Deck 8: Culture

Question 1

A difference between Islam and Christianity is that:

A) Islam is a polytheistic religion.
B) Islam prohibits free trade.
C) in Islam, property and all other material goods are believed to originate from God.
D) in Islam, there is a prohibition on paying or receiving interest.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

In the context of social stratification, which of the following is a difference between U.S. culture and Japanese culture?

A) In Japan, businesspeople are very conscious of schedules, whereas in the United States, businesspeople view time as elastic.
B) U.S. culture has high power distance, whereas Japanese culture has low power distance.
C) Full-time work in Japan consists of 40 hours a week, whereas full-time work in the United States consists of 35 hours a week.
D) U.S. culture values accomplishment and achievement regardless of age, whereas Japanese culture values the wisdom and experience of age.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

The people of Jirasta, a European country, believe that individuals should lie face down on the ground and join their hands while greeting others. This is an example of a _____ in Jirasta.

A) social more
B) custom
C) social stigma
D) taboo

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Ruhi, an Indian, follows a religion that preaches monotheism. Her religion proclaims that a person should earn money to contribute to the greater good of society and prohibits paying or receiving interest on loans taken from banks that comply with the terms of a mudarabah. In this context, which of the following religions does Ruhi most likely follow?

A) Islam
B) Buddhism
C) Christianity
D) Hinduism

Question 5

_____ is a society's unique set of values and norms that govern how people live and interact.

A) Ethnocentrism
B) Affinity
C) Semiotics
D) Culture

Question 6

Which of the following is a similarity between Judaism and Christianity?

A) Both are monotheistic religions.
B) Both prohibit paying or receiving interest.
C) The majority of followers of both these religions are concentrated in the Asia-Pacific region.
D) The teachings of both these religions hold that the purpose of making money should be to buy material possessions.

Question 7

In the context of cultural customs, which of the following is a difference between the United States and many Latin and African countries?

A) Unlike the United States, full-time work in many Latin and African countries consists of 40 hours a week.
B) Unlike the United States, many Latin and African countries value accomplishment and achievement regardless of age.
C) Unlike the United States, many Latin and African countries view time as more elastic.
D) Unlike the United States, many Latin and African countries have low power distance.

Question 8

Jenny, an American, abides by a religion that declares belief in one God. Her religion proclaims that the purpose of earning money is not to buy material possessions but to improve the lives of those around us. In this context, it can be said that Jenny is a _____.

A) Buddhist
B) Hindu
C) Christian
D) Taoist

Question 9

Which of the following is a difference between the work culture of France and the work culture of the United States?

A) Americans have 30 days of mandated vacation time, whereas the French have 0 days of mandated vacation time.
B) Full-time work in France consists of 35 hours a week, whereas full-time work in the United States consists of 40 hours a week.
C) In France, businesspeople are very conscious of schedules, whereas in the United States, businesspeople view time as elastic.
D) Organizations in France have low power distance, whereas organizations in the United States have high power distance.

Question 10

Which of the following is a similarity between the ideal of dharma and the Protestant work ethic?

A) Both roughly translate to a state of complete spiritual perfection.
B) Both focus on a person's moral obligation to contribute to the greater good of society.
C) Both refer to a work culture of rugged collectivism and dependency.
D) Both state that work should be undertaken solely for monetary benefit.

Question 11

Shanvi is a 6-year-old girl who lives in the United States. Which of the following characteristics is she most likely to acquire through her choices and the activities she engages in?

A) The political ideology she affiliates with
B) The ethnic group she affiliates with
C) Her circadian rhythm
D) Her sexual orientation

Question 12

Somchai, a Thai, follows a religion that does not worship any god-it promotes interconnectedness among all living creatures. His religion represents the middle way between capitalism and socialism and proclaims that spiritual liberation can be achieved by avoiding extremes. In this context, Somchai is most likely a _____.

A) Muslim
B) Christian
C) Buddhist
D) Hindu

Question 13

A similarity between Islam and Christianity is that:

A) both are polytheistic religions.
B) both believe that property and all other material goods originate from God.
C) both disapprove of the protection of the right to private property.
D) both prohibit paying or receiving interest.

Question 14

The people of Finrela, an African country, frown upon sex outside matrimony. They consider extramarital affairs unethical and condescend people who engage in such activities. The country also has a law that makes having an extramarital affair a punishable offense. In this scenario, the norm that prohibits people from committing adultery is an example of a _____.

A) naming taboo
B) custom
C) folkway
D) social more

Question 15

Which of the following is a difference between a living language and a dead language?

A) Latin is an example of a living language, whereas Sanskrit is an example of a dead language.
B) A living language is one spoken by a native population somewhere, whereas a dead language is no longer native anywhere.
C) Only 15 living languages are spoken throughout the world, whereas at least 7,102 dead languages are spoken throughout the world.
D) A living language is one that is spoken by at least one person, whereas a dead language is one that is not spoken by anyone.

Question 16

Deepa, an Indian, follows a religion that advocates the worship of multiple gods. She believes that every individual has a moral obligation to contribute to the greater good of society. She also believes that if an individual fulfills his or her moral obligation of bettering the lives of others, he or she shall achieve a state of complete spiritual perfection. In this context, Deepa is most likely a _____.

A) Hindu
B) Muslim
C) Christian
D) Jew

Question 17

Which of the following is a difference between Christianity and Hinduism?

A) Unlike Christianity, Hinduism is a polytheistic religion.
B) Unlike Christianity, Hinduism proclaims that property and all other material goods originate from God.
C) Unlike Hinduism, Christianity proclaims that it is the moral obligation of an individual to contribute to the greater good of society.
D) Unlike Hinduism, Christianity prohibits paying or receiving interest.

Question 18

Which of the following is a difference between customs and social mores?

A) Unlike customs, social mores are uniform across all cultures.
B) Unlike customs, breaking social mores does not usually have serious consequences.
C) Unlike customs, social mores are deeply, morally significant.
D) Unlike customs, social mores include socially approved standards of behavior such as how to greet others.

Question 19

_____ is the native language of the largest number of people.

A) Chinese
B) English
C) Hindi
D) Spanish

Question 20

In many parts of Yugrastia, an Asian country, marrying one's cousin is considered unethical. The people of Yugrastia frown upon this kind of incest to the extent that this norm has been codified into law. Such offenses are punishable by up to 5 years in prison. In this scenario, the norm that prohibits marriage to a family member is an example of a _____.

A) social more
B) custom
C) folkway
D) naming taboo

Question 21

Who among the following is most likely to belong to an individualistic culture?

A) Rebecca, who is motivated by job security
B) Jacob, who relies on his organization for socialization
C) Aftab, who seeks training outside his organization
D) Rimi, who prefers benefits rather than money as compensation

Question 22

In the context of the three Rs of managing cultural differences, recognizing differences consists of:

A) soliciting uncommon information.
B) developing a shared vision and a common understanding to bridge the cultural divide between people.
C) decentering and recentering.
D) selecting the cultural dimensions to be examined and then, assessing their impact on the specific business an individual is attempting.

Question 23

_____ is defined as esteem for the worth of a culture.

A) Altruism
B) Respect
C) Assertiveness
D) Integrity

Question 24

Which of the following is a difference between individualistic cultures and collectivist cultures?

A) Unlike employees in individualistic cultures, employees in collectivist cultures want money rather than benefits as compensation.
B) In collectivist cultures, job security is a principal motivator, whereas in individualistic cultures, the opportunity to overcome challenges and grow is often a main motivator for employees.
C) Unlike employees in individualistic cultures, employees in collectivist cultures take more responsibility for their life independent of the organization.
D) In collectivist cultures, employees are more likely to look outside the organization for training and to satisfy personal needs such as friendship, whereas in individualistic cultures, employees are more likely to rely on the organization for training and socialization.

Question 25

In the context of managing cultural differences, the term _____ refers to finding or creating shared ground, or areas of overlap between old and new behaviors and understanding.

A) recentering
B) codetermination
C) dejobbing
D) ergonomics

Question 26

Which of the following organizations is most likely to have low power distance?

A) Finox Inc., where managers ask the opinions of and take feedback from their team members
B) Giraw Inc., where managers foresee the needs of their team members and fulfill those needs
C) Pilred Inc., which has a top-down leadership where managers make important decisions without consulting their team members
D) Hillos Inc., which has a hierarchical structure where employees refrain from interacting openly with their managers

Question 27

There are three key steps that can help an individual achieve mutual understanding and manage business across cultures. The first step in managing cultural differences in the workplace is _____.

A) recognition
B) respect
C) reconciliation
D) retribution

Question 28

Which of the following is a difference between high power distance and low power distance?

A) Unlike high power distance, low power distance results in a more collaborative environment.
B) Unlike low power distance, high power distance means considerable consultation is likely to occur between managers and subordinates.
C) Unlike managers in high power distance cultures, managers in cultures with low power distance act with unlimited authority.
D) Unlike managers in low power distance cultures, managers in cultures with high power distance are open to and may solicit the ideas and opinions of their subordinates.

Question 29

Which of the following is a difference between high uncertainty avoidance and low uncertainty avoidance?

A) Unlike low uncertainty avoidance, high uncertainty avoidance suggests that employees are more risk averse.
B) Unlike managers in cultures with high uncertainty avoidance, managers in cultures with low uncertainty avoidance are often more successful when they provide detailed instructions and clear guidelines.
C) Unlike low uncertainty avoidance, high uncertainty avoidance suggests that employees typically are less loyal to their current employers.
D) Unlike consumers with high uncertainty avoidance, consumers with low uncertainty avoidance are less likely to try products that have not been proven safe, effective, or desirable by the majority of the market.

Question 30

Which of the following statements exemplifies the way low-context cultures convey messages?

A) "The events of last week prove that she is an incompetent employee."
B) "Our house is being refurnished after the disaster."
C) "Your actions last year have led us to this situation."
D) "You are terminated because you have high absenteeism and low productivity."

Question 31

Which of the following is a difference between low-context cultures and high-context cultures?

A) Low-context cultures rely on direct means of conveying messages, whereas high-context cultures use more implicit messaging.
B) Unlike high-context cultures, low-context cultures use body language and tone of voice to convey messages.
C) Unlike low-context cultures, the most important factor in understanding messages in high-context cultures is the words themselves.
D) High-context cultures include those in much of North America and Western Europe, whereas low-context cultures include those throughout much of Asia, Africa, and South America.

Question 32

The management of Sharit Inc., a global company, believes in developing goals and adopting policies that guarantee long-term success rather than immediate results. It believes in communicating these policies to the employees through direct messages. It is confident that such actions will help the company become more competitive. In this scenario, Sharit Inc. most likely has _____.

A) a strong future orientation and a high-assertion culture
B) a weak future orientation and a low-assertion culture
C) a strong future orientation and a low-assertion culture
D) a weak future orientation and a high-assertion culture

Question 33

Derian Inc., a national investment firm, has a culture that encourages collaboration between managers and employees. Managers at the firm take inputs from their team members before making any decisions. The employees of the firm feel that they are on an equal footing with their managers. As a result, they prefer working in groups and rely on the firm for training and socialization. In this context, which of the following pairs of characteristics most likely describes the work culture of Derian Inc.?

A) High power distance and high individualism
B) Low power distance and high individualism
C) High power distance and high collectivism
D) Low power distance and high collectivism

Question 34

Which of the following statements exemplifies the way high-context cultures convey messages?

A) "The accident that you committed yesterday needs to be reported."
B) "Our house is being refurnished after the disaster."
C) "Your irresponsible attitude toward work has led to your demotion."
D) "You are terminated because you have high absenteeism and low productivity."

Question 35

In the context of the three steps of managing cultural differences in the workplace, the first step involves:

A) resolving cultural differences by soliciting uncommon information.
B) increasing one's awareness of cultural differences.
C) changing and adapting one's views of the world to better appreciate the elements of another culture.
D) finding shared ground between old and new behavior and understanding.

Question 36

Kelly is a manager in a multinational firm. She manages a culturally diverse team of five employees. She realizes that to build a cohesive team, she needs to understand the key cultural differences among her team members. Therefore, she reads about the culture of each of her team members and understands how cultural differences among them could impact business interactions. In the context of managing cultural differences, which of the following is the immediate next step that Kelly should take?

A) She should solicit uncommon information.
B) She should develop a shared vision and a common understanding to bridge the cultural divide among her team members.
C) She should decenter and then recenter.
D) She should create a list of ethnocentric practices that can be adopted in the workplace.

Question 37

Which of the following is a difference between low-assertion cultures and cultures that are highly assertive?

A) Unlike people in cultures that are highly assertive, people in low-assertion cultures are more willing to take responsibility for events.
B) Unlike cultures that are highly assertive, low-assertion cultures tend to have more competitive work environments.
C) In cultures that are highly assertive, communication is more direct and unambiguous, whereas in low-assertion cultures, communication tends to be more indirect and vague.
D) Cultures that are highly assertive place greater value on teamwork and relationships, whereas low-assertion cultures place greater value on results.

Question 38

Shyam, a manager in a company, prefers using straightforward and concise messages to convey information to his subordinates. He does not believe in providing much background information and believes that direct communication gives him more control over a situation and allows him to take responsibility for his actions. In this scenario, Shyam most likely belongs to a:

A) high-assertion and high-context culture.
B) low-assertion and low-context culture.
C) high-assertion and low-context culture.
D) low-assertion and high-context culture.

Question 39

Rajiv, a manager in Girat Inc., a multinational company, heads a team of 15 employees. He makes most of the decisions on his own and expects his team members to follow those decisions. Therefore, it can be said that Rajiv works in an organization with high power distance. Which of the following statements is most likely to strengthen this argument?

A) Little consultation occurs between Rajiv and his team members.
B) Rajiv works in a collaborative environment.
C) Rajiv's team members have little trust in their leader.
D) A strong future orientation is a common aspect of Girat Inc.'s work culture.

Question 40

In the context of managing cultural differences, once you have recognized cultural differences, the next step is to:

A) solicit uncommon information by changing the way meetings are run in order to incorporate different cultural styles.
B) develop a shared vision and a common understanding to bridge the cultural divide between you and others.
C) change and adapt your own views of the world to better appreciate the elements of another culture.
D) select the cultural dimensions to be examined and assess their impact on the specific business that you are attempting.

Question 41

Anita is an Indian who works for a multinational firm in Germany. Georgina, a German native and Anita's supervisor, never accepts the ideas proposed by Anita and is always condescending of them. Georgina is unwilling to accept the ideas of another culture and apply new knowledge during the process of idea generation. In this scenario, Georgina most likely suffers from _____.

A) dogfooding
B) the endowment effect
C) progeria
D) the not-invented-here syndrome

Question 42

The knowledge to function effectively across cultural contexts is known as _____.

A) cultural relativism
B) cultural identity
C) cultural assimilation
D) cultural intelligence

Question 43

In the context of making cultural adaptations, who among the following is most likely to be motivated by an intrinsic force?

A) Danny, who reads about other cultures and tries to understand key cultural differences so that he can come up with more innovative and diverse ideas than his peers
B) Ritu, who participates in a cultural studies program because her manager has set specific rewards for anyone who successfully completes the program
C) Shiraz, who wants to learn the culture of people from foreign countries because he wants to go on an international assignment
D) Fiona, who feels a sense of achievement after interacting with people of other cultures and adapting to their customs

Question 44

Culture is akin to an iceberg. Evaluate this statement.

Question 45

In the context of improving your cultural intelligence quotient (CQ), the last step is to:

A) develop specific training to correct your CQ weaknesses.
B) identify your target areas of CQ by looking at your results from the CQ assessment.
C) integrate your training into your daily tasks as much as possible.
D) request feedback from peers or your boss, based on cross-cultural interactions they have witnessed.

Question 46

Defend or refute the statement that the values and norms of a culture do not just happen.

Question 47

Our level of cultural intelligence is not locked in at birth and can be developed with effort. Support this statement by providing the steps that you can take to improve cultural intelligence.

Question 48

Sara is an African-American woman who lives in Dubai with her parents. Her mother, who is an American, and her father, who is an African, met in college and married each other soon after graduation. Since Sara's childhood, they have ingrained the values of their respective ethnicities in her, which has made her especially good at understanding multiple ethnic perspectives. In this scenario, Sara most likely has a _____.

A) stepfamily
B) bicultural family
C) traditional family
D) blended family

Question 49

Which of the following statements is true of the not-invented-here (NIH) syndrome?

A) It may spring from a person's lack of appreciation for their own culture.
B) It can be overcome by promoting ethnocentrism in the workplace.
C) It causes an unwillingness to apply knowledge.
D) Its origin is culturally indistinct.

Question 50

Respecting cultural differences does not necessarily mean you can simply blend everything together and make good decisions. Justify this statement.

Question 51

Who among the following is likely to have the highest cultural intelligence quotient (CQ)?

A) Sharon, who understands and respects the differences and similarities among cultures but is unable to mimic them around others
B) Farhan, who understands the key differences among cultures, mimics the customs of the people around him, and has an innate desire to have culturally diverse experiences
C) Divya, who is solely interested in understanding the customs of different cultures and becoming an expert on them
D) Harry, who wants to learn about and function effectively in different cultural settings and adapts to both ethical and unethical cultural practices of other cultures to show flexibility

Question 52

Motivational cultural intelligence quotient (CQ) measures an individual's:

A) sense of desire to function effectively in different cultural settings.
B) understanding of the beliefs, customs, and taboos of foreign cultures.
C) ability to mimic the customs of the people around him or her.
D) expertise on every culture.

Question 53

The point of cognitive cultural intelligence quotient (CQ) is:

A) to increase an individual's ability to mimic and mirror the customs and habits of the people around him or her.
B) to study different cultures and become an expert on each of them.
C) to understand key cultural differences and how they affect everyday business interactions.
D) to assesses an individual's level of interest, drive, and energy to adapt cross-culturally.

Question 54

Three factors determine a person's level of cultural intelligence quotient (CQ)-cognitive CQ, behavioral CQ, and motivation CQ. Justify why all three are necessary to effectively and appropriately adjust behaviors in a foreign culture.

Question 55

Patricia is a manager in a multinational company and supervises a diverse workforce. She understands the key differences among different cultures and how these differences affect business interactions. Despite this, she does not mimic the customs and habits of the people around her. She does not care if her subordinates or peers feel offended by her disregard for their culture. In this scenario, Patricia most likely has high _____.

A) physical cultural intelligence quotient
B) cognitive cultural intelligence quotient
C) behavioral cultural intelligence quotient
D) motivational cultural intelligence quotient

Question 56

Education plays a key role in shaping a society's culture. Give reasons to support this statement.

Question 57

Which of the following is the first step in improving your cultural intelligence quotient (CQ)?

A) Developing specific training to correct your CQ weaknesses
B) Identifying your CQ strengths and weaknesses
C) Integrating your training into your daily tasks as much as possible
D) Finding out the resources your company is willing to provide to people for cultural training

Question 58

Phil, an American employee at an advertising company, was assigned to work with an Indian client to develop a marketing campaign for one of the client's products. After his first meeting with the client and his team, Phil realized that the client's culture was significantly different from his own. Despite disagreeing with many of the cultural differences, Phil readjusted his thinking and behavior to meet the demands of the situation. This scenario illustrates the concept of _____.

A) job crafting
B) codetermination
C) dejobbing
D) recentering

Question 59

Which of the following statements is true of a person's cultural intelligence quotient (CQ)?

A) It is determined by two factors, which are cognitive CQ and behavioral CQ.
B) A person needs to be good at either behavioral CQ or cognitive CQ to effectively and appropriately adjust behaviors in a foreign culture.
C) The cultural intelligence of a person is a characteristic that is ascribed at birth and cannot be developed with effort.
D) It can deteriorate over time if not used.

Question 60

Which of the following is a way that individuals can use to resolve cultural differences?

A) By soliciting uncommon information
B) By promoting ethnocentrism in the workplace
C) By developing a low-context culture
D) By developing a low-assertion culture