In response to a compliment on his excellent oral presentation, a Japanese business executive replies, "No, it wasn't very good." Which of the following is the MOST likely explanation for this response? (Points: 5)
He thought the person giving the compliment was his inferior.
He thought the comment was meant sarcastically.
He was giving the response to a compliment that is considered socially correct in his culture.
He really was not very well prepared for his presentation and he was embarrassed because his facts might not all be correct.
IS B correct
I disagree.
The best answer for a Japanese person is C.
I mean D sorry I just got the answer.
To determine the correct answer, let's break down the given options and analyze them one by one.
A: "He thought the person giving the compliment was his inferior."
While this could be a potential explanation for a response like this, there is no information given in the question that suggests this as the MOST likely reason.
B: "He thought the comment was meant sarcastically."
This could be a plausible explanation for the executive's response. Sometimes, people may respond in a self-deprecating manner to downplay compliments and avoid appearing arrogant. However, without additional context, we cannot definitively conclude that this is the MOST likely reason.
C: "He was giving the response to a compliment that is considered socially correct in his culture."
This is a very likely explanation for the response. In Japanese culture, it is common for individuals to downplay their achievements or compliments they receive as a way of showing modesty and humility. Therefore, this is a strong contender for the correct answer.
D: "He really was not very well prepared for his presentation and he was embarrassed because his facts might not all be correct."
While this could be another potential reason for the response, it is not explicitly mentioned in the question. Therefore, we cannot assume this as the MOST likely explanation.
Based on the given options, the MOST likely explanation for the Japanese business executive's response is C: "He was giving the response to a compliment that is considered socially correct in his culture."