Reading: C1

Cultural behaviour in business

Read a blog post about doing business in different cultures to practise and improve your
reading skills.

Before reading
Do the preparation task first. Then read the text and do the exercises.

Preparation task
Match the definitions (a–h) with the vocabulary (1–8).

Vocabulary Definitions
1. …… stark
a. subtle differences in meaning
2. …… to be conceived as
b. to be useful to someone in the future
3. …… to break the ice
c. arrogant and self-important
4. …… nuances
d. extreme and obvious, often used with ‘difference’ or
5. …… to stand someone ‘contrast’
in good stead
e. to be thought of as
6. …… pompous
f. boring, uninteresting or ordinary
7. …… to pigeonhole
g. to do something that helps relieve the tension and
someone
get conversation going, especially between people
8. …… mundane meeting for the first time
h. to label someone and put them in a restrictive
category

Reading text: Cultural behaviour in business

Much of today’s business is conducted across international borders, and while the majority of
the global business community might share the use of English as a common language, the
nuances and expectations of business communication might differ greatly from culture to
culture. A lack of understanding of the cultural norms and practices of our business
acquaintances can result in unfair judgements, misunderstandings and breakdowns in
communication. Here are three basic areas of differences in the business etiquette around the
world that could help stand you in good stead when you next find yourself working with
someone from a different culture.
Addressing someone
When discussing this topic in a training course, a German trainee and a British trainee got into
a hot debate about whether it was appropriate for someone with a doctorate to use the
corresponding title on their business card. The British trainee maintained that anyone who
wasn’t a medical doctor expecting to be addressed as ‘Dr’ was disgustingly pompous and full
of themselves. The German trainee, however, argued that the hard work and years of
education put into earning that PhD should give them full rights to expect to be addressed as
‘Dr’.
This stark difference in opinion over something that could be conceived as minor and thus
easily overlooked goes to show that we often attach meaning to even the most mundane
practices. When things that we are used to are done differently, it could spark the strongest
reactions in us. While many Continental Europeans and Latin Americans prefer to be
addressed with a title, for example Mr or Ms and their surname when meeting someone in a
business context for the first time, Americans, and increasingly the British, now tend to prefer
using their first names. The best thing to do is to listen and observe how your conversation
partner addresses you and, if you are still unsure, do not be afraid to ask them how they
would like to be addressed.
Smiling
A famous Russian proverb states that ‘a smile without reason is a sign of idiocy’ and a so-
called ‘smile of respect’ is seen as insincere and often regarded with suspicion in Russia. Yet
in countries like the United States, Australia and Britain, smiling is often interpreted as a sign
of openness, friendship and respect, and is frequently used to break the ice.

In a piece of research done on smiles across cultures, the researchers found that smiling
individuals were considered more intelligent than non-smiling people in countries such as
Germany, Switzerland, China and Malaysia. However, in countries like Russia, Japan, South
Korea and Iran, pictures of smiling faces were rated as less intelligent than the non-smiling
ones. Meanwhile, in countries like India, Argentina and the Maldives, smiling was associated
with dishonesty.
Eye contact
An American or British person might be looking their client in the eye to show that they are
paying full attention to what is being said, but if that client is from Japan or Korea, they might
find the direct eye contact awkward or even disrespectful. In parts of South America and
Africa, prolonged eye contact could also be seen as challenging authority. In the Middle East,
eye contact across genders is considered inappropriate, although eye contact within a
gender could signify honesty and truthfulness.
Having an increased awareness of the possible differences in expectations and behaviour can
help us avoid cases of miscommunication, but it is vital that we also remember that cultural
stereotypes can be detrimental to building good business relationships. Although national
cultures could play a part in shaping the way we behave and think, we are also largely
influenced by the region we come from, the communities we associate with, our age and
gender, our corporate culture and our individual experiences of the world. The knowledge of
the potential differences should therefore be something we keep at the back of our minds,
rather than something that we use to pigeonhole the individuals of an entire nation.
Tasks

Task 1
Circle the correct answer.

1. The British trainee felt that people who want to be addressed as ‘Dr’ must be …
a. hard-working.
b. conceited and self-important.
c. doing a medical degree.
d. from Germany.

2. If you are not sure how to address someone, you should …

a. use the title you see on their business card.
b. make your decision based on cultural stereotypes about their country.
c. address them the way you’d like to be addressed.
d. ask them what they would like you to call them.

3. There might be a misunderstanding if an American smiles at a Russian business associate

because the Russian might think that the American is …
a. being fake.
b. challenging their authority.
c. trying to break the ice.
d. disrespectful.

4. The Japanese, South Koreans and Iranians might interpret a smiling face as being …
a. friendlier.
b. less open.
c. not as intelligent.
d. dishonest.

5. Americans and British people sometimes use eye contact to show that they …
a. like the speaker.
b. are really listening to what is being said.
c. are honest and truthful.
d. are attending to every need of the speaker.
6. The last paragraph warns the reader not to …
a. engage in international business.
b. let national cultures shape the way we behave and think.
c. let miscommunication damage our business relationships.
d. overgeneralise using our knowledge of cultural stereotypes.

Task 2
Are the sentences true or false?

Answer
1. When doing business internationally, there is a possibility that we might True False
misinterpret what each other is saying even though we are speaking
the same language.
2. To the German trainee, having a PhD is equivalent to being a medical True False
doctor.
3. Sometimes, the smallest things can trigger a huge emotional response True False
in us, especially when they are things we are not used to.
4. In the research done to the perceptions of smiles, people from True False
different countries were asked to rate photos of smiling faces and non-
smiling faces.
5. Making eye contact can be interpreted in different ways in different True False
cultures but is almost always a positive thing.
6. The writer recommends keeping possible cultural differences in the True False
forefront of our minds when doing business with people with different
cultures.

Discussion
What practices have you encountered that seemed strange or even inappropriate to you?
 Reading: C1
Life on Mars
Read an article about life on Mars to practise and improve your reading skills.

Before reading
Do the preparation task first. Then read the text and do the exercises.

Preparation task
Circle the word that does not belong.

1. Which word does not belong?

a. sulfur
b. cardboard
c. methane
d. carbon

2. Which word does not belong?

a. astonishing
b. amazing
c. tedious
d. remarkable

3. Which word does not belong?

a. data
b. query
c. evidence
d. findings

4. Which word does not belong?

a. speculate
b. suspect
c. consider
d. rehearse

5. Which word does not belong?

a. periodically
b. repeatedly
c. consistently
d. frequently
6. Which word does not belong?
a. source
b. result
c. origin
d. root

Reading text: Life on Mars

A new study published in the journal Science shows definitive evidence of organic matter on
the surface of Mars. The data was collected by NASA’s nuclear-powered rover Curiosity. It
confirms earlier findings that the Red Planet once contained carbon-based compounds. These
compounds – also called organic molecules – are essential ingredients for life as scientists
understand it.
The organic molecules were found in Mars’s Gale Crater, a large area that may have been a
watery lake over three billion years ago. The rover encountered traces of the molecule in
rocks extracted from the area. The rocks also contain sulfur, which scientists speculate
helped preserve the organics even when the rocks were exposed to the harsh radiation on
the surface of the planet.
Scientists are quick to state that the presence of these organic molecules is not sufficient
evidence for ancient life on Mars, as the molecules could have been formed by non-living
processes. But it’s still one of the most astonishing discoveries, which could lead to future
revelations. Especially when one considers the other startling find that Curiosity uncovered
around five years ago.
The rover analyses the air around it periodically, and in 2014 it found the air contained
another of the most basic organic molecules and a key ingredient of natural gas: methane.
One of the characteristics of methane is that it only survives a few hundred years. This means
that something, somewhere on Mars, is replenishing the supply. According to NASA, Mars
emits thousands of tons of methane at a time. The level of methane rises and falls at seasonal
intervals in the year, almost as if the planet is breathing it.
NASA suspects the methane comes from deep under the surface of the planet. The variations
in temperature on the surface of Mars cause the molecule to flow upwards at higher or lower
levels. For example, in the Martian winter the gas could get trapped in underground icy
crystals. These crystals, called clathrates, melt in the summer and release the gas. However,
the source of the methane is still a complete mystery.
The world of astrobiology considers both of these studies as historical milestones. According
to this information, Mars is not a dead planet. On the contrary, it is quite active and may be
changing and becoming more habitable.
Of course, this means further research is necessary. Scientists say they need to send new
equipment to Mars, equipment that can measure the air and soil with more precision. There
are already missions underway. The European Space Agency’s ExoMars ship lands in
2020 and will be able to drill into the ground on Mars to analyse what it finds. Additionally,
NASA is sending another Mars rover in the same year to collect samples of Martian soil and
return them to Earth.
The possibility of life on Mars has fascinated humans for generations. It has been the subject
of endless science-fiction novels and films. Are we alone in the universe or have there been
other life forms within our Solar System? If the current missions to the Red Planet continue, it
looks as if we may discover the answer very soon.

Tasks

Task 1
Are the sentences true or false or is the information not given?

1. The study in the journal Science was written by NASA scientists.

True False Not given

2. This is not the first study to suggest that life existed on Mars in the past.

True False Not given

3. A scientific vehicle found very small elements of an organic molecule within water
extracted from the planet.

True False Not given

4. It is believed that this conclusively proves that there was once life on the planet.

True False Not given

5. Methane is a natural molecule that is a sign of life.

True False Not given

6. All organic molecules have a limited lifespan.

True False Not given

7. Mars can be said to have a winter and a summer.

True False Not given

8. There are at least two more scientific expeditions heading to Mars.

True False Not given

Task 2
Complete the sentences with the correct form of the word in CAPITALS.

1. The vehicle works using a pair of large..........................…-powered batteries. SUN

2. The data is not............................to prove the existence of life. SUFFICE
3. The.........................shook the science world. REVEAL
4. It’s far too early to reach any.............................conclusions. DEFINITE
5. This tool measures tiny............................in temperature. VARY
6. The rover can pick up tiny samples with exact..............................PRECISE
7. We are going to analyse the............................back at the lab. FIND
8. This process is observed in all.............................from plants to animals. ORGANIC

Discussion
Do you think people will live on Mars?
 Reading: C1
Horror film clichés
Read an article about horror film clichés to practise and improve your reading skills.

Before reading
Do the preparation task first. Then read the text and do the exercises.

Preparation task
Match the definitions (a–h) with the vocabulary (1–8).

Vocabulary Definitions
1. …… handy
a. producing a sense of fear or making you feel uncomfortable
2. …… creepy
b. an idea that has been used so often that people think it is bad,
3. …… uninhabited unoriginal or boring
4. …… a cliché c. useful or convenient
5. …… resourceful d. a feeling of pleasurable excitement while waiting to find out
6. …… to jump out what is going to happen
of your skin e. not lived in by people
7. …… suspense f. able to solve problems and act imaginatively in difficult times
8. …… desperation g. the feeling of needing or wanting something so much you will
do anything to get it
h. to be so frightened or surprised by something that you
physically move

Reading text: Five horror film clichés

Since almost the beginning of cinema, we have had scary films. Of all the genres that exist,
horror is perhaps one of the most conventional. Many horror films rely on specific plot
devices, also called tropes, to make their audience frightened. When a trope is used too
much, it can become a cliché. But when used well, it can really make us jump out of our skin.
Here are some of the most used, and perhaps abused, clichés in horror films.

1
No matter what kind of house it is, the basement is a scary place in horror films. That’s usually
where something is hiding or where the evil psychopath has hidden their tools. Basements are
always dark and often damp. You can only reach them by a narrow staircase. And basements
are always creepy, even when there isn’t anything down there.
2
In older horror films, when protagonists were in desperation, it was difficult or impossible for
them to call for help or call the police. Mobile phones have made that situation a bit less
believable now. What’s the solution to maintain suspense? No phone coverage! If you’re a
hero in a horror film, it’s almost certain that at a key moment, just when you absolutely need to
call for help, you will not have any coverage at all. Or your phone battery will die just as you
are making the call. Or both.

3
Horror films love uninhabited places. This could be an abandoned hospital, a scary empty
house or a ghost town. There’s something about lonely, empty places. What was it like when
people lived there? Why did they leave? Maybe it’s also that they are so quiet, which can be
very scary too. Of course, abandoned places are also handy for horror film directors in that
it’s more believable that you will have no phone coverage there either (see above).

4
The hero has been driving for hours. It’s night-time and it’s beginning to rain. Suddenly he
sees a person on the side of the road. Maybe the company will keep him awake? In horror
films, giving anybody a ride is asking for trouble. The hero always does it, and it always ends
badly.

5
This horror film cliché was especially popular with horror films of the late 20th century. It
starts with a group of teenagers all enjoying themselves, and it ends with everyone dead
except one girl. At the beginning the girl is usually innocent, shy and not particularly strong.
By the end, she has become the toughest and most resourceful person in the world. The last
girl almost always wins in the end.
Tasks

Task 1
Match the subheadings (a–f) with the paragraphs (1–5). There is one extra subheading you do
not need.

Paragraphs Subheadings
1. …… a. Deadly hitchhiker
2. …… b. Is he really dead?
3. …… c. Don’t make me go down there!
4. …… d. Lone survivor
5. …… e. I can’t get through!
Extra: f. Nobody lives here
……

Task 2
Complete the sentences with the correct form of the word in CAPITALS.

1. It’s asking for trouble – it will end..............................BAD

2. Horror is a very.............................genre. CONVENTION
3. The main character’s phone battery always dies or they have no mobile
……………………………… when they need to call for help. COVER
4. The last surviving character always turns out to be the most.............................person in
the world. RESOURCE
5. There was no one there! The town is almost completely...............................INHABIT
6. His voice was full of..............................DESPERATE
7. The last surviving girl always turns into the.............................person in the world.
TOUGH
8. The story was too............................to be true. BELIEVE

Discussion
Do you like horror films? Can you think of any more horror film clichés?