Chapter 4 — Quiz
Try the whole quiz before checking the key at the bottom.
Multiple choice
1. "Power distance" measures: - A) the physical space between people - B) how much a culture accepts and expects unequal power - C) how far the office is from home - D) how loudly people speak
2. Most Western cultures are: - A) high power-distance - B) low power-distance - C) exactly average - D) impossible to measure
3. When a director says "Call me Mike," he is mainly signaling: - A) that he has no power - B) equality and inclusion ("we're equals here") - C) that he forgot his title - D) disrespect
4. "Tall poppy syndrome" refers to: - A) a gardening technique - B) resenting/cutting down people who act superior or show off - C) a tall building - D) a promotion system
5. The "illusion of equality" means: - A) everyone really is perfectly equal in the West - B) hierarchy still exists but is hidden/informal, while the culture pretends it's flat - C) there are no bosses - D) equality is illegal
6. Taking Western equality too literally can lead a newcomer to: - A) over-defer - B) overstep (e.g., publicly challenge a senior too bluntly) - C) become invisible - D) nothing bad ever happens
7. Which Western country is more hierarchical/formal than the others? - A) Australia - B) Sweden - C) France - D) the Netherlands
8. When a low power-distance boss asks "What do you think?", you should usually: - A) just agree - B) stay silent - C) give a real, respectful opinion - D) change the subject
9. Disagreeing with a senior in a Western workplace is best done: - A) loudly and publicly, to show confidence - B) never - C) respectfully, with reasons, ideally not humiliating them in public - D) only by email, secretly
10. In Germany, when meeting a senior professional, you should generally: - A) use their first name immediately - B) start formal (title + last name) until invited to be casual - C) avoid names entirely - D) use a nickname
11. (new) In the West, you usually show respect to a senior by: - A) withdrawing — lowering your eyes, staying silent - B) engaging — meeting their eyes, speaking up, contributing - C) never speaking to them - D) bowing
12. (new) In Western professional settings, who usually has more authority? - A) always the oldest person - B) whoever has the rank/competence, regardless of age - C) always the tallest person - D) the quietest person
True / False
13. In low power-distance cultures, staying silent and deferential always reads as respect. (True / False)
14. "My door is always open" means you may go over your manager's head anytime to complain about them. (True / False)
15. High power-distance cultures offer real benefits like order and clear roles. (True / False)
16. It is wise to keep some formality in reserve for courts, certain professions, and certain countries. (True / False)
17. (new) A good way to detect the hidden hierarchy is to watch who gets interrupted, who is credited, and who is cc'd on key emails. (True / False)
Short answer
18. Name two historical roots of the Western ideal of equality.
19. Explain, in one sentence, why over-deferring can hurt your career in a low power-distance workplace.
20. Give one downside of the "illusion of equality" (from the Honesty Box).
21. (new) Name two behavioral signals you'd watch for to map the real power structure in a "flat" company.
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Answer Key
- B. 2. B. 3. B. 4. B. 5. B. 6. B. 7. C (France). 8. C. 9. C. 10. B. 11. B (engage, the reverse of many home cultures). 12. B (rank/competence outrank age at work).
- False — it can read as low confidence/initiative, quietly capping your career. 14. False — there is still a chain of command; it means "come with quick questions/ideas." 15. True. 16. True. 17. True.
- Any two: Enlightenment/democracy ("all created equal"); Protestant equality before God; anti-aristocracy in the New World; frontier self-reliance.
- Model: Because contributing your view signals confidence and competence, while visible deference signals the opposite — so silence can make you look like you lack initiative or leadership potential.
- Model: A hidden hierarchy can be harder to navigate than an open one, and "we're all equal/we're a family" can be used hypocritically to extract loyalty or extra work while the real power imbalance remains.
- Any two: whose ideas get repeated/credited; who's cc'd on important emails; who people check with before deciding; whose calendar everyone works around; whose small jokes land/shift the room.