Test Bank For
Counseling the Culturally Diverse Theory and Practice, 9th Edition Derald Wing Sue, David
Sue, Helen A. Neville, Laura Smith
Chapter 1-26
Chapter 1: Obstacles to Cultural Competence & Cultural Humility: Understanding
Resistance to Multicultural Training
Test Questions
Below are questions that can be used to test the students’ knowledge of the material covered in
Chapter 1 of the 8th edition of Counseling the Culturally Diverse: Theory and Practice (CCD,
Sue 8th edition). Questions are presented in various formats (True/False, Multiple Selection,
Multiple Choice, Text Entry, and Essay Type). After each series of questions, you will find the
correct answers along with accompanying explanations. Bloom’s taxonomy is provided to
indicate the style of learning needed to answer the respective question. Additionally, you will
also find a descriptor, EASY, MEDIUM, HARD, indicating the difficulty level of each question.
Question 1
Question Type: True/False
Question: The journey to becoming a competent culturally sensitive counselor in working with
diverse populations is not complex as humans have innate characteristics that are relatively
consistent across cultures with similar hopes and dreams that mark their humanness.
Answer: False
Solution: According to the authors, becoming culturally competent in working with diverse
populations is a complex interaction of many dimensions that involves broad theoretical,
conceptual, research, and practice issues. Moreover, the journey will be filled with obstacles to
self-exploration, to understanding yourself as a racial/cultural being, and to understanding the
worldview of those who differ from you in race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and other
sociodemographic characteristics. The subject matter in this book and course requires the reader
to explore biases and prejudices, a task that often evokes defensiveness and resistance.
Bloom’s Level: Comprehension
Difficulty Level: EASY
Question 2
Question Type: Multiple Selection
Question: Becoming culturally competent in mental health practice demands that nested or
embedded emotions be openly experienced in which of the following sociodemographic
dimensions of difference?
a. race
,b. culture
c. gender
d. sexual orientation
e. only a and b
Answer: a, b, c, d
Solution: The authors point out that the journey to becoming culturally competent therapists is
filled with obstacles to self-exploration, to understanding oneself as a racial/cultural being, and
to understanding the worldview of those who differ from others in terms of race, gender,
ethnicity, sexual orientation, and other sociodemographic dimensions.
Bloom’s Level: Knowledge
Difficulty Level: MEDIUM
Question 3
Question Type: Text Entry
Question: The three types of resistance that are often encountered by students studying diversity
training are: _______________, __________________, ________________.
a. cognitive; emotional; behavioral
b. psychological; physiological; emotional
c. dissonance; isolation; invalidation
d. physical; emotional; spiritual
Answer: a
Solution: The authors report that in work with resistance to diversity training, research reveals
how it is likely to be manifested in three forms: cognitive resistance, emotional resistance, and
behavioral resistance (Sue, 2015, as cited in Sue 8th edition).
Bloom’s Level: Knowledge
Difficulty Level: MEDIUM
Question 4
Question Type: Essay Type
Question: Identify at least three emotions you experienced as you read the reactions of the four
students. Reflect on why you feel those emotions surfaced.
Solution: Responses will vary but, according to the authors, one of the greatest concerns of
instructors is the strong emotive reactions of students to the material: grief, anger, depression,
and guilt in working through the content.
Bloom’s Level: Synthesis
Difficulty Level: HARD
,Question 5
Question Type: True/False
Question. The burden to become multiculturally competent rests on the trainees from dominant
culture as in most cases they have been the ones to marginalize, stereotype, and oppress minority
cultures. Thus, it is the responsibility of the dominant culture to help rectify this in raising
awareness and also in becoming competent in working with diverse populations.
Answer: False
Solution: Understanding multicultural counseling competence applies equally to trainees from
dominant and marginalized groups and to helping professionals.
Bloom’s Level: Application
Difficulty Level: MEDIUM
Question 6
Question Type: Multiple Selection
Question: According to Kiselica (1999, as cited in Sue 8th edition), White psychologists avoid
topics of race because
a. It may reveal their own prejudices and biases
b. They are racked with guilt over the way people of color have been treated
c. They are fearful of being labeled a racist or blamed for the oppression
d. a and c only
Answer: a, b, c
Solution: Kiselica, a White psychologist who addresses his own ethnocentrism and racism,
contends that these topics (ethnocentrism and racism) are subjects that most Whites tend to
avoid. He adds that most shy away from discussing these issues for many reasons. He posits that
Whites are racked with guilt over the way people of color have been treated in our nation. Whites
fear that they will be accused of mistreating others, and particularly fear being called the ―R‖
word—racist. Many grow uneasy whenever issues of race emerge. Whites tend to back away,
change the subject, respond defensively, assert their innocence and ―color blindness,‖ and deny
that they could possibly be ethnocentric or racist. (Kiselica, 1999, as cited in Sue 8th edition).
Bloom’s Level: Application
Difficulty Level: MEDIUM
Question 7
Question Type: Essay Type
Question: Describe recent conversations you have had about diversity. What were the settings for
those conversations to occur? What was the makeup of those participating in the discussion?
Solution: Responses will vary but, according to the authors, the powerful feelings aroused in some
,students prevent them from being open to diversity issues, and from making classroom discussions
on the topic a learning opportunity. Instead, conversations on diversity become ―shouting matches‖
or become monologues rather than dialogues.
Bloom’s Level: Synthesis
Difficulty Level: HARD
Question 8
Question Type: Essay Type
Question: How has your worldview shaped you? Consider, for example, the country you were
born in, the family you had, the home or neighborhood you lived in or school you attended,
opportunities you had, and any religious affiliation and how have each of these areas and/or
others helped form you as a person?
Solution: Responses will vary but, according to the authors, each of these areas will influence the
worldview. To become multiculturally competent counselors they must understand the client’s
worldview but they must first understand their own. As a counselor or therapist working with
culturally diverse clients, understanding differences in worldviews is an important first step to
becoming culturally competent. However, to recognize the differences or similarities, one must
first examine their own understanding of themselves and how their worldview has shaped them
as persons.
Bloom’s Level: Synthesis
Difficulty Level: HARD
Question 9
Question Type: True/False
Question: In order to be a culturally competent therapist, one should avoid personal feelings and
previous experiences with race, culture and gender and therefore be free to explore the client’s
experience with prejudices or racism.
Answer: False
Solution: The journey to cultural competence requires an emotional awakening in the area of
one’s knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors related to race, culture, ethnicity, gender, and
other diverse groups. Furthermore, the authors state that becoming culturally competent in
counseling/mental health practice demands that nested or embedded emotions associated with
race, culture, gender, and other sociodemographic differences be openly experienced and
discussed.
Bloom’s Level: Application
Difficulty Level: MEDIUM
Question 10
,Question Type: Multiple Selection
Question. The authors state that in multicultural counseling, best practice dimensions operate at
which of the following levels?
a. individual
b. familial
c. group
d. institutional
e. societal
Answer: a, b, c, d, e
Solution: The authors state that the Practice Dimensions of Multicultural Counseling/Therapy
integrates multicultural premises developed from the first two parts into the domain of clinical
work. In that it reviews, analyzes and points to best practices in working with diverse
populations at the individual, familial, group, institutional, and societal levels.
Bloom’s Level: Knowledge
Difficulty Level: MEDIUM
Question 11
Question Type: Text Entry
Question. The subject matter in this book and course requires you to explore your _______ and
__________ a task that often evokes ___________ and ______________.
Answer: biases; prejudices; defensiveness; resistance
Solution: The authors posit that the subject matter in this book and course requires you to explore
your biases and prejudices, a task that often evokes defensiveness and resistance. Furthermore,
they state that it is important to recognize personal resistance to the material, to explore its
meanings, and to learn about yourself and others. They add that sometimes what is revealed
about you may prove disturbing, but having the courage to continue is necessary to becoming a
culturally competent counselor or therapist.
Bloom’s Level: Application
Difficulty Level: EASY
Question 12
Question Type: Essay Type
Question: What current news stories demonstrate the different reactions to racism between
dominant and marginalized group members?
Solution: Responses will vary but may include current news stories making headlines and the
strong protests and responses from both dominant and marginalized group members.
Bloom’s Level: Synthesis
Difficulty Level: HARD
, Question 13
Question Type: True/False
Question: When counselors explore their own emotional reactions to race and culture, feelings
such as defensiveness and anger can be destructive and are better left untouched.
Answer: False
Solution: The subject matter in this book and course requires you to explore your biases and
prejudices, a task that often evokes defensiveness and resistance. Furthermore, it is important to
recognize personal resistance to the material, to explore its meanings, and to learn about yourself
and others. Sue (2011, as cited in Sue 8th edition) adds that it is these intense feelings that often
block our ability to hear the voices of those most oppressed and disempowered. Moreover, Sue
8th edition states that how we, as helping professionals, deal with these strong feelings can either
enhance or impede a deeper understanding of ourselves as racial/cultural beings and our
understanding of the worldviews of culturally diverse clients.
Bloom’s Level: Application
Difficulty Level: MEDIUM
Question 14
Question Type: Multiple Choice
Question: Microaggressions are best described as
a. minor offenses that are typically unintentional and thus harmless in nature
b. the everyday slights, put-downs, invalidations, and insults directed toward a group
c. racist statements that cause minimal harm because they are micro in nature as opposed
to macro
d. feelings of inferiority that racism and prejudice cause minority groups
e. underlying anger that oppressed groups feel but do not allow to surface
Answer: b
Solution: Microaggressions are the everyday slights, put-downs, invalidations, and insults
directed toward socially devalued group members by well-intentioned people who are unaware
that they have engaged in such biased and harmful behaviors. Furthermore, a lifetime of
microaggressions can have a major harmful impact on the psychological well-being of victims.
Bloom’s Level: Knowledge
Difficulty Level: EASY
Question 15
Question Type: Text Entry
Question: For practicing professionals and trainees in the helping professions, understanding the
Counseling the Culturally Diverse Theory and Practice, 9th Edition Derald Wing Sue, David
Sue, Helen A. Neville, Laura Smith
Chapter 1-26
Chapter 1: Obstacles to Cultural Competence & Cultural Humility: Understanding
Resistance to Multicultural Training
Test Questions
Below are questions that can be used to test the students’ knowledge of the material covered in
Chapter 1 of the 8th edition of Counseling the Culturally Diverse: Theory and Practice (CCD,
Sue 8th edition). Questions are presented in various formats (True/False, Multiple Selection,
Multiple Choice, Text Entry, and Essay Type). After each series of questions, you will find the
correct answers along with accompanying explanations. Bloom’s taxonomy is provided to
indicate the style of learning needed to answer the respective question. Additionally, you will
also find a descriptor, EASY, MEDIUM, HARD, indicating the difficulty level of each question.
Question 1
Question Type: True/False
Question: The journey to becoming a competent culturally sensitive counselor in working with
diverse populations is not complex as humans have innate characteristics that are relatively
consistent across cultures with similar hopes and dreams that mark their humanness.
Answer: False
Solution: According to the authors, becoming culturally competent in working with diverse
populations is a complex interaction of many dimensions that involves broad theoretical,
conceptual, research, and practice issues. Moreover, the journey will be filled with obstacles to
self-exploration, to understanding yourself as a racial/cultural being, and to understanding the
worldview of those who differ from you in race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and other
sociodemographic characteristics. The subject matter in this book and course requires the reader
to explore biases and prejudices, a task that often evokes defensiveness and resistance.
Bloom’s Level: Comprehension
Difficulty Level: EASY
Question 2
Question Type: Multiple Selection
Question: Becoming culturally competent in mental health practice demands that nested or
embedded emotions be openly experienced in which of the following sociodemographic
dimensions of difference?
a. race
,b. culture
c. gender
d. sexual orientation
e. only a and b
Answer: a, b, c, d
Solution: The authors point out that the journey to becoming culturally competent therapists is
filled with obstacles to self-exploration, to understanding oneself as a racial/cultural being, and
to understanding the worldview of those who differ from others in terms of race, gender,
ethnicity, sexual orientation, and other sociodemographic dimensions.
Bloom’s Level: Knowledge
Difficulty Level: MEDIUM
Question 3
Question Type: Text Entry
Question: The three types of resistance that are often encountered by students studying diversity
training are: _______________, __________________, ________________.
a. cognitive; emotional; behavioral
b. psychological; physiological; emotional
c. dissonance; isolation; invalidation
d. physical; emotional; spiritual
Answer: a
Solution: The authors report that in work with resistance to diversity training, research reveals
how it is likely to be manifested in three forms: cognitive resistance, emotional resistance, and
behavioral resistance (Sue, 2015, as cited in Sue 8th edition).
Bloom’s Level: Knowledge
Difficulty Level: MEDIUM
Question 4
Question Type: Essay Type
Question: Identify at least three emotions you experienced as you read the reactions of the four
students. Reflect on why you feel those emotions surfaced.
Solution: Responses will vary but, according to the authors, one of the greatest concerns of
instructors is the strong emotive reactions of students to the material: grief, anger, depression,
and guilt in working through the content.
Bloom’s Level: Synthesis
Difficulty Level: HARD
,Question 5
Question Type: True/False
Question. The burden to become multiculturally competent rests on the trainees from dominant
culture as in most cases they have been the ones to marginalize, stereotype, and oppress minority
cultures. Thus, it is the responsibility of the dominant culture to help rectify this in raising
awareness and also in becoming competent in working with diverse populations.
Answer: False
Solution: Understanding multicultural counseling competence applies equally to trainees from
dominant and marginalized groups and to helping professionals.
Bloom’s Level: Application
Difficulty Level: MEDIUM
Question 6
Question Type: Multiple Selection
Question: According to Kiselica (1999, as cited in Sue 8th edition), White psychologists avoid
topics of race because
a. It may reveal their own prejudices and biases
b. They are racked with guilt over the way people of color have been treated
c. They are fearful of being labeled a racist or blamed for the oppression
d. a and c only
Answer: a, b, c
Solution: Kiselica, a White psychologist who addresses his own ethnocentrism and racism,
contends that these topics (ethnocentrism and racism) are subjects that most Whites tend to
avoid. He adds that most shy away from discussing these issues for many reasons. He posits that
Whites are racked with guilt over the way people of color have been treated in our nation. Whites
fear that they will be accused of mistreating others, and particularly fear being called the ―R‖
word—racist. Many grow uneasy whenever issues of race emerge. Whites tend to back away,
change the subject, respond defensively, assert their innocence and ―color blindness,‖ and deny
that they could possibly be ethnocentric or racist. (Kiselica, 1999, as cited in Sue 8th edition).
Bloom’s Level: Application
Difficulty Level: MEDIUM
Question 7
Question Type: Essay Type
Question: Describe recent conversations you have had about diversity. What were the settings for
those conversations to occur? What was the makeup of those participating in the discussion?
Solution: Responses will vary but, according to the authors, the powerful feelings aroused in some
,students prevent them from being open to diversity issues, and from making classroom discussions
on the topic a learning opportunity. Instead, conversations on diversity become ―shouting matches‖
or become monologues rather than dialogues.
Bloom’s Level: Synthesis
Difficulty Level: HARD
Question 8
Question Type: Essay Type
Question: How has your worldview shaped you? Consider, for example, the country you were
born in, the family you had, the home or neighborhood you lived in or school you attended,
opportunities you had, and any religious affiliation and how have each of these areas and/or
others helped form you as a person?
Solution: Responses will vary but, according to the authors, each of these areas will influence the
worldview. To become multiculturally competent counselors they must understand the client’s
worldview but they must first understand their own. As a counselor or therapist working with
culturally diverse clients, understanding differences in worldviews is an important first step to
becoming culturally competent. However, to recognize the differences or similarities, one must
first examine their own understanding of themselves and how their worldview has shaped them
as persons.
Bloom’s Level: Synthesis
Difficulty Level: HARD
Question 9
Question Type: True/False
Question: In order to be a culturally competent therapist, one should avoid personal feelings and
previous experiences with race, culture and gender and therefore be free to explore the client’s
experience with prejudices or racism.
Answer: False
Solution: The journey to cultural competence requires an emotional awakening in the area of
one’s knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors related to race, culture, ethnicity, gender, and
other diverse groups. Furthermore, the authors state that becoming culturally competent in
counseling/mental health practice demands that nested or embedded emotions associated with
race, culture, gender, and other sociodemographic differences be openly experienced and
discussed.
Bloom’s Level: Application
Difficulty Level: MEDIUM
Question 10
,Question Type: Multiple Selection
Question. The authors state that in multicultural counseling, best practice dimensions operate at
which of the following levels?
a. individual
b. familial
c. group
d. institutional
e. societal
Answer: a, b, c, d, e
Solution: The authors state that the Practice Dimensions of Multicultural Counseling/Therapy
integrates multicultural premises developed from the first two parts into the domain of clinical
work. In that it reviews, analyzes and points to best practices in working with diverse
populations at the individual, familial, group, institutional, and societal levels.
Bloom’s Level: Knowledge
Difficulty Level: MEDIUM
Question 11
Question Type: Text Entry
Question. The subject matter in this book and course requires you to explore your _______ and
__________ a task that often evokes ___________ and ______________.
Answer: biases; prejudices; defensiveness; resistance
Solution: The authors posit that the subject matter in this book and course requires you to explore
your biases and prejudices, a task that often evokes defensiveness and resistance. Furthermore,
they state that it is important to recognize personal resistance to the material, to explore its
meanings, and to learn about yourself and others. They add that sometimes what is revealed
about you may prove disturbing, but having the courage to continue is necessary to becoming a
culturally competent counselor or therapist.
Bloom’s Level: Application
Difficulty Level: EASY
Question 12
Question Type: Essay Type
Question: What current news stories demonstrate the different reactions to racism between
dominant and marginalized group members?
Solution: Responses will vary but may include current news stories making headlines and the
strong protests and responses from both dominant and marginalized group members.
Bloom’s Level: Synthesis
Difficulty Level: HARD
, Question 13
Question Type: True/False
Question: When counselors explore their own emotional reactions to race and culture, feelings
such as defensiveness and anger can be destructive and are better left untouched.
Answer: False
Solution: The subject matter in this book and course requires you to explore your biases and
prejudices, a task that often evokes defensiveness and resistance. Furthermore, it is important to
recognize personal resistance to the material, to explore its meanings, and to learn about yourself
and others. Sue (2011, as cited in Sue 8th edition) adds that it is these intense feelings that often
block our ability to hear the voices of those most oppressed and disempowered. Moreover, Sue
8th edition states that how we, as helping professionals, deal with these strong feelings can either
enhance or impede a deeper understanding of ourselves as racial/cultural beings and our
understanding of the worldviews of culturally diverse clients.
Bloom’s Level: Application
Difficulty Level: MEDIUM
Question 14
Question Type: Multiple Choice
Question: Microaggressions are best described as
a. minor offenses that are typically unintentional and thus harmless in nature
b. the everyday slights, put-downs, invalidations, and insults directed toward a group
c. racist statements that cause minimal harm because they are micro in nature as opposed
to macro
d. feelings of inferiority that racism and prejudice cause minority groups
e. underlying anger that oppressed groups feel but do not allow to surface
Answer: b
Solution: Microaggressions are the everyday slights, put-downs, invalidations, and insults
directed toward socially devalued group members by well-intentioned people who are unaware
that they have engaged in such biased and harmful behaviors. Furthermore, a lifetime of
microaggressions can have a major harmful impact on the psychological well-being of victims.
Bloom’s Level: Knowledge
Difficulty Level: EASY
Question 15
Question Type: Text Entry
Question: For practicing professionals and trainees in the helping professions, understanding the
