Chapter 6 — Quiz
Try the whole quiz before checking the key.
Multiple choice
1. In the standard Western name order, the family name comes: - A) first - B) in the middle - C) last - D) it varies randomly
2. When a US colleague introduces herself as "Jen," you should call her: - A) Ms. Jen - B) Jen - C) Mrs. [her last name] - D) Miss Jennifer
3. The safe default title for a woman whose marital status you don't know is: - A) Mrs. - B) Miss - C) Ms. - D) Madam
4. "Please, call me Dave" is best understood as: - A) a politeness you should refuse out of respect - B) a genuine request to use his first name - C) an insult - D) a test of your formality
5. "Mr. Mike" / "Miss Sarah" (title + first name) among Western professionals: - A) is the correct, respectful form - B) sounds incorrect — titles attach to the last name - C) is required in offices - D) is used for bosses only
6. In "Wang Xiaoli" (traditional Chinese order), the family name is: - A) Xiaoli - B) Wang - C) both - D) neither
7. Which country is most likely to expect formal titles + last names on first contact? - A) Australia - B) the United States - C) Germany - D) Canada
8. Regarding your own difficult-to-pronounce name, the chapter's governing principle is: - A) you must adopt an English name - B) you must never change it - C) it's your choice — keep it, shorten it, or use an English name - D) let others decide for you
9. "What do you go by?" means: - A) how do you travel - B) which name/nickname do you prefer - C) what is your job - D) where are you from
10. If someone shares pronouns (e.g., they/them), the respectful response is to: - A) ignore them - B) use the pronouns they gave, correcting yourself briefly if you slip - C) argue about grammar - D) ask why
11. (new) To keep your records consistent across visa, bank, and work, anchor your name mapping to your: - A) work badge - B) passport - C) email signature - D) nickname
12. (new) The name order "family name first" (Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Hungarian) reflects: - A) random tradition - B) a collectivist value — the family precedes the individual - C) a spelling error - D) Western influence
True / False
13. In the US, using "Mr. [Lastname]" after someone said "call me Mike" can feel cold or distancing. (True / False)
14. All married Western women take their husband's last name. (True / False)
15. "Bill" and "William" can be the same person. (True / False)
16. You are obligated to let people rename you if they find your name hard. (True / False)
17. (new) Inconsistent name mapping across documents can cause real bureaucratic problems (frozen transactions, mismatched visas). (True / False)
Short answer
18. Give the "universal safe rule" for how formal to be when you don't know.
19. A Chinese student named Li Wei (family name Li) is filling out a US form with "First name" and "Last name." What goes in each box?
20. Write a friendly one-line introduction of a hard-to-pronounce name (real or invented) that also puts the listener at ease.
21. (new) Write the one-line proactive clarification you'd use so people get your name order and form right.
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Answer Key
- C. 2. B. 3. C (Ms.). 4. B. 5. B. 6. B (Wang). 7. C (Germany). 8. C. 9. B. 10. B. 11. B (passport, the master document). 12. B (collectivism encoded in the name).
- True. 14. False — many keep, hyphenate, or blend. 15. True. 16. False — your name is yours; teaching it is reasonable. 17. True.
- Model: When unsure, start one notch more formal and let them invite you to be casual — or simply ask, "What would you like me to call you?"
- First name/Given: Wei; Last name/Family: Li. (Clarify if needed: "family name Li.")
- Model: "I'm Thiago — it's 'chee-AH-go,' easy once you've heard it once, don't worry!"
- Model: "My family name is [Wang], my given name is [Lei] — so on forms, 'Lei' goes in First name and 'Wang' in Surname."