Quiz: are you a culture vulture?

Author: Counterpoint

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Are you a walking guide to cultural well-being or completely out of your depth on our multi-cultural planet? Find out by taking Zoe Williams' quiz here

Dining in Istanbul, you see a dish on the menu which has been translated as Fried Brian. Do you

draw the waiter’s attention to the error, then mock and deride him, then ask if he can do you a scrambled egg

avoid it and order a chicken kebab

assume it means “brain” and order it, perhaps checking first which animal it came from

Your friend is getting married and, in keeping with the custom of both she and her fiancé, you have been asked to pin money to her gown in lieu of a present. Your custom, however, has you deeply embarrassed by the mention of money, let alone the sight of it. Do you

buy her a tea service and have it quietly delivered a week before the ceremony

give her money, but wrap it in an envelope or magazine before you pin it to her

put your feelings aside and pin on the money like everyone else

Travelling in the foothills of the Himalayas, you take ill, luckily in the vicinity of an Ayurvedic clinic. How ill do you have to get before you’ll say “I believe in Ayurvedic medicine, but can I also have some anti-biotics, please?”

just standard holiday-tummy

sustained fever

nearly dead

A recipe for cauliflower calls for a spice that you own, but when you pop it open, it smells overwhelmingly like feet. Do you

leave it out

decide that it has probably gone off and buy some more. Then, when that smells of feet, use it anyway

assume that the feet-smell will cook out

In your secular-Jewish household, your 13-year-old son says that, instead of a Bar Mitzvah, he would rather go to Glastonbury, which is a well-known coming-of-age ceremony in secular Britain. Do you

tell him not to be cheeky

tell him he can go, but he’s not getting a Glastonbury-present off his grandma

tell him he has to do both

You have a meeting with an Imam, and don’t know how to address him. Do you…

Call him “sir” and hope for the best

Ask the internet

Ask the Imam himself

7 Responses to “Quiz: are you a culture vulture?”

RP says:

October 19, 2009 at 9:34 pm

Result:
You are perfect for the Counterpoint experience, alive to the possibilities of cultural exchange, not yet so insufferably live-and-let-live that the internet is the only person who will speak to you

My result:
I thought so too
Patrick says:

October 23, 2009 at 12:22 pm

It would be interesting to see the combined results of this – how far on or off the mean we are!
David says:

November 3, 2009 at 10:14 am

Heard the 5 Live interview this morning. Where are the intern posts advertised?
Ben Allen says:

November 5, 2009 at 9:56 am

I would rather be a cultured vulture
Nick Wadham-Smith, Counterpoint says:

November 5, 2009 at 10:19 am

Hi David!
Just refining the text. Check back Monday latest on the About Us page. We were just about to advertise when I got the chance to do the programme and the announcement went out. Sorry about the delay and thanks for your interest.

Nick Wadham-Smith
Counterpoint
R.M. says:

November 23, 2009 at 6:32 pm

Result:
“You are the Counterpoint ideal: flexible, easy-going, humble in your manner, adventurous in your tastes, broad in your interests, generous in your doubts”.

I prefer my Brian poached or scrambled; however, a fried Brian is a tasty Brian – that’s what I always say!
Sana kaukab says:

February 2, 2010 at 10:54 am

The questions which i read reminded me of the culture box which i’d gone through when i was studying busines communication :thill and bovee: communication dilemma that is. Thanks anyhow for tellig me that i am perfect when it comes to counterpoint.. Was a good learning experience. Cheers!

CounterpointStimulating debate with the British Council

Quiz: are you a culture vulture?

7 Responses to “Quiz: are you a culture vulture?”

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