Quiz: Business Communication Across Various Cultures
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Chapter 4 business communication quiz.
- 1.Which of the following statements about the global economy is most accurate?
- A.
Although the “global village” was predicted years ago, it is far from being a reality.
- B.
Although many national companies do business in foreign markets, few local companies do.
- C.
Many corporations have formed multinational alliances to help them better compete in the global economy.
- D.
Because of easy access to global information via the Internet, intercultural differences lead to few misunderstanding.
- 2.Which of the following is probably the most important factor in the rise of the global market?
- A.
As domestic markets mature, companies are increasingly looking overseas for new opportunities
- B.
Favourable trade agreements, such as NAFTA and GATT, have been passed.
- C.
The number of middle-class consumers has grown substantially around the world.
- D.
New transportation and information technologies have been developed that make global business possible.
- 3.Probably the greatest obstacle many multinational companies must overcome is
- A.
The difficulty of travelling between countries spread around the world.
- B.
Communicating with workers in different parts of the world.
- C.
The cost of building production plants in foreign countries.
- D.
The number of misunderstandings resulting from intercultural differences
- 4.Which of the following factors has led to the globalization of markets?
- A.
The maturing of domestic markets
- B.
The passage of favourable trade agreements such as NAFTA and GATT
- C.
The explosive growth of the middle class around the world
- D.
All of the above
- 5.Canadian society today can be best described as
- A.
Part of a melting pot where people from different ethnic groups blend together.
- B.
A cultural mosaic where individuals join the nation and still retain their cultural identities.
- C.
A river of cultures contributing to an ocean of turbulence.
- D.
None of the above
- 6.Select the MOST accurate statement.
- A.
Culture is a subject that is usually taught in elementary school.
- B.
Cultural attitudes are not learned until adulthood.
- C.
We can expect to deal well with those from another culture without having to adopt new attitudes.
- D.
Culture is shaped by attitudes learned in childhood and later internalized in adulthood.
- 7.Select the MOST accurate statement.
- A.
Cultures almost never change.
- B.
Advancements in technology and communication can cause culture to change.
- C.
Attitudes, behaviours, and beliefs change more quickly in closed societies than in open societies.
- D.
Only outward actions and symbols define a culture.
- 8.Which of the following is NOT a visible sign of culture?
- A.
Penny waits patiently in line behind ten others at the bank.
- B.
A downtown office building has no 13th floor.
- C.
Sylvia is careful not to step on the cracks in the sidewalk as she walks down the street.
- D.
Kyle plants vegetables in the garden as early as possible in the spring in order to enjoy as long a growing season as possible.
- 9.Which of the following is NOT visible sign of culture?
- A.
The employees of the accounting department take their boss out to lunch to celebrate his birthday.
- B.
Bonnie believes that adults need to be responsible for their actions.
- C.
On Friday the 13th, Fred is especially careful in handling the glass bottles as he loads them on the conveyor belt.
- D.
At dinner each evening, Father sits at the head of the table.
- 10.A generalization that is NOT fixed and rigid when it is used to describe cultures is called a
- A.
Stereotype.
- B.
Prejudice.
- C.
Prototype.
- D.
None of the above.
- 11.Communicators is high-context cultures
- A.
Depend on the context of a situation to help convey their meaning.
- B.
Assume that listeners know very little and must be told practically everything.
- C.
Tend to be logical, analytical, and action-oriented.
- D.
Are likely to take words literally.
- 12.An example of a country that has a low-context culture is
- A.
Germany.
- B.
China
- C.
Japan
- D.
Saudi Arabia
- 13.By tradition, North American business people typically do NOT place a high value on
- A.
Directness.
- B.
Individualism.
- C.
Group decision making.
- D.
Informality.
- 14.Receiving a business card from a visitor, a businessperson stuffs it in his pocket with hardly a glance. The visitor might be particularly offended if he is from which country?
- A.
USA
- B.
Japan
- C.
Canada
- D.
Germany
- 15.
- A.
Canadians
- B.
Mexicans
- C.
Arabs
- D.
Japanese
- 16.Which of the following statements is INACCURATE?
- A.
Asian businesspeople have learned to use silence for reflection and contemplation.
- B.
Asians are concerned with harmony and saving face.
- C.
Mexicans often socialize before getting down to business.
- D.
North Americans, Mexicans, and Asians all equate time with money.
- 17.Because he has been taught that a person must work hard to succeed, Sean expects his Australian co-workers to share his belief. Sean's misconception is the result of
- A.
Tolerance.
- B.
Stereotyping.
- C.
Ethnorelativism.
- D.
Ethnocentrism.
- 18.Which of the following may cause us to judge others by our own values?
- A.
Tolerance
- B.
Ethnorelativism
- C.
Ethnocentrism
- D.
Stereotyping
- 19.Which of the following statements is INACCURATE?
- A.
Rely solely on stereotypes to understand other cultures.
- B.
Develop tolerance of other cultures.
- C.
Develop an understanding of your own culture.
- D.
Avoid ethnocentrism.
- 20.Improving one's tolerance of other cultures requires
- A.
Practicing yoga.
- B.
Practicing empathy.
- C.
Saving face.
- D.
Relying on stereotypes.
- 21.Cultures that are concerned with preserving social harmony and that go to great lengths to avoid giving offence by saying NO.
- A.
Are usually concerned with saving face.
- B.
Tend to be straightforward.
- C.
Value independence and freedom from control.
- D.
Usually place less emphasis on tradition, ceremony, and social rules.
- 22.To communicate orally with people from other cultures,
- A.
Encourage the listener to paraphrase what’s being said.
- B.
Always learn to speak that person’s language fluently.
- C.
Speak slowly and raise your voice.
- D.
All of the above.
- 23.In conversation with a Chinese businessperson who speaks English fairly well, Jeffrey discovers that must of what he has just said was not understood by the Chinese. In continuing the conversation, Jeffrey should
- A.
Speak more slowly and loudly.
- B.
Discontinue the conversation until an interpreter can be found.
- C.
Repeat the conversation but use more facial expressions and gestures to communicate more clearly
- D.
Accept blame for the misunderstanding and use simpler language.
- 24.In speaking with someone who has limited English skills, a wise business communicator should NOT
- A.
Help the faltering speaker who is searching for the best word by finishing his or her sentences.
- B.
Speak slowly and over punctuate with pauses and full stops.
- C.
Check frequently for comprehension by asking probing questions.
- D.
Be alert to a glazed expression or wandering eyes.
- 25.
- A.
Spell out all numbers.
- B.
Use short sentences and short paragraphs.
- C.
Add humour to your messages.
- D.
Use two-word verbs such as bring back rather than return.
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