Chapter 2 Test Culture and Communication

Section 1: Multiple Choice Quiz- Select the most appropriate choice from each item: 30 points.

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1. A low-context culture uses language

a. only in artistic, expressive ways. b. to place emphasis on the use of gesture while speaking. c. primarily to express thoughts, feelings, and ideas as directly as possible. d. in a way that relies heavily on subtle, often nonverbal cues.

2. For our purposes, a clear and comprehensive definition of culture is

a. an academic term describing members of your parents' homeland. b. the music, location and architecture of a specific group of people. c. the language, values, beliefs, traditions, and customs people share and learn. d. demographic shifts based on communication.

3. Power distance refers to the extent of the gap between

a. in-groups and out-groups influence on communication. b. high-context and low-context views on social classes. c. self-reliance and competition. d. social groups whose members possess resources and influence and those whose members don't.

4. Choosing the best communication channel can make the difference between success and failure on the job. Which of the following options gives you the most control over the receiver's attention?

a. telephone b. hard-copy c. face-to-face d. voice mail

5. A culture that feels loyalties and obligations to an in-group such as one's extended family, community, or even the organization one works for is

a. an individualistic culture. b. an in-group. c. a collectivist culture. d. an out-group.

6. A strategy for moving toward a more mindful, competent style of intercultural communication involving volunteering personal information to people from the other culture is

a. an active strategy. b. a passive strategy. c. self-disclosure. d. ethnocentrism.

7. According to Communication Research Reports, which method of communication rated the highest in satisfaction for communicating easily?

a. face-to-face b. instant message c. e-mail d. cell phone

8. Which term is used to reflect the degree to which members of a culture feel threatened by ambiguous situations and how much they try to avoid them?

a. paranoia b. emergency readiness c. statistical awareness d. uncertainty avoidance

9. Noticing what behaviors members of a different culture use and applying these insights to communicate in effective ways is

a. commonplace in ethnocentrism. b. referred to as passive observation. c. an example of stereotyping. d. is communication competence.

10. The tendency to transmit messages without considering their consequences is called

a. uncertainty. b. disinhibition. c. flaming. d. e-mail.

11. Permanence in communication is best achieved via

a. face-to-face conversation. b. hard copy. c. e-mail. d. cell phone.

12. Synchronous communication

a. occurs in real time. b. can only occur via phone. c. is best handled by e-mail. d. allows gaps to prepare lengthy responses.

13. Jack, who works in public relations for a political figure, has received a hilarious, but potentially offensive joke from one of his friends via e-mail. To best ensure his continued employment, Jack should

a. post the joke to his personal Facebook page immediately. b. forward the joke to everyone in his address book. c. repeat the joke to the politician who employees him. d. discourage his friend from sending such messages to his work e-mail address.

14. In an individualistic culture, members often believe

a. people should care for extended family before themselves. b. their primary responsibility is helping themselves. c. age, group security, tradition, and hierarchy are most important. d. in an emphasis on belonging to a very few permanent in-groups.

15. If a concern develops over the amount of time you spend on the Internet, an effective method to determine how much time is too much time is to

a. contact a therapist and ask him or her. b. post to Twitter and ask your friends. c. track your time online accurately to assess if it's too much. d. skip important social and recreational activities to use the Internet.

Section 2: Briefly explain the following : (10 Points)

1. Define the term culture, and identify the various cocultural groups to which you belong.
2. Cite the salience you apply to other cultures when identifying the "us" from "them."
3. What are the distinctive cultural values and norms that influence communication challenges?
4. Social media differ from face-to-face communication through three characteristics. Identify each, and compare and contrast them all.
5. What are the uses of social media, and how do people receive gratification from them?

Section 3: True/False: Select the most correct response: (10 points )

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1. Both in-person conversations and phone calls are considered synchronous.

a. True b. False

2. Cultures with low power distance emphasize the difference between the various social classes.

a. True b. False

3. Collectivistic cultures like Japan have a "we" orientation.

a. True b. False

4. A low-context culture like the United States values self-expression

a. True b. False

5. People with an ethnocentric attitude are open minded and interested in learning about others.

a. True b. False

Section 4: Matching: Match each term listed on the left with its correct definition from the column on the right. ( 10 Points)

_____ 1. asynchronous communication _____ 2. in-groups _____ 3. power distance _____ 4. stereotyping _____ 5. richness _____ 6. salience _____ 7. flaming _____ 8. prejudice _____ 9. ethnocentrism _____10. culture

a. the attitude that one's culture is superior to those of others b. sending angry or insulting e-mails, texts, or Web postings c. an unfairly biased and intolerant attitude toward others who belong to an out-group d. communication that occurs when there is a time gap between when a message is sent and received e. the language, beliefs, traditions, and customs that people share and learn f. how much weight we attach to a particular person or phenomenon g. groups with which we identify h. the degree to which members are willing to accept a difference in power and status among members of a group i. the perceptual process of applying exaggerated beliefs associated with a categorizing system j. a term used to describe the abundance of nonverbal cues that add clarity to a verbal message

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