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Chapter 07
Communicating across Cultures
True / False Questions
1. Cross-cultural business communication skills are only necessary for employees of companies
that do business internationally.
True False
2. Our dominant culture has little impact on who we are and how we think.
True False
3. There can be many subcultures within one culture.
True False
4. Geography, history, and religion all play major roles in influencing culture.
True False
5. Ethnocentrism is sensitivity to the different dimensions of cultural difference.
True False
6. Hand gestures vary in meaning from culture to culture.
True False
7. Some nonverbal communication movements, such as eye contact, are the same in every culture.
True False
8. People in the United States tend to be monochronic, meaning they view time in a relaxed way.
True False
9. Edwardo and his co-workers often show up and start meetings fifteen or even thirty minutes later
than scheduled, indicating that they are probably members of a polychronic culture.
True False
7-1
Copyright © 2018 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
10. In low-context cultures, individualism is highly valued.
True False
11. Because they spend a lot of time explaining background information, people from high-context
cultures often seem evasive and indecisive to people from low-context cultures.
True False
12. The measure of how people view relationships between superiors and subordinates is referred to
as culture context.
True False
13. A word in one language may or may nothave a corresponding word in another language.
True False
14. Back translating involves translating a sentence beginning with the last word and ending with the
first word in order to ensure a literal translation.
True False
15. Two-word verbs combine a verb with a second element to create a different meaning than the two
words would have on their own.
True False
16. Colloquialisms add color and an additional level of meaning to messages, so they should be used
frequently when communicating with nonnative English speakers to help them better understand
your message.
True False
17. If you plan to do business abroad, you should focus your research solely on the people of the
culture you are about to visit.
True False
18. Researched cultural stereotypes can serve as useful basic models to help you adapt your
behavior to interacting with other cultures.
True False
19. When communicating with a nonnative English speaker, it is best to err on the side of simplicity to
increase the likelihood of clear communication.
True False
7-2
Multiple Choice Questions
20. Which of the following statements about good cross-cultural communication skills is not true?
A. They eliminate the chance that there will be culture-related misunderstanding.

B. They make it possible for your company to hire a wider variety of good people.
C. They increase your ability to understand the needs of customers from other countries.
D. They can help you persuasively explain to foreign customers how your company can meet
their needs.
E. They can help you be a more effective employee.
21. The way that Calista and the other people from her native city collectively understand and
interpret the world is referred to as their
A. norm.
B. culture.
C. belief.
D. ethos.
E. language.
22. Which of the following statements about culture is true?
A. A person always represents the culture of his or her national origin.

B. Our dominant culture affects how we communicate, but not how we think.
C. The differences between national cultures are strong and unchanging.
D. It is impossible to communicate with people unless you understand their cultural roots.
E. Cultures change as people, ideas, and things move across borders.
23. Which of the following statements about factors that affect culture is true?
A. The climate of a country can impact the habits and values of that country's culture.
B. A country with changing borders tends to be more insular than a country with fixed borders,
such as those created by mountains or oceans.
C. Religion no longer has much bearing on a country's culture.
D. Business people from different cultures almost never share the same goals.
E. While countries that have undergone relatively recent changes in leadership are affected by
their history, more peaceful countries are not.
7-3
24. The tendency to see only the features of your own culture as "normal" is called
A. ethnocentrism.
B. the power distance.
C. individualism.
D. low-context culturalism.
E. collectivism.
25. Danny is an American whose company has sent him to handle a business deal in Japan. While
he is there, Danny's host offers him unfamiliar foods, refuses to make prolonged eye contact, and
bows frequently. Danny thinks the food and frequent bowing are weird and that refusing to make
eye contact is rude. In his mind, the way things are done in the United States is the "right" way.
What tendency is Danny exhibiting?
A. racism
B. individualism
C. ethnocentrism
D. collectivism
E. culturalism
26. Which of the following statements about body movements is true?
A. The meanings of body movements are generally the same around the world.
B. Some body movements have clear meanings that are a crucial part of communication, while
others do not.
C. If a movement has meaning in one culture, it has meaning in another culture, even if the
meaning is slightly different.
D. A movement that is respectful in one culture will be respectful in another culture.
E. Even though the meanings of body movements vary by culture, eye contact is the same
around the world.
27. A culture that sees time as something that must be planned to be used as efficiently as possible
is
A. monochronic.
B. polychronic.
C. collectivistic.
D. individualistic.
E. short-term oriented.
7-4
28. Langdon always makes it to appointments on time and feels that meeting deadlines is an
important part of his job. Langdon most likely belongs to a(n) ______ culture.
A. collectivist
B. individualist
C. polychronic
D. monochronic
E. short-term oriented
29. When meeting with clients, Rachelle avoids spending time chatting about things like what they did
last weekend or what movie they saw most recently. Instead, she focuses on getting down to
business so that the meeting ends on time and she can move on to her next task for the day.
Rachelle most likely belong to a(n) ______ culture.
A. long-term oriented
B. polychronic
C. monochronic
D. short-term oriented
E. indulgent
30. Which type of culture thinks extensive planning is unwise and views being on time to an event as
being fairly unimportant?
A. monochronic
B. polychronic
C. uncertainty avoidant
D. indulgent
E. feminine
31. Rosita has a meeting scheduled for 2:00 p.m. today, but she already knows she won't be there
until at least 2:15. However, this doesn't bother her. In her mind, she'll get there when she get's
there. Furthermore, she knows that the client she's meeting with will also show up late. No one
will feel impatient or rushed just because they are not starting on time. Rosita and her client most
likely belong to a ______ culture.
A. polychronic
B. monochronic
C. long-term oriented
E. collectivist
7-5
32. Barron and Gyeong want to convince Amaro that his tools supply store should buy their
company's brand of ratchets. When they all meet, instead of beginning their sales pitch, Barran
asks Amaro if he caught the local soccer team's most recent match. This leads to a discussion of
the team's season and then to talk about Gyeong's son, who plays soccer for the nearby
university. Eventually, after they have each talked about their families, Barron and Gyeong bring
the conversation around to their product. This meeting would most likely happen in a ______
culture.
A. masculine
B. monochronic
C. polychronic
D. restraint
E. feminine
33. Which of the following statements about space and culture is true?
A. Attitudes toward space tend to be the same in all cultures.

B. People from cultures that view space as belonging to everyone tend to stand in line and wait
their turn.
C. In some cultures, keeping two feet of distance from the person with whom you are speaking is
considered impolite.
D. Cultures that place emphasis on personal space tend to be polychronic cultures.
E. People from cultures that view space as belonging to individuals tend to stand closer together
than people from cultures that see space as belonging to all.
34. A culture where people tend to express themselves directly and explicitly is a(n) ______ culture.
A. low-context
B. high-context
C. indulgent
D. low-restraint
E. polychronic
7-6
35. Melissa wants her company to adopt more environmentally friendly practices, so she has created
a presentation to give to the board of directors. She begins her presentation by explaining some
background information on these practices, such as why they are important for the environment
and the company's image. Melissa then moves on to discussing exactly what measures she feels
her company should adopt, and why she feels they are the best options. Given this information,
Melissa is most likely from a(n) ______ culture.
A. high-context
B. polychronic
C. low-context
D. intimate
36. Background information is explicitly stated in a ______ culture, but is largely implied in a(n)
______ culture.
A. monochronic; polychronic
B. feminine; masculine
C. low-context; high-context
D. low power distance; high power distance
E. collectivistic; individualistic
37. A culture with strong group orientation and coherent, stable traditions that make it possible for
shared assumptions to stand in for explicitly stated background information is a ______ culture.
A. low-context
B. short-term oriented
D. power distance
E. high-context
38. Wei is giving a sales presentation in which she describes her company's product and how it will
meet the needs of the people she is talking to. She does not explicitly state everything she wants
the audience to know. Rather, she relies on body language, tone of voice, and eye movements to
give cues that her audience members can use to understand her full message. Wei most likely
belongs to a(n) ______ culture.
A. high-context
B. power distance
C. low-context
D. polychronic
E. individualistic
7-7
39. Which of the following statements about social hierarchy is true?
A. Social classes exist in all cultures, but have little impact on how intimately people are
addressed.
B. People from cultures that stress equality are likely to be offended by questions about class
status.
C. People from cultures with strict social classes are quick to use first names.
D. A person from a culture that stresses equality is most likely to ask questions determining a
person's class status.
E. Class status has little to no impact on how people address each other.
40. Geert Hofsted refers to the way people view relationships between superiors and
subordinates as
A. restraint.
B. uncertainty avoidance.
C. power distance.
D. collectivism.
E. individualism.
41. Cultures that exhibit a high power distance
A. make decisions by consensus.

B. expect employees to do as their superiors direct.
C. tend to spread out authority so that no one person is too powerful.
D. leave employees to make their own decisions on a case-by-case basis.
E. encourage people to voice their opinions, no matter what role they inhabit.
42. In cultures that have low power distance
A. great emphasis is placed on the authority of superiors.

B. employees look to their boss to make even minor decisions.
C. authority is shared between many people.
D. may be hesitant to offer comments during online conversations.
E. no one is permitted to have any authority at all.
7-8
43. Marina's boss has absolute authority in her office. He makes the decisions, and Marina is
expected to simply do as he says. Marina most likely lives in a ______ culture.
A. high-context
B. high power distance
C. low power distance
D. low context
E. collectivistic
44. Carly and Trent own a small graphic design company together. They can make decisions for the
company by themselves, but they often ask for input from other employees and believe that
decisions made by consensus tend to be better for the company as a whole. Carly and Trent's
company has a(n) ______ culture.
A. low-context
D. high-context
E. individualistic
45. Tamiko and her friends all have social media accounts that they use to talk to each other.
However, they rarely add people that they don't know very well to their friends lists, and they
almost never comment on posts made by companies or celebrities because they don't want to
overstep their authority. Tamiko and her friends are likely members of a
A. culture with a high power distance.

B. culture with a low power distance.
C. high-context culture.
D. low-context culture.
E. culture that views space as belonging to the individual.
46. The Protestant work ethic is the belief that
A. planning work in advance is folly because all outcomes belong to God.

B. true work involves one's hands, not one's mind.
C. pleasure should be taken when and where it can be found.
D. if hard work is put ahead of pleasure, success will follow.
E. emphasis should be placed on respecting tradition and saving face in social situations.
7-9
47. Which of the following statements about the expression of emotions is true?
A. Some Middle Eastern cultures express sorrow with loud wailing.

B. Laughter is always viewed as a spontaneous display of pleasure.
C. Asian cultures tend to prefer strong public displays of affection.
D. The expression of emotion is frowned upon in business situations.
E. Westerners frown on public displays of affection.
48. Which of the following statements about workplace values is true?
A. Canadian culture views the employee-employer relationship like a family and expects it to last
for a lifetime.
B. All cultures believe that if you put hard work before pleasure, success will follow.
C. Cultures that place emphasis on interpersonal relationships rather than planning, as is the
case in Spain, tend to be more relaxed in business.
D. American culture focuses on networking and interpersonal relationships rather than
maximizing production or planning.
E. Cultures that have high power distance also tend to expect workers to be free to move from job
to job.
49. Which of the following statements about language is true?
A. Words in languages other than English typically only have one meaning.
B. All languages contain equivalent language components, such as verbs and conjunctions.
C. A word in one language may have no corresponding word in another.
D. Precise translation is typically an easy matter.
E. Words like yes mean the same thing in every culture.
50. Which procedure involves two translators, one with first-language skills in one language, and one
with first-language skills in another, translating a message from one language to another and then
back to the first language so that the original message can be compared with the second
translation?
A. back translating
B. literal translating
C. cultural translating
D. high-context translating
E. power distance translating
7-10
51. Which of the following statements about back translating is true?
A. It involves one translator translating a message into a new language. The translated message
is then reviewed by a second translator for accuracy.
B. It requires three translators.
C. If the translations are good, the second translation will match the original message.
D. It only works with Latinate languages.
E. It is the only way to translate idioms and colloquialisms accurately.
52. Elisa grew up speaking Spanish, but learned to speak English as an adult, and she now works as
a translator for a U.S. company that has frequent business interactions with South American
businesses. Elisa's translating skills are good, and the company typically relies on her alone to do
their translating. However, they are currently involved in negotiating an extremely important
contract and need the wording in Spanish to be exactly right, so they hire George, a freelance
translator and native English speaker to help. Elisa translates the English message into Spanish,
and George translates the Spanish message back into English. They then compare the original
message with George's translation to make sure they match. What process have Elisa and
George completed?
A. first-language translation
B. back translation
C. equivalency translation
D. high-context translation
E. low-context translation
53. Which of the followings statements about language and international business is true?
A. When executives have no common language, they are likely to use English.
B. English is the primary business language of the Americas, while German is the primary
business language of Europe.
C. English is so prevalent in international business that an executive from Cuba and an executive
from Peru would use it to communicate with each other.
D. Because English is the main language of international business, non-native English speakers
have no problems understanding it.
E. English is only used to conduct business when a Canadian, American, or English company is
involved.
7-11
54. Colette is a business executive from France, and Franz is a business executive from Germany.
Colette does not speak German, nor does Franz speak French. Which language are they most
likely to conduct business in?
A. French
B. German
C. Spanish
D. English
E. Greek
55. Two-word verbs consist of
A. an adjective and a verb combined to create an adverb.

B. a noun and a modified verb combined to create a compound verb.
C. a verb and a second element that, when combined, creates a new meaning.
D. two verbs that are joined by a hyphen for clarity.
E. a verb combined with a prefix or a suffix to create a different verb.
56. Check in does not mean the same thing as the words check and in do on their own. Check in is
an example of
A. a two-word verb.
B. an equivalency term.
C. an idiom.
D. a colloquialism.
E. jargon.
57. Which of the following is true of two-word verbs?
A. They should never be used when speaking to nonnative speakers.

B. Nonnative speakers may not understand many of them.
C. Two-word verbs are covered extensively in language textbooks.
D. Nonnative English speakers are rarely confused by two-word verbs.
E. The use of two-word verbs is generally unavoidable as they lack suitable substitutions.
7-12
58. Which of the following is an example of a two-word verb?
A. international communication
B. close tightly
C. calm down
D. crawl under
E. negotiate quickly
59. Jean Luc and Oscar own a small manufacturing company in Louisiana, and they are meeting with
two executives of a Mexican retail chain in the hopes of convincing them to carry their products.
Jean Luc begins the pitch, and after a couple of minutes, Oscar jumps in to say, "Jean Luc really
hit the nail on the head when he said these products offer better value than what you're currently
carrying." The Mexican executives both speak English, but they look at each other in confusion.
What mistake did Oscar make?
A. He used a colloquialism.
B. He used jargon.
C. He used a two-word verb.
D. He spoke with too much familiarity.
E. He exhibited high-context culture traits while dealing with a low-context culture.
60. Which of the following statements about colloquialisms is true?
A. Unfamiliar colloquialisms can cause problems even for native English speakers.
B. Colloquialisms are generally easy for international communicators to understand.
C. Colloquialisms are almost never defined on ESL websites.
D. In the United States, colloquial expressions are rarely used.
E. It is impossible to replace colloquialisms with plain language.
61. Which of the following should you not do when preparing to communicate with people from
another culture?
A. research the culture

B. think about yourself and your company
C. be open to change
D. assume stereotypes are accurate representations of individuals
E. adapt your English to your audience
7-13
62. Which of the following statements about stereotypes is true?
A. They are not based on real life observations.

B. They are perpetuated by generalizations about cultures.
C. They have no use in the modern world.
D. They are flexible and constantly changing.
E. They help us better get to know individuals.
63. Which of the following is an example of a stereotype?
A. Zoe must like spicy food because she is Cuban.

B. Lillian Stark is English, and she prefers that people whom she does not know well call her Ms.
Stark.
C. Akiko is Japanese and bows when greeting someone.
D. Roberto, a Brazilian, is often late to meetings and likes to chat before getting down to
business.
E. James, an American, dislikes even moderate public displays of affection.
64. When speaking with an unfamiliar audience made up of nonnative English speakers, you should
A. talk clearly and use simple words and sentence structure.

B. be sure to include plenty of slang to make your language colorful.
C. talk exactly as you would to a native English speaker so as not to make the nonnative
speakers feel singled out.
D. use simple yes/no questions to make it easy for them to answer.
E. avoid trying to confirm understanding so that you do not embarrass them.
65. Which of the following statements about adapting in international business is true?
A. Adapting to the practices of international partners is always feasible.

B. Adapting to the practices of international partners is always ethical.
C. Buying information and influence are widely accepted and ethical practices.
D. When you have to choose between making a deal and behaving ethically, you should always
make the deal.
E. When faced with an ethical decision, your company will likely tell you to choose the ethical
path.
Short Answer Questions
7-14
66. Briefly explain why it is important to have cross-cultural business communication skills.
67. Identify and give a brief example of three major factors that influence a country's culture.
68. Give an example of how the meaning of body movements or positions often mean different things
in different cultures.
7-15
69. Briefly explain the difference between monochronic and polychronic cultures.
70. Describe the difference between low-context cultures and high-context cultures.
71. Create a brief scenario describing the operations of a business in a low power distance culture.
7-16
72. Describe the back translating process.
73. Provide examples of two different situations where international business communications would
most likely be conducted in English.
74. List at least five ways you might conduct research on the culture of another country.
7-17
75. What should you do to adapt your English when speaking with nonnative English speakers?
7-18
Chapter 07 Communicating across Cultures Answer Key
True / False Questions
1. Cross-cultural business communication skills are only necessary for employees of companies
that do business internationally.
FALSE
Cross-cultural communication is important for employees of companies that do business
internationally, but the rising diversity of the United States workforce means that cross-cultural
communication skills are often needed even in purely domestic businesses.
AACSB: Reflective Thinking

Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 07-01 Explain why effective cross-cultural communication is important for today's businesses.
Topic: Cultural Intelligence and Diversity in Business Communications
2. Our dominant culture has little impact on who we are and how we think.
FALSE
Our dominant culture impacts almost everything about us.

Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
3. There can be many subcultures within one culture.
TRUE
There can be many subcultures within one culture.

Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
7-19
4. Geography, history, and religion all play major roles in influencing culture.
TRUE
Geography, history, and religion all play major roles in influencing culture.

Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 07-02 Describe three major factors that influence a country or region's culture.
5. Ethnocentrism is sensitivity to the different dimensions of cultural difference.
FALSE
Ethnocentrism is the tendency to see only your own cultural practices and beliefs and
"normal."

Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 1 Easy
6. Hand gestures vary in meaning from culture to culture.
TRUE
Hand gestures, as well as other body movements, vary in meaning from culture to culture.

Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 07-03 Describe cultural differences regarding body positions and movements and apply this knowledge
when communicating across cultures.
Topic: The Role of Cultural Dimensions and Differences in Communication
7. Some nonverbal communication movements, such as eye contact, are the same in every
culture.
FALSE
Although many cultures attribute the same meaning to certain nonverbal communication
movements, the use and appropriateness of eye contact varies from culture to culture.
7-20
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 2 Medium
8. People in the United States tend to be monochronic, meaning they view time in a relaxed
way.
FALSE
Although people in the United States do tend to be monochronic, people with this view see
time as a commodity that must be used as efficiently as possible.

Blooms: Understand
Learning Objective: 07-04 Describe the impact of culture on views and practices concerning human relationships and apply this
knowledge when communicating across cultures.
9. Edwardo and his co-workers often show up and start meetings fifteen or even thirty minutes
later than scheduled, indicating that they are probably members of a polychronic culture.
TRUE
Polychronic cultures view time in a relaxed way, and members often show up late to meetings
and social functions.

Blooms: Apply
10. In low-context cultures, individualism is highly valued.
TRUE
In low-context cultures, individualism is highly valued.

Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
7-21
11. Because they spend a lot of time explaining background information, people from high-context
cultures often seem evasive and indecisive to people from low-context cultures.
FALSE
High-context cultures have stable traditions and a strong group orientation. This allows people
from these cultures to rely on shared assumptions rather than clearly stating relevant
background information. To people from low-context cultures, this omission of information may
seem evasive or indecisive.

Blooms: Understand
12. The measure of how people view relationships between superiors and subordinates is referred
to as culture context.
FALSE
The measure of how people view relationships between superiors and subordinates is referred
to as power distance.

Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
13. A word in one language may or may nothave a corresponding word in another language.
TRUE
A word in one language may or may not have a corresponding word in another language.

Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 07-05 Describe language issues that can cause trouble for nonnative speakers.
Topic: Adapting Communication to Global Audiences
7-22
14. Back translating involves translating a sentence beginning with the last word and ending with
the first word in order to ensure a literal translation.
FALSE
Back translating involves two translators, each with first-language skills in a different language.
The first translator translates the message from the original language to the new one, then the
second translator translates the message from the new language back into the old one. If the
translations are good, the second translation matches the original version of the message.

Blooms: Understand
15. Two-word verbs combine a verb with a second element to create a different meaning than the
two words would have on their own.
TRUE
Two-word verbs combine a verb with a second element to create a different meaning that the
two words would have if you looked at each one individually.

Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
16. Colloquialisms add color and an additional level of meaning to messages, so they should be
used frequently when communicating with nonnative English speakers to help them better
understand your message.
FALSE
Colloquialisms do add color and have meaning for people who are familiar with them, but they
can be confusing for nonnative English speakers.

Blooms: Understand
7-23
17. If you plan to do business abroad, you should focus your research solely on the people of the
culture you are about to visit.
FALSE
If you plan to do business abroad, don't forget to research yourself. Understanding more about
how and why you and your culture do things will help you better understand how you differ
from people from other cultures and will ultimately help prevent some frustrations.

Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 07-06 Describe ways to prepare for effective cross-cultural communication.
18. Researched cultural stereotypes can serve as useful basic models to help you adapt your
behavior to interacting with other cultures.
TRUE
Researched cultural stereotypes can serve as useful basic models to help you adapt to
interacting with people from other cultures. However, you should be quick to adjust to
individuals as you interact with them and discover the ways in which they depart from
generalizations.

Blooms: Understand
19. When communicating with a nonnative English speaker, it is best to err on the side of
simplicity to increase the likelihood of clear communication.
TRUE
Some nonnative English speakers have an excellent grasp of English and will be able to follow
along and understand you even if you use slang and colloquialisms. However, others will only
have a basic understanding of the language. As a result, until you get to know a person, it is
best to err on the side of simplicity when communicating with a nonnative English speaker.

Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 1 Easy
7-24
Multiple Choice Questions
20. Which of the following statements about good cross-cultural communication skills is not true?
A. They eliminate the chance that there will be culture-related misunderstanding.

B. They make it possible for your company to hire a wider variety of good people.
C. They increase your ability to understand the needs of customers from other countries.
D. They can help you persuasively explain to foreign customers how your company can meet
their needs.
E. They can help you be a more effective employee.
Although good cross-cultural communication skills can help reduce the risk of culture-related
misunderstandings, they will not eliminate this risk.

Blooms: Understand
21. The way that Calista and the other people from her native city collectively understand and
interpret the world is referred to as their
A. norm.
B. culture.
C. belief.
D. ethos.
E. language.
A group's culture consists of the ways members collectively understand and interpret the
world.

Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 1 Easy
7-25
22. Which of the following statements about culture is true?
A. A person always represents the culture of his or her national origin.

B. Our dominant culture affects how we communicate, but not how we think.
C. The differences between national cultures are strong and unchanging.
D. It is impossible to communicate with people unless you understand their cultural roots.
E. Cultures change as people, ideas, and things move across borders.
Cultures are not stagnant. Both internal and external factors, such as advances in technology,
more permeable borders, and the spread of capitalism, have altered cultures around the
world.

Blooms: Understand
23. Which of the following statements about factors that affect culture is true?
A. The climate of a country can impact the habits and values of that country's culture.
B. A country with changing borders tends to be more insular than a country with fixed borders,
such as those created by mountains or oceans.
C. Religion no longer has much bearing on a country's culture.
D. Business people from different cultures almost never share the same goals.
E. While countries that have undergone relatively recent changes in leadership are affected
by their history, more peaceful countries are not.
Several factors can have a major impact on a country's culture, including history, the role of
religion, and even geography and climate.

Blooms: Understand
7-26
24. The tendency to see only the features of your own culture as "normal" is called
A. ethnocentrism.
B. the power distance.
C. individualism.
D. low-context culturalism.
E. collectivism.
The tendency to see only the features of your own culture as "normal" is called ethnocentrism.

Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
25. Danny is an American whose company has sent him to handle a business deal in Japan.
While he is there, Danny's host offers him unfamiliar foods, refuses to make prolonged eye
contact, and bows frequently. Danny thinks the food and frequent bowing are weird and that
refusing to make eye contact is rude. In his mind, the way things are done in the United States
is the "right" way. What tendency is Danny exhibiting?
A. racism
B. individualism
C. ethnocentrism
D. collectivism
E. culturalism
This is an example of ethnocentrism, which is the tendency to see only your own culture's
customs as "normal."
AACSB: Communication
Blooms: Apply
7-27
26. Which of the following statements about body movements is true?
A. The meanings of body movements are generally the same around the world.
B. Some body movements have clear meanings that are a crucial part of communication,
while others do not.
C. If a movement has meaning in one culture, it has meaning in another culture, even if the
meaning is slightly different.
D. A movement that is respectful in one culture will be respectful in another culture.
E. Even though the meanings of body movements vary by culture, eye contact is the same
around the world.
Some movements have clear meanings, while others are less defined, but they are still an
important part of nonverbal communication. The meanings of movements often vary from
culture to culture.

Blooms: Understand
27. A culture that sees time as something that must be planned to be used as efficiently as
possible is
A. monochronic.
B. polychronic.
C. collectivistic.
D. individualistic.
E. short-term oriented.
A culture that sees time as something that must be planned to be used efficiently is
monochronic.

Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
7-28
28. Langdon always makes it to appointments on time and feels that meeting deadlines is an
important part of his job. Langdon most likely belongs to a(n) ______ culture.
A. collectivist
B. individualist
C. polychronic
D. monochronic
Monochronic cultures see time as something not to be wasted. They place great importance
on being on-time to appointments and meeting deadlines.
Blooms: Apply
Difficulty: 3 Hard
29. When meeting with clients, Rachelle avoids spending time chatting about things like what they
did last weekend or what movie they saw most recently. Instead, she focuses on getting down
to business so that the meeting ends on time and she can move on to her next task for the
day. Rachelle most likely belong to a(n) ______ culture.
A. long-term oriented
B. polychronic
C. monochronic
E. indulgent
People from monochronic cultures like to stick to a schedule and conduct business quickly and
efficiently.
Blooms: Apply
7-29
30. Which type of culture thinks extensive planning is unwise and views being on time to an event
as being fairly unimportant?
A. monochronic
B. polychronic
C. uncertainty avoidant
D. indulgent
E. feminine
Polychronic cultures think extensive planning is unwise and consider being late to be of little
importance.

Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
31. Rosita has a meeting scheduled for 2:00 p.m. today, but she already knows she won't be there
until at least 2:15. However, this doesn't bother her. In her mind, she'll get there when she
get's there. Furthermore, she knows that the client she's meeting with will also show up late.
No one will feel impatient or rushed just because they are not starting on time. Rosita and her
client most likely belong to a ______ culture.
A. polychronic
B. monochronic
E. collectivist
Polychronic cultures view time in a relaxed way and do not see anything wrong with showing
up late to a scheduled meeting.
Blooms: Apply
7-30
32. Barron and Gyeong want to convince Amaro that his tools supply store should buy their
company's brand of ratchets. When they all meet, instead of beginning their sales pitch,
Barran asks Amaro if he caught the local soccer team's most recent match. This leads to a
discussion of the team's season and then to talk about Gyeong's son, who plays soccer for the
nearby university. Eventually, after they have each talked about their families, Barron and
Gyeong bring the conversation around to their product. This meeting would most likely happen
in a ______ culture.
A. masculine
B. monochronic
C. polychronic
D. restraint
E. feminine
Polychronic cultures tend to take business at a slow pace. Members will engage in casual talk
before getting to the real purpose of the meeting.
Blooms: Apply
33. Which of the following statements about space and culture is true?
A. Attitudes toward space tend to be the same in all cultures.

B. People from cultures that view space as belonging to everyone tend to stand in line and
wait their turn.
C. In some cultures, keeping two feet of distance from the person with whom you are
speaking is considered impolite.
D. Cultures that place emphasis on personal space tend to be polychronic cultures.
E. People from cultures that view space as belonging to individuals tend to stand closer
together than people from cultures that see space as belonging to all.
People from North America typically feel most comfortable standing about two feet away from
whomever they are speaking with. In other cultures, however, people who are speaking with
each other stand closer together, and trying to keep two feet of distance from a conversational
partner would be considered impolite.

Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 3 Hard
7-31
34. A culture where people tend to express themselves directly and explicitly is a(n) ______
culture.
A. low-context
B. high-context
C. indulgent
D. low-restraint
E. polychronic
A low-context culture is one in which people tend to express themselves directly and explicitly.
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
35. Melissa wants her company to adopt more environmentally friendly practices, so she has
created a presentation to give to the board of directors. She begins her presentation by
explaining some background information on these practices, such as why they are important
for the environment and the company's image. Melissa then moves on to discussing exactly
what measures she feels her company should adopt, and why she feels they are the best
options. Given this information, Melissa is most likely from a(n) ______ culture.
A. high-context
B. polychronic
C. low-context
D. intimate
People from low-context cultures tend to be frank and to share relevant background
information when communicating.
Blooms: Apply
Difficulty: 3 Hard
7-32
36. Background information is explicitly stated in a ______ culture, but is largely implied in a(n)
______ culture.
A. monochronic; polychronic
B. feminine; masculine
C. low-context; high-context
D. low power distance; high power distance
E. collectivistic; individualistic
Background information is explicitly stated in a low-context culture, but is largely implied in a
high-context culture.

Blooms: Understand
37. A culture with strong group orientation and coherent, stable traditions that make it possible for
shared assumptions to stand in for explicitly stated background information is a ______
culture.
A. low-context
B. short-term oriented
D. power distance
E. high-context
A high-context culture has strong group orientation and coherent, stable traditions that make it
possible for shared assumptions to stand in for explicitly stated background information.
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 1 Easy
7-33
38. Wei is giving a sales presentation in which she describes her company's product and how it
will meet the needs of the people she is talking to. She does not explicitly state everything she
wants the audience to know. Rather, she relies on body language, tone of voice, and eye
movements to give cues that her audience members can use to understand her full message.
Wei most likely belongs to a(n) ______ culture.
A. high-context
B. power distance
C. low-context
D. polychronic
E. individualistic
People from high-context cultures use body language, eye movements, tone of voice, and
other nonverbal cues to provide meaning rather than using concrete, explicit, and direct
language to explain their meaning.
Blooms: Apply
Difficulty: 3 Hard
39. Which of the following statements about social hierarchy is true?
A. Social classes exist in all cultures, but have little impact on how intimately people are
addressed.
B. People from cultures that stress equality are likely to be offended by questions about class
status.
C. People from cultures with strict social classes are quick to use first names.
D. A person from a culture that stresses equality is most likely to ask questions determining a
person's class status.
E. Class status has little to no impact on how people address each other.
People from cultures that stress equality are likely to be offended by questions about class
status.

Blooms: Understand
7-34
40. Geert Hofsted refers to the way people view relationships between superiors and
subordinates as
A. restraint.
B. uncertainty avoidance.
C. power distance.
D. collectivism.
E. individualism.
Power distance is the term Hofsted uses to describe how people view relations between
superiors and subordinates.

Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
41. Cultures that exhibit a high power distance
A. make decisions by consensus.

B. expect employees to do as their superiors direct.
C. tend to spread out authority so that no one person is too powerful.
D. leave employees to make their own decisions on a case-by-case basis.
E. encourage people to voice their opinions, no matter what role they inhabit.
Cultures with high power distance expect employees to do as their superiors direct.

Blooms: Remember
7-35
42. In cultures that have low power distance
A. great emphasis is placed on the authority of superiors.

B. employees look to their boss to make even minor decisions.
C. authority is shared between many people.
D. may be hesitant to offer comments during online conversations.
E. no one is permitted to have any authority at all.
In a low power distance culture, authority is widely shared.

Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 1 Easy
43. Marina's boss has absolute authority in her office. He makes the decisions, and Marina is
expected to simply do as he says. Marina most likely lives in a ______ culture.
A. high-context
D. low context
E. collectivistic
High power distance cultures have a high level of separation between superiors and
subordinates. Superiors hold the power to make decisions and give directions, while
subordinates are expected to do as they have been directed to do.
Blooms: Apply
7-36
44. Carly and Trent own a small graphic design company together. They can make decisions for
the company by themselves, but they often ask for input from other employees and believe
that decisions made by consensus tend to be better for the company as a whole. Carly and
Trent's company has a(n) ______ culture.
A. low-context
D. high-context
E. individualistic
Cultures with a low power distance tend to share authority and reach decisions by consensus.
Blooms: Apply
Difficulty: 3 Hard
45. Tamiko and her friends all have social media accounts that they use to talk to each other.
However, they rarely add people that they don't know very well to their friends lists, and they
almost never comment on posts made by companies or celebrities because they don't want to
overstep their authority. Tamiko and her friends are likely members of a
A. culture with a high power distance.

B. culture with a low power distance.
C. high-context culture.
D. low-context culture.
E. culture that views space as belonging to the individual.
Cultures that have a high power distance tend to have a large degree of separation between
superiors and subordinates, and this can make people reluctant to participate in online
discussions for fear that they might overstep their authority.
Blooms: Apply
Difficulty: 3 Hard
7-37
46. The Protestant work ethic is the belief that
A. planning work in advance is folly because all outcomes belong to God.

B. true work involves one's hands, not one's mind.
C. pleasure should be taken when and where it can be found.
D. if hard work is put ahead of pleasure, success will follow.
E. emphasis should be placed on respecting tradition and saving face in social situations.
The Protestant work ethic is the belief that if hard work is put ahead of pleasure, success will
follow.

Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
47. Which of the following statements about the expression of emotions is true?
A. Some Middle Eastern cultures express sorrow with loud wailing.

B. Laughter is always viewed as a spontaneous display of pleasure.
C. Asian cultures tend to prefer strong public displays of affection.
D. The expression of emotion is frowned upon in business situations.
E. Westerners frown on public displays of affection.
Some Middle Eastern cultures express sorrow with loud wailing and would view a Westerner's
more controlled emotions as cold and uncaring.

Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
7-38
48. Which of the following statements about workplace values is true?
A. Canadian culture views the employee-employer relationship like a family and expects it to
last for a lifetime.
B. All cultures believe that if you put hard work before pleasure, success will follow.
C. Cultures that place emphasis on interpersonal relationships rather than planning, as is the
D. American culture focuses on networking and interpersonal relationships rather than
maximizing production or planning.
E. Cultures that have high power distance also tend to expect workers to be free to move
from job to job.
Cultures that place emphasis on interpersonal relationships rather than planning, as is the

Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 3 Hard
49. Which of the following statements about language is true?
A. Words in languages other than English typically only have one meaning.
B. All languages contain equivalent language components, such as verbs and conjunctions.
C. A word in one language may have no corresponding word in another.
D. Precise translation is typically an easy matter.
E. Words like yes mean the same thing in every culture.
A word in one language may have no corresponding word in another.

Blooms: Understand
7-39
50. Which procedure involves two translators, one with first-language skills in one language, and
one with first-language skills in another, translating a message from one language to another
and then back to the first language so that the original message can be compared with the
second translation?
A. back translating
B. literal translating
C. cultural translating
D. high-context translating
E. power distance translating
Back translating involves two translators, one with first-language skills in one language, and
one with first-language skills in another. The first translator translate a message in a
second language. The second translator then translates the message back into the first
language. The original message is then compared with the second translation. If they match,
the first translation was good as well.

Blooms: Understand
51. Which of the following statements about back translating is true?
A. It involves one translator translating a message into a new language. The translated
message is then reviewed by a second translator for accuracy.
B. It requires three translators.
C. If the translations are good, the second translation will match the original message.
D. It only works with Latinate languages.
E. It is the only way to translate idioms and colloquialisms accurately.
When back translating, the translations are good if the second translation matches the original.

Blooms: Understand
7-40
52. Elisa grew up speaking Spanish, but learned to speak English as an adult, and she now works
as a translator for a U.S. company that has frequent business interactions with South
American businesses. Elisa's translating skills are good, and the company typically relies on
her alone to do their translating. However, they are currently involved in negotiating an
extremely important contract and need the wording in Spanish to be exactly right, so they hire
George, a freelance translator and native English speaker to help. Elisa translates the English
message into Spanish, and George translates the Spanish message back into English. They
then compare the original message with George's translation to make sure they match. What
process have Elisa and George completed?
A. first-language translation
B. back translation
C. equivalency translation
D. high-context translation
E. low-context translation
This is an example of back translation.
Blooms: Apply
Difficulty: 3 Hard
53. Which of the followings statements about language and international business is true?
A. When executives have no common language, they are likely to use English.
B. English is the primary business language of the Americas, while German is the primary
business language of Europe.
C. English is so prevalent in international business that an executive from Cuba and an
executive from Peru would use it to communicate with each other.
D. Because English is the main language of international business, non-native English
speakers have no problems understanding it.
E. English is only used to conduct business when a Canadian, American, or English company
is involved.
English has become the most commonly used language for international business
when executives have no common language.

Blooms: Understand
7-41
54. Colette is a business executive from France, and Franz is a business executive from
Germany. Colette does not speak German, nor does Franz speak French. Which language
are they most likely to conduct business in?
A. French
B. German
C. Spanish
D. English
E. Greek
When executives do not share a common language, they will most likely use English to
communicate.
Blooms: Apply
55. Two-word verbs consist of
A. an adjective and a verb combined to create an adverb.

B. a noun and a modified verb combined to create a compound verb.
C. a verb and a second element that, when combined, creates a new meaning.
D. two verbs that are joined by a hyphen for clarity.
E. a verb combined with a prefix or a suffix to create a different verb.
A two-word verb is created when a verb and a second element are combined to create a new
meaning.

Blooms: Understand
7-42
56. Check in does not mean the same thing as the words check and in do on their own. Check in
is an example of
A. a two-word verb.
B. an equivalency term.
C. an idiom.
D. a colloquialism.
E. jargon.
Check in is an example of a two-word verb.
Blooms: Apply
Difficulty: 1 Easy
57. Which of the following is true of two-word verbs?
A. They should never be used when speaking to nonnative speakers.

B. Nonnative speakers may not understand many of them.
C. Two-word verbs are covered extensively in language textbooks.
D. Nonnative English speakers are rarely confused by two-word verbs.
E. The use of two-word verbs is generally unavoidable as they lack suitable substitutions.
Nonnatives will learn some two-word verbs while studying English. However, two-word verbs
are largely missing from language textbooks and dictionaries, and not all will be known to
nonnative speakers, so it is best to use them sparingly.

Blooms: Understand
7-43
58. Which of the following is an example of a two-word verb?
A. international communication
B. close tightly
C. calm down
D. crawl under
E. negotiate quickly
Calm down is an example of a two-word verb. Calm down has a different meaning than calm
and down do on their own.
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 3 Hard
59. Jean Luc and Oscar own a small manufacturing company in Louisiana, and they are meeting
with two executives of a Mexican retail chain in the hopes of convincing them to carry their
products. Jean Luc begins the pitch, and after a couple of minutes, Oscar jumps in to say,
"Jean Luc really hit the nail on the head when he said these products offer better value than
what you're currently carrying." The Mexican executives both speak English, but they look at
each other in confusion. What mistake did Oscar make?
A. He used a colloquialism.
B. He used jargon.
C. He used a two-word verb.
D. He spoke with too much familiarity.
E. He exhibited high-context culture traits while dealing with a low-context culture.
The phrase "hit the nail on the head" is an example of a colloquialism. These can be confusing
to nonnative English speakers.
Blooms: Apply
Difficulty: 3 Hard
7-44
60. Which of the following statements about colloquialisms is true?
A. Unfamiliar colloquialisms can cause problems even for native English speakers.
B. Colloquialisms are generally easy for international communicators to understand.
C. Colloquialisms are almost never defined on ESL websites.
D. In the United States, colloquial expressions are rarely used.
E. It is impossible to replace colloquialisms with plain language.
Unfamiliar colloquialisms can cause problems even for native English speakers. This problem
is multiplied for nonnative English speakers.

Blooms: Understand
61. Which of the following should you not do when preparing to communicate with people from
another culture?
A. research the culture

B. think about yourself and your company
C. be open to change
D. assume stereotypes are accurate representations of individuals
E. adapt your English to your audience
While stereotypes can have some basis in truth, they should be viewed as generalizations, not
accurate representations of individuals.

Blooms: Understand
7-45
62. Which of the following statements about stereotypes is true?
A. They are not based on real life observations.

B. They are perpetuated by generalizations about cultures.
C. They have no use in the modern world.
D. They are flexible and constantly changing.
E. They help us better get to know individuals.
When we generalize about cultures perpetuates we perpetuate stereotypes.

Blooms: Understand
63. Which of the following is an example of a stereotype?
A. Zoe must like spicy food because she is Cuban.

B. Lillian Stark is English, and she prefers that people whom she does not know well call her
Ms. Stark.
C. Akiko is Japanese and bows when greeting someone.
D. Roberto, a Brazilian, is often late to meetings and likes to chat before getting down to
business.
E. James, an American, dislikes even moderate public displays of affection.
The statement "Zoe must like spicy food because she is Cuban" conveys a stereotype. It
assumes that all Cubans like spicy food and that Zoe must therefore like spicy food because
she is Cuban. This shows no consideration for what Zoe as an individual actually prefers. The
other statements do not engage in stereotyping because, rather than making an assumption
about someone based on their nationality, they note people's nationalities and make
observations about what they are like as individuals.
Blooms: Apply
Difficulty: 3 Hard
7-46
64. When speaking with an unfamiliar audience made up of nonnative English speakers, you
should
A. talk clearly and use simple words and sentence structure.

B. be sure to include plenty of slang to make your language colorful.
C. talk exactly as you would to a native English speaker so as not to make the nonnative
speakers feel singled out.
D. use simple yes/no questions to make it easy for them to answer.
E. avoid trying to confirm understanding so that you do not embarrass them.
When speaking to an unfamiliar audience of nonnative English speakers, you should talk
clearly and use simple words and sentence structure.

Blooms: Understand
65. Which of the following statements about adapting in international business is true?
A. Adapting to the practices of international partners is always feasible.

B. Adapting to the practices of international partners is always ethical.
C. Buying information and influence are widely accepted and ethical practices.
D. When you have to choose between making a deal and behaving ethically, you should
always make the deal.
E. When faced with an ethical decision, your company will likely tell you to choose the ethical
path.
Most businesspeople will tell you to make the ethical choice, not only because they are ethical,
but also because the Internet quickly spreads news of company scandals, often with negative
results for the company in question.

Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Short Answer Questions
7-47
66. Briefly explain why it is important to have cross-cultural business communication skills.
Answers should note that cross-cultural communication skills will help communicators better
understand their customers' needs and sell their products and services internationally and
domestically; that increasing workplace diversity means that cross-cultural communication
skills will better enable businesspeople to communicate and interact with co-workers; and that
cross-cultural communication skills can enrich people's personal and business lives and put
them in positions to be challenged, to grow, and to feel like they've made a difference.

Blooms: Understand
67. Identify and give a brief example of three major factors that influence a country's culture.
Answers should identify geography, history, and religion as the three major factors. Examples
of each factor will vary, but the following are possible examples:
Geography: how much rain or snow a country receives each year
History: a major war that impacted the country's government
Religion: a religious ban on eating a certain type of food
Blooms: Understand
7-48
68. Give an example of how the meaning of body movements or positions often mean different
things in different cultures.
Answers will vary. Examples may include the following: bowing is seen as polite during a
greeting or farewell in certain cultures, while U.S. natives do not bow when meeting or leaving
each other; the "OK" hand signal in the U.S. is considered a positive reaction, while countries
like Russia, Germany, and Brazil see it as rude; and holding up the forefinger in the United
States means "one," while in parts of Europe, the thumb is used to signal the same thing.

Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
69. Briefly explain the difference between monochronic and polychronic cultures.
Answers should note that monochronic cultures regard time as something that must be
scheduled in order to be used as efficiently as possible, while polychronic cultures see
extensive scheduling as unwise. Monochronic cultures place emphasis on being punctual and
sticking to a schedule, while polychronic cultures see lateness as being of little consequence
and conduct business at a relaxed pace.

Blooms: Understand
70. Describe the difference between low-context cultures and high-context cultures.
Answers should note that low-context cultures blend many traditions and value individualism,
while high-context cultures have coherent, stable traditions and focus on the group as a whole.
Low-context culture communicators are careful to explicitly state all relevant background
information, while high-context culture communicators are less explicit and rely in part on
shared assumptions to fill in unspoken information.

7-49
Blooms: Understand
71. Create a brief scenario describing the operations of a business in a low power distance
culture.
Examples will vary, but should note that authority in the office is widely shared and decisions
are frequently made by consensus.
Blooms: Apply
72. Describe the back translating process.
Answers should explain the back translating requires two translators: one who is a native
speaker of one language and a second who is a native speaker of another language. The first
translator translates the original message into his or her native language, then the second
translator translates the message back to the original language. The original message and the
second translation are compared. If they match, all of the translations are good.

Blooms: Apply
73. Provide examples of two different situations where international business communications
would most likely be conducted in English.
Examples will vary. Possible answers include an American company communicating with a
Brazilian company, and an Austrian company communicating with a Spanish company.
Blooms: Apply
7-50
Difficulty: 1 Easy
74. List at least five ways you might conduct research on the culture of another country.
Answers will vary. Possible examples include: conducting library and online research, talking
with people who have experience with the culture, taking an international business course,
socializing with nonnatives in your own country, and attending festivals and other cultural
events.

Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
75. What should you do to adapt your English when speaking with nonnative English speakers?
Answers should note that good ways to adapt to nonnative English speakers include using
simple and clear language; talking slowly and with good enunciation; and avoiding phrases
that nonnative English speakers may not be familiar with, such as two-word verbs and
colloquialisms. Good adaption also includes carefully wording one's questions so that they do
not call for yes/no answers, do not include double questions, and avoid negative questions.
English communicators should also do their best to make sure they are being understood.
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 3 Hard
7-51
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képviselt.
De még egy másik uri kocsi is feltünt a háttérben s a két jó barát
a sötétszürke bérruháról azonnal ráismert a Dorozsmay-ház
cselédségére.
A következő pillanatban Gencsy Pál báró is előkerült valamelyik
vaggonból s átadá könnyű podgyászát az elébe siető inasnak.
– Porczogh! – suttogá Arthur gróf, – látom az erdélyi vad bárót s
minden bölcs oktatásodból üres szószaporítás lett. Valami láthatlan
hatalom parancsolja, hogy megrohanjam, megsértsem és párbajra
kényszerítsem.
– És miért?
– Hiába minden színlés; ez a gyerkőcz győzelmet aratott rajtam s
földig vagyok lealázva.
– Arthur! egyszer már karodon ragadva tartóztattalak vissza ily
meggondolatlanságtól s most megint vak szenvedélyed szavára
hallgatsz. Tudd meg: soha sincs a férfi bizonyosabban megalázva,
mint mikor e miatt kell valakit megvernie, vagy ezért verik meg. S
minő megalázásról beszélsz? Egy suhanczkodó diák versenyezett
veled. Nincs eltiltva. Egy kis iskolás leány választást tett saját
korlátolt izlése szerint, de szabadságában állott. Olyan legfelsőbb
itélet ez, melytől csak a pisztolylövéshez van felebbezés? Arthur, ma
is az vagy, a ki tegnap voltál. Emeld fel fejedet s ha eltékozlott
vagyonodból valamit vissza akarsz szerezni, hidd meg, a
legrosszabb eszköz erre az, hogy ő vagy te a gyepen hörögd ki a
lelkedet.
– Egy győzelmi tekintet tőle és én szelidíthetlen vadállat vagyok!
– Jer, közeledjünk hozzá, közönynyel, egykedvüséggel, de
méltósággal, s meglásd, utánozni fogja példánkat.
Előre léptek tehát s mintha most pillantanák meg az ifju bárót
először, maga Arthur gróf mondá:
– Jó reggelt, Pál. Úgy látom, Harasztosra mégysz?
– Igen; egy vagy két napra.
– Mi pedig Bogfalvára szándékozunk, de még ma estére
visszatérünk. Jó mulatságot.
– Köszönöm. Isten veletek.
Ebből állott az egész találkozás. Pál báró látta ugyan Pesten, a
Dorozsmay-házban a fiatalabb herczegnőt, de nem volt annyira
ismerős vele, hogy igényelhette volna a szerencsét, üdvözletet
izenni. Arthur gróf pedig, kanonok bácsi által szóval kifejezett
válasza után, a gazdag családdal minden további összeköttetést
végkép ketté szakítottnak tekintett.
Midőn a két jó barát felült a bogfalvi kocsira, Porczogh báró, hogy
a mindig fülelő cselédség ne értse, franczia nyelven mondá:
– Lásd barátom, ilyen a valódi élet, ilyen a correct modor a
világban. A mit te akartál elkövetni, az a mult századokba való, a
mikor az emberek mindenki fölött uralkodni akartak, csak magukon
nem. Megengedem, hogy ily helyzetben, mint te vagy a báróval
szemben, ha regényt irna valaki rólatok, az olvasó kérlelhetlenűl
követelné, hogy törj ki, dúlj-fúlj, hordj rakásra borzasztó
gorombaságokat, másnap pedig egyikőtöket saroglyán vigyék,
obductio végett, a kórházba. Szerencsédre, melletted őrködhetik
néha egy flegmatikus filozofus, a ki füledbe súgja: mindig a hideg
okosság szavára hallgass s ne tartsd dicsőségednek, ha a
botrányokra leskődő közönség kiváncsiságát, saját károdon elégíted
ki.
Bogfalván Hohenmark herczegnő fogadta az érkezőket s
különösen Arthur grófot oly barátságosan látta, mint nehány évvel
ezelőtt, a midőn Harasztoson megismerkedett vele.
Louise herczegnő csak a rövid ebéd ideje alatt volt látható. Ekkor
is gyász öltözete uralkodott minden szaván, s a ki nem ismerte a
szívében égő lángot, ezen tartózkodása miatt méltán hidegséggel
vádolhatta volna.
Fekete kávé után, az idősb herczegnő azon czím alatt, hogy
megmutatja szegényes, de tisztán tartott kertjét, sétálni hivá
vendégeit. Hárman indultak, de Porczogh báró jól tudta, mennyire
fölösleges itt az ő jelenléte. Addig keresett a kertben oly növényt,
mely őt igen érdekelni látszott, míg végre egészen hátra maradt.
Ekkor aztán beszélni kezdett az anya arról, a mit gyászt viselő
leányának szőnyegre hozni lehetetlen volt.
– Gróf úr, engem Hohenmark herczeg, mint egyszerű lovas-
kapitány, ezért a kis bogfalvi birtokért vett nőül, de azért nem volt
boldogtalan velem. Leányom, Louise, első csalódása után
Burghammer herczeg mesés gazdagságának oltalma alá menekült,
a hova női kötelességet, kifogástalan hűséget vitt, de tán szívet
mégsem. Ez lehet oka, hogy a herczeg nem tartá meg szóval
sokszor hánytorgatott igéretét az irott végrendeletben.
– Hallottam, hogy a herczeg szószegő és háladatlan volt.
– Mindössze ennyi áll, leányomról, végrendeletében: «nőm
jövőjéről már életemben gondoskodtam.»
– Semmi több, még egy udvarias szójárás sem?
– Ez az egész; de a leányom így van legjobban megelégedve s
boldog, hogy oly hagyománynyal, mely úgysem szívből származott
volna, nincs megszégyenítve. A herczeg igéré, hogy azon 5000 hold
földet, melyet Somogymegyében vásárolt, s melynek jövedelmét,
tűpénz czímén, leányom eddig élvezte, mint szabad tulajdont
ráruházza. Igérte, hogy bécsi palotáját, mely a benne rejlő
kincsekkel és értékpapirokkal két és fél millióra volt becsülve, szintén
neki hagyja; de a végrendeletben mégis a mellékág zsákmányára
bocsátotta. Mi maradt tehát a sok szóból?
– A legértékesebb kincs, Louise herczegnő, mindenesetre
megmaradt.
– Pénzről beszéltünk, gróf úr, – felelé a herczegnő, nem nagyon
lelkesedve a hallott költői közbekiáltás fölött. – Mi maradt végre? A
750,000 forint, mely a házassági szerződésben ki volt kötve. Ebből
640,000 forint ment a Kaula és társa czég követelés megvételére,
110,000 forint pedig állampapirokban. Ehhez járul a 300,000 forint
ékszer, melylyel a herczeg nejét különböző alkalmakkor meglepte.
Leányom e haszontalan fényköveket még Bécsben eladta, s a
fönnebb említett összeget hozzáadván, annyi értékpapirt vásárlott
össze, hogy az így nyert kamat évenkinti 22,000 forintot képvisel.
– Óriási gazdagság, herczegnő. Én mondom ezt, a korábbi
lelkiismeretlen pazarló, a ki ezóta megtanult gazdálkodni.
– Tehát számítsunk. Ha beteljesedik, a mit ön levelében ajánlott,
és én, ismerve leányom érzelmét, szívesen jóváhagyok, akkor az új
háztartás szükségeinek fedezésére készen áll először: a 36,000
forint kamat, első helyen betáblázva a Bendeffy-birtokra; másodszor:
22,000 forint leányom értékpapirjainak szelvényeiből; harmadszor:
az én halálom után, a mi szegény kis Bogfalvánk, mely jó és rossz
évet számítva, mégis kiizzad évenként 8000 forintot. Összesen
66,000 forint jövedelem.
– Kimeríthetlen aranybánya.
– Menjünk most át az ön vagyonára.
– Herczegnő! ezzel hamar készen leszünk, mert a mivel most
birok, kevesebb a semminél.
– Meglátjuk. Ha leányom hozományába beszámítottam
Bogfalvát, nem hagyhatjuk ki az önéből azon 30,000 forintot, mely
szintén csak édes anyja után, vár önre.
– Adja Isten, mentől később.
– Magam is ezért imádkozom, mert Bogfalvával is épen ezen
eset fordul elé. Ezenkívül…
– Ah, ezenkívül! herczegnő, én ezenkívül semmitsem tudok, a
mit sajátomnak nevezhetnék.
– Keressük csak, s mindjárt megtaláljuk. Az ügyvéd, a ki a Kaula
és társa czég követelésének megvásárlásában közbenjárt,
kötelessége szerint betekintett a telekkönyvbe.
– Nagyon tragikus könyv ez rám nézve, herczegnő.
– És úgy találta…
– Hogy a fizetési kötelezettség az egész jövedelmet felemészti.
– Felemészti ma, de nem holnap. Mert a kötelezettségek között
évenkinti 40,000 forint törlesztés van. Tehát 10 év mulva 400,000
forinttal kevesebb az adósság és 20,000 forinttal több a jövedelem.
– Tíz év mulva!
– Ne nevessen a tíz éven, mert ezzel csak minket
vénasszonyokat gúnyol. Inkább higyje el nekem, hogy tíz év mulva is
élni akar az ember s tán még örököst is adhat az Isten. Szóval, ki
van számítva, hogy 22 év mulva tisztán állhat a Bendeffy-birtok.
– Eddig a számtudósok 32 évről beszéltek.
– Úgy van, de a legelső s legnagyobb követelés, mint hozomány,
visszakerül a házhoz.
– Ez már valóban más. Herczegnő, önben a legjelesebb
pénzügyminiszter veszett el.
– Csak jó magyar gazdasszony akarok maradni, daczára
fönhéjázó német czímemnek. Most pedig mindent tisztába hozván,
keressük fel Porczogh bárót.
– Herczegnő, ez a gyász év előttem több mint az örökkévalóság.
– Már csak mindössze 10 hónap.
– Szabad lesz néha itt megjelennem?
– Jövő juliusig mentől ritkábban. Nem óhajtom, hogy a
szomszédok beszéljék: ime mutatkozik már a régi udvarló s alig
várják Bogfalván, hogy ujra menyekzőt üljenek.
Búcsuzáskor Louise herczegnő csak ablaka függönye mellől
intett üdvözletet; hanem a rokonszenves tekintet, mely régi barátjára
esett, értékesebb volt minden ékesszólásnál.
A két jó barát kocsira ült s az első félórában mindketten mély
gondolatokba merülve hallgattak.
– Porczogh! – töré meg a csendet Arthur gróf, – egész óra alatt
kizárólag pénzről és üzleti dolgokról beszéltem a herczegnővel.
– A legbölcsebb s leggyakorlatibb tárgy minden világlátott
vőlegény előtt.
– Mindig a herczegnő vitte a szót, nekem csak a képmutató
hallgatás szerepe jutott. És akárhogy erőlködtem, lehetetlen volt a
36,000 forint kamatfizetési kérdést megpendítenem. Mit tegyek?
Épen oly borzasztó ezt elfogadni, mint a minő képtelenség
visszautasítani.
– Barátom, ily sajátszerű esetekre nézve régen ki van találva az
útbaigazító szabály.
– S az volna?
– A két rossz közül a kisebbiket kell választani! Tartsd meg s
abból csinálj dicsőségi tőkét, hogy a lehetőségig jól gazdálkodjál.
– Ki hitte volna, hogy a történtek után még szerencsés sors is
kecsegtessen!
– Gondold hozzá, hogy meg is érdemlettél valamit. Nem voltál
teljes életedben tökéletes gentleman? Megcsaltál-e valakit? Nem
becsülted ősi nevedet többre öt milliónál? Tehát a mit a szerencse
nyújt, fogadd érdemeid jutalmául. Megengedem, hogy kellemetlen
előleg ez a pénz, jövendőbeli nődtől: de mindketten tudjátok, hogy
csak az elkerülhetlen vas szükség szavának hódoltok. Végre is ez
maradt vagyonod elvesztésének fanyar utóízéül. Minden
veszedelmet túléltél, szolgáljon tehát vigasztalásodul, hogy
életedben ez az utolsó boszankodás. Hogy éneklik a «Bourgeois
Gentilhomme» entreactejában, keleti frank nyelven: non tener honta,
questa star l’ultima affronta? –
Arthur gróf hallgatott, elkomorult és elégedetlen volt. Barátjának
hidegen gyakorlati, sőt vastagon cynikus okoskodásai nem verhették
ki fejéből azon lealázó gondolatot, hogy most majdnem egy egész
évig oly szerepet fog viselni, mely a férfi büszkeséggel ellenkezik, a
grófi dölyfösségnek pedig nyilt hadat izen.
– Báró! nem az boszant, hogy az uj háztartáshoz semmit sem
viszek; máson is megtörtént, s ha Esztikét nyerem meg, akkor sem
állok különben. De hogy már mint vőlegény jövendőbelimnek
pénzéből élősködjem, e szégyent el nem viselhetem. Addig, míg azt
hittem, nyerészkedőkkel és uzsorásokkal van dolgom, legalább volt
czíme könnyelmüségemnek. Azt mondtam, élek tovább is
adósságcsinálásból, de most minden ürügy lerombolva fekszik
lábam előtt.
– De mit tehetsz?
– Még van egy utolsó segédforrásom. Anyám visszaérkezett; a
mit elköltöttem e pénzből, kipótolja s aztán jövő juliusig úgy
meghuzódva lakom nála, mint kis iskolás fiu koromban.
– A mint tetszik.
– És valóban még azon nap estéjén kihallgatást kért édesanyjától
s aztán mindent őszintén, leplezetlenül és teljes részletességben
elbeszélt.
– Arthur, – felelé az öreg grófné, – neked igazad van, ez így nem
maradhat s nekem anyai kötelességem határozottan közbelépni.
Intézkedjél, hogy holnapután Bogfalvára mehessek és igérem
neked, hogy mindent rendbe hozok.
– Mindent rendbe hozasz anyám? De hiszen épen abban fekszik
helyzetem elviselhetlensége, hogy minden a legjobb rendben van!
Louise boldog, hogy tehet értem valamit s én már ma költhetem
azon 36,000 forint jövedelmet, mely jövendőbeli nőm hozományát
képezi.
– Mindent kiegyenlítek.
– A világ ugyan nem tudja, de nekem elég erkölcsi
megsemmisülésemre a gondolat, hogy Louise, tényleg, megvásárolt
engem.
– Arthur! minő illetlen, minő háladatlan szó ez.
– Nem mondom, hogy tette, sőt páratlan önzéstelenségében
eleinte csak arra törekedett, hogy engem előnyös pénzházasság
kötésére segítsen. A herczeg halála s azon leánynak elpártolása
után azonban változott a helyzet; ellenem fordult a látszat is, s most
a tisztességes kölcsönből nagylelkű adomány, sőt kimondjam a
legirtóztatóbb szót? egy ügyefogyottnak nyujtott kitartás lett!
– Arthur, nem jól értetted anyádat. Úgy hozom rendbe ügyedet
Bogfalván, hogy lelked teljes megnyugvást találjon. Azt mondtad,
hogy Louise minden ékszerét eladta s a pénzből gyümölcsöző tőkét
szerzett? Igen jól van, helyesen cselekedte. De most már én jövök
közbe. Itt vannak nálam családunk gyémántjai, miket mindig egy
Bendeffy grófné viselt. Úgy tudom, ékszerészi becsű szerint
megérnek 83,000 forintot. Elviszem Bogfalvára s miután, mi
asszonyok, mindig szabadabban beszélünk egymás között, átadom
a herczegnőnek, mint szokásban levő menyasszonyi ajándékot.
– Mamám!
– Meg vagy elégedve?
– Mamám! az ajándék maga herczegi; de a gondolat, hogy fiad
férfiui büszkeségének megmentésére hozod ezen áldozatot, a
mennyekbe emel. Engedd meg, hogy ezer csókkal fejezzem ki
hálámat és fiui szeretetemet.
Arthur gróf könnyelmű korhely volt egész életében, de szive nem
romlott meg teljesen soha. Kivánjuk neki, hogy azt a szivet, melyet
megnyert, díszes élete által, meg is érdemelje.
XV.
(Rövid leczke után a hosszú történet véget ér.)
Láttuk, hogy Gencsy Pál báró a harasztosi kastély úrnőjének igen

szertartásos meghívására, augusztus hó végén leszállt a vasútról s
találkozott Arthur gróffal és barátjával, épen a midőn arról
gondolkodott, hol találna hamarjában oly szekeret, mely őt a
kastélyba szállítaná?
Még alig telt el két hónap, mióta utóljára látta tanítványát,
Gencsen; de hosszabb idő volt ez a bárónak, mint a mennyi a
geologusok szerint szükséges arra, hogy az őserdőből, a földnek
nem tudom hányadik kérgében, kőszén alakuljon. Valóban még attól
is félt, hogy e rettentő korszak alatt Esztike kisasszony mást gondolt
s a kastély lakói is úgy néznek majd rá, mintha kétkednének, látták-e
már ezen arczot valaha, vagy sem?
Hogy még hazulról megírta, melyik napon teszi tiszteletét? annak
ő semmi fontosságot sem tulajdonított. Annál kellemesebben volt
meglepetve, a midőn jól ismert sötét szürke posztóruhás inas
kapkodá ki kezéből podgyászát s elvezeté őt a harasztosi fogat elé,
oly buzgalommal és előzékenységgel, mint mikor haza visznek
valakit, a ki otthon lesz és a családhoz tartozik.
A lovak gyorsan ügetve verték fel az út porát s fél óra mulva a
föld egyik hajlásán túl feltűnt a kastély is, melynek szöglet-tornyából
óriási zászló lobogott a nyári szellőben.
Szemközt vele az útfélen magányos gyalogló közeledett.
Bizonyosan éhes vándorló legény, a ki nem talált munkát s megy
máshova szerencsét keresni.
Közelebb érkezve, a bús idegenből tüskés szakállu, pöczkös
bajuszu víg czimbora fejlődék ki. Lehetett-e más, mint épen Bogárdy
Zoltán, a ki recsegős hangján távolról kiáltá:
– Hozott Isten friss egészségben, tisztelt kollegám; ejnye de
megvárakoztattál!
– Nem én vagyok oka, barátom. Szörnyű rendetlenség ez a
magyar államvaspályán! Teljes hét perczet késtünk! No de meg is
interpelláljuk érte a közlekedésügyi minisztert! Szép tőled, hogy
elémbe jöttél.
– Kötelességem volt, barátom, mert szükség, hogy elékészítselek
azon fogadtatásra, mely itt rád vár.
– Az égre kérlek, ne ijesztgess.
– Majd meglátom, mily vitézül állod ki a roppant strapácziót, mert
ez alul ugyan ki nem búvol. Van pénzed?
– Van, a mennyi az útra kell.
– Az kevés, mert az egész vidék herczegi borravalót vár. A falu
nagy harangja reggel óta szól. Az iskolás fiúk kirukkoltak és éneklik:
«erős várunk nekünk az Isten»; az ártatlan szűzek, fehérbe öltözve,
rozmarint tűztek hajukba és rózsalevelet hintenek útadba. A biró
kilencz mozsarat és 80 kilogramm lőport hozatott Hatvanból. A
jegyző és az iskolamester ablaka csupa transparent G. P. és D. E.
betűkkel. Este pedig olyan illumináczió és rakétázás lesz, hogy még
a szomszéd földesurak is assecuráltatták tegnap a gabonás
asztagokat.
Varjas Andoriás uram, a ki hivatalos helyén, a bakon ült, ájtatos
hivő lélekkel nézegetett vissza s minden új részlet hallására komoly
helyeslést intett fejével, mint a ki mindezt, magától érthető
legtermészetesebb dolognak találta.
De midőn a kastély elé érkeztek, a hol hatalmas diadalkapunak
kellett volna az érkezőt fogadni, kiderült, hogy itt rendkívüli
készületnek még nyoma sem mutatkozik, sőt a kastély tornyán lengő
zászlót is a mult évi képviselőválasztáskor tűzték fel s azóta ott tűri a
napot, éjet, esőt, havat, fagyot, meleget.
Az első, a ki a vendéget észrevette, kanonok bácsi volt. Tehát
mindjárt gonosz omen: ebéd előtt pappal találkozni, ez bizony semmi
jót sem igérhetett. E mellé még főtisztelendő úr nagy bámulva kérdé:
– Hogyan! ön az báró úr? Hol és merre kalandozik, hogy még
Harasztost is utjába ejthette?
Tessék most erre azt felelni, hogy egyenesen is csak ide
igyekezett!
Azonban mégis jött egy szobaleány, a ki a megzavarodott ifjut
fölvezette az első emeletbe, a hol az átöltözésre már minden kellék
elkészítve volt.
Gyönyörű szép, urias, feltünően kedves és elegans szoba volt ez
s valaki úgy letörölgette a butorokat, hogy mikroskopiummal sem
lehetett volna itt egy porszemet felfedezni. A sötét violaszín pamlag
előtt álló asztalkán pedig porczellán vázában olyan óriási
virágcsokor pompázott, hogy Pesten egy egész nyaralónak kertjéből
sem telik ki. Pál bárónak röpdesett a szíve az örömtől, hogy e
gyöngéd figyelem tán épen a ház kisasszonyától származhatott.
Levetkezve poros uti ruháját, felölté szép szürke nyári
sétaöltözékét és izenetet küldött a kastély úrnőihez: mikor tehetné
tiszteletét? A várt válasz azonnal, postafordultával, megérkezék,
hogy rögtön.
Ment le tehát a földszintre, a nyári elfogadó terembe, mely a
kertre nyiló verandára vezetett. De míg ideért, sok kettősszárnyú
ajtón kelle áthatolnia.
Egyszerre balról megmozdul egy zöld posztóval bevont, fényes
szegekkel kivert mellékajtó. Elébb világos színü kelme hullámzik,
aztán egy élő szobornak alabastrom-fehér keze mutatkozik, végre
egy ismert friss, vidám, mosolygó arcz és szem, mely ragyog az
örömtől és boldogságtól!
Élénk gyorsasággal, mint mikor vágyat érez «az ő karjai közé
röpülni», állja utját az áthaladó vendégnek és kiáltja:
– Professzor!
Az így megszólított ifju megragadja a feléje nyujtott kezet, hévvel
megszorítja, eszébe sem jut, hogy ez fájhat is egy kicsit s aztán
mondani akar valamit, a mit a szerelmes ember hosszú távollét után
legelőször érez szívéből felfakadni. De elrémülve tapasztalja, hogy a
magyar tudós akadémia nagy szótárából egy betűt sem tud
hangoztatni.
A birtokba vett kezet azonban el nem ereszti többé, úgy bánik
azzal, mint a rabló zsákmányával s bámulja a színműírókat, a kik ily
alkalmakból a legköltőibb eszmevirágokat adják a szereplők ajkára!
Kérdés: ha maguk is szerelmesek, szintén ily mesterei az
ékesszólásnak?
Az elfogadó terembe lépve, a ház asszonya helyett a pózna-
hosszú «táblaterítő»-t találják, a ki elrettentő szigorral és
fanyarsággal hajlik meg, de megvesztegethetlen merevséggel csak
azt jelenti, hogy ő nagysága a báró urat a könyvtárban kivánja
elfogadni.
A könyvtárban! a házi pirongatorium leghivatalosabb helyén! A
harasztosi szent inquisitio kínzó kamarájában, a hova csak azokat
idézik, kik ellen panasz van, kik gyalázatosan rossz fát tettek a tűzre.
Ámde nem volt szabadulás; Esztikének ki kellett menni a
verandára, friss szellőt színi, a bárónak pedig, mint vádlottnak, be a
törvényszék színe elé, ad audiendum verbum!
Ő nagysága udvariasan köszönté a belépőt. Helyet mutatott neki,
de nem az övéhez hasonló karszéket, hanem csak egy oda vetődött
tabouret-tet; elég jó volt ez a vallatás alá vont bűnösnek.
– Báró úr, örvendek, hogy látom. Szabad lesz nehány kérdést
tennem?
– Méltóztassék parancsolni.
– Báró úr, igaz-e, a mit hallottam, hogy ön tanárságra készül?
– Én, asszonyom?
– Leányom mondja, hogy önt legközelebb egyetemi
professzorságra hivják meg, s a tapasztalati lélektant fogja eléadni.
– Asszonyom, – felelt Pál báró elnyomott mosolylyal. –
Tetszhetett tán Esztike kisasszonynak ily tréfát kigondolni, de én a
nevezett tudományban nem hogy szakember, de csak gyarló
műkedvelő is alig vagyok.
– Ezt nagy sajnálattal hallom, mert az egyetemi tanárság diszes
állás, s a professzorok nagy kitüntetésben részesülnek. De ha nem
lesz tanár, akkor minő életpályát választ?
– Én, asszonyom? Én amolyan falusi báró vagyok, a kit az
emberek, minden három évben, tíz hordó pálinkáért képviselőjöknek
választanak. Mint ilyen eljárok a házba, hallgatom a bölcsebbek
szónoklatát, szavazok pártom érdeke szerint a haza javára, s majd
ha több bátorságom s tudományom lesz, magam is részt veszek a
tanácskozásokban.
– Ezek nagyon távol időkre biztató kilátások. De legalább
remélheti, hogy a három évi ülésszak letelte után, kinevezik önt
főispánnak vagy államtitkárnak?
– Sajnálattal kell megvallanom, hogy ily fényes kitüntetésekre
egyáltalában nem számíthatok.
– És miért nem?
– Mert a főispánsághoz több tekintély és érettebb életkor
szükséges; államtitkár pedig csak a legkiválóbb szakértelemmel
felruházott egyén lehet.
– És nem szerezheti meg ezen kellékeket?
– Idővel tán igen, de most oly izgatott s folytonosan ábrándozó
lelkiállapotban élek, mely minden hideg tanulmány megkezdésére
képtelenné tesz. Asszonyom! én ma 26 éves koromban végtelen s
minden más érdeket megsemmisítő szenvedély hatalma alá
kerültem; szeretek egy leányt. Szeretem önnek leányát, s ha kezét el
nem nyerhetem, többé e világon semmi más nem érdekel.
– Szereti leányomat? De hiszen ön tudhatja, báró úr, hogy midőn
Esztikémmel Gencsre jöttem, már ezzel eléggé világos jelét adtam,
hogy szerelme ellen nincs komoly kifogásom. Azonban…
– Hah! azonban! oh mint rettegek ezen legirtóztatóbb szótól.
– Fiatal ember, sajnálom önt, de én attól félek, hogy leányom
csak azért hallgatott az ön igéreteire, mert hitte, hogy önre fényes
jövő vár: egyetemi tanár, főispán, vagy államtitkár lesz. Most pedig
kiderül, hogy mindez csalódás és álomkép. Bocsásson meg báró úr,
de ily változott körülmények között többé semmit sem igérhetek.
Azonban…
– Hah! egy másik: azonban! Most látom, hogy nincs ennél
felségesebb szó a magyar nyelvben.
– Azonban, – folytatá a ház asszonya erőtetett komolysággal, –
ha részemről, ily helyzetben, kénytelen is vagyok határozottan
tagadó választ adni, azért, ha tetszik önnek, még felebbezheti ügyét,
leányomra.
– Fölebbezem!
– Ime most épen két óra. Ebédig lesz még egy egész órája s ha
elviszi leányomat a kertbe sétálni s ha sikerül önnek vele úgy
megalkudni, hogy csekélyebb kilátások mellett is elfogadja ajánlatát,
akkor…? Akkor majd én is jobban meggondolom a dolgot.
A nyájas olvasó bizonyára kezdet óta jól értette e jelenetet, s
nagyon tudta, mit kell ebből szószerint magyarázni, mit nem?
Nem volt ez épen egészen tréfa, színjáték vagy rögtönzött
mulatság a Bogárdy Zoltán iskolájának modorában; de rideg, száraz
komolyság annál kevesbbé. A báróra nézve a ledkedvezőtlenebb
magyarázat szerint sem jelenthetett ez többet, mint hogy a család
jogosan igényli, hogy a kérő, ha férj lesz, nem fog tétlenségbe
merülni, hanem rangjához és vagyoni állapotához képest igyekezni
fog a világban is oly állást elfoglalni, mely rá díszt, a hazára hasznot
hozand.
De midőn meghallotta Pál báró, hogy hova kell ügyét
felebbeznie? s hogy a harasztosi legfelsőbb biróságot karjára
ragadhatja, viheti sétálni a kertbe s ott egész óráig informálhatja,
capacitálhatja: többé nem tartóztathatá magát, hanem rohant a ház
asszonyához, fél térdre hullott s úgy megölelé és össze-vissza
csókolá, mint csak egy háladatos fiú teheti anyjával.
Szegény Dorozsmayné alig tudott kiszabadulni. Eléggé engedé
át ugyan magát e heves szorítgatásoknak, de asszonyi szokás
szerint, mégis csak fenyegetett öltözékének védelméről beszélt,
mintha ez volna a legfontosabb.
– Ah, ön tönkre teszi ruhámat… már fodraim is szakadoznak…
szeleburdi báró, ön miatt bizony még egyszer újra öltözködnöm kell.
Még egy csók az arczra s ezúttal befejezéskép oly csattanós,
hogy a verandára is kihallatszott s azután Pál báró megértvén az idő
becsét, értékét, kitántorgott az ajtón, bebotlott az elfogadó terembe,
onnan ki a verandára, sietvén itt elvesztett ügyét appellálni.
A helybeli septemvirátus és cassatiószék ezalatt szelid
türelemmel várta az alsóbb törvényszéknek végerővel biró itéletét s
midőn Pál báró az idvezültek mosolyával kijött, karját ajánlta, sétára
hivta őt a kertbe, mindketten három ugrással termettek lenn a
kilenczfokú lépcsőn és indultak a felsőség engedelméből kijelölt
sétára.
Magától érthető, hogy augusztusban, délután két órakor a nap
perzselő sugarai miatt, nem a nyilt virágágyak, hanem a
legmagasabb fák árnyai felé törekedtek.
Nem tudom, ki volt a vezető ezen utjokban? de tény, hogy
keresve a hűvös tanyát, itt is mint Gencsen, láttak egy hatalmas
diófát, melynek levéllel sűrűn benőtt galyai alatt még sokkal szebben
faragott és fehérebbre festett padot találtak, a törvényszéki ülés és
appelláta megkezdésére.
A fiatal báró azonban nem tartotta meg szavát, s annyira
megfeledkezett helyzetéről és igéretéről, hogy mint vércse keze
között tartván a pihegő galambot, mindjárt levetette az alázatosan
könyörgő álarczot, s mintha semmi sem történt volna, újra csak
tekintélyt követelő professzor kezdett lenni, szemben hű,
engedelmes és tanulékony tanítványával.
Mindjárt is, szép csinosan elhelyezkedve a padon, hozzá kezdett
leczkéjéhez:
– Diximus…
– Ah, diximus, – szakítá félbe a tudnivágyó leányka, – Gencsen
hallottam e szép hangzású szót először, de nem tudom, mit jelent?
– Csak annyit: mint mondtuk. Így szokták a legtudósabb tanárok,
hajdan, leczkéiket kezdeni, hogy jelen előadásukat szoros
kapcsolatba hozzák a korábban eléterjesztett alapelvekkel.
– Értem.
– Tehát ott hagytuk el lélektani buvárlatainkat, hogy a férfi a szive
mélyéből szeretett leánykát keblére szorította s aztán elkezdte
csókolni: elébb a hajába füzött rózsabimbót, aztán a leomló hajfürtöt,
a felhőtlen homlokot, végre a két szemet s azalatt a leányka
hallgatott és tűrni tanult.
– Vagy boldog volt.
– Vagy boldog volt. Ezer köszönet érte, mert e kijavítás a
végtelenségig szellemdús ötlet! Ámde most magasabb és
fellengzőbb tanok következnek, mert elérkezett ama legédesebb
percz, hogy az ajkak is érintkezzenek.
Esztike nem felelt, kissé tán vissza is húzódott.
A professzor pedig folytatá.
– A mi az első csókot illeti, egyenesen és közvetlenül a két ajkon,
annak sajátszerű természete van. Úgyis kimondhatlanul sokat ér, ha
a férfi rabló módjára, kérés és engedelem nélkül, jut hozzá; hanem
hogy már e földön érezhesse a menny minden gyönyörét,
elkerülhetlenűl szükséges, hogy a lányka hasonló ellenállhatlan
vágyat érezzen, ő maga is szomjazza az ajkak találkozását s aztán
boldogságukban feledkezzenek el az egész világról.
– Diximus…
Pál báró vas karjai közt tartá a sebzett galambot, de most egyik
kezével az égő arcz melegéhez nyúlt s úgy vonszolá maga felé az
ellenkedőt, hogy lassú és észrevétlen közeledés után, egyszerre
csak összetalálkozott a két forró ajk s aztán meg nem számlált
perczekig összeforradva maradt.
Nem lehetetlen, hogy az ily fellengző lélektani elmélet- és
kisérletnek kellő felfogására, az ismétlés is szükségesnek
mutatkozott. Tény azonban, hogy a midőn a boldog pár még csak
perczeket vélt átélni, elmult az óra, s a kastélynak sivító hangon
ebédre hívó csengetyűje felrázá őket álmaikból.
A veranda lépcsőin Dorozsmayné, Zoltán és kanonok bácsi
fogadták az elésietőket.
– Nos, báró úr, – kérdé az anya vidám hangon, de szemében
örömkönnyekkel telve, – megnyerte pörét?
– Asszonyom, – felelé, – a föld legszerencsésebb embere
vagyok, most már semmi sem hiányzik boldogságomból.
– És hogy szól a végső itélet?
– Esztike kisasszony a jövőt feltétlenül rám és férfiúi
becsületemre bízza; jelenben pedig szerényen megelégszik azzal,
hogy képviselő s az én drága jó Zsuzsi nénémnek engedelmes fia
vagyok.
– Akkor Isten áldása rajtatok, gyermekeim.
Az alatt pedig, hogy az anya karjai közé zárá gyermekét, Zoltán
bácsi a főtisztelendő úr mellé lépett s mondá:
– Papom, hallottad a szép imádságot s mégsem mondtad rá:
amen.
Kanonok bácsinak forgó karikákra nyilt a két szeme. Még csak
most kezdé észrevenni, mi történik a házban és körülette? A jámbor
lélek ezen utolsó pillanatig csakugyan hitte, hogy Pál báró
egyszerűen átutazóban van Harasztoson s az özvegy őt, mint annyi
más járó-kelő vendéget, ebédre marasztotta.
– Gyermekek, – szólt most teljes anyai és háziasszonyi
tekintélylyel a kastély úrnője. – Halljátok megmásíthatlan
határozatomat. E naptól fogva minden héten egyszer, szombaton,
ide jöhet Pál báró s maradhat hétfőig. Mához hat hétre pedig, ha
Isten is úgy rendelte, mint mi óhajtjuk, lakodalom lesz Harasztoson!
TARTALOM.
PÁLFFY ALBERT. Irta. Mikszáth Kálmán V

ESZTIKE KISASSZONY PROFESSZORA 1
ELSŐ RÉSZ.
I. A család eredete, viszontagsága és

felvirágzása 3
II. A kastély és vendégei 12
III. Ingadozás a sok pénzt igérő jövő s a jelenben
kinálkozó rang között. Három remek lövés,
mely azonban nem nyeri meg a hölgyek
tetszését 22
IV. Van ebben egy párocskának igen vad-
érzékeny eljegyzése; egy másiknak pedig
rögtönzött és igen prózai egybekelése 29
V. Egy pár képviselő megy az országgyűlésre
34
VI. Megnézik a fővárost, meghallgatják a jövő
zenéjét és látnak valakit a páholyban 41
VII. Odaviszik a fiatal embert, a hova nem várta.
Hogy mi következik ily odavetett kérdésből:
ön erdélyi? az csak a könyv végén derül ki 49
VIII. Aláirás egy tánczvigalomra, mely létre sem jő;
a nagy világ hiú szédelgéseibe merült uracsot

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Communicating across Cultures

True / False Questions

3. There can be many subcultures within one culture.

5. Ethnocentrism is sensitivity to the different dimensions of cultural difference.

6. Hand gestures vary in meaning from culture to culture.

A. They eliminate the chance that there will be culture-related misunderstanding.

22. Which of the following statements about culture is true?

A. A person always represents the culture of his or her national origin.

26. Which of the following statements about body movements is true?

A. Attitudes toward space tend to be the same in all cultures.

41. Cultures that exhibit a high power distance

A. make decisions by consensus.

42. In cultures that have low power distance

A. great emphasis is placed on the authority of superiors.

A. culture with a high power distance.

46. The Protestant work ethic is the belief that

A. planning work in advance is folly because all outcomes belong to God.

A. Some Middle Eastern cultures express sorrow with loud wailing.

48. Which of the following statements about workplace values is true?

49. Which of the following statements about language is true?

55. Two-word verbs consist of

A. an adjective and a verb combined to create an adverb.

57. Which of the following is true of two-word verbs?

A. They should never be used when speaking to nonnative speakers.

60. Which of the following statements about colloquialisms is true?

A. research the culture

A. They are not based on real life observations.

63. Which of the following is an example of a stereotype?

A. Zoe must like spicy food because she is Cuban.

A. talk clearly and use simple words and sentence structure.

A. Adapting to the practices of international partners is always feasible.

Short Answer Questions

True / False Questions

AACSB: Reflective Thinking

AACSB: Reflective Thinking

3. There can be many subcultures within one culture.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking

AACSB: Reflective Thinking

5. Ethnocentrism is sensitivity to the different dimensions of cultural difference.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking

6. Hand gestures vary in meaning from culture to culture.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking

AACSB: Reflective Thinking

AACSB: Reflective Thinking

AACSB: Reflective Thinking

10. In low-context cultures, individualism is highly valued.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking

AACSB: Reflective Thinking

AACSB: Reflective Thinking