Politeness and Everyday Culture · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Polite Words for Every Listener

Languages · Texts, Media & Translation · ages 12-14
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. Name one custom that can differ from home.

    • How people greet and thank
    • The colour of the sky
    • The length of a minute

  2. Who should get the formal form of address?

    • A stranger or a boss
    • Your best friend
    • Your pet dog

  3. Using the familiar form with a stranger signals warmth and always pleases.

    Circle one:   True   False

  4. In Japan a deep bow greets a host. You wave and shout instead. What happens?

    • Right words save you
    • Warm manners with wrong words still work
    • Good words misfire with wrong manners

  5. You meet a friend and her grandmother together. How do you speak?

    • Familiar to both
    • Formal to both
    • Familiar to the friend, formal to the grandmother

  6. When unsure, starting formal is the safer choice.

    Circle one:   True   False

  7. Two emails ask a teacher for help. One opens Dear Ms Lee, one opens Yo. Which lands better?

    • Yo, since it is short
    • Dear Ms Lee, since titles show respect
    • Both land the same

  8. A student speaks perfect grammar but locals cool toward him. What should he check?

    • His verbs only
    • His manners: greetings, titles, thanks
    • The weather
LightMySky · lightmysky.comW1-mt_p44544zHZH-s1

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Polite Words for Every Listener W1-mt_p44544zHZH-s1

  1. How people greet and thank · Greetings, thanks, and table ways shift across borders.
  2. A stranger or a boss · Distance and rank call for formal words.
  3. False · Over friendly talk can sting; it signals disrespect, not warmth.
  4. Good words misfire with wrong manners · Manners ride with words, and locals read both.
  5. Familiar to the friend, formal to the grandmother · Match each listener: closeness for one, respect for the other.
  6. True · Extra respect never stings, while forced closeness can.
  7. Dear Ms Lee, since titles show respect · A titled greeting fits the rank of a teacher.
  8. His manners: greetings, titles, thanks · Grammar without local manners still misfires.
Worksheet · LightMySky