Question 1

Which phrase best demonstrates an effective paraphrase of a person's emotions?

Accepted Answer

Option C effectively paraphrases the person's emotions by reflecting back on what they said and interpreting their feelings as being overwhelmed. It shows empathy and understanding without invalidating or minimizing their feelings. Options A and D focus more on the person's behavior or personal experiences rather than their emotions, and option B assumes understanding without actually validating or acknowledging the person's specific emotions.

Question 2

While listening to her biochemistry professor give a lecture,Genevieve engages in self-talk to boost her concentration and understanding of the professor's message.Genevieve is engaging in __________.

Accepted Answer

Genevieve is engaging in meta-cognitions, which involves thinking about one's own thinking or employing strategies to improve cognitive function. Self-talk can help to improve concentration and understanding. Meta-messaging involves reflecting on the communication process itself, empathic listening involves understanding and responding to another's emotions, and social decentering involves considering the perspective of others.

Question 3

When Marcelle explains to Archie how he feels isolated and lonely,Archie wants to respond appropriately.He decides to use compassionate listening in order to __________.

Accepted Answer

Compassionate listening involves showing empathy and understanding towards the speaker, which can help confirm their self-worth by acknowledging their feelings and experiences.

Question 4

According to researcher John Shotter,most people spend too much time __________.

Accepted Answer

John Shotter emphasized the importance of listening over speaking, suggesting that most people spend too much time speaking rather than listening.

Question 5

Marques is teaching his friend how to make a frittata.When his friend makes a mistake,Marques immediately corrects her rather than waiting until the dish is cooked.Which tip to improve accurate responding did Marques use?

Accepted Answer

Marques used the tip of providing well-timed responses by correcting his friend immediately after she made the mistake rather than waiting until the dish was cooked.

Question 6

What is a conclusion that is based on speculation?

Accepted Answer

A conclusion based on speculation is an inference, which is using evidence to come to a conclusion that may or may not be true, rather than a verifiable fact. A meta-message is a universal message communicated through art or literature, while meta-cognition refers to thinking about one's own thought processes. Therefore, options A and D are not correct choices.

Question 7

In his observations of married couples,marriage researcher John Gottman found that a significant predictor of divorce was __________.

Accepted Answer

According to John Gottman, neglecting to confirm one's marriage partner during everyday conversations, such as not responding or acknowledging their statements, is a significant predictor of divorce. This lack of connection and validation can ultimately lead to feelings of disconnection and dissatisfaction in the relationship.

Question 8

Which suggestion can help make your listening active rather than passive?

Accepted Answer

Starting by asking questions can help make your listening active rather than passive. This shows active engagement with the speaker and can also help clarify any misunderstandings or uncertainties. Thinking about your own agenda may make your listening passive as you are only focused on what you want to get out of the conversation. Avoiding paraphrasing may lead to misinterpretations and not fully understanding the speaker's message. Closing your eyes may help eliminate distractions but it may also come across as disengaged or uninterested in the conversation.

Question 9

Which guideline should you keep in mind when paraphrasing the words of your conversation partner?

Accepted Answer

When paraphrasing, it is important to be concise and avoid adding unnecessary information or changing the meaning of what your partner said. Paraphrasing should summarize the main points of what was said using your own words, while still accurately conveying the intent of the original speaker. Choosing the exact same words (B) can be too restrictive and limit your ability to convey the same message in your own way. Making paraphrasing broad and avoiding specifics (C) can also lead to misunderstandings or misinterpretations of what was said. Going beyond the information communicated by your partner (D) can be misleading and may not accurately reflect the original message.

Question 10

A __________ is an example of a disconfirming response.

Accepted Answer

A tangential response is considered a disconfirming response because it indicates a lack of interest or attention to the speaker's message by diverting the conversation to a different topic, rather than acknowledging or directly responding to what was said.

Question 11

Sun is generally considered by her boss to be very good at being aware of,understanding,and managing the emotions of those people who work for her.She has also demonstrated the ability to do the same with her own emotions.Because of these abilities,it may be said that Sun exhibits a high level of __________.

Accepted Answer

The description of Sun's abilities indicates a high level of emotional intelligence, which involves being aware of and managing one's own emotions as well as the emotions of others. Choices A, C, and D do not accurately describe Sun's abilities.

Question 12

Atira has just returned from spring break and is telling her friend Nida all about her great time.Nida has been very responsive to Atira's story-laughing and nodding-but now has increased her eye contact,raised a finger,and shifted her posture.Nida's nonverbal cues probably indicate that she __________.

Accepted Answer

Nida's increased eye contact, raised finger and posture shift suggest that she wants to interject and take on a more active role in the conversation. She may want to share her own experiences or add to the discussion. There is no indication of negative feelings towards Atira's story, faking listening or objecting to what was said.

Question 13

Camila waited in the rain for fifteen minutes because her boyfriend,D'Andre,was late to pick her up after class.When she asked him why he was so late,he replied "I had to drop off my dry cleaning on the way.Stop making such a big deal out of this!" What best classifies D'Andre's response?

Accepted Answer

D'Andre's response is dismissive and downplays Camila's feelings, which makes it a disconfirming response.

Question 14

Mrs.Applebaum teaches seventh grade,and definitely prefers her female students over her male students,who are often rude and disrespectful.When one of her female students speaks rudely to her,Mrs.Applebaum doesn't seem to hear it.What barrier to effective listening is Mrs.Applebaum experiencing?

Accepted Answer

Mrs. Applebaum is exhibiting selective listening, which is the tendency to only hear what one wants to hear or what confirms their preconceived notions or biases. In this case, Mrs. Applebaum has a bias towards female students and is not listening effectively to the behavior of her male students.

Question 15

When Jeannie noticed that her friend Kam was upset,Jeannie asked her what was wrong.Although Kam reassured her that everything was okay,Jeannie noticed that Kam had a slight frown on her face and was not making eye contact.What did Jeannie do to accurately read the situation?

Accepted Answer

Jeannie analyzed meta-messages, which are non-verbal cues or indirect messages, such as Kam's slight frown and lack of eye contact, to understand that something was wrong despite Kam's verbal assurance.

Question 16

Pierre finds that when he speaks to his communication professor,he tries to use some of the vocabulary and concepts he has learned in class.When he speaks to his younger cousin,however,he tends to speak in shorter sentences,using more familiar words and ideas.This is an example of how Pierre is applying the __________ theory.

Accepted Answer

Communication accommodation theory suggests that individuals adjust their communication style based on the social context of the interaction. Pierre is adapting his language and delivery to match the communication style of his audiences, which is a form of communication accommodation.

Question 17

During a recent conversation with Anit,Maya evaluated the validity and usefulness of the information he had shared.Maya,in this case,was performing __________.

Accepted Answer

Information triage involves evaluating the validity and usefulness of information, which is what Maya was doing during her conversation with Anit.

Question 18

Which skill best reflects a conscious attempt to take into account your conversational partner's thoughts,feelings,values,background,and perspective?

Accepted Answer

Social decentering is the ability to consciously take into account your conversational partner's thoughts, feelings, values, background, and perspective. It involves being able to see the world from their point of view and to take that into account when communicating with them. Critical listening is a skill to evaluate the information or opinions presented by a speaker, while compassionate listening is a skill to show empathy towards someone in emotional distress. Emotional intelligence is a broader concept that includes social decentering but also encompasses other abilities such as recognizing and regulating your own emotions, and understanding the emotions of others.

Question 19

Jonathan has just been fired from his job and turns to you to talk about it.According to communication researchers,what would be an inappropriate response to show social support?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Jonathan has just been fired from his...

Question 20

Shannon told her friend,"I am sorry that you lost the tennis match." What approach did Shannon use to comfort her friend?

Accepted Answer

Shannon's statement shows that she is offering sympathy to her friend for losing the tennis match.

Quiz 5: Listening and Responding Skills