VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY – BRITISH CULTURE AND LITERATURE

HOCHIMINH CITY UNIVERSITY OF Full-time Program

SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES Student’s Full Name:
FACULTY OF ENGLISH LINGUISTICS Student ID: No.: Class Code:
AND LITERATURE
DEPARTMENT OF AMERICAN AND Instructor:

FINAL EXAMINATION
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
Time Allotted: 60 minutes
Approved by Proctor 1 Examiner 1 Total Score (100%)

In figures:

Proctor 2 Examiner 2 In words:

Dr. Nguyen Dang Nguyen

Note: No materials or dictionaries are allowed.

ANSWER SHEET
Part I: Write A, B, C, or D. (2pts)
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Part II: Write T or F. (2pts)

11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20.

PART III. Write the letters from A to J. (2pts)

21. 22. 23. 24. 25.

26. 27. 28. 29. 30.

PART IV. Write your answers on the blank lines provided. (4pts)

1. Why do both Mark and Javier have such negative feelings?

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2. What does Hiro mean by “... I will do my best.”? What is the cultural problem?

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3. Why did the South Africans in Eastern Cape behave that way? How could Nick have
avoided such reactions by those South Africans?
4. Describe 3 aspects of Korean culture which are the result of the Confucian influence.
 === END OF TEST ===

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Student’s Full Name: Student ID: No.:

FINAL EXAMINATION
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
Time Allotted: 60 minutes
Part I: Choose the best answer to each of the following questions. Write your answers (A, B, C, or
D) ON THE ANSWER SHEET. (1pt)
1. How can intercultural communicators demonstrate cultural sensitivity when interacting with Japanese
individuals, considering honne and tatemae?
A. Directly ask personal questions to build rapport
B. Be bold and direct in expressing opinions
C. Pay attention to non-verbal cues and indirect communication
[Link] cultural norms and focus on individual preferences
2. Many South African languages, such as Xhosa and Zulu, incorporate clicking sounds. These sounds
are:
A. used primarily for emphasis or to express emotion.
B. only used in specific dialects or regional variations.
C. A recent development in South African languages.
D. part of the phonemic system of the language, distinguishing different words.

3. Korea’s relatively high Masculinity Index influences intercultural communication by . A.

Prioritizing cooperation and consensus-building
B. Valuing empathy and emotional expression
[Link] achievement, competition, and assertiveness
[Link] a work-life balance and quality of life
4. Canadian humour is often described as
A. Aggressive and confrontational
B. Self-deprecating and ironic
C. Overly sensitive and easily offended
[Link] and boisterous
5. When giving a gift to a Japanese person, it is considered polite to .
A. Give an expensive gift to show appreciation
B. Wrap the gift in bright, vibrant colours
C. Give a gift with your left hand or both hands
D. Give a gift immediately upon meeting someone
6. Canada is a multicultural country, and Canadians are generally .
[Link] to cultural diversity

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B. Open and tolerant of different cultures
C. Highly individualistic and self-reliant
[Link] and group-oriented
7. “Face” is more important in than in .
A. the UK/China B. Germany/Mexico C. India/France D. Russia/Japan

8. According to Hofstede, what are the highest ranked values selected by American (short-term
orientation) executives?
A. freedom of expression, openness to new ideas and personal achievement
B. personal freedom, self-reliance and self-discipline
C. freedom of expression, personal freedom and self-reliance
D. individual rights, hard work and personal achievement
9. What is the “Tall Poppy Syndrome” in Australian culture?
A. Deeply religious and conservative
B. A tendency to criticize and belittle successful people
C. A fear of failure
D. A strong work ethics
10. Australians often use humour, including self-deprecating humour, to . A.
Show respect and deference
B. Create social distance
C. Build rapport and lighten the mood
D. Assert dominance and authority
Part II: Decide whether each following statement is true (T) or false (F). Write your answers (T or
F) ON THE ANSWER SHEET. (2pts)
11. People with internal locus of control believe in fatalism.
12. People from strong uncertainty avoidance don’t mind changes in their career and
plans. 13. People from restrained culture tend to adhere to strict social norms.
14. Respect for seniority and high rank is an indication of large power distance.
15. People from individualist cultures have a strong sense of harmony and
“face”. 16. Long-term orientation societies view societal change with suspicion.
17. In ping pong communication style, people take turns in speaking and listening. 18.
People with detached communication style tend to discuss issues calmly and objectively. 19.
The second level of competence is conscious incompetence (troubling ignorance). 20.
People who have an abstract communication style prefer to communicate by using stories,
metaphors and examples.
PartIII: Match the subject in the left column with its correct information in the right column.
Write the letter (A-M) ON THE ANSWER SHEET. Please note there are three extra options that
do not match any subject. (2pts)
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21. Concrete A. An American businessperson who values direct communication
communicators and individual achievement.
E

22. Individualism A B. The extreme transformation of ethnocentrism

23. Racism and C. To these people, it is rude to force their own feelings on the others
Colonialism B

24. Universal behaviors D. Those that are linked to human instinct and applied in
D every cultural situation.

25. Emotionally E. Conveying messages mainly through actual cases and real
restrained situations
communicators C

26. Low-context culture F. The tendency to judge other cultures by the standards of one’s own
J culture

27. Ethnocentrism G. The belief that all cultures are equally valid and should
F
be understood on their own terms

28 Cultural relativism H. The ability to effectively communicate and interact with

G
people from different cultural backgrounds
 29. Intercultural I. A culture in which communication relies heavily on implicit
competence H messages and context

30. Internal locus of J. A culture in which communication is explicit and relies heavily on
control M verbal messages

K. “enjoy-the-moment” or YOLO attitude

L. A Japanese business meeting where decisions are made slowly

and consensus is prioritized.

M. A person who believes that s/he has control over his/her

own destiny and success.

PART IV: Open questions. Write your answers ON THE ANSWER SHEET. (4pts)

1. Dialogue: A British executive, Mark, is in Mumbai for a partnership meeting with his Indian
counterpart, Jai.

Mark: “So, the meeting was set for 3:00, right? I was there, but no one else showed up until 3:30.”

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Jai: “Oh, yes! We needed some time to wrap up another discussion. Hope it wasn’t a problem.” Mark:
(Frustrated) “Well, I like to start on time and keep things moving. Could we be punctual tomorrow?”
Jai: “Of course, no problem.” (But thinks Mark is rigid and rushed)

Question: Why do both Mark and Javier have such negative feelings?

2. Dialogue: An American manager, Emma, is giving feedback to her Japanese team member, Hiro,
about his project.

Emma: “Hiro, I think we need to improve this part. It’s not quite up to the standard we
need.” Hiro: (Pauses) “Thank you. I will do my best.”
Emma: “Great. So can we plan for a complete overhaul by next Monday?”
Hiro: (Looking uncomfortable) “I think we may need some more time.”

Question: What does Hiro mean by “... I will do my best.”? What is the cultural problem?

3. Situation: Nick Mills, an English Canadian, had worked hard to become the top sales representative
of the IT company he worked for. When the company received an invitation from a firm in South Africa
to make a marketing presentation for them, Nick was chosen to go to Eastern Cape (South Africa). Nick
had set up an appointment to make his presentation the afternoon he arrived. Upon arrival he was met by
the host firm who told him the presentation was postponed for two days to give Nick a chance to rest
and see the sites. Nick insisted he was fit and ready for the presentation and pressed to have it that
afternoon. Eventually it was put back to the original slot but Nick noticed that none of the executives at
the meeting seemed interested. At the end of the meeting, the South African Vice President suggested
they all meet again in two days.

Question: Why did the South Africans in Eastern Cape behave that way? How could Nick have avoided
such reactions by those South Africans?

4. Describe 3 aspects of Korean culture which are the result of the Confucian

influence. === END OF TEST ===

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