In mono-cultural societies such as Japan or Poland, finding common

Question

In mono-cultural societies such as Japan or Poland, finding common ground on ethical and moral principles is easier than in societies with competing ideologies. One knows essentially what to expect from the people who have formed the political and social compact in monocultures. Members know what to expect of one another. They know the code composed of meanings and rules by which that society functions. Common cultural origins produce proverbs, motifs, icons, symbols, nuances of language, nonverbal behaviors, and metaphors that are immediately understood and accepted by anyone in the group. However, such commonality is more difficult to achieve once one moves to societies with a diverse population with different cultural backgrounds or to the global society of international relations. Such societies are often called multi-cultural individualistic societies. Hence, the United States, which favors individual effort and has less concern for the group as a whole is seen to be high on individualism. Such cultural differences lead to contrasting communication styles to the extent the historians label the communication style of collectivist cultures as "High Context" and the style of individualistic cultures "Low Context". A high-context communication or message is one in which most of the information is either in the physical context or internalized in the person, while very little is in the coded, explicit part of the message" and a low-context message is the opposite, with the information explicitly coded in the message.    1 
 1. The author’s main purpose of writing the passage is to

A. Explain the differences in two cultures and the resulting impact on the contrasting communication styles.
B. Present data on how different communication styles influence the culture of the society.
C. Establish that mono-cultural societies hold the ethical and moral principles to much higher standards than multi-cultural societies do.
D. Illustrate why collectivist cultures lead to more direct communication styles while mono cultures prefer to communicate in a manner in
which most of the information is either in the physical context or internalized in the person.
E. Explain the impact that culture has on communication styles.

2 
 2. What does the author imply when he says that “such commonality is more difficult to achieve once one moves to societies with a diverse population”?

A. Non-Verbal behaviours that are immediately understood in mono-cultural societies take time to be comprehended in individualistic societies.
B. Monocultural societies produce nuances of language that can be used in sensitive situations; multi-cultural societies avoid such situations.
C. In individualistic societies, a common interpretation of nonverbal behaviours is much more challenging to achieve than in monocultural societies.
D. Since individualistic societies focus on the individual, it is almost impossible to create a common set of rules that everyone in a group can agree to.
E. In individualistic societies, even people from a common background struggle to understand the common cultural motifs, proverbs, and symbols.

3 
 3. From the passage it can be inferred that people in multi-cultural societies

A. Are not aware of symbols, nuances of language, nonverbal behaviors etc. of mono cultural societies.
B. Fail to find cultural and behavioral common ground with other people in the society.
C. Are more explicit in their communication with their peers than are people of mono-cultural societies.
D. Have to learn how to deal with a multitude of communication styles present in a multi-cultural society.
E. Use messages that contain content with very little context in the explicit codified part.

4 
 4. Which of the following is likely to be true based on the information in the passage?

A. A high context communication delivering a particular message is likely to be shorter than a low context communication
delivering the same message.
B. A controversial high context message is likely to face less opposition than a similar message delivered in low context.
C. Cross border communication is likely to turn more and more societies into individualistic ones.
D. Collectivist cultures produce more historical symbols and artifacts per capita than mono cultural societies do.
E. It is easier to understand high context messages than to understand low context messages.

RC Butler 2022  -  Practice Two RC Passages Everyday.   
Passage # 08 Date: 04-Jan-2022
 This question is a part of RC Butler 2022 .  Click here for Details

yashikaaggarwal · Accepted Answer

Question 1:

A. Explain the differences in two cultures and the resulting impact on the contrasting communication styles. (Yes, the passage does mention all) Keep this.

B. Present data on how different communication styles influence the culture of the society. (No data is shown)

C. Establish that mono-cultural societies hold the ethical and moral principles to much higher standards than multi-cultural societies do. (NO, no single culture is said to be superior to other)

D. Illustrate why collectivist cultures lead to more direct communication styles while monocultures prefer to communicate in a manner in
which most of the information is either in the physical context or internalized in the person. (Just a part of the passage, not whole)

E. Explain the impact that culture has on communication styles. (Yes, it does talk about this)

Now, between A and E

A covers the better part of the passage than E.

A is the answer.

Question 2:

A. Non-Verbal behaviours that are immediately understood in mono-cultural societies take time to be comprehended in individualistic societies. (They don't say it takes time. It's stated that it is difficult)

B. Monocultural societies produce nuances of language that can be used in sensitive situations; multi-cultural societies avoid such situations. (no this is not what the question interprets)

C. In individualistic societies, a common interpretation of nonverbal behaviours is much more challenging to achieve than in monocultural societies. (Exactly. It is challenging)

D. Since individualistic societies focus on the individual, it is almost impossible to create a common set of rules that everyone in a group can agree to. (No set of rules are made or discussed)

E. In individualistic societies, even people from a common background struggle to understand the common cultural motifs, proverbs, and symbols. (not stated as such)

Answer is C

Question 3:

A. Are not aware of symbols, nuances of language, nonverbal behaviours etc. of monocultural societies. (No, that's not what the passage meant by multicultural people)

B. Fail to find cultural and behavioural common ground with other people in the society. (Yes, they don't have such common ideologies, but it doesn't mean they don't share similar interests ) (Keep this)

C. Are more explicit in their communication with their peers than are people of monocultural societies. (Yeah, multicultural people are known for their individualism, not grouping, so they are more clear in their method of conveying) (keep this)

D. Have to learn how to deal with a multitude of communication styles present in a multi-cultural society. (Not stated as so)

E. Use messages that contain content with very little context in the explicit codified part. (The coding part is used for low context talks, not for people)

Between B and C.

B is ambiguous, yes Multicultural people find it hard to connect with one thought process people, but can connect with someone who possesses a similar ideology.

Answer is C

Question 4:

A. A high context communication delivering a particular message is likely to be shorter than a low context communication delivering the same message. (Yes, since high context is none verbal it's done through gestures) (Keep this)

B. A controversial high context message is likely to face less opposition than a similar message delivered in low context. (We don't know for sure. High context message might face problems in individualistic societies, while low could face problems in monoculture one)

C. Cross border communication is likely to turn more and more societies into individualistic ones. (Can't predict)

D. Collectivist cultures produce more historical symbols and artefacts per capita than mono-cultural societies do. (We don't know for sure)

E. It is easier to understand high context messages than to understand low context messages. (No, low context could be easy for some, some might like high context messages)

Answer is A

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100mitra · Answer

Paraphrasing:  
Mono-Cultural societies and multi-Cultural societies and their culture difference and behavioural nature 
Cultural differences lead to contrasting communication styles “High context” and “Low context”

1. The author’s main purpose of writing the passage is to  
A. Explain the differences in two cultures and the resulting impact on the contrasting communication styles.
  Correct: as mentioned in passage to highlight difference between the two cultures “Such cultural differences lead to contrasting communication styles to the extent the historians label the communication style of collectivist cultures as "High Context" and the style of individualistic cultures "Low Context"

B. Present data on how different communication styles influence the culture of the society.
  Wrong:    No Data mentioned in the passage, only difference between them is mentioned and impact of then in the societies

C. Establish that mono-cultural societies hold the ethical and moral principles to much higher standards than multi-cultural societies do.
  Wrong:    difference between mono-culture and multi-culture is mentioned in passage, but no comparison to establish superiority between them is shared in passage.

D. Illustrate why collectivist cultures lead to more direct communication styles 
while mono cultures prefer to communicate in a manner in which most of the information is either in the physical context or internalized in the person.
  Wrong:    we don’t have any reason or justification elaborated in the passage, as per the passage, we information as stated, “A high-context (mono-culture) communication or message is one in which most of the information is either in the physical context or internalized in the person, while very little is in the coded, explicit part of the message" and a low-context (multi-culture) message is the opposite, with the information explicitly coded in the message”

E. Explain the impact that culture has on communication styles
  Wrong:    The difference between A, and E is option A, speaks about difference between two culture, culture impact on behavioural nature of societies and the contrast communication style, where else option E limits itself only with culture impact on communication style., which is only 25% - 30% of intended meaning of passage.

2. What does the author imply when he says that “such commonality is more difficult to achieve once one moves to societies with a diverse population”?  
  Explanation:  
“However, such commonality is more difficult to achieve once one moves to societies with a diverse population with different cultural backgrounds or to the global society of international relations”
 - Mono-cultural societies = common cultures = non-Verbal = High contrast = difficulty in multi-culture = physical context or internalized in the person.
- Multi-cultural = individualistic societies = Verbal behaviour = low context = with the information Clear information without coded in the message

A. Non-Verbal behaviours that are immediately understood in mono-cultural societies take time to be comprehended in individualistic societies.
  Wrong:    as per explanation given above, it is opposite of what is mentioned in the solution stem.

B. Monocultural societies produce nuances of language that can be used in sensitive situations; multi-cultural societies avoid such situations.
  Wrong:    This stem gives more details about situation-to-situation behaviour, which is not the intended purpose

C. In individualistic societies, a common interpretation of nonverbal behaviours is much more challenging to achieve than in monocultural societies.
  Correct: as mentioned above and information mentioned as per sentence “Common cultural origins produce proverbs, motifs, icons, symbols, nuances of language, nonverbal behaviors, and metaphors that are immediately understood and accepted by anyone in the group”

D. Since individualistic societies focus on the individual, it is almost impossible to create a common set of rules that everyone in a group can agree to.
  Wrong:    Out of scope, passage does not give any details about set of rules for both the different culture

E. In individualistic societies, even people from a common background struggle to understand the common cultural motifs, proverbs, and symbols
  Wrong:    Individualistic societies are clear with information to be given without any coded message, so above statement is oppositely stated.

3. From the passage it can be inferred that people in multi-cultural societies  
A. Are not aware of symbols, nuances of language, nonverbal behaviors etc. of mono cultural societies.
  Wrong:    Irrelevant, this detail is not mentioned in the passage

B. Fail to find cultural and behavioral common ground with other people in the society.
  Wrong:    as per sentence mentioned in passage its mono-cultural societies, who faces such problems “However, such commonality is more difficult to achieve once one moves to societies with a diverse population with different cultural backgrounds or to the global society of international relations”

C. Are more explicit in their communication with their peers than are people of mono-cultural societies.
  Correct: as mentioned in the last line of passage “low-context message is the opposite, with the information explicitly coded in the message”

D. Have to learn how to deal with a multitude of communication styles present in a multi-cultural society.
  Wrong:    Out of scope, no such information mentioned in the passage

E. Use messages that contain content with very little context in the explicit codified part.
  Wrong:    No, it’s the other way in multi-cultural societies

4. Which of the following is likely to be true based on the information in the passage?  
A. A high context communication delivering a particular message is likely to be shorter than a low context communication delivering the same message.
  Correct: as per the sentence mentioned in the passage “A high-context communication or message is one in which most of the information is either in the physical context or internalized in the person, while very little is in the coded, explicit part of the message" and a low-context message is the opposite, with the information explicitly coded in the message”

B. A controversial high context message is likely to face less opposition than a similar message delivered in low context.
  Wrong:    Irrelevant, not concern with passage information

C. Cross border communication is likely to turn more and more societies into individualistic ones.
  Wrong:    Irrelevant, not concern with passage information

D. Collectivist cultures produce more historical symbols and artifacts per capita than mono cultural societies do.
  Wrong:    actually, it’s the other way around information

E. It is easier to understand high context messages than to understand low context messages.
  Wrong:    It’s the other way around information, as per sentence mentioned in the passage “A high-context communication or message is one in which most of the information is either in the physical context or internalized in the person, while very little is in the coded, explicit part of the message"

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In mono-cultural societies such as Japan or Poland, finding common

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In mono-cultural societies such as Japan or Poland, finding common

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