Question

multiple choice question
read this passage. then, answer the question.
assertiveness
the level of directness in speech varies greatly across cultures, and this can lead to miscommunication, misinterpretation of motivations, and hard feelings. the cultural dimension of assertiveness deals with the level of confrontation and directness that is considered appropriate and productive. typically, north americans and western europeans are the most assertive in business situations, whereas asians tend to be less assertive. the mentality of \say it how it is,\ \cut to the chase,\ and \dont sugarcoat it\ is emblematic of high assertiveness.
members of highly assertive cultures often view members of less - assertive cultures as timid, unenthusiastic, uncommitted, and even dishonest, since they withhold or temper their comments. on the other hand, members of less - assertive cultures often view members of highly assertive cultures as rude,tactless, inconsiderate, and even uncivilized.
in particular, businesspeople notice differences in levels of assertiveness when a yes or no answer is expected. in less - assertive cultures, the answer is sometimes vague; people are expected to read between the lines. as guy mcleod, president of airbus china, stated, \in europe or the states, yes means yes, so we can work together toward a common goal. here, yes doesnt always mean yes, and no doesnt always mean no. one piece of advice i give people about china: everything is difficult, but everything is possible.\
source: cardon, peter. business communication: developing leaders for a networked world. irwin - mcgraw, 2014.
based on the context in paragraph 2, what does \temper\ mean?
o make softer
o anger
o justify
o create confusion

Explanation:

In the context, members of less - assertive cultures withhold or temper their comments. Since less - assertive cultures are less direct, "temper" here means to make comments less harsh or softer.

Answer:

make softer