Invisible elements of culture are important to us. For example, how long we can be late before being impolite, what
Question: In most discussions of cultural diversity, attention has focused on visible, explicit aspects of culture, such language, dress, food, religion, music, and social rituals. Although they are important, these visible expressions of culture, which are taught deliberately and learned consciously, are only the tip of the iceberg or culture. Much of culture is taught and learned implicitly, or outside awareness. Thus, neither cultural insiders nor cultural outsiders are aware that certain "invisible" aspects of their culture exist.
Invisible elements of culture are important to us. For example, how long we can be late before being impolite, what topics we should avoid in a conversation, how we show interest or attention through listening behavior, what we consider beautiful or ugly. These are all aspects of culture that we learn and use without being aware of it. When we meet other people whose invisible cultural assumptions differ from those we have learned implicitly, we usually do not recognize their behavior as cultural in origin.
Differences in invisible culture can cause problems in cross-cultural relations. Conflicts may arise when we are unable to recognize others’ behavioral differences as cultural rather than personal. We tend to misinterpret other people's behavior, blame them, or judge their intentions or competence without realizing that we are experiencing cultural rather than individual differences.
Formal organizations and institutions, such as schools, hospitals, workplaces, governments, and the legal system are collection sites for invisible cultural differences. If the differences were more visible, we might have less misunderstanding. For example, if we met a man in a courthouse who was wearing exotic clothes, speaking a language other than ours, and carrying food that looked strange, we would not assume that we understood his thoughts and feelings or that he understood ours. Yet when such a man is dressed similarly to us, speaks our language, and does not differ from us in other obvious ways, we may fail to recognize the invisible cultural differences between us. As a result, mutual misunderstanding may arise.
1. The word “deliberately” in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to
A. slowly
B. accurately
C. intentionally
D. randomly
2. The phrase “the tip of the iceberg” in paragraph 1 means that
A. other cultures seem cold to US
B. visible aspects of culture are learned in institutions
C. we usually focus on the highest forms of culture
D. most aspects of culture cannot be seen
3. Which of the following was NOT mentioned as an example of Invisible culture?
A. what topics to avoid in conversation
B. what food to eat in a courthouse
C. How late is considered impolite
D. I low people express interest ỉn what others are saying.
4. The word “those” in paragraph 2 refers to
A. people from a different culture
B. invisibled cultural assumptions
C. people who speak a different language
D. topics that should be avoided
5. It can be inferred from paragraph 3 that conflict results when
A. people think cultural differences are personal
B. People complete with those from other cultures.
C. One culture is more invisible than another culture
D. Some people recognize more cultural differences than others.
6. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true?
A. We are often aware that we are learning about culture.
B. Visible aspects of cultures receive much attention in discussion of cultural diversity.
C. People misinterpret other people’s behavior because they know they are experiencing cultural differences.
D. Invisible cultural differences often witnessed at format organizations and institutions.
7. The author implies that institutions such as school and workplaces
A. are aware of cultural differences
B. teach their employees about cultural differences
C. reinforce invisible cultural differences
D. share a common culture
8. Which of the following would most likely result in misunderstanding?
A. Learning culture about our own culture in school.
B. Unusual food being cooked by foreign visitors.
C. Strange behavior from someone speaking a forcigh language.
D. Strange behavior from someone speaking our language.