.
C) Members of a particular culture share the same communication styles.
D) Variations between members of the same culture are intercultural variations.

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40) In international business, a good general rule is to
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 United States.
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 do not expect
foreigners to know their cultural rules.

41) Which of the following statements is true about formality?

A) Ways of expressing the degrees of formality are limited to the use of names and titles.
B) Expressions of formality are essentially the same for every culture.
C) In some cultures, the expected level of formality means that you do not converse with
strangers.
D) With a few exceptions, business exchanges with people from other countries tend to be
informal.

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42) Which of the following is true about business cards in Japan?
A) Business cards are not important and are rarely exchanged.
B) When being given a card, you should hold it in two hands and carefully review it.
C) You should avoid giving out business cards unless you have a long-standing relationship with
the recipient.
D) After being handed a business card, you should quickly put it in your pocket without looking
at it.

43) Yasmine's company is flying her to China to help broker a business deal, and she knows that
giving gifts is an expected part of business in the Chinese culture. Which of the following should
Yasmine do?
A) She should give a white gift to symbolize the purity of her intentions.
B) She should give an expensive gift to give her hosts the impression of company wealth.
C) She should not bring a gift because gift giving in business situations is not a U.S. tradition.
D) She should research Chinese cultural gift-giving practices and choose her gift carefully.

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44) Which of the following statements is true about styles of dress?
A) Regional differences in clothing are becoming more pronounced.
B) When doing business abroad, it is best to err on the side of conservative dress.
C) Wearing the latest fashions is expected when traveling abroad for business.
D) The standard Western business suit is expected for men and women doing business abroad.

45) The statement "Time is money, so it should be rationed carefully," reflects a(n) ________
orientation toward time.
A) monochronic
B) individualistic
C) polychronic
D) costly

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46) 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 Skylar's behavior?
A) high-context
B) standard
C) monochronic
D) polychronic

47) Juana takes time to chat with her friends at the beginning of the meeting, even though it
means the meeting will start late. Juana's sociability illustrates a ________ time orientation.
A) monochronic
B) polychronic
C) central standard
D) disrespectful

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48) Members of a polychronic culture would probably
A) finish a telephone conversation before acknowledging a friend who has entered the room.
B) arrive well before a meeting is scheduled to start.
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.

49) 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 will consider it" if you mean "no."
D) explain unpleasant news in a matter-of-fact manner.

50) A common communication behavior in cultures that avoid conflict involves

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

51) Mi Na is an executive working at a plastics manufacturer in South Korea. In her culture,

people work hard to avoid conflict and maintain harmony. Mi Na plans to meet with Elliot, a
businessman who is traveling to South Korea from the United States, a culture where being
direct is more important than avoiding conflict. Which of the following statements best describes
what should happen during Mi Na and Elliot's meeting?
A) Mi Na should try to accept the presence of conflict, while Elliot should work to promote
harmony.
B) As the visitor, it is Elliot's responsibility to avoid conflict and maintain harmony.
C) As the host, it is Mi Na's responsibility to put aside her cultural norms and embrace directness
and tolerate conflict.
D) Elliot and Mi Na should use an intermediary so that neither has to change his or her style of
communication.

52) Which of the following statements is true about gender roles around the world?
A) The Internet has helped ensure that business people will be treated equally in all cultures
regardless of gender.
B) Businesspeople around the world are cosmopolitan and understand that rank matters more
than gender.
C) Women can guarantee they will be treated equally by providing their qualifications in writing
prior to meeting with foreign business people.
D) In some countries, women may find themselves excluded from important conversations
because of their gender, even if they are business executives.

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53) Claudia and Dayson are upper-level managers working for the same company, but they are
located in different countries and come from different cultures. The company is implementing a
new accounting process, so Jorge, the company CEO, invites Claudia, Dayson, and a few other
managers to join him on a video conference. During the video conference, Claudia asks Jorge if
the company will be creating a temporary help desk to ease the transition. Jorge replies, "I'll
think about it and get back to you later." To Claudia, this means he will honestly consider the
possibility and will send an email with his decision. To Dayson, Jorge's expression during this
statement indicates that he is simply maintaining social harmony and that a help desk will not be
created. Which of the following is most likely true about Claudia's and Dayson's cultures?
A) Claudia is from a high-context culture, and Dayson is from a low-context culture. 
B) Dayson is from a high-context culture, and Claudia is from a low-context culture. 
C) Both Claudia and Dayson are from high-context cultures.
D) Both Claudia and Dayson are from low-context cultures.

54) 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

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55) Which of the following likely 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.

56) 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 am sorry, but we cannot do that.
D) I cannot do that now. Do you not see that I am busy?

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57) Lorenzo has been offered a chance to work overseas for an international tech company. The
opportunity means that he will need to leave his current company even though he is currently in
the middle of a big project there. However, Lorenzo knows the new position is major step up for
him career-wise, so he decides to take it, even though his current company will potentially face
short-term setbacks as a result. Based on this scenario, Lorenzo is most likely a member of a(n)
________ culture.
A) collectivist
B) high power distance
C) individualistic
D) low power distance

58) Members of a collectivist culture such as China's will typically

A) try hard to distinguish themselves and 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 the interests of the community they belong to.
D) strive to be recognized as an organizational "star."

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59) 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.

60) 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.

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61) Jermaine is a junior accountant working at a mid-sized accounting firm. During tax season,
Jermaine completes tax forms for clients, which are then reviewed by one of the senior
accountants before they are filed. Rarely, the senior accountant will correct something Jermaine
has missed or done incorrectly. Most of the time the senior accountant is correct, but sometimes
Jermaine believes his original work was correct. When this is the case, he has no problem
challenging the senior accountant's revisions. Jermaine most likely comes from a culture  
A) with high power distance.
B) that is collectivistic.
C) with low power distance.
D) that is individualistic.

62) Everyone in Lara's family has taken a different path in life. Her sister, Daniela, went to
college to become a lawyer. Her brother, Rodrigo, decided to become a sculptor. Lara prefers to
travel and moves from country to country, working different seasonal jobs and taking classes
here and there. Lara's parents see all three career paths as valid choices. Lara and her family most
likely come from a culture that
A) is relatively comfortable with uncertainty.
B) has little tolerance for uncertainty.
C) has high power distance.
D) has low power distance.

63) 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.

64) Milo and his friends and family are all very focused on achieving material success and
"winning." They respect people who are assertive and have power in any of its forms. Milo most
likely lives in a ________ culture.
A) masculine
B) low-context
C) high-context
D) feminine

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65) 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) task completion.

66) 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

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67) Chunhua is a full-time graduate student. She also has a part-time internship and a part-time
job. As a result, she has little free time and rarely gets to go out with her friends or see her
family. However, she knows that once she graduates, she will be able to get a good job at a good
company, so for her, the eventual payoff is worth the extra work now. Chunhua most likely
comes from a culture with
A) high power distance.
B) low power distance.
C) a long-term orientation.
D) a short-term orientation.

68) Arran would like to work in advertising as a copywriter and eventually as a project manager.
He has always dreamed of seeing his ideas made into commercials or put on billboards. He
considered going to college and getting a degree that would help him achieve his goals, but he
does not like that it would mean spending four to six years going to class instead of making
money. Instead, Arran decides to get an entry-level job selling advertising. The pay is not as
good as he would make if he got his degree, but he is getting paid right now, which makes him
happy. Arran most likely belongs to a culture with
A) a long-term orientation.
B) a short-term orientation.
C) high power distance.
D) low power distance.

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69) Which of the following attitudes would be most helpful if you encountered a practice in
another country that you think is unethical?
A) "I will not interact with these people as long as they are 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 am in this
country."

70) Business leaders in Japan, Europe, and the United States collaborated to create a universal
code of business ethics known as the
A) Caux Round Table Principles for Business.
B) Equal Employment Opportunity Act.
C) Values, Attitudes, and Lifestyles Inventory.
D) Corporate Equality Index.

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71) Lydia and two co-workers have traveled to a foreign country to negotiate a business deal
with a company that manufactures electronic components. After a morning meeting, everyone
breaks for lunch. As they are leaving the office building to go to a restaurant, Lydia chats with
one of the manufacturing executives. During the course of their conversation, he hints that a
bribe would make the negotiations go more smoothly. Lydia knows that bribes are a common
and accepted business practice in his culture, but she is not entirely comfortable with it. Which of
the following questions should she answer to help determine the best response to this ethical
dilemma?
A) Is there consensus in her home country regarding this issue?
B) Will it save her team time negotiating?
C) Has this man been given a bribe before?
D) Will the bribe cut into her company's profits?

72) In order to learn about other cultures, which of the following is not necessary?
A) being open-minded
B) being willing to learn new ways to approach an issue
C) observing how others conduct themselves
D) completely abandoning your own preferences

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73) Which of the following statements is true about effectively communicating across cultures?
A) You need to participate in a corporate training program to communicate effectively within a
diverse workplace.
B) Communicating with people from diverse backgrounds is easy.
C) The responsibility for building bridges among members of a diverse workforce rests with
management.
D) You can increase the effectiveness of your intercultural interactions by improving your
knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors.

74) Which attitude about cultural differences is most likely to lead to a productive relationship?
A) integration
B) denial
C) minimization
D) defense

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75) Tiffany does not actively dislike other cultures, but she does not really understand or
appreciate their traditions and histories either. For her, the only difference between her culture
and another culture exists in their food, language, and holidays. What stage of intercultural
sensitivity is Tiffany exhibiting?
A) denial
B) defense
C) acceptance
D) minimization

76) Mike is on vacation in a foreign country. Whenever he goes to a restaurant, he thinks, "This
food is okay, but it is nowhere near as good as the food I can get back home." When he interacts
with the locals, he thinks, "These people are pretty friendly, but they are much lazier and not as
smart as the people back home." Mike is displaying
A) adaptation.
B) ethnocentrism.
C) intercultural competency.
D) integration.

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77) 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.

78) 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.

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79) Adama has just been hired as a buyer at a U.S. company that imports goods from Taiwan.
She does not know anything about the Taiwanese culture, but she is being sent to Taipei next
week. Between adjusting to her new role and preparing for the business portion of her trip,
Adama will not have much time to learn about her hosts. Which of the following is something
she should do to help ensure that she communicates effectively during her meetings in Taiwan?
A) She should ignore any cultural differences she might encounter.
B) She should judge Taiwanese culture based on how things are done in the United States.
C) She should say as little as possible to avoid causing offense.
D) She should maintain a level of formality and recognize cultural differences.

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

Answer: FALSE

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

Answer: TRUE

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82) 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.

Answer: TRUE

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

Answer: TRUE

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

Answer: TRUE

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

Answer: FALSE

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

Answer: TRUE

87) Generation Xers want a work-life balance and are loyal to people, but not organizations.

Answer: TRUE

88) Those who speak a nonstandard dialect of English in the United States usually end up in
lower level jobs than those who speak standard English.

Answer: TRUE

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

Answer: TRUE

90) It is polite to play with a person's service animal.

Answer: FALSE

91) You do not 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.

Answer: FALSE

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92) The communication styles of men and women are the same aside from a few minor
differences.

Answer: FALSE

93) Military veterans may find it difficult to go home at the end of the day if the day's task is not
yet complete.

Answer: TRUE

94) 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.

Answer: TRUE

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95) If you are interacting in foreign business settings, you would be well advised to wear
something trendy rather than dressing in a traditional, conservative style.

Answer: FALSE

96) A culture where tasks are performed in a scheduled order, one at a time, with full attention
given to each task, is called a polychronic culture.

Answer: FALSE

97) In the Middle East, negative emotional expression is usually suppressed, because it is so
important to show harmony.

Answer: FALSE

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98) In some cultures it is considered impolite to directly say "no" to a request, because it could
embarrass the person who made the request.

Answer: TRUE

99) Gender roles and expectations for feminine behavior are consistent across cultures.

Answer: FALSE

100) In high-context cultures, such as Asian societies, receivers rely heavily on social rules, the
history of the relationship, and nonverbal cues to decode the full meaning of the messages they
receive.

Answer: TRUE

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101) In low-context cultures, an important goal of communicators is to help each other save face
and maintain social harmony.

Answer: FALSE

102) In collectivist cultures, it is considered dishonorable to become a star worker, because this
would be perceived as a disgrace to the other team members.

Answer: TRUE

103) In a culture where high power distance is the norm, an employee who challenged the
managers' decisions and asked probing questions would probably be labeled as an aggressive
troublemaker.

Answer: TRUE

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104) Sanjay comes from a culture where people are not comfortable taking risks and do not
accept behaviors that differ from the norm. This is an example of uncertainty avoidance.

Answer: TRUE

105) Scandinavian countries approach organizations from a masculine orientation, which means
they focus on team cooperation, good working conditions, and maintaining a friendly
atmosphere.

Answer: FALSE

106) The United States has a long-term orientation, which means that rather than focusing on
immediate payoffs, members tend to work hard today so they can have rewards in the future.

Answer: FALSE

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107) A behavior that you consider to be immoral may be considered entirely appropriate in
another culture.

Answer: TRUE

108) If your cultural background differs from the norm in your current location, it is a good idea
to figure out why this could be an asset to you in your job and help your boss understand your
advantages.

Answer: TRUE

109) Patricia believes her own culture is better than other cultures. This attitude is called
ethnocentrism.

Answer: TRUE

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110) It can be helpful to talk about cultural differences openly in an organization, but only if
attitudes are constructive and language is non-inflammatory.

Answer: TRUE

111) Explain why patterns of communication that have worked well with traditional American
organizations do not always succeed with a culturally diverse workforce. In your answer,
describe several types of cultural patterns that might clash with mainstream workplace practices
in the United States.

Answer: Answers will vary.

Topic: Culture at Work: Organizations Are Cultures, Too
Learning Objective: 02-01 Define culture and co-culture.
Bloom's: Apply
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Gradable: manual

112) If you were seeking a job with a company located in a different state, what things would
you want to review to understand the culture of that company? Describe four ways you would
find out about the organizational culture, and tell why these are important factors to be aware of.

Answer: Answers will vary.

Topic: Culture at Work: Organizations Are Cultures, Too
Learning Objective: 02-01 Define culture and co-culture.
Bloom's: Apply
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Gradable: manual

113) Define the following terms: culture, cultural norms, and co-culture. Give an example of
each. Explain why it is important to know what these terms mean.

Answer: Answers will vary.

Topic: The Nature of Culture
Learning Objective: 02-01 Define culture and co-culture.
Bloom's: Understand
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Gradable: manual

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114) Summarize at least four guidelines for effective communication with people who have
disabilities. Include best practices as well as communicative behaviors you should typically
avoid.

Answer: Answers will vary.

Topic: Culture and Communication in a Diverse Society
Learning Objective: 02-02 Identify ways in which race or ethnicity, class, generation, region,
disability, gender, and military experience can influence business communication.
Bloom's: Remember
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Gradable: manual

115) Discuss how social class can have an impact on communication in the workplace and in
college, comparing and contrasting people raise in working-class families and those raised in
middle- and upper-class families.

Answer: Answers will vary, but students should note that children raised in working-class
families are typically taught to be obedient, follow rules, and defer to authority, which often
means they find it difficult to speak up, think critically, and argue persuasively later in life.
Children raised in middle- and upper-class families are typically taught to think critically, make
convincing arguments, and solve problems creatively, which serves them well later in life when
persuasiveness and assertiveness are desirable job skills.
Topic: Culture and Communication in a Diverse Society: Social Class
Learning Objective: 02-02 Identify ways in which race or ethnicity, class, generation, region,
disability, gender, and military experience can influence business communication.
Bloom's: Understand
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Gradable: manual

116) Choose two communication practices and two concerns (goals) of Asian societies. Compare
them with the communication practices and concerns of Western cultures. Provide an example to
illustrate each.

Answer: Answers will vary.

Topic: Cultural Differences in International Business
Learning Objective: 02-03 Describe two key intercultural differences in formality, social
customs, dress, time, tolerance for conflict, and gender roles.; 02-04 Explain how the hidden
dimensions of culture (e.g., context, individualism/collectivism, power distance, uncertainty
avoidance, masculinity/femininity, long-term and short-term orientations) affect communication
in a culturally diverse workforce.
Bloom's: Analyze
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Gradable: manual

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117) Identify monochronic and polychronic time orientations. Provide an example of how each
view might impact behavior in a business situation.

Answer: Answers should explain that cultures with a monochronic orientation see time as a
valuable commodity that should not be wasted, while cultures with a polychronic orientation see
time as being fluid. Examples of each will vary.
Topic: Cultural Differences in International Business
Learning Objective: 02-03 Describe two key intercultural differences in formality, social
customs, dress, time, tolerance for conflict, and gender roles.
Bloom's: Apply
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Gradable: manual

118) Identify key differences between high- and low-context cultures; illustrate both types with
examples.

Answer: Answers will vary.

Topic: Cultural Differences in International Business
Learning Objective: 02-04 Explain how the hidden dimensions of culture (e.g., context,
individualism/collectivism, power distance, uncertainty avoidance, masculinity/femininity, long-
term and short-term orientations) affect communication in a culturally diverse workforce.
Bloom's: Apply
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Gradable: manual

119) Explain the differences between individualistic and collectivistic cultures; provide examples
of both types.

Answer: Answers will vary.

Topic: Cultural Differences in International Business
Learning Objective: 02-04 Explain how the hidden dimensions of culture (e.g., context,
individualism/collectivism, power distance, uncertainty avoidance, masculinity/femininity, long-
term and short-term orientations) affect communication in a culturally diverse workforce.
Bloom's: Apply
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Gradable: manual

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120) You are on a job assignment in a foreign country. On the job, you are assigned to
participate in a business practice which is typical for that culture, but it challenges your
fundamental sense of what is right and wrong. You know that your foreign co-workers expect
you to participate in this practice. What questions would you ask yourself to help decide on your
course of action? Suggest at least two possible approaches you could take to manage this
dilemma. Which of those would you prefer, and why?

Answer: Answers will vary.

Topic: Diversity and Ethical Issues
Learning Objective: 02-05 Describe additional factors of ethical communication.
Bloom's: Apply
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Gradable: manual

121) Identify several assumptions often held by minorities and several assumptions often held by
majorities. Suggest alternative assumptions that would promote authentic relations.

Answer: Answers will vary.

Topic: Communicating Across Diversity
Learning Objective: 02-06 Apply the guidelines for communicating across diversity to describe
six specific ways you and others can communicate more effectively in your workplace.
Bloom's: Apply
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Gradable: manual

122) You are a member of a culturally diverse work team. Your boss has asked you to develop a
training seminar for your team in which you identify and describe five attitudes that would
improve relationships among members of various cultures. Prepare a detailed sentence level
outline you could use to present this seminar.

Answer: Answers will vary.

Topic: Communicating Across Diversity
Learning Objective: 02-06 Apply the guidelines for communicating across diversity to describe
six specific ways you and others can communicate more effectively in your workplace.
Bloom's: Apply
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Gradable: manual

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123) Imagine that you work for a global manufacturing company based in the United States.
Your specific job involves overseeing two factories: one in China and one in Brazil. As a result,
you spend a lot of time interacting and communicating with managers in both countries. Identify
two potential problems you might encounter communicating with management in each country
and explain how you would work to overcome these issues.

Answer: Answers will vary, but they may include mention of differences in race or ethnicity,
formality, social customs, time orientation, conflict tolerance, context,
individualism/collectivism, power distance, uncertainty avoidance, and long-term and short-term
orientations. 
Topic: Communicating Across Diversity
Learning Objective: 02-07 Describe the cultural challenges in a specific organization or career
and identify specific approaches to communicate effectively within this culture.
Bloom's: Apply
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Gradable: manual

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