Chapter 11 — Quiz
Try the whole quiz before checking the key.
Multiple choice
1. A newcomer's biggest rental-application obstacle is usually: - A) too much money - B) no local credit history - C) speaking too well - D) being too punctual
2. A good solution to the no-credit-history problem is: - A) give up - B) offer a guarantor, larger deposit, or several months upfront - C) pay secretly in cash with no paperwork - D) lie on the application
3. A lease (rental/tenancy agreement) is: - A) an informal suggestion - B) a binding legal contract — read it before signing - C) only verbal - D) optional
4. "Breaking a lease" means: - A) renewing it - B) leaving before the agreed term ends (often with penalties) - C) cleaning the apartment - D) signing it
5. In a shared flat, eating a roommate's labeled food without asking is: - A) totally fine - B) a real source of conflict — don't do it - C) expected - D) required
6. Showing up at a Western friend's or neighbor's home unannounced is generally: - A) warm and welcome - B) intrusive — text first - C) required by etiquette - D) the norm
7. "Quiet hours" are: - A) a myth - B) real expectations (often ~10pm–7am); violating them prompts complaints - C) only for libraries - D) negotiable with neighbors anytime
8. To protect your security deposit, you should: - A) leave the place dirty - B) photograph the condition at move-in/out and report repairs in writing - C) never tell the landlord about damage - D) skip the final cleaning
9. Major repairs (heating, plumbing) are usually the responsibility of: - A) the tenant - B) the landlord - C) the neighbors - D) no one
10. Western neighbors are typically: - A) like instant family - B) friendly but boundaried (a wave, small talk — not dropping by) - C) hostile - D) invisible
11. (new) The startled reaction to an unannounced visit usually means: - A) the person dislikes you - B) the privacy norm — visits are expected to be arranged, not spontaneous - C) you did something wrong - D) they're hiding something
12. (new) The best long-term fix for the no-credit-history wall is to: - A) avoid all credit forever - B) build local credit early (e.g., a secured card paid in full monthly) - C) keep renting from the same landlord forever - D) borrow as much as possible
True / False
13. You should send a deposit before viewing a property if the price is great. (True / False)
14. The Western private-home norm can contribute to real isolation and loneliness. (True / False)
15. Roommate problems are best handled by silent resentment. (True / False)
16. In Germany, many people rent long-term, and renting is completely normal. (True / False)
17. (new) "Text first, then host" is an effective way to bring your hospitality into the Western privacy norm. (True / False)
Short answer
18. Give two ways a newcomer with no credit history can still get approved to rent.
19. Explain the Western privacy norm and one way it affects daily life (neighbors or dropping by).
20. Name one genuine problem with Western housing (the Honesty Box).
21. (new) Amina felt Canada was "cold." Where was that a misreading, and where was it a real gap?
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Answer Key
- B. 2. B. 3. B. 4. B. 5. B. 6. B. 7. B. 8. B. 9. B. 10. B. 11. B (privacy norm). 12. B (build credit early).
- False — never pay before viewing and signing (scam red flag). 14. True. 15. False — address directly and kindly. 16. True. 17. True.
- Any two: guarantor/co-signer; larger deposit or several months upfront; employment letter + bank statements; newcomer/student housing; start with a roommate situation.
- Model: The home is private "my space" — you don't drop by unannounced (text first) and neighbors stay friendly-but-distant (a wave/small talk, not daily involvement); respecting space is a form of care.
- Model (any): expensive/precarious housing; the credit system disadvantages newcomers; the privacy norm contributes to isolation/loneliness.
- Model: Misreading — Canadians aren't cold; warmth comes through invited, activity-based connection. Real gap — the privacy norm genuinely produces more isolation than her home culture; the loss is real, and many Westerners are lonely too.