WorksheetsMC chapter 1
Total questions: 100
Worksheet time: 50mins
Which statement regarding communication skills in the workplace is correct?
The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the relative unimportance of good communication skills in the workplace.
Communication skills often rank at the bottom of recruiters’ wish lists.
Superior communication skills will make you marketable in the workplace of the future regardless of economic climate.
Today's workers communicate less, not more, since information technology and social media have swept the workplace.
Communication skills ______.
are not as important as technical skills for career success
are not necessary in today's competitive job market
are ranked by recruiters at the top of qualities they most desire in job seekers
cannot be learned; they are innate
Which of the following statements is an accurate description of communication in the workplace today?
Workers today communicate less than in previous years.
Technology has not affected how and why we communicate.
Businesses today generate a wide range of messages using a variety of media.
Writing is a skill set used only by managers and corporate executives.
The combination of communication, logical reasoning, critical-thinking, teamwork, and management skills used to be referred to as soft skills, but now are being referred to instead as interpersonal skills or ______.
statistical skills
professional skills
emotional skills
executive skills
Strategic use of e-mail, internet, voice mail, and texting are important in developing your ______.
on-the-job accuracy
relationships with your co-workers
professional image
productivity goals
Major trends in today's dynamic world of work include increased emphasis on self-directed work groups and virtual teams, heightened global competition, innovative communication technologies, new work environments, and focus on ______.
creating an entirely online presence
promoting from within
increasing levels of management
business ethics
Which one of the following statements about today's business environments is correct?
The number of telecommuting employees is expected to decline in the future.
All companies assign offices for employees.
Many employees today no longer need an office; they can work anytime and anywhere.
Workers today spend more time in offices than workers in the past.
Which statement below is an accurate description of today’s workplace?
Employees can expect to have more managers.
Very few businesses involve employees in decision making.
Today's employees can expect to interact with people from many cultures.
Businesses use social media only to interact with customers.
The term flattened management hierarchies refers to ______.
renewed emphasis on ethics
fewer levels of management
more levels of management
less individual decision making and communication
The ability to access data on remote servers with a computer or mobile device is called ______.
presence technology
cloud computing
videoconferencing
podcasting
According to researchers, most people listen at what level of proficiency?
100 percent
5 percent
25–50 percent
75 percent
Which of the following statements is an accurate statement about listening?
Very few management problems are related to listening.
The average person remembers nearly three quarters of what he or she hears following a 10-minute presentation.
We misinterpret, misunderstand, or change very little of what we hear.
Most people are not very good listeners.
Many of us are poor listeners because ______.
the brain can process information at least three times as fast as people talk
we have become a distractible society
we rely more on visual cues
we rely more on non-verbal cues
The lag time between the speed with which listeners process words per minute (450) and the speed at which speakers talk (about 125 to 175 words per minute) is called the ______.
speech-thought differential
mind gap
listening gap
speaking distinction
Which of the following is a psychological barrier for listening?
Hearing disabilities
Poor acoustics
Noisy surroundings
Personal values
Your boss is giving instructions for a new method of keeping expense accounts. However, you find it difficult to concentrate because you think the change is unnecessary. What type of barrier to effective listening are you experiencing?
Language problem barrier
Psychological barrier
Physical barrier
Nonverbal distraction barrier
Breanna must inform her workforce that the company will need to let go of a certain number of employees. Which word would be best for Breanna to use when delivering this news to the employees?
Layoff
Streamlining
Paradigm shift
Rightsizing
Which of the following is associated with active listening?
Establishing a receptive mindset
Focusing on appearance and delivery
Concentrating on your next comment
Taking as many notes as possible
To show that you are actively listening during a job interview, you should ______.
nod strategically and maintain eye contact
reply quickly to minimize lag time
use ambient noises to create a relaxed environment
adopt a sympathetic attitude
Amelia has made a conscious effort to become an active listener. Therefore, she shuts down her computer, turns off her cell phone, and asks her assistant to hold all incoming calls when she conducts interviews. What technique is she using to improve listening?
Keeping an open mind
Establishing a receptive mindset
Capitalizing on lag time
Controlling her surroundings
Nonverbal communication includes ______.
all unwritten and unspoken messages
only body language and gestures that accompany a spoken message
only eye contact and facial expressions that support the meaning of the words
only cues that reveal agreement with or contradiction of the verbal message
Examples of nonverbal communication include facial expressions, eye contact, and ______.
taking notes
speaking in a loud voice
posture
appropriate dress
Which of the following statements is an accurate description of nonverbal communication?
Nonverbal communication comprises very little of a message that is sent or received.
When verbal and nonverbal messages contradict, receivers believe that the verbal message is more accurate.
Meanings of nonverbal behaviors are often influenced by the communication context and by one's culture.
Nonverbal communication applies to only intended messages.
Most people think that the best predictor of a speaker's true feelings is their ______.
facial expressions
posture
gestures
eyes
Which of the following statements about posture and gestures is accurate?
The meaning of some gestures can vary among cultures.
Gestures are only movements without meaning attached to them.
Leaning towards a speaker suggests boredom and disinterest.
Erect posture tends to convey rigidity and stubbornness.
According to Edward T. Hall, in which spatial zone do most people converse with friends and family members?
Intimate
Personal
Social
Public
According to Edward T. Hall, which spatial zone is the largest?
Intimate
Personal
Social
Public
Which of the following tips should you follow to improve your nonverbal communication skills?
Focus only on the speaker’s words when you are engaged in conversation.
Observe yourself on video.
Avoid individuals from other cultures so that you don't start using inappropriate nonverbal behaviors displayed in other cultures.
Avoid asking the speaker questions when their nonverbal and verbal messages contradict.
In addition to her attire and physical engagement during an interview, what other element of Laylah’s candidacy for the position embodies nonverbal communication?
How well she shows that she has researched the company in her responses to questions
The visual appeal of the resume and cover letter she has submitted
The content of the questions she asks at the end of the interview
All of these
Stephen’s manager notices that he slammed his desk drawer right after he said that he was happy to work late. To optimize communication, the manager should ______.
tell Stephen that he should behave more professionally
respond to the verbal message only and thank him for working late
seek additional information by saying, I'm not sure that you're okay with staying late. Do you have somewhere you need to be?
avoid asking Stephen to stay late in the future
Every country has a unique culture or common heritage that ______.
teaches its members how to behave and conditions their reactions
results from a common gene pool
is created by a structured educational system
comes from an orderly system of government and laws
The five dimensions of culture are: power distance, individualism, context, time orientation, and ______.
tolerance
collectivism
communication style
space orientation
The most important cultural dimension is ______.
power distance
communication style
time orientation
context
Which of the following is a common trait of a business communicator from a low-context culture?
Valuing group membership
Preferring indirect verbal interaction
Placing emphasis on written information
Relying on context and feeling
Communicators from North America, Scandinavia, and Germany tend to be logical, analytical, and action oriented. They also depend little on the context of a situation to convey their meaning. These communicators represent what kind of culture?
High-context
Primitive
Ancient
Low-context
Which of the following countries represents a high-context culture?
United States
Germany
Norway
Japan
North Americans value straightforwardness and are suspicious of evasiveness. These traits identify the cultural dimension of ______.
individualism
power distance
communication style
time orientation
Which of the following countries would likely view a business contract as a binding document?
Mexico
Greece
Japan
Germany
Which one of the following statements accurately describes the effect of social media and communication technology on culture?
Because of social media, communicators can now reach out to larger and more varied audiences than in the past.
Social media always makes individuals of various cultures feel connected.
Social media offers very little potential for intercultural engagement.
Developers of social media should use the same design principles for all audiences.
Which one of the following is an accurate statement about ethnocentrism?
Ethnocentrism occurs in only Western cultures.
Ethnocentrism does not exist in today's culturally diverse workplace.
Ethnocentrism causes us to judge others by our own values.
Ethnocentrism is the oversimplified perception of a behavioral pattern or characteristic applied to all groups.
An American businessperson who thinks that all Swiss are hardworking, efficient, and neat is demonstrating an example of _______.
ethnocentrism
tolerance
stereotyping
a cultural norm
Learning about beliefs and practices different from our own and appreciating them means displaying _______.
tolerance
individualism
stereotyping
gender norming
One of the best ways to increase tolerance when communicating with those from other cultures is to practice empathy, which refers to _______.
speaking louder and listening more actively
sharing your preferred communication style with others
trying to see the world through others' eyes
thinking more individualistically
While conducting business with a customer from Italy, Zoe was careful to speak slowly and clearly, using short sentences and familiar words. However, she noticed that the customer had a glazed expression and did not understand her. Zoe should _______.
repeat what she has said in a louder voice
graciously accept the blame for not making her meaning clear
end the conversation until an interpreter can be found
require the Italian businessperson to restate the message in simple words
When speaking with someone for whom English is a second language, you should talk slowly, enunciate clearly, check frequently for comprehension, observe eye messages, listen without interrupting, and _______.
follow up important messages in writing
avoid smiling, which might make you appear to lack seriousness
use words that will impress the listener
assume that the listener understands if he or she nods and smiles in agreement
Which of the following is an example of an idiom, which can cause confusion for multicultural audiences?
This product really rocks!
Our products can improve your bottom line.
Please submit your report ASAP.
Call me if you have any questions.
Max is preparing a contract between his company and one in Mexico. What should he do when citing numbers in the contract?
Use the metric system.
Use American currency figures.
Write all months as figures rather than as words.
Avoid using any figures in the contract.
The benefits of a diverse work environment include improved ability to respond to a diverse customer base, better decision making and problem solving, and _______.
being able to charge more money for products and services
having lower payroll expenses
improve employee relationships
increased automation of lower skill jobs
Which of the following is key to improving workforce diversity?
Hiring a more homogenous work group
Making fewer assumptions
Ignoring differences
Requiring employees to conform to a standard company culture
Workers who communicate successfully with diverse audiences must make few assumptions, learn about their own and other cultures, and _______.
seek common ground
help others conform
avoid noticing differences
encourage group thinking
Because of today's communication technology, employees in today's workforce can expect to write fewer messages.
True
False
Recruiters often rank communication skills as the highest skill set sought by employers.
True
False
Only managers and business executives need strong communication skills.
True
False
Employees in today's workforce must be prepared to write using a variety of media.
True
False
Appreciating diversity is an example of a "soft" skill.
True
False
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the shift to _______.
remote-based work
smaller offices
larger breakout areas for impromptu meetings
digital databases
As a frontline employee, you can expect to have more managers in the workforce.
True
False
As an employee in today's digital workplace, you can expect to work more independently rather than collaboratively in groups.
True
False
Faking attention while others are speaking often increases listening skills.
True
False
Psychological barriers to listening include hearing disabilities, poor acoustics, and noisy surroundings.
True
False
Physical barriers to listening include only environmentally produced noises.
True
False
Trying to write down the majority of what a speaker is saying can improve your listening skills.
True
False
If you want to become a better listener, your first step is to stop talking.
True
False
To improve your listening ability, focus both on what is spoken and what is unspoken.
True
False
Brooke is listening to a difficult presentation on nanotechnology development. As a good listener, she should ask as many questions as possible during the presentation.
True
False
Establishing a receptive mindset refers to the listener's openness to learn something new.
True
False
When verbal and nonverbal messages conflict, listeners tend to believe the verbal message.
True
False
Most communication is nonverbal.
True
False
Understanding a message involves listening to only the spoken words.
True
False
Most Americans communicate with business associates at approximately 1½ feet.
True
False
The physical appearance of your business documents (such as resume and cover letter) transmit important nonverbal messages.
True
False
Zach's company does business globally. By associating with people from diverse cultures, Zach can widen his knowledge of intercultural messages and can increase his tolerance of differences.
True
False
Guilherme wants to make sure that his posture during his upcoming job interview affirms his interest in the position. To accomplish this, he should lean slightly forward, sit erectly, and maintain eye contact.
True
False
Our culture molds the way we think, behave, and communicate.
True
False
Communication style is the most important dimension of culture.
True
False
Individuals in high-context cultures prefer direct verbal interaction, value individualism, rely on logic, say "No" directly, and give authority to written information.
True
False
The United States is an example of a low-context culture.
True
False
Laura values individualism and personal responsibility in herself and coworkers. These values are typical of North American culture.
True
False
North Americans consider time a precious commodity and correlate it with productivity, efficiency, and money.
True
False
Individuals in Western cultures are more relaxed about social status and the appearance of power.
True
False
Emphasis on the importance of individual words, especially in contracts and negotiations, is a trait of lower-context cultures such as that of the United States.
True
False
The first step in learning intercultural skills is being aware of your own culture and how it contrasts with others.
True
False
Ethnocentrism can be found in all cultures.
True
False
Cross-cultural communication can be improved by practicing tolerance and ethnocentrism.
True
False
When communicating face-to-face with a person from another culture, you can always assume that the other person is understanding your ideas if he or she smiles.
True
False
For international trade it is a good idea to learn and use the metric system.
True
False
The U.S. workplace is expected to remain dominated by males and be Anglo-oriented.
True
False
Diversity has become a critical bottom-line business strategy in today's global economy.
True
False
Businesses that want to capitalize on cultural diversity need to train workers to think and act alike to reduce conflicts.
True
False
Lori will be traveling to Germany for a business meeting. Because she and her German counterparts work for the same company, she can rightfully assume that they are like-minded and have similar ideas about how to accomplish goals.
True
False
Juan Jose’s supervisor has noticed that Juan Jose works effectively in teams, has excellent presentation skills, and has strong initiative at resolving problems when they arise. These qualities that Juan Jose’s supervisor appreciates in Juan Jose as an employee are his ______.
professional skills
technical skills
communication skills
emotional skills
The ability to store and manage applications and data in remote locations is known as ______.
cloud computing
information sharing
the Internet of things
artificial intelligence
Among the five most desirable attributes in job seekers—management, leadership, problem-solving skills, written and oral communication, and teamwork—which one ranked first?
Leadership
Management
Written and oral communication
Teamwork skills
During Maram’s interview, the interviewer was interested in learning more about Maram’s background and extended the interview an extra 15 minutes. This is an example of what type of non-verbal communication?
Space
Territory
Time
Appearance
What are the key components of what constitutes culture, as shared by a society, region, or country?
A complex system of values, traits, morals, and customs
A complex system of beliefs and attitudes
A complex system of language, religion, and social structure
A complex system of social hierarchy and power
According to a model developed by cultural anthropologist Edward T. Hall, context refers to the stimuli, environment, or ambience surrounding an event. When cultures are placed on a continuum from low to high in relation to context, the model becomes especially useful for helping to understand differences in ______.
personalities
attitudes
preferences
communication styles
The belief in the superiority of one's own culture, an attitude found naturally in all cultures, is known as ______.
stereotyping
ethnocentrism
intolerance
closed-mindedness
What term describes the oversimplified perception of a behavior pattern or characteristic applied uncritically to entire groups?
Stereotyping
Ethnocentrism
Empathy
Intolerance
Power distance refers to how people in different societies see and address differences in ______.
equality
diversity
communication style
individualism
Tolerance means learning about those who are not like us and being receptive to new experiences. One of the best ways to develop this trait is to practice ______.
open-mindedness
patience
empathy
ethnocentrism
