Cultural bridges

Task 4 Social roles in different cultures: Social behavior
Work with a partner. Imagine that the situations below take place in an English-speaking country. What would you do in each situation? In some cases, more than one answer is possible.

1. 
   You have been having digestive problems for a week and have just started to feel better. You meet a British friend at a party. Your friend says, “How are you?”. What would you do?
   

1. 
   Start talking in detail about your problem.
   
2. 
   Say, “Fine, thanks. How are you?”
   
3. 
   Say, not bad, thanks. How are you?’
   
4. 
   Nothing.
   

2. 
   You are visiting an American friend in her new apartment. You like the apartment and you want your friend to know. What would you do?
   

1. 
   Say, “Your apartment is nice. How much is the rent?”
   
2. 
   Say, “Gee, this place is really nice”.
   
3. 
   Say, “I really like your apartment”.
   
4. 
   Say nothing, but show that you are interested by walking around, looking at everything in the apartment, and picking up everything that is movable.
   

3. 
   You have been invited to dinner at a friend’s home. You are about to sit down to eat, but you want to use the toilet first. What would you do?
   

1. 
   Say, “Excuse me. Where is the toilet?”
   
2. 
   Say, “Could I wash my hands before dinner?”
   
3. 
   Say, “Do you mind if I use the bathroom?”
   
4. 
   Say nothing and start looking around the house for the toilet.
   

4. 
   You are a guest in a British or American friend’s home. Your friend asks if you would like to drink. You really like a drink. What would you do?
   

1. 
   Say, “Yes, please”.
   
2. 
   Say, “Yes, that would be lovely”.
   
3. 
   Say, “No, thank you” and wait for your friend to ask you again.
   
4. 
   Say, “That’s OK. I can get it myself”.
   

5. 
   You have just been introduced to a British or American friend’s parents. What would you do?
   

1. 
   Say, “Hello”, and bow.
   
2. 
   Say nothing and shake hands.
   
3. 
   Say, “Nice to meet you” and shake hands.
   
4. 
   Say, “Hi”.