This quiz works best with JavaScript enabled. Home > English Grammar > Grammar > Discourse > Pragmatics > Politeness Strategies – Quiz 2 🏠 Homepage 📘 Download PDF Books 📕 Premium PDF Books Politeness Strategies Quiz 2 (30 MCQs) Quiz Instructions Select an option to see the correct answer instantly. 1. Which of the following is an example of an off-record strategy? A) "Could you please pass the salt?". B) "I need the report by noon.". C) "It's getting late, and I have an early morning tomorrow.". D) "The room is a bit chilly, isn't it?". Show Answer Correct Answer: D) "The room is a bit chilly, isn't it?". 2. Face-threatening acts can include: A) Agreement. B) Requests. C) Apologies. D) Compliments. Show Answer Correct Answer: B) Requests. 3. Which politeness strategy?:Hey buddy, can I have a piece of your cake? A) Giving hints. B) Negative politeness. C) Positive politeness. D) Direct communication. Show Answer Correct Answer: C) Positive politeness. 4. Direct refusals are always considered polite in all cultures. A) True. B) False. C) All the above. D) None of the above. Show Answer Correct Answer: B) False. 5. Which culture tends to value directness more strongly in polite communication? A) Collectivist cultures. B) High-context cultures. C) Face-oriented cultures. D) Individualist cultures. Show Answer Correct Answer: D) Individualist cultures. 6. What best describes indirectness in communication? A) Saying exactly what one means to avoid misunderstanding. B) Using complex grammar to sound more academic. C) Expressing an intended meaning implicitly and relying on context for interpretation. D) Avoiding communication in face-threatening situations. Show Answer Correct Answer: C) Expressing an intended meaning implicitly and relying on context for interpretation. 7. Situation:You want to thank someone for their help. What do you say? A) I owe you one, thanks!. B) Your help was fine, thanks!. C) I really appreciate your help, thank you!. D) Thanks for being there, I guess. Show Answer Correct Answer: C) I really appreciate your help, thank you!. 8. Which conversational maxim is flouted in the following exchange? A: "Is Mary a good student?" B: "She always dresses very neatly." A) Maxim of Manner. B) Maxim of Quantity. C) Maxim of Relation. D) Maxim of Quality. Show Answer Correct Answer: C) Maxim of Relation. 9. In a situation with high "social distance" (e.g., a junior employee speaking to a CEO), which strategy is a speaker most likely to employ to avoid conflict? A) Using shared slang to build instant rapport. B) Using a direct directive like "Sign this now.". C) Using indirect requests and formal language (Negative Politeness). D) Ignoring face wants entirely to save time. Show Answer Correct Answer: C) Using indirect requests and formal language (Negative Politeness). 10. Which politeness strategy?:Oh, I'm starving. I didn't have lunch today. A) Direct communication. B) Negative politeness. C) Giving hints. D) Positive politeness. Show Answer Correct Answer: C) Giving hints. 11. Situation:You accidentally bump into someone. What do you say? A) Sorry about that!. B) Why don't you watch where you're going?. C) Excuse me, but that was your fault!. D) You need to pay more attention!. Show Answer Correct Answer: A) Sorry about that!. 12. Situation:You want to borrow a pen from a friend. What do you say? A) Could you lend me your pen?. B) May I use your pen?. C) Can I borrow your pen?. D) Can I keep your pen?. Show Answer Correct Answer: C) Can I borrow your pen?. 13. Situation:You want to compliment someone on their outfit. What do you say? A) I really like your outfit!. B) You have a unique style!. C) I love your fashion sense. D) That outfit is interesting. Show Answer Correct Answer: A) I really like your outfit!. 14. In Vietnamese, politeness is strongly reflected in: A) Word order. B) Pronoun and kinship term choice. C) Verb tense. D) Sentence length. Show Answer Correct Answer: B) Pronoun and kinship term choice. 15. Positive face refers to: A) The desire to be respected and admired. B) The desire to avoid imposing on others. C) The desire to maintain independence and autonomy. D) The desire to belong to a group. Show Answer Correct Answer: A) The desire to be respected and admired. 16. Which politeness strategy?:Your handwriting is always so neat-mind if I copy your notes? A) Direct communication. B) Giving hints. C) Positive politeness. D) Negative politeness. Show Answer Correct Answer: C) Positive politeness. 17. Situation:You want to leave a party early. What do you say? A) I can't stay any longer, goodbye. B) I have to leave now, see you later. C) I'm sorry, but I have to go now. D) I need to head out, take care. Show Answer Correct Answer: C) I'm sorry, but I have to go now. 18. Which of the following best distinguishes positive face from negative face? A) Positive face is about autonomy; negative face is about approval. B) Positive face is about approval; negative face is about autonomy. C) Both are about being liked. D) Both are about being left alone. Show Answer Correct Answer: B) Positive face is about approval; negative face is about autonomy. 19. Which politeness strategy?:I'd appreciate it if you could lend me your car for the weekend. A) Positive politeness. B) Negative politeness. C) Giving hints. D) Direct communication. Show Answer Correct Answer: A) Positive politeness. 20. Who developed the theory of 'face needs' in politeness theory? A) Noam Chomsky. B) Brown and Levinson. C) Ferdinand de Saussure. D) William Labov. Show Answer Correct Answer: B) Brown and Levinson. 21. Which of the following is NOT a politeness strategy? A) Hedging. B) Insulting the listener. C) Using low modality. D) Complimenting the listener. Show Answer Correct Answer: B) Insulting the listener. 22. Which of the following is a purpose of positive politeness strategies? A) To minimise the impact of a request. B) To build rapport and show approval. C) To avoid giving offence by being indirect. D) To end a conversation quickly. Show Answer Correct Answer: B) To build rapport and show approval. 23. What is 'negative politeness'? A) Approaches to encourage group participation. B) Techniques to insult someone indirectly. C) Methods to increase directness in speech. D) Strategies that show respect for a person's need for autonomy. Show Answer Correct Answer: D) Strategies that show respect for a person's need for autonomy. 24. Which of the following utterances threatens a person's positive face? A) "Could you please close the window?". B) "Would you mind if I joined you?". C) "May I borrow your pen?". D) "I don't think your idea will work.". Show Answer Correct Answer: D) "I don't think your idea will work.". 25. Which of the following best describes 'negative face'? A) The desire to be liked and admired. B) The need for autonomy and freedom from imposition. C) The wish to be the centre of attention. D) The urge to be praised. Show Answer Correct Answer: B) The need for autonomy and freedom from imposition. 26. What does 'low modality' refer to in language? A) Expressing strong certainty. B) Using technical jargon. C) Using language that shows doubt or possibility. D) Speaking in a monotone voice. Show Answer Correct Answer: C) Using language that shows doubt or possibility. 27. Which of the following best defines 'hedging' in language? A) Using language to express certainty. B) Using language to soften statements and express uncertainty. C) Using language to criticise directly. D) Using language to exaggerate. Show Answer Correct Answer: B) Using language to soften statements and express uncertainty. 28. What is 'positive politeness'? A) Strategies that emphasise friendliness and solidarity. B) Techniques to avoid direct confrontation. C) Methods to assert dominance. D) Approaches to ignore social norms. Show Answer Correct Answer: A) Strategies that emphasise friendliness and solidarity. 29. Which of the following best defines 'politeness strategies' in language? A) Techniques used to make speech more formal. B) Methods used to show respect and avoid offending others in conversation. C) Ways to increase the speed of communication. D) Approaches to simplify complex ideas. Show Answer Correct Answer: B) Methods used to show respect and avoid offending others in conversation. 30. Why is the term negative politeness confusing for some students? A) Because it describes language that is rude or impolite. B) Because the word negative sounds like it means "bad, " but it actually refers to respecting someone's personal space. C) Because it is only used when speakers dislike each other. D) Because it always involves negative words like no or not. Show Answer Correct Answer: B) Because the word negative sounds like it means "bad, " but it actually refers to respecting someone's personal space. ← PreviousNext →Related QuizzesDiscourse QuizzesGrammar QuizzesPoliteness Strategies Quiz 1Politeness Strategies Quiz 3Conversation Analysis QuizConversation Skills QuizImplicature Exercises QuizMaxims Of Conversation QuizPoliteness And Face QuizPoliteness Strategies Spoken English Quiz 🏠 Back to Homepage 📘 Download PDF Books 📕 Premium PDF Books