英语专业跨文化交际试题
试卷代号：1028
中央广播电视大学2006—2007学年度第二学期“开放本科”期末考试
英语专业跨文化交际试题
2007年7月
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Information for the Examinees:
This examination consists of three sections. These are:
Section I: Language Appropriacy and Accuracy (30 points)
Section Ⅱ: Reading Comprehension (30 points)
Section Ⅲ: Communication Analysis (40 points)
The total marks for this examination are 100 points. Time allowed for completing this examination is 90 minutes.
Section I: Language Appropriacy and Accuracy [30 points]
lnstructions: There are altogether 15 statements below. You are offered four choices marked with A, B, C, and D for each statement. Choose the most appropriate one and put it on the Answer Sheet.
1. He said the government would not allow anyone to do something secretly and
unofficially and seize power by force.
A. sneak in by the back door
B. do the doakeywork
C. knock on the door
D. beat a path to someone's door
2. She gave me a black look.
A. looked at me blindly
B. looked at me happily
C. looked at nle madly D, looked at nle angrily
3. Fie moonlights two other jobs though, his accounts are still in the --
A. red B, black
C. green
D. pink
4. To her, translating from French to Dutch is --
A. a deal
B. a piece of cake
C. a will
D. a cake
5. The English equivalent for the Chinese phrase "吹牛" will be___
A. talk bull
B. blow wolf
C. blow bull
D. talk horse
6. We've been in a confused situation this week.
A. at sixes and sevens
B. at sevens and eights
C. in a mess
D. at a lost
7. He's extremely shy and withdrawn, though it may be that --
A. still waters run very deep
B. a wise man plays a fool
C. a wise man plays football
D. deep waters run no wave
8. One day, out of the blue, his long lost daughter appeared in the street, armed with a
blond gentleman.
A. dressed in blue
B. very happily
C. unexpectedly
D. very sadly
9. Why is it so difficult for the Democrats to __ on the issue of mismanaging the
econorny?
A. go for the ear
B. go for the cheek
C. go for the eye
D. go for the jugular
10. This young Italian-born dancer is the person who is expected to bring success to the
Royal Ballet.
A. the white hope
B. the red hope
C. the green hope
D. the black hope
11. Today, Lisa told me that she got out of the bed on the wrong side.
A. forgot which was lhe right side
B. was in bad mood
C. bad a bad dream
D. had a bad luck
12. "I don't bare money to fight him. These people are all the time in court, anyway."
Philip says. "But and I have lots of patience."
A. every dog has its day
B. every dog is fortunate
C. every cat is lucky
D. every cat has its day
13. Al "Stuart says some really strange things sometimes."
B: "Sometimes? All the time! He's nuts!"
A. crazy
B. foolish
C. funny
D. stubborn
14. Though it's raining eats and dogs, he kept standing in the rain for one hour without
a word.
A. it's raining heavily
B. there were so many eats and dogs around
C, it's storming
D. it's windy heavily
15. The English equivalent for Chinese proverb "杀鸡给猴看" is --
A. beat the cat before the lion
B, kill the dog to frighten the tiger
C. kill the chicken to frighten the monkey
D. heat the dog be{ore the lion
Section Ⅱ: Reading Comprehension [30 points]
Part 1: Questions 16--20 are based on this part. (1,5 points)
Read Passage I and then answer Questions 16 g0 briefly. Write your answers on the Ahswer Sheet.
Passage 1
In order to be skillful in cross-cultural communication, managers ust have knowledge
of each culture they are dealing with. Ethics come into playing a big part of cross-euhural communication. What is considered unethical or illegal in the U. S. may not Be considered the same with other cultures.
Americans tend to be legalistic and adversarial. They defend themselves with legally binding contracts, which is not only tolerated by Americans, but they consider it an essental business practice. However, the Japanese do not follow this practice. In Japan, they ro business with people the Japanese know and trust, rarely using the law to handle conflicts between the two parties. One American firm arrived iu Japan to negotiate a ioint venture with a contract in their hands. In the first meeting, the Americans put the 50-page conlrac; in front of the twelve Japanese negotiators. The meeting took the entire afternoon and no:it of the Japanese negotiators opened the contracts and they only talked about general busiiess conditions in both countries. After the meeting, the Americans could not get the ]apanese to the negotiating table again and had to leave the country empty-handed. The Japanese now having the contract at the first meeting rude and decided not to do business with such an inept firm.
Another example is of an American firm trying to get an acceptable price for their product from a Japanese buyer. The Americans presented a very detailed presentation rna offered what they felt was a reasonable price. After a few moments of silence, the Americans thought the Japanese were going to reject the offer so they lowered the price. There was more silence by the Japanese. The Americans then said they would lower their price one hsi time and that this was the lowest they could go. The Japanese accepted this offer after a Brief silence. The Japanese later said the first price was within an acceptable range, but it was their custom to consider the proposal silently before giving their decision. The Americans lost a lot of profit by jumping the gun and believing the Japanese respond just llke other
Americans.
16. What is the main idea of the opening paragraph?
17. In the first exampie,why did the Americans fail in the negotiation?
18. What does the first example illustrate?
19. In the second example, why did the Americans lower the first price?
2O. What is the Japanese custonl in accepting an offer?
Part 2: Questions 21--25 are based on this part. (15 points)
Read Passage 2 and then decide whether Statements 21--25 are True or False according to tile information given in tile passage. Write "T" for true and "F" for false on the Answer Sheet.
Passage 2
Culture is shaped by attitudes learned in childhood and later internalized in adulthood.
As we enter this current period of globalization and multieulturalism, we should expect to make adjustments and adopt new attitudes.
Rules, values, and attitudes of a culture are not inherent. They are learned and passed down from generation to generation. For example, in many Middle Eastern and some Asian cultures, same-sex people may walk with hand-in-hand in the street, but opposite-sex people may not do so. In Arab cultures conversations are often held in close proximity, sometimes nose to nose. Bul in western cultures if a person stands too close, one may react as if
violated: "He ;vas all over me like a rash." Cultural rules of behavior learned from your
family and society are conditioned from early childhood.
The rules in any culture originated to reinforce that culture's values and beliefs. They
act as normative forces. For example, in Japan the original barbie doll was a failure for many reasons, one of which was her toothy smite. Japan is a country where women cover their
mouths with their hands when they laugh so as not to expose their teeth. Exposing one's
teeth is not only immodest but also aggressive. Although current cultural behavior may sometimes seem silly and illogical, nearly all serious rules and values originate in deep seared beliefs. Rules about exposing teeth or how close to stand are linked to values about sexuality, aggression, modesty, and respect. Acknowledging the inherent logic of a culture
is extremely important when learning to accept behavior that differs from one's own cultural behavior. Culture is the basis for how we tell the world, who we are and what we beLieve. People
build their identities through cultural overlays to their primary culture. North Americans,
for example, make choices in education, career, place of employment, and life partner. Each o~ these choices Brings with it a set of rules, manners, ceremonies, hellefs, language, and values. They add to one's total cultural outlook, and they represent major expressions of a person's self-identity.
To outsiders, the way we act those things that we do in daily life and work -- is the most visible parts of our culture. In Japan, for instance, harmony with the environment is important. Thus, when attending a flower show, a woman would wear a dress with pastel
rather than primary colors to avoid detracting from the beauty of the flowers. And in India people avoid stepping on ants or insects Because they believe in reincarnation and are careful about all forms of life. These practices are outward symbols of deeper values that are
invisible but that pervade everything we think and do.
2l,. In Western cultures conversations are often held in close proximity.
Z2. Cultural rules of behavior are conditioned {rom early childhood.
23. Exposing one's teeth is immodest according to the Japanese culture.
24. North Americans choose their life partners based on a set of rules, manners and
values.
25. It is the visible values of culture that pervade everything we think and do.
Section {][I: Communication Analysis [40 points]
Instructions: The following are three different cases of cross-cultural communication. In each of the cases there is something to be improved upon. Write an analysis on what is to be desired for more successful communication or cultural understanding in each case by answering Questions 26 28 respectively. Your analysis of each case should be 100 150 words. Write your answers
on the Answer Sheet.
Note! Your writing ability will also be assessed in this section of the test.
Case 1 (10 points)
I have an American friend. I have invited him to my home several times, and at long last
he invited me to his home one day. He told me to get there at 3 pm. I thought we could chat and have a meal together. I gave him a Chinese calendar, a woman's scarf and a bottle of Chinese white wire:. He only took out a dish of nuts, a plate of bread and a boule of wine.
After two hour's chat, I found there was no hint of a meal and said goo&bye to him. He
only gave me a box of chocolate as a present for the New Year. After I got home, I found the box had already been opened. 1 was very surprised.
Question 26: What surprised me?
Case 2 (15 points)
Tom, an American, went to a Chinese home for the first time. He was offered some tea. Just when the first cup was about to finish, more tea was added. He drank the second
cup. Then the cup was filled the third time. Then he drank it, then "' until he was quite
full. Tom was totally confused by the way o{ entertaining.
Question 27: Why was Tom totally confused?
Case 3 (15 points)
Study the following two short speeches. One is given by a Hong Kong Chinese and the other by an American businessman.
A. Because most of our production is done in China now, and it's not really certain how
Hong Kong will be like after 1997, and since I think a certain amount of caution in
committing to TV advertisement is necessary because of the expense. So, I suggest that we delay making our decision until after Legeo makes its decision.
B. I suggest that we delay making our decision until after Legco makes its decision.
That's because I think a certain amount of caution in committing to TV advertisement is
necessary because of the expense. In addition to that, most of our production is done ir,
China now, and it's not really certain how Hong Kong will be like after 1997.
Question 28:
Which speech might be given by the Chinese and which by the American? Give your reasons.
试卷代号：1028
中央广播电视大学2006—2007学年度第二学期“开放本科”期末考试
英语专业跨文化交际试题答案及评分标准
(供参考)
2007年7月
Section I: Language Appropriacy and Accuracy (30 points, 2 points each. )
1. A
2. D
3. .A
4. B 5, D
6. A
7. A 8, C 9, D 10. A
11. B 12. A 13. A 14. A 15. D
Section ]]: Reading Comprehension [30 points]
Part 1.
15 points, 3 points each. 0.5 point off for each grammar/spelling mistake, but at most! point can be deducted for each item for tile grammar/spelling mistakes. The exact wording is not required, but the meaning must be the same. )
16. In order to be skillful in cross cultural communication, managers must have
knowledge of each culture they are dealing with,
17. The Japanese saw having the contract at the first meeting rude and decided not to do
business with such an inept firm.
18, Americans defend themselves with legally binding contracts while the Japanese do business with people they know and trust, rarely using the law to handle conflicts between Ihe two parties.
19. Because the Americans thought the Japanese were going to reject the offer.
20. Consider the proposal silently before giving their decision.
Part 2. (15 points, 3 points each. )
21. F gg.T 23. T 24. T 25. F
Section m: Communication Analysis [40 points]
Question 26.
Case 1 (10 points, 7 points for the analysis, 3 points for overall language quality. )
1)In China, a visit to home always includes a meal. And the guest always brings a
relatively rich present to the host. And the present should be well wrapped or untouched.
2)In the west, a visit to home only means a meeting, not necessarily including a meal.
And the present is treated not as important as it is in China.
3)1 acted in a way that was based on Chinese customs, so I felt the American way was
very interesting (unusual).
Question 27.
Case 2 (15 points, 10 points for the analysis, 5 points for overall language quality. )
1)Traditional Chinese custom requires that during tile course of entertaining, the host
has to always pour more wine or tea to the guest's glass or cup, and always adds more food to the guest's plate or bowl without asking whether it's wanted.
2)Chinese guests know how to respond to this type of hospitality. They simply leave the
wine, tea, or food in the container and stop having any more. But Tom, the American guest in the case didn't know this.
3) He followed the politeness rule of his culture: it's not good manners to leave food in
one's own plate at a dinner table. Therefore, without any knowledge of the differences
between the two cultures, an Ameriean guest would very likely suffer from either drinking or eating too much in such a situation.
Question 28.
Case 3 (15 points, 10 points for the analysis, 5 points for overall language quality. )
1)The message of the two versions is the same but the way it is expressed is different.
)The first speech is made by the Chinese. Even though the words and sentences of the speaker are quite clear, it does not seem quite clear what the speaker's main point is.
3)The second is wha! the Western people might expect.
4)The reason lies in the different discourse patterns between Chinese and English. The
deductive (topic-first) pattern is prevalent in the West. The Chinese and other Asians favor the inductive (topic delayed) pattern. The Western people are in the habit of directly expressing their ideas, while the Chinese employ an indirect way when presenting their
ideas.