- "You're never fully dressed without a smile" is a familiar phrase in the United States. True or false: A smile is a universal expression of genuine pleasure.
- Japan is a high context culture, where small gestures convey great meaning. Which is an appropriate behavior in Japan?
- A. Covering your mouth when you laugh
- B. Winking to convey agreement
- C. Speaking in a loud, forceful voice
- True or false: Never keep your left hand in your pocket while shaking hands with your right in Germany.
- Spitting is grotesque in many places, but is actually against the law in which country?
- A. St. Thomas
- B. St. Martin
- C. Singapore
- You are the sole passenger on a bus in Bahrain. A man enters, and chooses the seat next to you. True or false: He intends to start a conversation with you.
- You are greeting a new associate in France. As you firmly grasp his hand, heartily pumping it up and down, he looks a bit bemused. This is because:
- A. He's relieved you didn't kiss him.
- B. The French handshake is more of a handclasp, with no pumping action.
- C. He wishes you had kissed him.
- In the United States, men sometimes slap each other on the back, backside, arms, or shoulders. True or false: This is totally acceptable in the Netherlands.
- True or false: Before female executives travel to Brazil, they should be certain their nails are well-manicured.
- You feel good after your big sales call in Stockholm, Sweden. It's a surprise to you, then, when they don't accept the deal. This could be because during the meeting, you:
- A. Leaned backward in your chair and crossed your arms
- B. Rested your ankle on your knee the whole time
- C. Laughed loudly
- D. All of the above
- True or false: Snapping your hand downward is used to emphasize a point in Spain.
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- False. In much of Asia, a smile can be used to cover up embarrassment, shock, or fury.
- A. One is not supposed to display the inside of one's mouth in Japan.
- True. Don't even talk to someone with your hands in your pockets in Germany!
- C. Singapore also prohibits chewing gum, jay-walking, and smoking in public places.
- False. Solitude feels unnatural in many parts of the Middle East. Complete strangers often unconsciously sit close to each other.
- B. The French don't strongly grip each other's hands, nor do they "shake" them up and down so much.
- False. Dutch men are formal, and usually don't demonstrate their feelings with exuberant slapping gestures.
- True. Manicured fingernails are an integral part of a woman's professional image in Brazil.
- D. Informal body language and raucous laughter don't impress the Swedes.
- True. Snapping the hand downward is a very common gesture in much of Latin America.
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