Unit 4 Communicating Across Cultures Quiz

Culture influences a person’s understanding of

• words, gestures, and the use of time and space.

• the ways to revise a business letter.

• how to produce a job recommendation.

• interviewing and résumé writing skills.

Michael was tasked with giving a presentation at work for a group of employees from various cultural backgrounds. To make sure his presentation is understood, Michael uses appropriate words that all cultures will understand and avoids slang terms and clichés. Which of the following culture concepts is Michael aligning to?

• significance of gestures

• meaning of words

• rules of human relationships

• importance of time and space

Ethnocentrism can be overcome by

• avoiding assumptions.

• judging other groups according to your own standards.

• ignoring the distinctions between cultures.

• remembering that people from other cultures communicate in ways that are inferior to your own.

The practice of accepting multiple cultures on their own terms is known as

• ethnocentrism.

• cultural pluralism.

• ethnography.

• stereotyping.

To convey meaning in a low-context culture such as the one existing in Germany, people rely more on

• gestures and vocal inflection.

• indirectness and metaphors.

• situational cues.

• explicit verbal communication.

When writing letters to business people in other countries, you should

• use an informal, friendly tone.

• keep your sentences and paragraphs long.

• be vague and general in your wording.

• make generous use of transitional words and phrases.

When preparing a message to someone from another culture, you should

• write the letter in English and then translate it into the target language.

• assume that the audience is familiar with common U.S. phrases and references.

• be sure to remove all graphics, in case they might offend someone.

• be careful to express times and dates in universal terms.

Meeting a deadline is less important than building a relationship for business people from

• the United States.

• Scandinavia.

• Taiwan.

• Germany.

When speaking in English to people who use English as a second language, you should

• forget about feedback; just make sure you get your message across.

• repeat your sentences often, a little louder each time.

• speak slowly and clearly.

• use plenty of adjectives.

When you deal with people who don't speak your language at all, you have three appropriate options, including

• using an intermediary or a translator.

• using gestures and sign language.

• speaking loudly and enunciating clearly.

• using an English-only policy.