21st Century Skills

Question 1

All of the following are actions of a team player, EXCEPT:
A. Seeing how diversity on a team can be beneficial.
B. Being open to working with others in person or virtually.
C. Listening to others’ perspectives but sticking to what you believe is best.
D. Asking for team member input to improve the work environment.

Answer 1

C. Listening to others’ perspectives but sticking to what you believe is best.

Question 2

Each collaborative tool below is matched with a function. Choose the INCORRECT pairing.
A. Skype: Facilitating Point-of-Sales transactions for a customer.
B. Google Docs: Editing a shared document in real time.
C. Facetime: Communicating face-to-face with someone who is in a different location.
D. WhatsApp: Messaging app used internationally for individuals or groups.

Answer 2

A. Skype: Facilitating Point-of-Sales transactions for a customer.

Question 3

Which of the following describes a way to find common ground with others?
A. Respecting how people are different and taking time to get to know someone.
B. Keeping an open mind.
C. Creating mutual understanding through a shared goal.
D. All of the above.

Answer 3

D. All of the above.

Question 4

You are in charge of a committee assigned to planning a fundraiser for a class trip. The committee is made up of students from different student clubs. All of the following are examples of common ground, EXCEPT:
A. All of the students are seniors from the same high school.
B. All of the students want to graduate.
C. All of the students are active in other clubs at the school.
D. All of the students want to go to different destinations for the class trip.

Answer 4

D. All of the students want to go to different destinations for the class trip.

Question 5

Which of the following is an action of a good leader?
A. Involving members of the team by seeking their input on a project.
B. Doing everything yourself to ensure a project gets done well.
C. Telling team members the best way to do their jobs.
D. Taking over a job when a team member falls behind schedule.

Answer 5

A. Involving members of the team by seeking their input on a project.

Question 6

Which of the following actions is a positive way to deal with conflict?
A. Being passive aggressive in communication by making sarcastic remarks.
B. Shutting down or refusing to engage in actions to find a resolution.
C. Telling other co-workers about your disagreement in order to win their support.
D. Asking questions, listening, and then sharing your perspective in order to find common ground.

Answer 6

D. Asking questions, listening, and then sharing your perspective in order to find common ground.

Question 7

You and your colleague are working on a new project. A meeting was arranged with important stakeholders. You were not invited to the meeting. How do you approach your co-worker?
A. Ask your colleague about the meeting and express your disappointment about not being invited.
B. Email your supervisor in order to have your co-worker reprimanded.
C. Yell at your colleague for not inviting you to a meeting that you should have been at.
D. Make passive aggressive comments to your co-worker until they realize what they did.
E. Talk to the other team members about how selfish and disrespectful your co-worker is.

Answer 7

A. Ask your colleague about the meeting and express your disappointment about not being invited.

Question 8

When someone is a good collaborator, they:
A. Shy away from using collaborative technology tools that aren’t familiar with.
B. Invite different perspectives from teammates in order to create value and buy-in.
C. View conflict as an impassable obstacle that no one can overcome or learn from.
D. Assume it is impossible for anyone to truly have similar experiences.

Answer 8

B. Invite different perspectives from teammates in order to create value and buy-in.

Question 9

Which of the following is an example of good collaboration?
A. Lead by delegating tasks and telling teammates how to solve problems when they arise.
B. Find ways to involve all of the individuals on the team in order to make them feel valued.
C. Ignore conflict in order to avoid creating new problems.
D. Dive into problem solving and work to engage everyone before identifying common ground.

Answer 9

B. Find ways to involve all of the individuals on the team in order to make them feel valued.

Question 10

This is the 21ST Century Skill that is referred as the mechanism that weeds out problems and replaces them with fruitful endeavors.
A. Critical Thinking
B. Creativity
C. Collaboration
D. Communication

Answer 10

A. Critical Thinking

Question 11

This is the 21ST Century Skill that empowers teachers and students to see concepts in a different light, which leads to innovation.
A. Critical Thinking
B. Creativity
C. Collaboration
D. Communication

Answer 11

B. Creativity

Question 12

This is the 21ST Century Skill that gets teachers and students to work together, achieve compromises, and get the best possible results from solving a problem.
A. Critical Thinking
B. Creativity
C. Collaboration
D. Communication

Answer 12

C. Collaboration

Question 13

This skill gives teachers the basic information they need to understand what gadgets perform, what tasks and why.
A. Information Literacy
B. Media Literacy
C. Technology Literacy
D. Computer Literacy

Answer 13

C. Technology Literacy

Question 14

The 4 Cs of 21st Century skill refers to
A. Communication, cooperation, critical thinking, creativity
B. Communication, collaboration, critical thinking, creativity
C. Consistency, collaboration, critical thinking, creativity
D. Communication, collaboration, critical thinking, commitment

Answer 14

B. Communication, collaboration, critical thinking, creativity

Question 15

All of the following are ways to speak professionally, EXCEPT:
A. Making sure you are using words that your audience will understand.
B. Remaining respectful regardless of someone’s response.
C. Speaking with a relaxed language and a tone like you might use with friends.
D. Using polished and professional language in a workplace setting.

Answer 15

C. Speaking with a relaxed language and a tone like you might use with friends.

Question 16

You hear a presentation from two candidates running for election. The first candidate uses “ladies and gentlemen” and the second uses “you guys” to address the audience. Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A. The first speaker is using an informal tone.
B. The second speaker is using a professional tone.
C. The first speaker is trying to sound friendly and casual.
D. The second speaker is using relaxed language

Answer 16

D. The second speaker is using relaxed language

Question 17

All of the following statements about digital communication are true, EXCEPT:
A. Many companies use social media to search for candidates for open job positions.
B. It is okay to incorporate text lingo into your professional emails.
C. Companies create a reputation through the content and images they share with their audiences.
D. Email is a good way to leave a written “trail,” or record, in case problems arise in the future.

Answer 17

B. It is okay to incorporate text lingo into your professional emails.

Question 18

Which choice below best describes what is meant by the following statement: “What is written electronically is written in pen, not pencil; it cannot be erased.”?
A. Anything that is posted on social media, even if you later delete it, can be found by a potential employer.
B. When a person writes a professional email, they should always check for spelling and grammar.
C. When texting for work, do not use emojis.
D. When composing a professional email it is important to be clear and concise.

Answer 18

A. Anything that is posted on social media, even if you later delete it, can be found by a potential employer.

Question 19

Which of the following are components of professionalism, or having a professional manner?
A. Knowing common social rules for interacting with others at work.
B. Using nonverbal methods to make your meaning clear.
C. Writing with correct spelling and grammar.
D. All of the above.

Answer 19

D. All of the above.

Question 20

You find out your new co-worker grew up in India, and you are not sure what social rules he uses in nonverbal communication. What should you do?
A. Take some time to do some research online, or simply ask him, what his cultural customs are with regard to nonverbal communication.
B. Assume that since he now lives in the United States you share the same ideas about social rules.
C. Make sure you use many hand gestures and facial expressions to get your meaning across.
D. Find someone who looks like your coworker and ask them about their communication style.

Answer 20

A. Take some time to do some research online, or simply ask him, what his cultural customs are with regard to nonverbal communication.

Question 21

A client called to talk to your boss, but she has stepped away for lunch. You take a message for her. Which of the following steps should you avoid?
A. Once you have written the message down, repeat the message back to the caller to ensure accuracy.
B. Use professional language and be sure to thank the caller for waiting for the call to be returned.
C. Give the caller your boss’s personal cell phone number so they can reach her immediately.
D. Make sure you have either a phone number or email for the caller so that your boss can respond.

Answer 21

C. Give the caller your boss’s personal cell phone number so they can reach her immediately.

Question 22

When someone is a good communicator, they:
A. Avoid direct eye contact and try not to think too much about body language or posture.
B. Are mindful and respectful of people that might not agree with what they are going to say.
C. Know that professional communication on digital media is the same as chatting with friends.
D. Try not to repeat what someone says in order to avoid embarrassment or misunderstanding.

Answer 22

B. Are mindful and respectful of people that might not agree with what they are going to say.

Question 23

All of the following activities demonstrate understanding how to listen, EXCEPT:
A. Asking questions when you are confused or when you need to clarify a point.
B. Making your best guess when you aren’t sure you heard something right.
C. Repeating back what someone has said to make sure the meaning is clear.
D. Asking follow-up questions to make sure you understand what a person is saying.

Answer 23

B. Making your best guess when you aren’t sure you heard something right.

Question 24

All of the following are examples of good communication, EXCEPT:
A. Knowing how to compose and edit a professional email to a customer or colleague.
B. Using an appropriate tone and choice of words for your audience.
C. Knowing that most people prefer to receive a text message or email instead of a phone call.
D. Being aware of nonverbal communication cues and what they may tell a listener.

Answer 24

C. Knowing that most people prefer to receive a text message or email instead of a phone call.

Question 25

Which of the following information comes without a filter? That is, without an underlying perspective?
A. Information from a newspaper.
B. All information comes through a filter.
C. Information from a newscaster on television.
D. Information from a radio announcer.

Answer 25

B. All information comes through a filter.

Question 26

All of the following actions show that you are looking at the context of a problem, EXCEPT:
A. Getting to the root cause by asking why the problem exists.
B. Looking at the bigger picture surrounding the problem.
C. Hypothesizing what issues might be causing the problem.
D. Immediately proposing a solution based on your initial observations of the problem.

Answer 26

D. Immediately proposing a solution based on your initial observations of the problem.

Question 27

Which of the following statements is true when thinking about multiple solutions?
A. You should try a possible solution, even if you do not expect it to work.
B. It is important to test your ideas and be willing to learn through failure to reach a solution.
C. You should only try something once you are certain it will work so that you don’t upset anyone.
D. Trying a solution that does not work will not help you to find the correct solution.

Answer 27

C. You should only try something once you are certain it will work so that you don’t upset anyone.

Question 28

All of the following traits are part of an analysis-solution mindset, EXCEPT:
A. Examining information in order to understand why a message is presented in a certain way.
B. Connecting information from different subject areas in order to see patterns and relationships.
C. Taking time to research and test multiple solutions to a problem in order to find one that is best.
D. Only considering one point of view when looking into the explanation for a phenomenon.

Answer 28

D. Only considering one point of view when looking into the explanation for a phenomenon.

Question 29

When someone has an analysis-solution mindset, they:
A. Understand a problem by looking at the larger context.
B. Try any solution to a problem, even ones they know most likely won’t work.
C. Take messages at their face value without reading too much into them.
D. See events as separate and unrelated in order to keep focused on solving a specific problem.

Answer 29

A. Understand a problem by looking at the larger context.

Question 30

Your boss assigns you to a project in which you are collaborating with a team of people in South Africa. Which of the following is the most effective way to prepare for working with this new team?
A. Do some research about South African culture on the internet.
B. Assume that because you have good people skills you do not need to change any of your actions.
C. Wait until your first virtual meeting and pay attention to their nonverbal cues.

Answer 30

A. Do some research about South African culture on the internet.

Question 31

Suppose that several famous musicians representing a diversity of genres decided to write a song together. All of the following are potential outcomes of their collaboration, EXCEPT:
A. Creating a song that sounds different from their previous work.
B. Creating a song that might not be appreciated by all audiences.
C. The musicians may learn something new about their musical preferences.
D. The musicians might get stuck in one type of sound.

Answer 31

D. The musicians might get stuck in one type of sound.

Question 32

You have been working in the bakery of a grocery store for a few months and your boss asks you to consider training as a cashier. What response shows that you are willing to consider this change?
A. You say you will consider it - but only to be polite.
B. You thank your boss for the opportunity and ask a few questions before deciding if you’ll say yes.
C. You say no - You’re going to have to talk to customers all of the time, which could be very tiring.
D. You say yes immediately - You know cashiers make more money.

Answer 32

B. You thank your boss for the opportunity and ask a few questions before deciding if you’ll say yes.

Question 33

All of the following are good ways to deal with stress, EXCEPT:
A. Going for a run or exercising so you can release your emotions in a healthy way.
B. Confiding in a friend about what is going on and how you are feeling.
C. Asking a mentor or supervisor to suggest ways you can do better the next time when you make a mistake or feel you need to improve.
D. Ignoring the situation or how you are feeling.

Answer 33

D. Ignoring the situation or how you are feeling.

Question 34

You are tutoring a female exchange student to help her with English. Your friend tells you that you shouldn’t talk to her about politics because this could be a sensitive topic. What do you do with this advice?
A. Follow the advice and avoid ever discussing anything having to do with politics, especially current events.
B. Follow the advice at first, but wait until you get to know her better before deciding whether or not it is appropriate to talk with her about politics.
C. Ignore it, and on the first day ask her if she feels comfortable talking about politics so you don’t have to worry about it moving forward.
D. Ask if you can work with a different student so you don’t run the risk of making any mistakes.

Answer 34

B. Follow the advice at first, but wait until you get to know her better before deciding whether or not it is appropriate to talk with her about politics.

Question 35

Which of the following statements is true about considering others’ viewpoints?
A. Even if you receive advice that you decide not to follow, you can still learn from that viewpoint.
B. If you get advice from a trusted teacher or supervisor, it will probably apply to every situation.
C. It is impolite to ask for someone’s opinion and then not exactly follow the advice they gave you.
D. It is too risky to ask for another person’s viewpoint because you might get bad advice.

Answer 35

A. Even if you receive advice that you decide not to follow, you can still learn from that viewpoint.

Question 36

You work at a restaurant as a host or hostess. Your co-worker, who is a server, calls to say she got in a car accident on the way to work. Your boss tells you to help wait tables. You’ve never taken customer orders before. What should you do?
A. Ask one of the other servers to quickly show you how to submit orders to the kitchen and jump in.
B. Panic and leave immediately.
C. Try to convince your boss that you have too much work at the hosting station, and there are already plenty of servers.
D. Stick to hosting, but offer to make phone calls to the other servers to see if someone can cover the shift.

Answer 36

A. Ask one of the other servers to quickly show you how to submit orders to the kitchen and jump in.

Question 37

All of the following actions are examples of being open to new experiences, EXCEPT:
A. Viewing doing the same task or staying in the same role as “scarier” than gaining new skills.
B. Staying in a new work environment despite feeling nervous or uncomfortable at first.
C. Refusing to try something you have never done before.
D. Experimenting with ways to make a new role or task more efficient.

Answer 37

C. Refusing to try something you have never done before.

Question 38

You just coached your first soccer game. The kids all seemed to have a good time. Later, the mother of a player calls and says you had poor strategy and need to make sure her child plays more. How should you deal with the criticism?
A. Talk to another coach and ask for advice on how to improve strategy and even out playtime.
B. Make a survey for all of the parents to see if they agree with the mother that called you.
C. Vent your frustrations in a post on social media so that people know how crazy the mother is.
D. Dismiss the feedback as wrong and decide to keep the same coaching strategy for the next game.

Answer 38

A. Talk to another coach and ask for advice on how to improve strategy and even out playtime.

Question 39

When someone is adaptable, they:
A. Try not to end up in any situation in which they are unprepared or unskilled.
B. Are willing to risk failure for the opportunity to grow through new experiences.
C. Never ask for advice so they can avoid seeming incompetent.
D. Ignore criticism as much as possible.

Answer 39

B. Are willing to risk failure for the opportunity to grow through new experiences.

Question 40

All of the following actions are examples of connecting new ideas and innovating, EXCEPT:
A. Always asking someone to help you when you are unsure of what action to take.
B. Stepping back to broaden your perspective and understand how two seemingly unrelated situations are connected.
C. Thinking about how a successful process can be replicated for a new environment.
D. When in a new situation, figuring out how to take action using the resources that are available

Answer 40

A. Always asking someone to help you when you are unsure of what action to take.