Deck 4: Communicating Across Cultures

Question 1

Anything that serves to undermine the communication of the intended meaning is known as ________.

A) noise
B) encoded message
C) decoded message
D) feedback

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Which of the following is one of the reasons that language frequently causes miscommunication during international business situations?

A) frequent use of idioms with explanations
B) translating a local language too literally
C) speaking the local language with a native accent
D) conveying information using appropriate body language or symbols

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Which of the following is the primary cause of noise in the communication process?

A) a lack of cultural empathy
B) ineffective listening skills
C) the technology used in the medium of communication
D) the difference between two individuals' life space

Answer 3

D

Question 4

In an interview,a British journalist asked a German athlete,"Are you a typical German?" When asked to clarify,the journalist explained that a typical German loved machines,worked hard,and was dependable.This is an example of ________.

A) cultural noise
B) discrimination
C) kinesic behavior
D) stereotyping

Question 5

Communication to managers is of vital importance because it ________.

A) demonstrates the manager's depth of knowledge
B) immediately results in an increase of revenue
C) indicates technological advancement
D) greatly helps in negotiating future plans

Question 6

Tom manages a U.S.pharmaceutical subsidiary located in Ireland.In order to communicate effectively with Irish employees and improve their productivity,Tom should ________.

A) emphasize achieving objective end results
B) challenge the employees to perform better
C) provide positive support to employees
D) address conflicts during group meetings

Question 7

According to the GLOBE project,a coworker or subordinate from Sweden,a country ranking low on assertiveness,would most likely prefer ________.

A) explicitness in communication
B) a two-way dialogue
C) a gift exchange before talking business
D) a direct approach along with facts and figures

Question 8

According to the GLOBE project,workers from countries that ranked low on performance orientation,e.g.,Russia or Greece,________.

A) do not take hard facts and figures seriously
B) prefer direct and explicit communication
C) make avoiding conflict a priority
D) do not encourage friendly relationships

Question 9

Which of the following terms refers to any cultural variables that undermine the communication of intended meaning?

A) cultural ethics
B) cultural empathy
C) cultural noise
D) cultural attribution

Question 10

________ describes the process of sharing meaning by transmitting messages through media such as words,behavior,or material artifacts.

A) Ethics
B) Communication
C) Planning
D) Strategy

Question 11

________ is the process in which people look for the explanation of another person's behavior.

A) Attribution
B) Dissonance
C) Miscommunication
D) Affirmation

Question 12

Which of the following is a cultural variable in the communication process?

A) location
B) attitude
C) technology
D) communication medium

Question 13

Trust improves cross-cultural communication by ________.

A) making sure that all of the business transactions are based on arm's-length relationships
B) replacing formal legal contracts for global firms
C) encouraging the open exchange of ideas and information
D) helping people plan for known circumstances

Question 14

Intercultural communication most likely occurs when ________.

A) messages are transmitted between members of the same culture
B) a member of one culture sends a message to a member of another culture
C) people from one culture migrate to another region
D) the communication process between two cultures is hindered

Question 15

Brenda is the head of a sports firm in Sweden.In order to communicate effectively with her workers,Brenda should ________.

A) build friendly relationships and encourage two-way dialogues
B) communicate information in a direct and explicit way
C) communicate information with facts and figures
D) exchange gifts with her employees frequently

Question 16

Phil sent an email requesting Mel to join him in the conference room at 2 P.M.and to bring the final report on the building's floor plans.However,Mel's personal secretary skips reading the entire email and just informs Mel to join Phil in the conference room at 2 P.M.This is an example of ________.

A) ambiguity
B) divergence
C) noise
D) feedback

Question 17

If you assume that every member of a society or subculture has the same characteristics or traits,you are guilty of ________.

A) discrimination
B) stereotyping
C) persecution
D) kinesic behavior

Question 18

According to Hall and Hall,when people experience a failure in communication,they tend to blame the confusion on the other person's stupidity,deceit,or craziness.This process of trying to explain the other person's behavior is known as ________.

A) cultural noise
B) attribution
C) stereotyping
D) kinesic behavior

Question 19

Which of the following will help an international business manager cultivate trust in cross-cultural communications?

A) staying away from conflicts that need to be addressed
B) making communications as formal as possible and refraining from open communications
C) socializing when possible and making friendly contacts with persons involved
D) establishing trust and achieving hidden agenda without being conspicuous

Question 20

Which of the following does NOT constitute a normal interpersonal communication task for managers?

A) coordinating activities
B) disseminating information
C) motivating employees
D) giving speeches at conferences

Question 21

The term ________ refers to behavior that communicates without words.

A) thought patterns
B) nonverbal communication
C) intrapersonal communication
D) cultural noise

Question 22

Understanding foreign languages is especially important for international managers because of ________.

A) increased diversity in the global workforce
B) reduced incidence of outsourcing
C) dominance of English in business communication
D) decline in the status of the U.S. as a superpower

Question 23

A ________ culture is characterized by people standing close together and touching a great deal.

A) low-contact
B) monochronic
C) high-contact
D) polychronic

Question 24

Posture,gestures,facial expressions,and eye contact are examples of ________.

A) kinesic behavior
B) proxemics
C) paralanguage
D) object language

Question 25

Which of the following is a true statement regarding kinesic behavior?

A) Facial expressions have the same meaning across cultures.
B) Minor variations in body language are insignificant.
C) Hand gestures are universally interpreted.
D) The meaning of body movements varies by culture.

Question 26

The considerable variation between Americans and Chinese in the use of silence during meetings is an aspect of ________.

A) proxemics
B) haptics
C) paralanguage
D) object language

Question 27

Which of the following would most likely occur in a low-contact culture?

A) colleagues greeting each other by formal touch
B) colleagues standing close to each other
C) colleagues maintaining a respectful distance while greeting each other
D) colleagues greeting each other by giving a peck on the cheek

Question 28

Which of the following terms refers to the influence of closeness and space on communication?

A) oculesics
B) kinesics
C) aesthetics
D) proxemics

Question 29

Which of the following is an element of paralanguage?

A) hand gesture
B) body posture
C) yawning
D) personal touch

Question 30

________ is one of the elements of nonverbal communication.

A) Ethnicity
B) Gender
C) Kinesic behavior
D) Language

Question 31

The manner in which people communicate through material artifacts such as architecture,office design,and cars is known as ________.

A) object language
B) oculesics
C) paralanguage
D) proxemics

Question 32

The tendency of Americans to look people in the eye contrasts with the tendency of the British to keep looking away while conversing.Such differences are categorized as ________.

A) oculesics
B) proxemics
C) paralanguage
D) object language

Question 33

Which of the following will a person working in a high-contact culture most likely experience?

A) coworkers spending time together socially
B) managers using hand motions to express emotion
C) managers bowing to their seniors as a token of respect
D) coworkers putting an arm over their colleague's back

Question 34

During a business meeting in the United States,a relaxed posture is acceptable,but in Europe or Asia such body language would most likely be interpreted as ________.

A) personal space invasion
B) rudeness
C) curiosity
D) reluctance

Question 35

Changing the meaning of words by changing the inflection of your voice is an example of ________.

A) paralanguage
B) object language
C) proxemics
D) oculesics

Question 36

Subtle differences in eye behavior are known as ________.

A) proxemics
B) tics
C) stereotypes
D) oculesics

Question 37

Josh,a tourist from the United States,goes on a five-day trip to Japan.Apart from learning their rich history and heritage,he notices that people do not shake hands,but bow to each other.He is most likely to conclude that the Japanese have a ________.

A) low-context culture
B) monotheistic culture
C) polychronic culture
D) low-contact culture

Question 38

Which of the following is true about monochronic and polychronic cultures?

A) Monochronic cultures experience time in a linear way; polychronic cultures view time as having a past, present, and future.
B) Monochronic cultures treat time as a tool for bringing order to life; polychronic cultures tolerate many events occurring simultaneously.
C) Monochronic cultures experience time in a nonlinear way; polychronic cultures focus on only one single event at a time.
D) Monochronic cultures tolerate many events occurring simultaneously; polychronic cultures treat time as a tool for bringing order to life.

Question 39

Which of the following is an example of proxemics?

A) using facial expressions
B) standing close to others
C) speaking quickly
D) using a translator

Question 40

________ refers to how something is said rather than the content-i.e.,the rate of speech,the tone and inflection of voice,other noises,laughing,or yawning.

A) Proxemics
B) Paralanguage
C) Object language
D) Kinesic behavior

Question 41

The international business manager of Toro Automobiles,based in London,is currently in Indonesia negotiating with potential partners to set up a manufacturing plant.He is intrigued and startled by the lack of apprehension shown by every person he has met in standing close to him when greeting him.This is because the persons or the groups involved in the meeting are a part of a ________.

A) low-context culture
B) polychronic culture
C) high-context culture
D) high-contact culture

Question 42

Which of the following is a characteristic of a person in a monochronic culture?

A) considers time to be flexible
B) adheres to plan commitments
C) focuses on multiple tasks at a time
D) is accustomed to long-term relationships

Question 43

Classified and compartmentalized,time serves to order life in a ________.

A) monochronic culture
B) low-contact culture
C) high-contact culture
D) polychronic culture

Question 44

In ________ cultures,people tolerate many things occurring simultaneously and change plans frequently.

A) polychronic
B) low-contact
C) material
D) haptic

Question 45

In ________ cultures,communication occurs within an extensive network of close personal and business relationships.

A) high-contact
B) monochronic
C) high-context
D) low-contact

Question 46

The executives from Carlo Foods,U.S.,are in Japan to negotiate with Jeong,the head of a local investment firm.While Jeong listens to their plans,he realizes that there are considerable amounts of calculation errors in the market statistics involved in the plan.He starts showing signs of impatience and folds his hands,with a frown on his face.The executives realize that something is wrong and are confused about it.Jeong most likely belongs to a ________.

A) low-contact culture
B) high-context culture
C) high power-distance culture
D) polychronic culture

Question 47

Larry is a top-level manager at Smart-Tech,an American semiconductor firm.Larry is involved in the negotiation procedures between Smart-Tech and a Saudi Arabian financial group.Larry arrives in Saudi Arabia hoping to quickly conclude the business deal.However,to his surprise the Arabs show no great interest in coming to a decision,despite several rounds of discussion.This type of behavior from the Saudi Arabian financial group is most likely attributed towards its ________.

A) high-context culture
B) monotheistic culture
C) monochronic culture
D) low-contact culture

Question 48

Al Razim,a construction engineer,recently travelled to Germany in order to find investors for his real-estate project.While he finally succeeded in getting an investor,he was surprised by the explicitness of the Germans.Sometimes all he got was a direct "No." This is because Germans are a ________ culture.

A) polychronic
B) high-context
C) low-context
D) high-contact

Question 49

Carlos has an appointment with Higuain in a half hour at his office.However,Carlos decides to take care of some personal errands on his way to the office and informs Higuain.Carlos does not make it on time for the appointment.Higuain most likely concludes that Carlos is from a ________.

A) high-context culture
B) low-context culture
C) monochronic culture
D) polychronic culture

Question 50

Which of the following is a true statement about polychronic cultures?

A) Time serves to order life into compartments.
B) People in polychronic cultures focus on only one task at a time.
C) Polychronic people focus on relationships rather than material systems.
D) Polychronic people are highly driven to complete tasks by assigned deadlines.

Question 51

Larry is a top-level manager at Smart-Tech,an American semiconductor firm.Larry is involved in the negotiation procedures between Smart-Tech and a Saudi Arabian financial group.Larry has recently arrived in Saudi Arabia for the purpose of negotiating the final terms of the contract. Which of the following statements undermines the argument that Larry should adhere to a strict agenda when negotiating with the Arabs?

A) Both Saudi Arabia and the U.S. are low-contact cultures.
B) Both Saudi Arabia and the U.S. are high-contact cultures.
C) Saudi Arabia is a polychronic culture.
D) Saudi Arabia is a monochronic culture.

Question 52

Which of the following is the most accurate statement concerning the role of context in cross-cultural communication?

A) In high-context cultures, the message is implicit; in low-context cultures, the message is explicit.
B) In high-context cultures, there is a low sensory involvement; in low-context cultures, there is a high sensory involvement.
C) In high-context cultures, many tasks are handled simultaneously; in low-context cultures, only one task is handled at a time.
D) In high-context cultures, work time is flexible; in low-context cultures, work time is not flexible.

Question 53

Which of the following is true about high-context cultures?

A) One has to read between the lines and interpret meaning from one's general understanding.
B) Communication media is entirely explicit and information is readily available.
C) People convey their thoughts and plans in a direct, straightforward communication style.
D) People are talkative, obvious, and redundant.

Question 54

In ________ cultures,people expect others to understand unarticulated moods,subtle gestures,and environmental clues.

A) high-contact
B) low-contact
C) high-context
D) monochronic

Question 55

Which of the following is most likely characteristic of communication channels in low-context cultures?

A) rapid spread of information
B) informal flow of information
C) upward flow of information
D) controlled flow of information

Question 56

Which of the following is a characteristic of a person from a polychronic culture?

A) focuses only on one thing at a time
B) changes plans frequently
C) adheres to time commitments
D) is accustomed to short-term relationships

Question 57

As manager with an international trade firm,John Smith frequently travels between Europe and Saudi Arabia.On John's most recent trip to Saudi Arabia,he noticed that Tariq,his business associate,not only talked about business matters but also talked about several other things,such as upcoming events in Saudi Arabia and the associated impact on the economy.This most likely indicates that Tariq is from a ________.

A) low-contact culture
B) polychronic culture
C) low-context culture
D) high power-distance culture

Question 58

Which of the following is most likely a characteristic of low-context cultures?

A) Work and social relationships are inseparable.
B) Individuals base meaning on subtle gestures.
C) Individuals must read between the lines.
D) Feelings and thoughts are expressed in words.

Question 59

In high-context cultures,________.

A) feelings and thoughts are not explicitly expressed
B) information is readily shared
C) people have high sensory involvement
D) nonverbal communication is not important

Question 60

The Japanese preference for humanity,reciprocity,and analytic logic is known as ________.

A) kieretsu
B) ringi-sho
C) ningensei
D) allogato

Question 61

Behavior that communicates explicitly via words and actions is called nonverbal communication.

Question 62

When encoding a message during cross-cultural communication,it is most effective for senders to ________.

A) use idioms and expressions
B) make gestures
C) rely on personal interpretations
D) speak slowly and loudly in their native language

Question 63

________ and ________ are personality traits categorized as openness.

A) Persistence; resourcefulness
B) Proper orientation to knowledge; internal locus of control
C) Tolerance for ambiguity; extrovertedness
D) Empathy; external locus of control

Question 64

Interaction posture is best defined as the ________.

A) tendency to contradict the beliefs of others
B) understanding and modeling of local proxemics
C) ability to respond to others in a nonjudgmental way
D) capacity to be flexible to promote group communication

Question 65

Cultural noise is the cultural variables that undermine the communication of intended meaning.

Question 66

Jerry,representing a U.S firm,is sent to Saudi Arabia to negotiate his company's contracts.Which of the following should Jerry keep in mind when negotiating with the Arabs?

A) Business should be conducted personally and not via telephone or email.
B) Arabs value time, and deadlines are to be kept at all costs.
C) Be explicit and express doubts wherever the subject's feasibility comes into question.
D) Get to the point when presenting and negotiating.

Question 67

Proxemics deals with the influence of space on communication-both personal space and office space or layout.

Question 68

The term communication is the process of gathering messages through the Internet and printed media.

Question 69

What is the best method for avoiding miscommunication?

A) taking detailed notes of the messages
B) learning foreign phrases and idioms
C) practicing projective listening
D) relying on technology to interpret meanings

Question 70

Which of the following characteristics is shared by both openness in communication and resilience in communication?

A) tolerance for ambiguity
B) extrovertedness
C) resourcefulness
D) internal locus of control

Question 71

Stereotyping occurs when a person assumes that every member of a society or subculture has the same characteristics or traits.

Question 72

The term kinesic behavior refers to communication through body movements-posture,gestures,facial expressions,and eye contact.

Question 73

Kinesics and proxemics are elements of nonverbal communication.

Question 74

Which of the following is a characteristic of the Japanese ningensei style?

A) reciprocity
B) explicitness
C) verbal agility
D) immediate feedback

Question 75

Attribution is the process by which people send messages to each other across various cultures.

Question 76

Recognizing that one's knowledge,perceptions,and beliefs are valid only for oneself and not for everyone else is known as ________.

A) other-oriented role behavior
B) orientation to knowledge
C) tolerance for ambiguity
D) interaction posture

Question 77

When a member of one culture imposes his or her cultural practices on a member of another culture,intercultural communication takes place.

Question 78

Anything that serves to undermine the communication of the intended meaning is typically referred to as noise.

Question 79

________ is the process of translating the received symbols into the interpreted message.

A) Decoding
B) Transmitting
C) Encoding
D) Fragmenting

Question 80

Which of the following tips is most likely to lead to effective intercultural communication?

A) Avoid being culturally sensitive over the Internet, as it might result in discrimination.
B) It is always better to use long and descriptive sentences.
C) Messages need to be encoded carefully.
D) Communication processes should be made quicker by removing feedback systems.