Intercultural Communication- Midterm Exam
STUDY QUESTIONS (100): MIDTERM EXAM – Intercultural Communication
Understanding Intercultural Communication, Chapters 1-6
McHenry County College, Fall Semester, 2014 – Ron Compton, Instructor
Chapter 1, “Why Study Intercultural Communication?”
1. Intermediate-level culture includes _____.
a. practices of the middle class
b. symbols (e.g., language), meanings, and norms
c. relationship expectation
d. all of the above
2. Deep-level culture includes _____.
a. nonverbal communication emphasis
b. relationship expectation
c. traditions, beliefs, and values
d. all of the above
3. Surface-level culture includes _____.
a. relationship expectation
b. verbal communication emphasis
c. cultural artifacts or systems that have mass appeal and that infiltrate our d aily life
d. all of the above
4. Relationship expectation is how much role formality/informality or task/social tone you want to forge in the interaction.
a. True
b. False
5. Culturally shared ________ involve answers to questions such as human origins, concepts of time, space, reality, and the existence of a supernatural being.
a. traditions
b. beliefs
c. norms
d. values
6. Culture is a learned ________________ system that consists of patterns of traditions, beliefs, values, norms, meanings, and symbols that are passed on from one generation to the next and are shared to varying degrees by interacting members of a community.
a. normative
b. meaning
c. language
7. These can include myths, legends, ceremonies, and rituals that are passed on from one generation to the next via an oral or written medium.
a. Culturally shared traditions
b. Culturally shared beliefs
c. Cultural norms
d. Cultural values
8. Music and images produced by Snoop Dogg, Beyoncé Knowles, and other musical artists, belong to what level of culture?
a. Surface-level culture
b. Intermediate-level culture
c. Deep-level culture
d. Immediate-level culture
9. There has been a dramatic increase in intercultural dating and marriage relationships in the United States.
a. True
b. False
10. Through the study of intercultural communication, we can deepen our other-awareness, but not our self-awareness.
a. True
b. False
11. Cultural norms belong to deep-level culture.
a. True
b. False
12. Television shows such as Dancing with the Stars and American Idol are primarily examples of intermediate-level culture, and specifically, examples of culturally shared beliefs.
a. True
b. False
13. A symbol refers to a sign, artifact, word(s), gesture, or nonverbal behavior that stands for or reflects something that is meaningful for one individual.
a. True
b. False
14. Cultural norms refer to individual expectations of what constitutes proper or improper behavior.
a. True
b. False
15. Culturally shared traditions include myths, legends, ceremonies, and rituals passed on from one generation to the next via a written medium because oral ones have perished.
a. True
b. False
16. Culturally shared beliefs refer to fundamental assumptions or worldviews that people hold dearly to their hearts without question.
a. True
b. False
17. Cultural values – in times past but no longer generally true today - refers to priorities that guide “good” or “bad” behavior, “desirable” or “undesirable” practices, and “fair” or “unfair” actions.
a. True
b. False
Chapter 2, “What Is Intercultural Communication Flexibility?”
18. Aileen becomes aware that she has committed an intercultural faux pas during an interaction
with a cultural stranger, but thinks to herself, “That’s just the way I am. It’s not worth trying to change.” Aileen is in what stage of the staircase model of flexible intercultural
communication?
a. Unconscious incompetence
b. Conscious incompetence
c. Conscious competence
d. Unconscious competence
19. The degree to which communicators achieve mutually shared meaning and integrative goal-
related outcomes is which of the four criteria of a flexible intercultural communicator?
a. Appropriateness
b. Effectiveness
c. Communication adaptability
d. Communication ethnocentrism
20. The degree to which exchanged behaviors are regarded as proper and match the expectations
generated by insiders of a culture is which of the four criteria of a flexible intercultural
communicator?
a. Appropriateness
b. Effectiveness
c. Communication adaptability
d. Communication creativity
21. In the staircase model of intercultural communication, the stage in which an individual is “mindlessly mindful” and can code-switch effortlessly between the two different intercultural communication stages is the ____________ stage.
a. conscious competence
b. conscious incompetence
c. unconscious incompetence
d. unconscious competence
22. Adine decides to increase her intercultural communication flexibility. She takes a vacation in
Belgium, taking in the sights and interacting with Belgian individuals. What component of flexible intercultural communication is she focusing on?
a. Knowledge: informal learning
b. Knowledge: formal studying
c. Meaning: cognitive layer
d. Meaning: affective layer
23. Alisha is from Georgia and is surprised that on her first trip to New York City, native New
Yorkers do not respond to her friendly overtures on the subway. She learns that New Yorkers generally do not talk to strangers on the subways as a way of obtaining some privacy in a very crowded city. So, instead of condemning New Yorkers as “unfriendly and suspicious,”
she uses a different cultural frame of reference, understanding their behavior from within their own frame of reference. Alisha is using what mind-set to evaluate New Yorkers’
behavior?
a. Adaptability
b. Informal
c. Ethnocentric
d. Ethnorelative
24. Taking this class in intercultural communication is an example of which kind of knowledge?
a. Formal studying
b. Informal learning
c. Affective knowledge
d. Ethnocentric knowledge
25. Ah Ming, a Chinese native, is assigned to a temporary overseas work assignment in the
United States, and upon return, he reports that U.S. employees are “pushy and critical,” as they often directly told him what to do. What kind of mind-set is Ah Ming using to evaluate U.S. employees’ behavior?
a. Flexible intercultural communication
b. Ethnocentric
c. Ethnorelative
d. Appropriate
26. Barry approaches his international manager to ask her for a salary increase. What type of
goal is Barry’s salary increase in this intercultural communication interaction?
a. Content goal
b. Relational goal
c. Identity goal
d. Symbolic goal
27. The fact that intercultural communication involves simultaneous encoding and decoding reflects which characteristic of intercultural communication?
a. Symbolic exchange
b. Process
c. Different cultural communities
d. Content meaning
28. The i nstructor says to Brooke and Bianca, “You look tired.” Although they both understand the words, Brooke takes this as a comforting message and Bianca believes she has been criticized. These two women have understood the same words but attached differing
___________ to them.
a. symbols
b. settings
c. goals
d. meanings
29. __________ meaning is inferred via nonverbal intonations, body movements, or gestures that accompany the verbal content.
a. Content
b. Relational
c. Instrumental
d. Transactional
30. Dr. Brown realizes she has inappropriately criticized Binh Phuoc’s family remedy for sprained ankles. However, because intercultural communication is a(n) _____________ process, he cannot take back his remark.
a. transactional
b. embedded
c. irreversible
d. symbol
31. Informal learning, such as visiting ethnic neighborhoods, is one way to increase our
knowledge of flexible intercultural communication.
a. True
b. False
32. We should all try to attain the unconscious incompetence stage of flexible intercultural communication.
a. True
b. False
33. The staircase model consists of two main stages: flexible and inflexible intercultural
communication.
a. True
b. False
34. Symbolic exchange refers to the use of verbal and nonverbal symbols between a minimum of two individuals to accomplish shared meanings.
a. True
b. False
35. The digital aspects of communication refers to the content information that we convey to our listener.
a. True
b. False
36. Identity meaning refers to questions such as “Who am I and who are you in this interaction episode?”
a. True
b. False
Chapter 3, “What Are the Essential Cultural Value Patterns?”
37. People of cultures high in uncertainty avoidance prefer clear procedures and conflict avoidance.
a. True
b. False
38. Attitude is a predisposed tendency that influences thinking patterns, but actions to a much less extent.
a. True
b. False
39. Self-construal is the degree to which people conceive of themselves as separate or connected to others.
a. True
b. False
40. This is a common cultural pattern found in most northern and western regions of Europe and
in North America.
a. “Being” activity value orientation
b. Collectivism
c. Subjugation-to-nature value orientation
d. Individualism
41. A flood has hit a small town in England, where Carly lives. She responds to the flood by
viewing it as something that is beyond the control of her or her town, and in fact, was
predestined. Which destiny value orientation is she endorsing?
a. Controlling the environment
b. Harmony-with-nature
c. Subjugation-to-nature
d. Internal locus of control
42. Cici is most often concerned with her personal achievements, and is rather competitive with
classmates. She would tend to have a(n) _____________ construal of self.
a. internal
b. external
c. independent
d. interdependent
43. A culture which confronts a natural disaster, such as floods, by building dams, bridges, and
other water-control features, is operating from which people-nature value orientation?
a. Controlling their environment value solution
b. Harmony-with-nature or “flowing” value solution
c. Subjugation-to-nature or “yielding” value solution
d. “Being” value solution
44. On Carlos’ first day as a study-abroad student, he was surprised to find that his instructor
asked for student feedback and that at the end of class, the instructor went to lunch with some of the students. Having paid attention in his intercultural communication class, Carlos understands that the culture in which he is now living is a ____________ culture.
a. future-oriented
b. past-oriented
c. large power distance
d. small power distance
45. Caitlyn’s father always decides where to go on vacation and Caitlyn is expected to accept the
decision without complaint. Caitlyn’s mother does the packing and is concerned with the quality of the hotel. Caitlyn is in a _____________ family situation.
a. “masculine”
b. “feminine”
c. “being-in-becoming”
d. “being”
46. Which group or nation is most likely to emphasize individual initiative and achievement and
a future value solution?
a. Saudi Arabia
b. Saudi Arabian upper class
c. U.S. middle-class European Americans
d. All Japanese classes
47. Camille and Chika have different reactions to their equally poor performances on the first exam of the semester. Camille believes that it is her responsibility to do better and that she must make extra effort on the next exam. Chika believes that destiny or fate was involved and that sometimes external forces shape o ne’s life events. Camille has a(n) _____________ locus of control and Chika has a(n) ____________ locus of control.
a. internal; external
b. external; internal
c. vertical; horizontal
d. horizontal; vertical
48. A culture which answers the question of the relationship between people and the natural by being more fatalistic and acting humbly in the face of cataclysmic external forces, is operating under which people-nature value orientation?
a. Controlling their environment value solution
b. Harmony-with-nature or “flowing” value solution
c. Subjugation-to-nature or “yielding” value solution
d. “Doing” value solution
49. Cristina is a study-abroad student who moves to the United States to live in a college
apartment in California. She notices that her roommates don’t knock before entering her bedroom; they just open the door and walk right in. Rather than decide that U.S. Americans are “rude,” she practices the O-D-I-S method from her intercultural communication class.
Which letter represents her efforts to be more open-ended in evaluating her roommates’ behavior and to refrain from her initial ethnocentric evaluation of the behavior as “rude?”
a. O
b. D
c. I
d. S
50. The most important value dimension that shapes our sense of self is the individualism-collectivism value dimension.
a. True
b. False
51. Individuals with an external locus of control tend to emphasize free will, individual motivation, and personal effort and responsibility.
a. True
b. False
52. People with a vertical self-construal emphasize informal interactions and a direct approach to resolving problems.
a. True
b. False
53. People operating under a future-oriented time sense are concerned with fixed schedules and short- to medium-term planning.
a. True
b. False
54. All individuals from Asian countries operate from an interdependent self-construal.
a. True
b. False
Chapter 4, “What Are the Keys to Understanding Cultural and Ethnic Identities?”
55. Dashelle’s _______________ identity includes the information that she is nineteen, has a
son, and a college student at UNLV; her ______________ identity is fun-loving, optimistic, and a fan of country music.
a. personal; social
b. social; personal
c. cultural; social
d. social; cultural
56. In the ethnic-cultural typological model, an individual who identifies strongly with the larger culture and weakly with his or her own ethnic identity is operating from which of the four options?
a. Bicultural identity
b. Ethnic-oriented identity
c. Assimilated identity
d. Marginal identity
57. Even after moving to Thailand, Deidre continues to identify strongly with her native British
values and traditions rather than with her new culture. Which identity does Deidre have?
a. Bicultural identity
b. Ethnic-oriented identity
c. Assimilated identity
d. Marginal identity
58. _________________ refers to the process whereby people are socialized into and internalize
the primary cultural values of their birth country.
a. Acculturation
b. Enculturation
c. Adaptation
d. Assimilation
59. Damek has moved from his native Hungary to the United States. He is going through the process of viewing himself as a Hungarian to incorporating a new identity, that of a U.S. American. What is this process of identity change called?
a. Acculturation
b. Enculturation
c. Ethnic identity salience
d. Cultural identity salience
60. The ___________ family system emphasizes communal meanings, ascribed roles and statuses between parents and child, and family rule conformity.
a. extended
b. blended
c. positional
d. personal
61. In a society with a(n) _________stance, immigrants are often expected to conform quickly to local cultural practices while in a society with a(n) __________ stance, immigrants are given more leeway to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to adapt to the new culture.
a. assimilation; pluralist
b. pluralist; assimilation
c. enculturated; acculturated
d. acculturated; enculturated
62. Donatello and his family emigrated to the United States from Italy. Donatello was fortunate to have had English classes in Italy in which he learned about verbal and nonverbal styles of U.S. communication. What kind of knowledge is this?
a. Personal
b. Cultural
c. Interaction-based
d. Enculturated
63. Donatello also learned about U.S. geography, its political and economic situation, and its predominant spiritual beliefs. What kind of knowledge is this?
a. Personal
b. Cultural
c. Interaction-based
d. Enculturated
64. Danine emigrated with her family from Taiwan to Canada. She feels a strong affiliation with Canadian culture. In other words, she feels strong cultural identity ___________.
a. hierarchy
b. value
c. salience
d. tradition
65. An individual who identifies strongly with both ethnic traditions and the cultural practices of
the larger society is said to be a bicultural individual.
a. True
b. False
66. Enculturation occurs when a person moves to a new culture or country and stays there for at
least one year.
a. True
b. False
67. In a society that is culturally pluralistic, there is little or no tolerance for immigrants who practice their ethnic traditions and customs.
a. True
b. False
68. Democratic decision making is the dominant method of making decisions in the personal family system.
a. True
b. False
69. In the Racial-Ethnic Identity Development Model, the encounter stage is when the individual develops a secure racial-ethnic identity and also has genuine contact with many different groups.
a. True
b. False
Chapter 5, “What Is Culture Shock?”
70. Ephraim was excited at first about his study abroad trip to the United States. After he arrived, he was surprised to find out that he had periods of loneliness and disorientation. What Ephraim should know is that he is in the process of ____________.
a. enculturation
b. resocialization
c. reentry culture shock
d. culture shock
71. According to the revised W-Shaped Adjustment Model, in which stage might sojourners become very aggressive in the new culture, or totally withdraw from it?
a. Humorous
b. Reentry culture shock
c. Hostility
d. Ambivalence
72. After a few months, Ephraim’s feelings began stabilizing and he now feels relatively comfortable and satisfied as he continues his study-abroad experience. Ephraim is experiencing good ____________ adjustment.
a. assimilation
b. sociocultural
c. cultural distance
d. psychological
73. In the ABCs of culture shock, “A” stands for the _________ dimension of disorientation, which includes feelings of anxiety, bewilderment, and confusion.
a. affective
b. adaptation
c. acculturation
d. alienation
74. Elaine travels from the United States to study abroad in Canada. She notices that her culture- shock experience does not involve very intense experiences with negative feelings. This is due to the fact that there is not a great difference in ____________ factors such as language, cultural values, verbal styles, and nonverbal gestures between the two countries.
a. culture shock
b. cultural distance
c. adaptation
d. enculturation
75. Which of the following is an example of a socioemotional goal for a sojourner in a foreign country?
a. Establishing a friendship with a member of the foreign country
b. Hiring individuals from the foreign country for the overseas office
c. Incorporating a new business model at the overseas office
d. Attending courses for university credit at the foreig n country’s national university
76. Ellie decided to do some research on orangutans. She spent six months abroad, consulting with scientists at the Nairobi Zoo in Kenya. Because she knew her intercultural communication terms, when asked by Kenyans who she was, she re plied, “My name is Ellie and I am a(n)
____________.”
a. tourist
b. visitor
c. immigrant
d. sojourner
77. ______________ adjustment refers to the ability to fit in and execute appropriate and effective interactions in a new cultural environment.
a. Assimilation
b. Sociocultural
c. Psychological
d. Voluntary
78. As a sojourner, Ernest has begun making new friends and has spent enough time in the new culture to realize that there are pros and cons in each culture. He is experiencing which stage of the revised W-shaped adjustment model?
a. Honeymoon
b. Hostility
c. Ambivalence
d. Humorous
79. Els is a study abroad student from the United States studying in China. When she encounters an awkward or confusing situation with a Chinese individual, she tries to imaginatively place herself in the other’s shoes, considering what the other individual is experiencing, both intellectually and emotionally. Else is practicing which aspect of communication competence?
a. In-sync adjustment
b. Behavioral flexibility
c. Cross-cultural empathy
d. Bicultural identity
80. Sojourners who have realistic expectations tend to have a more negative culture shock
experience.
a. True
b. False
81. Elmira has spent the first two weeks of her study-abroad experience really enjoying herself, so she will not experience culture shock.
a. True
b. False
82. Sometimes there are returnees who never quite fit back into their home culture. These are called “alienators” an d they often seek out more sojourner experiences.
a. True
b. False
83. Individuals going through reentry culture shock may feel more severe emotions than when
they experienced the hostility stage of the revised W-Shaped Adjustment Model.
a. True
b. False
84. The revised W-Shaped Adjustment Model describes the long-term adaptation process of immigrants and refugees.
a. True
b. False
Chapter 6, “What Is the Connection Between Verbal Communication and Culture?”85. Francis has decided to write a history of his family’s immigration to England. Because
language is _____________, he can write about the past.
a. arbitrary
b. abstract
c. meaning-centered
d. creative
86. A(n) ____________ worldview reflects a holistic reasoning pattern and avoids using polarized ends such as good/evil and young/old.
a. linear
b. relational
c. inductive
d. deductive
87. The word “hit” has many definitions, but when Fatima hears the word used with regard to musical hits, it brings many good thoughts and feelings due to her experiences with listening to music. This illustrates the __________ meaning of a word.
a. connotative
b. inductive
c. deductive c. denotative
88. The notion that language functions to emphasize what is considered “important” or
“interesting” in our social environment is a description of which function of language?
a. Worldview function
b. Everyday social reality function
c. Cognitive function
d. Linguistic relativity function
89. Felicia us es incorrect grammatical structure when she refers to a boy’s sailor suit by saying “Handsome outfit, that.” She is violating which rule of language?
a. Phonology
b. Morphology
c. Syntactics
d. Semantics
90. When Farrell, who is from Georgia, pronoun ces the word “father,” it sounds noticeably different from Frank, who is from Boston. This describes the language feature of a(n)
____________.
a. individualist
b. collectivist
c. accent
d. relational worldview
91. The word “rap” has as one of its dictionary definitions, “to tap or knock.” It also describes a particular music style. These two dictionary definitions illustrate that words have
______________ meanings.
a. connotative
b. inductive
c. deductive
d. denotative
92. A(n) ____________ is defined as a group of individuals who share a common set of norms and rules regarding appropriate communication practices.
a. speech community
b. worldview
c. co-culture
d. collectivism
93. A(n) _________ worldview emphasizes rational thinking that is based on an objective reality.
a. linear
b. relational
c. inductive
d. deductive
94. U.S. individuals tend to use ___________ while Japanese individuals tend to use
_________.
a. high-context communication; low-context communication
b. low-context communication; high-context communication
c. relational worldview; linear worldview
d. deductive reasoning; inductive reasoning
95. A cultural community that uses talk to “break the ice” and reserves silence for their most
intimate relationships is most likely to use _______________ communication.
a. high-context
b. low-context
c. deductive
d. dramatic spiral
96. When Frankie talks to her roommate, she speaks in a matter-of-fact tone and states her message clearly. What kind of verbal style does this reflect?
a. Direct
b. Indirect
c. Understated
d. High-context
97. Inductive reasoning reflects a linear worldview and deductive reasoning reflects a relational worldview.
a. True
b. False
98. The linguistic relativity hypothesis states that language is relative, or arbitrary, and is not
linked to culture.
a. True
b. False
99. The syntactic rules of a language refer to “how to say what to whom and under what
conditions.”
a. True
b. False
100. Black English (Ebonics) is a distinctive language that is governed by rules with specific
historical derivations.
a. True
b. False