Test Bank

Chapter 13: Effective intercultural communication in a global society

Multiple choice questions

1. Which of the following is NOT an example of the opportunities that modern information technologies offer minorities and indigenous cultures?

a. the possibilities to create their own media outlets

b. the possibilities for the wide dissemination of their cultural products

c. the possibilities to create connections with other indigenous cultures

d. the possibilities to isolate themselves from the mainstream culture

2. Which of the following statements best describes cultural diffusion?

a. A culture learns or adopts a new idea or practice from another culture or cultures.

b. A culture keeps its own cultural ideas from other cultures.

c. A culture overcomes a threat to its own by strengthening its own cultural image.

d. A culture tries to suppress elements of its own culture in favour of those from another culture.

3. The notion of ‘othering’ is predominantly used to refer to the stereotypical images of non-white populations. Which of the following theories does this sentence best represent?

a. cultural hegemony

b. cultural colonialization

c. cultural apartheid

d. cultural classification

4. When entering into communication with others, each of us brings a stock of knowledge about appropriate behaviours in our own culture. In which of the following theories is this knowledge a central element?

a. cultural schema theory

b. cultural bias theory

c. cultural cognition theory

d. cultural familiarity theory

5. Which of the following is considered a good strategy for developing intercultural communication?

a. Seeking differences

b. overcoming stereotypes and prejudice

c. insisting on using one’s own cultural rules

d. developing flexibility but not openness

6. Which of the following statements best describes the dialectics of globalization?

a. Globalization has led to both a growing interconnectedness and a rise in xenophobia.

b. Globalization has led to greater homogenization and increased multiculturalism.

c. Globalization offers greater equality for developing countries but has also diminished cultural diversity.

d. Globalization has led to a decrease in xenophobia and a decrease in face to face interaction.

7. Which of the following concepts is true of the facework competence criteria of intercultural competence?

a. individual satisfaction

b. perceived appropriateness

c. assertiveness

d. context cues

8. Over time, individuals from different cultures come to a greater level of agreement with one another. Which of the following concepts best describes the process in which information is shared by two or more individuals?

a. convergence

b. diffusion

c. innovation

d. colonialism

9. Products can carry cultural values, and many products that are seen to represent a culture have both been widely popular and resisted. A special symbol that tends to be idolized in a culture, such as kangaroo and koala in Australia, is described as ______.

a. an artifact

b. an icon

c. a logo

d. a brand

10. KFC opened its chain restaurants in China. Which is one of the major contributors to its success in China, as discussed in this chapter?

a. food quality that appeals to the Chinese

b. western cuisine that is new to the Chinese

c. fast service to Chinese customers

d. ability to adapt its taste to local Chinese customers

11. Which of the following concept best illustrates the fear of the predominant influence that one culture can develop over another?

a. imperialism

b. othering

c. hegemony

d. adaptation

12. Contact between cultures transforms people’s lives. Which of the following concepts best describes a new cultural form that combines elements of other cultures?

a. technology diffusion

b. cultural convergence

c. immigrant colonialism

d. cultural hybridization

Short answer questions

1. Define globalization and provide one example to show cultural resistance

2. Define the terms homophily and heterophily and explain their roles in diffusion of innovation.

3. What is cultural colonization? Provide an example to explain the concept.

4. Use cultural schema theory to explain the two processes sojourners undergo to adapt to the unfamiliar cultural context.

5. Define transculturation theory and provide an example to show its application.