1 . Directions: Complete the following passage by using the words in the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.
The meaning of silence varies among cultural group. Silence may be 1 , or they may be empty when a person has nothing to say. A silence in a conversation may also show stubbornness, uneasiness, or worry. Silence may be viewed by some cultural groups as extremely uncomfortable; therefore attempts may be made to fill every 2 with conversation. Persons in other cultural groups value silence and view it as necessary for understanding a person’s needs. Many native Americans value silence and feel it is a basic part of 3 among people, just as some traditional Chinese and Thai persons do. Therefore, when a person from one of these culture is speaking and suddenly stops, what may be 4 is that the person wants the listener to consider what has been said before continuing. In these cultures, silence is a call for 5 .
Other cultures may use silence in other ways, particularly when dealing with 6 among people or in relationships of people with different amounts of power. For example, Russian, French, and Spanish persons may use silence to show 7 between parties about the topic under discussion. However, Mexicans may use silence when instructions are given by a person in authority rather than be rude to that person by arguing with him or her. In still another use, persons in Asian cultures may view silence as a sign of respect, particularly to an elder or a person in authority.
Nurses and other care-givers need to be aware of the 8 meanings of silence when they come across the personal anxiety their patients may be experiencing. Nurses should recognize their own personal and cultural construction of silence so that a patient’s silence is not 9 too early or allowed to go on unnecessarily. A nurse who understands the healing 10 of silence can use this understanding to assist in the care of patients from their own and from other cultures.
