How aware are you of cultural differences in body language? Try this exercise — hold up your main hand to display the number five - do it now. Now change it to the number two. If you're Anglo-Saxon, there's a 96% chance you'll be holding up your middle and index fingers. If you're European, there's a 94% chance you'll be holding up your thumb and index finger.Want to know why? Read on for the Cultural test...

Europeans start counting with the number one on the thumb, two on the index finger, three on the middle finger, and so on. Anglo-Saxons count number one on the index finger, two on the middle finger and finish with five on the thumb.

Now look at the following hand signals and see how many different meanings you can assign to each one. For each correct answer, score one point and deduct one point for an incorrect answer. The answers are listed at the bottom of this article.

For each correct answer you got, allocate yourself one point.

A.

• Europe and North America: OK
• Mediterranean region, Russia, Brazil, Turkey: An orifice signal; sexual insult; gay man
• Tunisia, France, Belgium: Zero; worthless
• Japan: Money; coins

B.

• Western countries: One; Excuse me! As God is my witness; No! (To children)

C.

• Britain, Australia, New Zealand, and Malta: Up yours!
• USA: Two
• Germany: Victory
• France: Peace
• Ancient Rome: Julius Caesar ordering five beers

D.

• Europe: Three
• Catholic countries: A blessing

E.

• Europe: Two
• Britain, Australia, New Zealand: One
• USA: Waiter!
• Japan: An insult

F.

• Western countries: Four
• Japan: An insult

G.

• Western countries: Number 5
• Everywhere: Stop!
• Greece and Turkey: Go to hell!

H.

• Mediterranean: Small penis
• Bali: Bad
• Japan: Woman
• South America: Thin
• France: You can't fool me!

I.

• Mediterranean: Your wife is being unfaithful
• Malta and Italy: Protection against the Evil Eye (when pointed)
• South America: Protection against bad luck (when rotated)
• USA: Texas University Logo, Texas Longhorn Football Team

J.

• Greece: Go to Hell!
• The West: Two

K.

• Ancient Rome: Up yours!
• USA: Sit on this! Screw you!

L.

• Europe: One
• Australia: Sit on this! (Upward jerk)
• Widespread: Hitchhike; Good; OK
• Greece: Up yours! (Thrust forward)
• Japan: Man; five

M.

• Hawaii: 'Hang loose'
• Holland: Do you want a drink?

N.

• USA: I love you

O.

• The West: Ten; I surrender
• Greece: Up yours — twice!
• Widespread: I'm telling the truth

What did you Score?

Over 30 points: You are a well-travelled, well-rounded, broad-thinking person who gets on well with everyone regardless of where they are from. People love you.

15-30 points: You have a basic awareness that others behave differently to you and, with dedicated practice; you can improve the understanding you currently have.

15 points or less: You think everyone thinks like you do. You should never be issued a passport or even be allowed out of the house. You have little concept that the rest of the world is different to you and you think that it's always the same time and season all over the world. You are probably an American.

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