Passage Two

Questions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.

Look at the people around you. Some are passive, others more aggressive. Some work

best alone, others crave companionship. We easily recognize that there is great variation

among the individuals who live near us. Yet, when we speak of people from elsewhere, we

seem to inevitably characterize them based on their country of origin.

Statistics specialists, when they speak of national averages, often make the same

mistake.

Newly published research shows how erroneous such overviews are. Three researchers

analyzed decades of values-based surveys and found that only between 16% and 21% of the

variation in cultural values could be explained by differences between countries. In other

words, the vast majority of what makes us culturally distinct from one another has nothing

to do with our homeland.

To determine what factors really are associated with culture, the authors combined

data from 558 prior surveys that each measured one or more of Hofstede's cultural

dimensions. These are traits, such as individualism and masculinity, that describe

work-related cultural values. (They are not a measure of visible cultural traits, such as food

or dress.) Though the validity of Hofstede's dimensions has been questioned, they have the

singular benefit of having been in use for decades, which allows for historical and

international comparisons.

The researchers found that both demographic factors, such as age, and environmental

factors, such as long-term unemployment rates, were more correlated with cultural values

than nationality. Occupation and social economic status were the most strongly correlated,

suggesting that our values are more economically driven than we usually give them credit

for.

The evidence implies that people with similar jobs and incomes are more culturally

alike, regardless of where they live. Vas Taras, the lead author of the study, puts it this way:

"Tell me how much you make and I will make a pretty accurate prediction about your

cultural values. Tell me what your nationality is and I probably will make a wrong

prediction."

Taras says our erroneous belief that countries are cultures has caused businesses to

teach their employees useless or even harmful ways of interacting with their international

peers. Chinese and American lawyers might be trained to interact based on the assumption

that the Chinese person is less individualistic, even though their similar social economic

situations make it probable they are actually quite alike in that regard

The country, as the unit of authority, is often a convenient way of generalizing about a

population.

However, our focus on countries can mask broad variations within them. In the

majority of cases we would be better off identifying people by the factors that constrain

their lives, like income, rather than by the lines surrounding them on a map.

51. What error do experts often make when describing people from other places?

A) They tend to overly rely on nationality

B) They often exaggerate their differences.

C) They often misunderstand their cultures.

D) They tend to dwell on national averages.

52. What do we learn about Hofstede's cultural dimensions?

A) They are useful in comparing cultural values across time and space

B) They have brought unusual benefits to people of different cultures.

C) They are widely used to identify people's individual traits.

D) They provide valuable questions for researchers to study

53. What did researchers find about previous studies on factors determining people's values?

A) Environmental factors were prioritized over other factors.

B) An individual's financial status was often underestimated.

C) Too much emphasis had been placed on one's occupation

D) The impact of social progress on one's values was ignored

54. What is the impact on employees when cultures are identified with countries?

A) They may fail to see the cultural biases of their business partners.

B) They may fail to attach sufficient importance to cultural diversity

C) They may not be taught how to properly interact with overseas partners

D) They may not be able to learn the legal procedures for business transactions.

55. What does the author suggest at the end of the passage?

A) There is sufficient reason to generalize about a country's population.

B) The majority of people are still constrained by their national identity.

C) It is arguable that the country should be regarded as the unit of authority

D) Nationality is less useful than socio-economic status as an indicator of one's values.