Chapter 28 — Quiz
Try the whole quiz before checking the key.
Multiple choice
1. Christmas in the West is: - A) only a religious holiday - B) both a Christian holiday and a huge secular/family/gift-giving one - C) not celebrated - D) the same as New Year's
2. Thanksgiving (US) is held on: - A) December 25 - B) the 4th Thursday of November - C) January 1 - D) October 31
3. When invited to a holiday dinner, you should: - A) arrive empty-handed - B) RSVP and bring something (and ask what to expect) - C) decline if unfamiliar - D) bring an extravagant gift
4. If you're NOT invited to a colleague's Christmas, it usually means: - A) they dislike you - B) the holiday is private family time — not a snub - C) you did something wrong - D) you should confront them
5. "Secret Santa" is: - A) a real person - B) an anonymous group gift exchange (usually with a spending limit) - C) a religious figure - D) a charity
6. Sharing your own cultural/religious holiday with Western friends is: - A) unwelcome - B) usually very welcome and connection-building - C) illegal - D) embarrassing
7. "Happy Holidays" is used to: - A) exclude people - B) be inclusive of various holidays (not just Christmas) - C) mean New Year only - D) replace "hello"
8. Christmas in Australia happens in: - A) winter (snow) - B) summer (beach, barbecue — flipped seasons) - C) spring - D) it isn't celebrated
9. "RSVP" means: - A) bring food - B) please reply whether you're coming - C) dress formally - D) arrive late
10. A genuine downside of Western holidays (Honesty Box) is: - A) too little spending - B) commercialization/financial pressure and acute loneliness for those far from family - C) too much family - D) no holidays at all
11. (new) Holiday loneliness far from family is "acute" mainly because: - A) the weather - B) an entire society gathers and shuts down at once, sharpening the contrast - C) there's nothing to do - D) holidays are boring
12. (new) The "two-way bridge" means: - A) only learning Western holidays - B) learning theirs and sharing yours — mutual exchange - C) avoiding all holidays - D) celebrating alone
True / False
13. Showing up to a holiday dinner empty-handed is a missed courtesy. (True / False)
14. Not being invited to a family holiday is always a personal rejection. (True / False)
15. Your own holidays are an asset you can share, not something to hide. (True / False)
16. Holiday loneliness far from family is acute and worth planning against. (True / False)
17. (new) A holiday you don't personally celebrate can't affect you. (True / False)
Short answer
18. What should you do when invited to a Western holiday celebration?
19. Why shouldn't you take a non-invitation to a family holiday personally?
20. Name one genuine downside of Western holidays and one way to handle it (the Honesty Box).
21. (new) Describe a concrete plan to avoid holiday loneliness if you're far from family.
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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 (collective shutdown). 12. B (learn theirs + share yours).
- True. 14. False — many holidays are private family time. 15. True. 16. True. 17. False — the social effect (everyone gone, everything closed) hits regardless.
- Model: RSVP, bring something (wine/dessert/dish), state dietary needs in advance, follow home-dinner etiquette (Chapter 9), and feel free to ask what to expect.
- Model: Many Western holidays (Christmas, Thanksgiving) are private family occasions; not inviting friends/colleagues is normal, not a snub or a sign of dislike.
- Model: Commercialization/financial pressure — handle by not over-spending; or acute holiday loneliness far from family — handle by planning ahead (community, international friends, calls home, accepting invitations).
- Model: Plan ahead for the holiday window; gather with other international friends (many are also far from family — "orphans' Thanksgiving"); accept a family invitation; schedule calls home; build your own tradition for the day.