Deck 2: Culture, Diversity, and Global Engagement

Question 1

Which of the following is an example of a culture connected to a place?

A) soccer culture
B) deaf culture
C) Muslim culture
D) French culture
E) middle-class culture

Answer 1

French culture

Question 2

The totality of learned, shared symbols, language, values, and norms that distinguish one group of people from another is called

A) co-culture.
B) culture.
C) society.
D) identity.
E) ethnicity.

Answer 2

culture.

Question 3

Musicians are an example of a

A) class.
B) co-culture.
C) culture.
D) society.
E) habitat.

Answer 3

co-culture.

Question 4

Which of the following is the best definition of a society?

A) people who have the same level of education
B) people who live in the same place
C) people who have mutual interests
D) people who share the same culture
E) people who were born in the same year

Question 5

Edwin was born in Norway and retains his Norwegian citizenship, but he spent most of his childhood in the United States and prefers American clothing, music, and values. Which of the following statements about Edwin is true?

A) He lacks both a culture and a nationality.
B) His nationality is Norwegian, but he identifies with American culture.
C) His nationality is American, but he identifies with Norwegian culture.
D) Both his nationality and his culture are Norwegian.
E) Both his nationality and his culture are American.

Question 6

Which of the following terms describes a person's status as a citizen of a particular country?

A) society
B) culture
C) nationality
D) ethnicity
E) class

Question 7

Umar is originally from Indonesia. He later immigrated to England, where he lives now. He is Muslim and enjoys certain, but not all, aspects of English culture. Which of these characteristics would determine Umar's ethnicity?

A) whether or not his parents were born in Indonesia
B) whether or not he has English citizenship
C) which aspects of English culture he enjoys
D) how much he still identifies with his Indonesian heritage
E) how diligently he observes the customs of Islam

Question 8

How do race and ethnicity differ?

A) Race is an objective distinction, whereas ethnicity is quite subjective.
B) Race refers to physical characteristics, whereas ethnicity refers to heritage.
C) Race is a universal concept, whereas ethnicity varies by culture.
D) Race refers to heritage, whereas ethnicity refers to nationality.
E) Race changes over time, whereas ethnicity is permanent.

Question 9

Why is race more controversial as a descriptor than ethnicity or nationality?

A) Race is a new, untested concept for the scientific community.
B) Race cannot be chosen, whereas ethnicity and nationality can.
C) Race is highly visible, whereas ethnicity and nationality are more nuanced.
D) Race is highly fluid, whereas ethnicity and nationality are more static.
E) Race has little scientific basis, whereas ethnicity or nationality are objectively grounded.

Question 10

Olivia is a U.S. citizen. Her mother, who was born in China, and her father, who was born in South Korea, met while they were both studying in France. They later moved to the United States, where Olivia was born. Her parents both maintain aspects of their birth cultures at home, and Olivia shares their appreciation for their ancestral heritages. Which of the following best describes Olivia's ethnicity?

A) American
B) Chinese and Korean
C) Chinese, Korean, and American
D) Chinese, Korean, French, and American
E) American and French

Question 11

Socioeconomic status is a measure of an individual's financial and ________ position relative to that of others.

A) political
B) racial
C) social
D) geographical
E) gender

Question 12

Which of the following people is most likely to have the lowest socioeconomic status (SES)?

A) an immigrant who is seeking her Ph.D. in political science
B) a politician who recently lost his bid for reelection
C) a seasonal worker who must care for her husband's chronic illness
D) a retired philanthropist who travels to developing countries to set up aid programs
E) a famous actor who was raised in a poor, single-parent home

Question 13

To which of the following categories of diversity would a birth defect belong?

A) sexuality
B) race
C) ethnicity
D) socioeconomic status
E) disability

Question 14

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, for which of the following occupations could an employer lawfully refuse to hire a person who is blind?

A) crane operator
B) social worker
C) college instructor
D) copywriter
E) translator

Question 15

How do sex and gender differ?

A) Sex is determined on a daily basis, whereas gender is determined at birth.
B) Sex is determined by genetics, whereas gender is determined by experiences.
C) Sex is determined by culture, whereas gender is determined by experiences.
D) Sex is determined by sexual orientation, whereas gender is determined by society.
E) Sex is determined by genetics, whereas gender is determined by sexual orientation.

Question 16

Which of the following terms describes the sex or sexes to which a person is romantically or sexually attracted?

A) androgyny
B) sexual diversity
C) gender
D) sexuality
E) ethnicity

Question 17

Sarah, who is female, is in a long-term relationship with a woman named Erin. However, Sarah has also dated men in the past and is open to doing so in the future if her relationship with Erin were to end. Which of the following best describes Sarah's sexuality?

A) androgynous
B) heterosexual
C) homosexual
D) bisexual
E) asexual

Question 18

When people experience conflict between the sex with which they were born and the sex they feel they should be, they most often identify as

A) androgynous.
B) transsexual.
C) transgender.
D) bisexual.
E) asexual.

Question 19

Globally speaking, which of the following religious groups is least likely to be a minority in the country where they live?

A) Taoists
B) Jews
C) Hindus
D) Buddhists
E) Sikhs

Question 20

An app developer is designing a new app that allows the user to easily use voice commands to write and send e-mails. She believes her target market will be people who find standard e-mail apps and smartphone keyboards cumbersome and difficult to understand. Which of the following demographics should she target?

A) baby boomers
B) generation Xers
C) millennials
D) post-millennials
E) preschool children

Question 21

Dutch social psychologist Geert Hofstede is considered a pioneer of the study of

A) comparative religion.
B) cultural differences.
C) automation and productivity.
D) generational identity.
E) gender and sexuality.

Question 22

Which of the following beliefs distinguishes an individualistic culture from a collectivist culture?

A) the value of hard work
B) the importance of hierarchy
C) the tolerance of risk
D) the uniqueness of each person
E) the importance of education

Question 23

Which of the following is an example of a collectivistic country?

A) Australia
B) Ireland
C) Japan
D) Canada
E) United States

Question 24

Which of the following beliefs would be more common in a collectivistic culture than in an individualistic culture?

A) "Your life is what you make of it."
B) "People fail because they don't take responsibility."
C) "You're one in a million."
D) "Without the love of my family, I am nothing."
E) "Never follow the crowd."

Question 25

In which sort of society would you expect someone to heavily filter his or her thoughts before speaking?

A) uncertainty-accepting
B) high-context
C) low-context
D) high-power-distance
E) low-power-distance

Question 26

Seo-yun is shocked that her coworker would tell his boss that he doesn't want to go on the company outing because he already has plans for that day. Assuming that Seo-yun is from a high-context culture, what is the most likely explanation for her surprise?

A) Social gatherings are mandatory in high-context cultures.
B) Employees are not generally allowed to speak to superiors in high-context cultures.
C) Blunt statements are considered offensive in a high-context culture.
D) People from high-context cultures are expected to sacrifice everything for work.
E) People from high-context cultures value ambition and acquiring material goods.

Question 27

Claire is having trouble understanding what her manager is asking her to do. She thinks she may have let him down, but she is not sure because her manager is using vague language to describe his concerns. Which of the following cultural differences could explain this miscommunication?

A) uncertainty-accepting versus uncertainty-avoidant
B) individualistic versus collectivistic
C) high-power-distance versus low-power-distance
D) high-context versus low-context
E) masculine versus feminine

Question 28

Which of the following types of cultures would be least likely to value equality?

A) high-context
B) low-context
C) high-power-distance
D) low-power-distance
E) uncertainty-accepting

Question 29

Which of the following values would an individualistic culture and low-power-distance culture have in common?

A) service to others
B) avoidance of risk
C) respect for authority
D) loyalty to country
E) personal freedom

Question 30

The extent to which people try to avoid situations that are unstructured, unclear, or unpredictable is known as

A) power distance.
B) cultural context.
C) uncertainty avoidance.
D) collectivism.
E) social cohesion.

Question 31

Which of the following is a characteristic of a culture with high uncertainty avoidance?

A) questioning authority
B) strict rules for conduct
C) indifference to rebelliousness
D) high value for education
E) feminine values

Question 32

According to Hofstede, the United States would fit which of the following cultural dimensions?

A) masculine
B) high-power-distance
C) high-context
D) collectivistic
E) uncertainty-avoidant

Question 33

A culture in which people keep greater amounts of personal space between themselves and touch one another less frequently is known as a ________ culture.

A) masculine
B) high-context
C) low-context
D) high-contact
E) low-contact

Question 34

Rudolfo is traveling from his home office in Argentina to the corporate offices in Japan for the first time. How can he use his knowledge of high- and low-contact cultures to make a good first impression?

A) He should remember that in Japan, surnames come before first names.
B) He should remember to bring an appropriate gift with him, such as sake.
C) He should remember that patting someone's shoulder may be an unwelcome behavior.
D) He should remember that lateness is never tolerated.
E) He should remember to be modest when describing his achievements.

Question 35

Which type of distance do Westerners usually use when dealing with an employee in a retail setting?

A) anonymous
B) intimate
C) personal
D) social
E) public

Question 36

Which of the following is the best estimate, in feet, for personal distance in Western cultures?

A) 0-1.5
B) 1.5-4
C) 5-8
D) 10-12
E) 15-25

Question 37

Assume you are from a low-contact culture. How might a person from a high-contact culture perceive your behavior?

A) friendly
B) indifferent
C) confident
D) threatening
E) obedient

Question 38

Which of the following would you expect to see in an office in a country that has high formality expectations?

A) Workers participating in a welcome ceremony for visiting guests.
B) People eating lunch at their desk.
C) Coworkers gathering in the hallway to chat and laugh.
D) Workers frequently entering or leaving business meetings unannounced.
E) Workers wearing comfortable clothing such as jeans or t-shirts.

Question 39

People from ________ cultures view time as a commodity.

A) panchronic
B) polychronic
C) monochronic
D) polycontext
E) monocontext

Question 40

Which of the following dimensions of culture is most closely related to tolerance for conflict?

A) high-power-distance versus low-power-distance
B) high-context versus low-context
C) risk-avoidant versus risk-tolerant
D) individualistic versus collectivistic
E) masculine versus feminine

Question 41

Alex is from a culture where being late to a business meeting is no big deal. Which of the following interpretations of Alex's lateness respects his cultural values?

A) Alex comes from a culture that is ignorant of how the real world works, and he is probably unfit for his job.
B) Alex comes from a culture that is less evolved, so we should be more forgiving.
C) Alex comes from a culture that is somewhat self-centered, emphasizing the power of the individual above others.
D) Alex comes from a culture that does not appreciate personal accountability and individual accomplishment.
E) Alex comes from a culture that puts people first and recognizes that sometimes friends and family take priority over business.

Question 42

A person from which of the following cultures might have difficulty with recognizing the individuality of others?

A) collectivistic
B) low-context
C) low-contact
D) monochronic
E) masculine

Question 43

Which of the following initiatives might a chief diversity officer undertake?

A) training new employees to hide their cultural differences and assimilate to the company culture
B) holding a company-wide meeting to improve communication with the new overseas satellite office
C) reassigning workers to jobs based on diversity quotas instead of their skills
D) reducing C-suite conflict by assembling a leadership team that shares the same cultural values
E) laying off workers whose cultural backgrounds are different from that of their manager

Question 44

Which of the following behaviors is most helpful when practicing perspective taking?

A) comparing another person's culture to your own
B) listening carefully to others
C) asking yes-or-no questions
D) setting expectations for others before getting to know them
E) reflecting on your own background and experiences

Question 45

The belief that your own culture is superior and the correct lens from which you judge other cultures is known as

A) uncertainty avoidance.
B) cultural centrism.
C) projected cognitive similarity.
D) the outgroup homogeneity effect.
E) positive stereotyping.

Question 46

How is projected cognitive similarity related to cultural centrism?

A) It creates the conditions for cultural centrism.
B) It is diametrically opposed to cultural centrism.
C) It is a result of cultural centrism.
D) It disproves the theory of cultural centrism.
E) It reduces the negative effects of cultural centrism.

Question 47

Ha-joon is visiting the United States for the first time. Which of the following would be an example of a productive stereotype?

A) "Americans eat terrible food. I should bring some ingredients from home."
B) "Americans care only about money. Talking about money is a good way to get their attention."
C) "Americans generally look down on other cultures and like to feel superior."
D) "Americans like it when you act like you are old friends, even if you just met."
E) "Americans love guns, so it is important to be alert at all times."

Question 48

Why is it a bad idea to form stereotypes of other cultures based on the television shows they produce?

A) Cultures often try to make themselves look better in television shows than they are in real life.
B) The primary purpose of television is to serve as propaganda aimed at provoking foreign nations.
C) The primary purpose of television shows is to make money by being provocative and not to accurately reflect culture.
D) Cultures often try to emphasize equality in television shows, which is not very realistic.
E) Television shows are too short to provide enough information to form accurate stereotypes.

Question 49

People can best combat the outgroup homogeneity effect by

A) celebrating the common humanity in everyone.
B) recognizing the individuality of others.
C) viewing cultures through the lens of collectivism.
D) focusing on positive stereotypes.
E) prioritizing their own cultural values.

Question 50

The tendency to assume others share your cultural norms and values is known as

A) cultural centrism.
B) projected cognitive similarity.
C) the outgroup homogeneity effect.
D) positive stereotyping.
E) uncertainty avoidance.

Question 51

A single person can belong to many different cultures at once.

Question 52

Culture can be connected to a religion.

Question 53

Culture is a property of place, ethnicity, or economic class.

Question 54

A person's culture is synonymous with his or her racial or ethnic background.

Question 55

Business organizations can have a culture.

Question 56

Eighty-four percent of the world's population identifies with the same religious tradition.

Question 57

People who are bisexual usually maintain long-term relationships with one sex and short-term relationships with the other.

Question 58

Feminine cultures believe that men and women should have strongly differentiated roles.

Question 59

In any culture, power distance is measured by the amount of money individuals have.

Question 60

In societies with a polychronic time orientation, schedules are flexible.

Question 61

People from low-formality cultures would feel uncomfortable being greeted by a stranger.

Question 62

Unlike greeting customs, gift-giving customs are universal among different cultures.

Question 63

College is a poor model for how diversity works in the business world.

Question 64

A good way to respect diversity is to see people as members of a group and not as unique individuals.

Question 65

It is the responsibility of every employee to create an inclusive workplace.

Question 66

The best way to engage diversity in an ethical manner is to put your own values aside and embrace your colleagues' values.

Question 67

Stereotypes are defined as illogical generalizations that are ultimately unproductive.

Question 68

The outgroup homogeneity effect is the tendency to assume others share your cultural norms and values.

Question 69

Assimilation means giving up your individuality for the good of the group.

Question 70

Once established, cultures stay essentially the same for all time.

Question 71

Culture is the totality of our learned, shared symbols, language, values, and norms. Think of a co-culture to which you belong. In a paragraph, explain the shared symbols, language, values, and norms of that co-culture and how they are similar to or different from the dominant culture.

Question 72

Choose three of the following cultural identity markers to write about in terms of your own identity: race, ethnicity, or nationality; socioeconomic status; disability status; sex, gender, or sexuality; religion; and generational identity. Write a paragraph in which you explain how you identify and how that identity is appropriate to that category.

Question 73

Apply Hofstede's five dimensions of cultural difference to the dominant culture where you live or another culture with which you are highly familiar. For each dimension, explain where on the spectrum the culture falls and why.

Question 74

Choose one of the following types of cultures with which you may be uncomfortable or unfamiliar, or with which you may disagree: individualistic, collectivistic, low-power-distance, high-power-distance, masculine, feminine. What aspects of that culture do you find uncomfortable or unfamiliar and why? How could you look at those aspects from another angle to see value in them?

Question 75

You will be visiting a country you have never gone to before on business. You know little about what to expect, except that you will be meeting new business associates and attending meetings. You may also be expected to eat meals with these business associates. List six questions regarding cultural norms and values that you will need to answer before leaving for your trip.

Question 76

Think of a time when you incorrectly interpreted another person's behavior, or another person incorrectly interpreted your behavior, due to a cross-cultural misunderstanding. Which aspects of your two cultures came into conflict to cause the misunderstanding? How could you have avoided the misunderstanding by communicating in a different way?

Question 77

Identify an opportunity in your life for you to learn more about diversity that you have not taken advantage of yet. It could be something small, such as patronizing businesses run by people from another culture, or something larger, such as studying abroad for an extended period. What aspects of that culture are unknown to you? What aspects of that culture might you need to revise your beliefs about? How would you grow as a person by learning more about that culture?

Question 78

You are having a conflict with a coworker. Everything he does seems to irritate you: He shows up late, expecting you to cover for him, and then acts like you are good friends. He is even the same ethnicity as someone who used to tease you all the time in grade school. How can you use the techniques of honoring your own cultural values, respecting the cultural values and diverse backgrounds of others, and recognizing the individuality of others to resolve the conflict?

Question 79

Choose a form of discrimination or bias that you have witnessed, either in your own life, in the life of someone you know, or on the news. How do the concepts of cultural centrism, projected cognitive similarity, and the outgroup homogeneity effect explain that behavior? How could you use those same concepts to explain why that form of discrimination or bias is wrong?

Question 80

You work for a software company. Despite being from an individualistic culture, your manager has expressed an interest in moving toward a collectivist orientation, and you would love the opportunity to lead the transition. Write a formal business letter to your manager in which you recommend a series of changes that would move your company toward a collectivist orientation.